From Publishers Weekly
Sherlockians especially will enjoy Conant's latest dog mystery (after Animal Appetite, 1997) featuring journalist Holly Winter in her most intricate case yet. Holly and her champion Alaskan malamute, Rowdy, who has earned his Rx.D. as a certified therapy dog, regularly visit a Cambridge, Mass., nursing home. There they meet Althea Battlefield and her two elderly admirers, Hugh and Robert, all three of whom are fanatic fans of Sherlock Holmes. Holly also meets Althea's wealthy younger sister, Ceci, who is actively mourning the death of her favorite dog. When Althea's grandnephew is found dead in the backyard of Ceci's home, Hugh and Robert jump at the chance to put Sherlockian technique to the test. Ceci, like many bereaved Cambridge animal lovers, has been swindled by an unscrupulous psychic. Even Holly finds herself reluctantly impressed by the psychic's apparent abilities until the fog parts during a late-night stakeout in Ceci's yard with her elderly cohorts. Conant cleverly incorporates Holmes and Watson lore into her plot and writes eloquently of what it is like to lose a beloved pet. Her story is further enhanced by her sensitive depictions of the residents of the nursing home Holly and Rowdy visit. Though their faculties may be failing, the elders' simple enjoyment of an animal's touch speaks volumes about the good a therapy dog can accomplish. Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
Conant's following will enjoy series sleuth Holly Winter's latest outing with malamutes Rowdy and Kimi. Rowdy's work as a therapy dog for a Sherlock Holmes fan at a local nursing home ultimately involves Holly in another case of murder.Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Holly Winter, a writer in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is training her malamute, Rowdy, as a nursing-home therapy dog. At the home, Holly becomes friends with Althea Battlefield, a Sherlock Holmes fan. Althea's sister, Ceci, is in the thrall of an animal psychic, who offers to unite Ceci and her dead dog for a fee. Before the dog materializes, Ceci's grandnephew, a skeptic, is murdered. Inspired by Holmes, Holly, Rowdy, and Althea (along with her admirers, Hugh and Robert) try to solve the murder and determine if the animal psychic is a fraud. Conant's eleventh Holly Winter mystery starts slowly, but once under way, it displays an agreeable mix of appealing characters, well-realized settings, and snappy dialogue. Anyone interested in dogs, spiritualism, or Sherlock Holmes will find much to enjoy here. John Rowen


Review
Praise for Susan Conant's Dog Lover's Mysteries:

Animal Appetite
"Swift and engrossing...Conant presents a witty, independent, yet fallible sleuth with inordinate pride in her two Alaskan malamutes. Why not?--they steal every scene."


Stud Rites
"Conant's characterizations are dead-on and her descriptions of doggy kitsch...are hilarious."


Black Ribbon
"Conant's people and dogs, dialogue and obsessions hold the interest chapter upon chapter, long before blood is drawn and long after."


Ruffly Speaking
"Conant's Dog Lover's series...is a real tail-wagger for lots of readers."


Bloodlines
"Lively, funny, and absolutely premium."


Gone to the Dogs
"The target of [Conant's] considerable wit clearly emerges as human nature."



From the Hardcover edition.


Review
Praise for Susan Conant's Dog Lover's Mysteries:

Animal Appetite
"Swift and engrossing...Conant presents a witty, independent, yet fallible sleuth with inordinate pride in her two Alaskan malamutes. Why not?--they steal every scene."


Stud Rites
"Conant's characterizations are dead-on and her descriptions of doggy kitsch...are hilarious."


Black Ribbon
"Conant's people and dogs, dialogue and obsessions hold the interest chapter upon chapter, long before blood is drawn and long after."


Ruffly Speaking
"Conant's Dog Lover's series...is a real tail-wagger for lots of readers."


Bloodlines
"Lively, funny, and absolutely premium."


Gone to the Dogs
"The target of [Conant's] considerable wit clearly emerges as human nature."



From the Hardcover edition.

FROM OUR EDITORS

In the 11th Dog Lover's Mystery, Holly Winter and her dog Rowdy have become pet therapists at a nursing home. There they meet Althea Battlegate and her two admirers, Hugh and Robert. The group of elderly friends introduces Holly to "the Master," Sherlock Holmes. When Althea's nephew is murdered, and her younger sister is victimized by an animal psychic, the action heats up and "the game is afoot." Conant weaves an exciting tale, including multiple references to "The Canon" (which should appeal to Holmes devotees), a humorous look at the eccentricities of life in Cambridge, and a sympathetic portrayal of her delightful elderly characters.

—Sue Reider

FROM THE PUBLISHER

An avid devotion to the words of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and an equally avid devotion to dogs, combine to draw Holly Winter and her two beloved malamutes, Rowdy and Kimi, into one of Conant's most original and entertaining mysteries to date. Rowdy has finished his training as a therapy dog and now accompanies Holly on weekly visits to the Gateway Nursing Home, where they meet Althea Battlefield, still formidable at the age of ninety, and her two elderly, admiring cohorts, Hugh and Robert - all fanatic devotees of the Master (as they call Sherlock Holmes). When Althea's grandnephew is murdered at the home of her younger sister, Ceci, everyone is horrified, but it's the plight of Ceci herself - who is being victimized by an unscrupulous animal psychic - that finally unites this unlikely group in a crime-stopping spree that requires not only the finely tuned ratiocination of the Holmes admirers but the eager cooperation of an outraged Holly and the very particular talents of her willing canine accomplices.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Sherlockians especially will enjoy Conant's latest dog mystery (after Animal Appetite, 1997) featuring journalist Holly Winter in her most intricate case yet. Holly and her champion Alaskan malamute, Rowdy, who has earned his Rx.D. as a certified therapy dog, regularly visit a Cambridge, Mass., nursing home. There they meet Althea Battlefield and her two elderly admirers, Hugh and Robert, all three of whom are fanatic fans of Sherlock Holmes. Holly also meets Althea's wealthy younger sister, Ceci, who is actively mourning the death of her favorite dog. When Althea's grandnephew is found dead in the backyard of Ceci's home, Hugh and Robert jump at the chance to put Sherlockian technique to the test. Ceci, like many bereaved Cambridge animal lovers, has been swindled by an unscrupulous psychic. Even Holly finds herself reluctantly impressed by the psychic's apparent abilities until the fog parts during a late-night stakeout in Ceci's yard with her elderly cohorts. Conant cleverly incorporates Holmes and Watson lore into her plot and writes eloquently of what it is like to lose a beloved pet. Her story is further enhanced by her sensitive depictions of the residents of the nursing home Holly and Rowdy visit. Though their faculties may be failing, the elders' simple enjoyment of an animal's touch speaks volumes about the good a therapy dog can accomplish. (Mar.)

Library Journal