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Mad Dog Elegy
In Mad Dog Elegy, Book 5 of # The matriarch of a generational south Floridian crime family has demanded Dr. Fox Argall lead the investigation into the murder of her son and heir, setting up a complicated and dark new case. As always, webs of complex #science with #murder + a side of #romance weave through twisty #mystery threads. Fox leaves a trail of irritation everywhere he goes. Well, almost everywhere. He's very good at a thing or two. It's all just his kind of trouble.
Kindle Edition
Published July 31, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 10, 2026
If you’ve been following Fox Argall, you already know you’re in good hands. If this is your first book in the series? Welcome, and consider yourself warned: you’re going to want to go back and read the others.
Mad Dog Elegy drops Fox into the dangerous overlap between a crime family’s grief and its secrets, investigating the murder of an heir whose death nobody in the family is quite willing to explain. Collings MacCrae is at her best when Fox’s neurodivergent mind runs headlong into a world built on unspoken rules and coded loyalties, and organized crime is exactly that kind of world. Watching him navigate it is alternately brilliant and excruciating, in the best possible way.
What sets this series apart — and this book in particular — is that the mystery is never just a puzzle. The people around it matter. The moral weight accumulates. By the time Fox reaches his conclusions, the cost of getting there is real and felt.
Collings writes human beings doing difficult work in a complicated world, and Fox remains one of the most genuinely original protagonists in contemporary crime fiction. This is true not in spite of his neurodivergence, but because of the particular and irreplaceable way it shapes everything he sees.
Mad Dog Elegy delivers everything the series promises and pushes it further. Essential reading.
Mad Dog Elegy drops Fox into the dangerous overlap between a crime family’s grief and its secrets, investigating the murder of an heir whose death nobody in the family is quite willing to explain. Collings MacCrae is at her best when Fox’s neurodivergent mind runs headlong into a world built on unspoken rules and coded loyalties, and organized crime is exactly that kind of world. Watching him navigate it is alternately brilliant and excruciating, in the best possible way.
What sets this series apart — and this book in particular — is that the mystery is never just a puzzle. The people around it matter. The moral weight accumulates. By the time Fox reaches his conclusions, the cost of getting there is real and felt.
Collings writes human beings doing difficult work in a complicated world, and Fox remains one of the most genuinely original protagonists in contemporary crime fiction. This is true not in spite of his neurodivergence, but because of the particular and irreplaceable way it shapes everything he sees.
Mad Dog Elegy delivers everything the series promises and pushes it further. Essential reading.
June 28, 2026
Mad Dog Elegy by Collings MacCrae is a gripping and atmospheric read that successfully blends tension, emotion, and compelling storytelling.
It's the latest in the Fox Argyll Mysteries, and MacCrae, as usual, creates a dark and immersive world populated by believable characters. The narrative moves at a steady pace, gradually drawing the reader deeper into the story while maintaining a strong sense of suspense.
It has great character development. The protagonist is complex and relatable, and the emotional undertones add depth beyond the central plot.
MacCrae's writing style is vivid and evocative, bringing both the settings and the characters vividly to life.
There were moments where the pacing slowed slightly, particularly in the middle sections, and a few plot threads could have been explored in greater detail. However, these minor issues do little to detract from an otherwise engaging and rewarding reading experience.
Mad Dog Elegy is a well-crafted novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy dark, character-driven fiction with plenty of intrigue and emotional resonance. It is a strong and memorable read that leaves a lasting impression.
It's the latest in the Fox Argyll Mysteries, and MacCrae, as usual, creates a dark and immersive world populated by believable characters. The narrative moves at a steady pace, gradually drawing the reader deeper into the story while maintaining a strong sense of suspense.
It has great character development. The protagonist is complex and relatable, and the emotional undertones add depth beyond the central plot.
MacCrae's writing style is vivid and evocative, bringing both the settings and the characters vividly to life.
There were moments where the pacing slowed slightly, particularly in the middle sections, and a few plot threads could have been explored in greater detail. However, these minor issues do little to detract from an otherwise engaging and rewarding reading experience.
Mad Dog Elegy is a well-crafted novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy dark, character-driven fiction with plenty of intrigue and emotional resonance. It is a strong and memorable read that leaves a lasting impression.
July 5, 2026
Mad Dog Elegy delivers everything I've come to expect from the Fox Argall series, and hits you with a gut punch you won't see coming.
Although Fox is the center of everything, events spill onto his closest companions. The body count climbs fast as an antagonist with a specific vendetta masterminds the chaos. The mystery unspools in classic twisty fashion, with old grudges and family secrets driving the violence in ways that don't click until the final pages.
As with any well-written series, I've bonded to the core cast as an invested reader and enjoy following their individual stories. (Cheering for you, Stan)
This was a dark, propulsive read that raises the stakes for Fox and company. Can't wait to see where the fallout leads in the next book.
Although Fox is the center of everything, events spill onto his closest companions. The body count climbs fast as an antagonist with a specific vendetta masterminds the chaos. The mystery unspools in classic twisty fashion, with old grudges and family secrets driving the violence in ways that don't click until the final pages.
As with any well-written series, I've bonded to the core cast as an invested reader and enjoy following their individual stories. (Cheering for you, Stan)
This was a dark, propulsive read that raises the stakes for Fox and company. Can't wait to see where the fallout leads in the next book.
June 9, 2026
This is a total action packed gripping, heart stopper. Fox is obsessed with finding his enemy Natalie and he needs to rescue the small kids she's ensnared in her trap. This must be a fight to the finish, but who makes it out alive??? A page turner that is unputdownable. I read this several times, but the last quarter is utterly compelling. On edge and looking forward to the next read.
I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest review.
I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews