A New Leash on Death

My name is Holly Winter. It's not my fault. Until I was born, my parents, or, as they always said, my sire and dam, hadn't had any practice naming people. In the week before my birth, two of their golden retrievers produced a total of seventeen puppies. I was number eighteen. I've often had the feeling that a human puppy must have been a surprise to Buck and Marissa. They must have been stunned when I began to utter words.

This is the first book in Susan Conant's interesting new series about Holly Winter, amateur detective and dog fancier. When a fellow member of her dog obedience class is strangled to death with his dog leash, Holly takes in his Alaskan Malamute, Rowdy. She gives him a bath a notices a registration tattoo on his leg. While investigating where Rowdy came from and who his previous owner was, she also finds clues as to why his current owner may have been murdered.

I thought this was an interesting book. My daughter was a junior handler when she was a teenager and I felt like the author really captured the flavor and personality of “dog people”. I think any dog lover would enjoy it if they're looking for a little bit of humor and a lot show more of dog information. I found it so interesting and will definitely check out another of her books sometime in the future. It was the perfect book to read on the plane during my vacation. show less

I like Holly Winter and Rowdy. This book was a great start to the series.
The first of Susan Conant’s dog lover’s mysteries, A New Leash on Death introduces Holly Winter and Rowdy, the Alaskan malamute who has reliably gone Best of Breed in the hearts of dog-loving mystery readers and mystery-reading dog lovers since this book’s original publication in 1990.

Mourning the recent death of her angelic golden retriever, Dog’s Life columnist Holly Winter goes to a class at the Cambridge Dog Training Club only to help out—little suspecting that her help will consist of solving a murder! And little does she expect that in offering temporary shelter to the victim’s bereft Alaskan malamute, she’ll end with a dog she’ll do anything show more to keep forever—the bold and boisterous Rowdy.

Why didn’t the elderly Dr. Frank Stanton return to release Rowdy from a long down? Because Dr. Stanton was on the longest down of all, strangled with Rowdy’s leash! Even though Holly isn’t ready for a new dog, Rowdy is too beguiling to resist. But how can Holly make him her own? Only by discovering who killed Dr. Stanton—and risking her life in the process. show less

I liked the book well enough. I enjoyed all the details on obedience training and showing, although some may feel it is too much. The writing wasn't wonderful, but I felt comfortable around all the dog environments. I think some have referred to it as a cozy mystery, and I would agree, it was comfortable and cozy. Also a quick read.

I really liked the choice and description of the Malamute who is the main dog. I used to have a Newfoundland, and it was nice to have one of those in the book too.

Especially in the beginning when each character is introduced, it felt a little too obvious that details are listed in a big paragraph for each, that made it obvious it was a murder mystery and you had to give too many details so you had room for show more red herrings. I think this book was published in 1990, and funny to see little details like having to mail in an order, references to diskettes', and use of chain choke collars (does anyone still use those?).

When the villain attacks her once or twice, the way they were done were a bit stupid, but ok, not a smart murderer. The mystery itself was ok.

Overall I enjoyed the book, and as a quick cozy mystery I would recommend it but not vote it to be the best mystery with a dog. I liked it enough I would be willing to read more books in this series and I understand she gets better. show less

I liked the book well enough. I enjoyed all the details on obedience training and showing, although some may feel it is too much. The writing wasn't wonderful, but I felt comfortable around all the dog environments. I think some have referred to it as a cozy mystery, and I would agree, it was comfortable and cozy. Also a quick read.

I really liked the choice and description of the Malamute who is the main dog. I used to have a Newfoundland, and it was nice to have one of those in the book too.

Especially in the beginning when each character is introduced, it felt a little too obvious that details are listed in a big paragraph for each, that made it obvious it was a murder mystery and you had to give too many details so you had room for show more red herrings. I think this book was published in 1990, and funny to see little details like having to mail in an order, references to diskettes', and use of chain choke collars (does anyone still use those?).

When the villain attacks her once or twice, the way they were done were a bit stupid, but ok, not a smart murderer. The mystery itself was ok.

Overall I enjoyed the book, and as a quick cozy mystery I would recommend it but not vote it to be the best mystery with a dog. I liked it enough I would be willing to read more books in this series and I understand she gets better. show less

First of a long series of Dog Lovers’ Mysteries. Humorous but slightly overwritten. I enjoyed it for what is was, a fast and entertaining read with lots and lots of dog references. I may give the next volume a go when I’m looking for something fluffy between heavier books.

Pretty good cozy mystery.