The Dog Who Knew Too Much

I read and enjoyed the first Rachel Alexander and Dash Mystery, ‘This Dog For Hire’(1996) six years ago. I’d meant to carry on with the series, but for some obscure reason, the rest of the series wasn’t available in the UK as an audiobook. I picked up 'The Dog Who Knew Too Much' (1997) when it was released in the UK as an audiobook in 2025. I'm glad I did. It was great entertainment. Dina Pearlman was the perfect narrator for this, and she performed it with gusto.

Although this might appear to be a cosy mystery (Cute title, dog trainer turned unlicensed PI as the heroine, Pit Bull called Dashiell as her 'partner'), 'The Dog Who Knew Too Much' doesn't set out to amuse or even to make the reader comfortable. The death at the centre show more of the story is a tragedy for everybody touched by it. Their grief, guilt and anger are real and powerful.

The people in the story are vividly drawn. The dialogue felt authentic, especially when Rachel was meeting with David and Marsha Jacobs, which, given that they were the parents of the young woman who may or may not have committed suicide, was heart-wrenching.

The suspect pool, assuming a crime had been committed, was small, but the characters were diverse, and more than one of them had something to conceal.

The practice of Tai Chi was so well described that it made me want to seek out a class so I could learn to slip into that disciplined meditation on motion.

What I liked most about the book was the journey it took Rachel on. She chooses to investigate the death by literally living in the dead woman's shoes. She lives in her condo, wears her clothes and attends her Tai Chi studio. As she does this, she reflects on her own experience of grief, loss and betrayal. I learned as much about Rachel as I did about the people she was investigating.

The mystery was a good one, but it's the people whom I'll remember. show less

Rachel and Dash are special.