There is a non-violent death and thus a mystery surrounding it. This is, however, primarily a book about dogs and issues surrounding them. It's for people who love dogs and despise euthanasia. It's also for people who do not like dogs who bark a lot, mess up the yard, shed, and run loose. It is educational as to the use of dogs as hearing guide dogs for the deaf similar to those who assist the visually-impaired. The author is an advocate for the Alaskan Malamute, a huge powerful and stunningly beautiful dog and the Malamute has a starring role in this novel. Light and cozy with a number of quirky characters, this is an amusing read that will please many. -GDClick here to place a hold on Ruffly Speaking.Prefer cats? Try a cozy cat mystery with The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell by Lilian Jackson Braun.
#7 in the Dog Lover's series. Holly Winter returns with her pair of malamutes (don't call them huskies!) in this series about a Cambridge , MA based writer for dog magazines. Add a half star if your dog sleeps on your bed with you.Dog Lover's series - Holly Winter, writer for Dog's Life magazine, spends most of her waking hours immersed in her subject. Dog talk of all sorts abounds, from obedience training, shows, and breeds to temperament, grooming, and antics. Even a ``hearing'' dog appears as companion to a hearing impaired female Episcopal priest. The possible wrongful death of a middle-aged dog lover in Cambridge, Massachusetts, definitely slips into the background because Holly alone seems suspicious.
What do You think about Ruffly Speaking (1994)?
I enjoy reading these books. But I have to say, for a mystery, there's very little pertaining to the mystery. Most of the books in this series end up very philisophical. The author's church is UKC, their rules is her bible. That's fine. She loves her malamutes, and that's fine, too. I like reading about them. But there's lots of times that the story gets completely lost in the fog of connecting every thing to UKC rules, dog (especially malamute) attributes, both physical and mental, and it's difficult to discern what the author is talking about at that particular time.
—Terri
Susan Conant is my favorite dog mystery writer because her writing is witty and intelligent, but she is not afraid to poke a little fun at the liberal intellectual culture of Cambridge. This one has a bit of a different tone than some of her other books since it is unclear throughout much of the book whether a crime has actually been committed or not. Thus the approach is a little more subtle. But if you enjoy her other books, you will enjoy this one. And if you have never read her, this is as good a place to start as any. Alaskan Malamutes Kimi and Rowdy are as endearing as ever, and the Ruffly of the title is charming as well.
—Carissa Gilman
