Books With Canine Characters
As we swelter through the dog days of summer in Northern California, sometimes the heat is so energy-sapping that there is nothing more inviting than relaxing in the shade with a cold drink and a good book. Speaking of dog days, if you are a person who loves books and dogs equally, there is plenty of reading material available that combines both interests.
Here are a few top reads that prominently feature canine characters:
Fiction
Killing Trail / Margaret Mizushima
Killing Trail is the first book in the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery Series. It introduces the reader to Mattie Cobb, a Colorado police officer, and Robo, her canine partner. The series takes a look at the intricacies of a human-canine law enforcement team.
Dog on It / Spencer Quinn
The Chet and Bernie Mystery Series is a New York Times best-seller, and this is Book One. It is another story about a detective duo – but this one has a twist in that it is told from the dog’s perspective. The narrator is Chet, a mixed-breed canine who flunked out of training school. He is the partner to Bernie Little, a private investigator. Chet uses biting wit to recount his alternate career path.
Open and Shut / David Rosenfelt
You may have noticed by now that many of theses canine tales are written as a series, and Open and Shut is no exception. This tale features detective and lawyer Andy Carpenter and Tara, his golden retriever. The series contains an array of other canine characters as well.
A View to Die For / Richard Houston
A View to Die For is Book One in yet another series that tells the intertwined stories of an extraordinary golden retriever and an ordinary man, Jacob Martin. Together they travel to the Ozarks from Colorado in hopes of solving a murder for which Jacob’s sister is on the hook.
Burning Man / Alan Russell
Burning Man (you guessed it – Book One in a series) introduces the reader to Los Angeles police officer Michael Gideon and his canine partner Sirius. This book is a bit rougher than the other offerings. It includes harrowing flashbacks to a situation in which Gideon sustained life-altering and nearly fatal burns. The books focus on the close relationship that develops between Gideon and Sirius.
The White Shepherd / Annie Dalton
A common trope in televised British mysteries is that of an early morning dog walker encountering a human corpse. This Oxford Dog Walker series highlights Bonnie, a white German Shepherd, who sniffs out a body in the bushes. Anna Hopkins, Bonnie’s person, joins forces with fellow dogwalkers to get to the bottom of this gruesome discovery and makes sure the formal police investigation stays on track.
Address to Die For / Mary Feliz
The final book in the fiction list is another Book One that features another golden retriever, Belle. The Maggie McDonald Mystery series is set in California and tells the tale of professional organizer McDonald and her attempts to bring a sense of order to the lives of her chaotic clients. In addition to Belle, this series includes an assortment of other dogs.
Non-Fiction
A Good Man with a Dog / Kate Flora & Roger Guay
Set in the beautiful, remote Maine woodlands, the authors of this non-fiction tale document the experiences of a game warden and his canine partners. Follow the warden and his dogs as they track aggressive poachers and search for victims of violent crimes.
Dogtripping / David Rosenfelt
A 2013 NPR Best Book, this funny true-life adventure story tells the tale of the author’s move to Maine from Southern California. The challenges he faces are in large part due to the fact that his family includes 25 rescue dogs.
Watch this YouTube video, which explains the origins of the term “dog days.” Hint: it actually has more to do with astronomy than with canines.
Grass Valley Dog Bite Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a dog bite lawyer in Grass Valley, California. Most of the time, dogs are loyal and affectionate friends. Occasionally though, the actions of a negligent human will result in their dog attacking and causing injuries. If you or someone you love has suffered dog bite injuries, I can offer free and friendly advice. My local phone number is (530) 392-9400 or I can be reached toll-free from outside the area at (800) 404-5400.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/image-statue-brass-sculpture-art-3553203/
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