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The Second-Smartest Dog That Ever Lived
SOUTHWEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR, 2025
I am a dog but I do not die at the end of this book. Who else could have written it?
The human who found me is fine. She feeds me. She cuddles me. She puts a roof over my head. But I do not appreciate being held captive. Because I am a dog with the intelligence of a human. And I aim to find out why.
Accompanied by Shakespeare, a Pug with the intelligence of a Pug, I run away from home, embarking on an epic quest for freedom, knowledge, and, quite possibly, revenge.
Together we must survive a harsh desert of cannibalistic coyotes, stray humans, a fugitive white tiger, and one hypnotic beacon that shines from a city of sin, luring us back into so-called civilization.
My name is Rousseau. I seek the truth. Even if it means I lose my mind…
Full of imagination and humor, The Second-Smartest Dog That Ever Lived is a dog book like no other, with a canine narrator who questions the value of human society, and a dog’s place within it.
Readers are saying:
★★★★★ "I did not expect the complexity, the humor, the philosophy, and the humanness that exist in these pages! But don't be fooled—this is no boring, philosophical story. While the themes are underlying, the main force of this novel is action and movement."
★★★★★ “By far the best dog story I’ve ever read.”
★★★★★ "A very impressive debut that works on a variety of levels."
★★★★★ “Insanely creative.”
387 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 4, 2024
41 people are currently reading
1962 people want to read
About the author
Will Pass
1 book18 followersWill Pass practiced as a veterinarian in Las Vegas before becoming a novelist and medical writer. He lives in Colorado with his wife, son, two cats, and very good dog. The Second-Smartest Dog That Ever Lived is his first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
September 21, 2025
4.5★s
The Second Smartest Dog That Ever Lived is the first novel by former veterinarian and American author, Will Pass. All the dog remembers is coming to in Hoover Animal Control Officer Mitchell’s car as she rants about the sicko that discarded him from a van like a piece of trash. At the vet clinic, he escapes amputation of his broken leg when Mary Mitchell, charmed by his big floppy ears, pays for reparative surgery.
When the clinic’s cat, Birdie, warns him he’ll be losing his doodads too, escape becomes urgent. And he nearly makes it. He’s very grateful when Mary kindly brings him to her house on the edge of the desert, where the lights of Los Velos can be seen in the distance at night.
Mary shares her home with a proud hyacinth macaw named Antonio Banderas, an ever-optimistic pug named Shakespeare, who has a desire to run with coyotes, and superior-acting one-eyed tabby cat named Dwid. Mary names the new dog Leonardo di Caprio, Leo for short.
Even in his cage at the clinic, Leo felt he was different. As he heals from his broken leg at Mary’s, he begins to see just how much smarter he is than his companions. It’s when he returns to Dr Francis (whose later actions are a bit reminiscent of another Francis) to have the cast removed, that a major shock comes: the thoughts he sends to Dr Francis are received and understood, much to the vet’s consternation.
Ulysses Francis believes he’s going insane, until Leo can eventually prove to him that he isn’t. Back at Mary’s, Leo discovers that he can read, although he is frustrated that she has nothing better than magazines. Because he vaguely remembers things called books, that are much more interesting.
A backyard encounter with a coyote (Gus) and the reemergence of the neutering threat sees Leo once again planning an escape, vowing to find the human who made him the way he is, an escape accidentally facilitated by a housefire. Shakespeare tags along, rather to Leo’s dismay although, time and again during their quest, the pug’s overt friendliness, courage and enthusiasm save the day.
Before Leo finds out the incredible truth, there’s a confrontation with three coyotes in the desert, a long sojourn with a coyote family, a showdown with a trigger-happy rancher, an encounter with an escaped White Bengal Tiger and her feline tribe, and a trek to the centre of Los Velos under the guidance(?) of the delightfully-named weiner, Vernald von Lang Lichaam Grote Hersenen de Derde (Vernald of Long Body Large Brain the Third), Vern for short.
They are adopted by some stray humans for a time before the trio ends up in a circus act at The Palace, a casino overrun by clinically insane mice, all armed with hypodermic syringe swords, all named Sir Galahad, all in search of the Holy Grail. The dramatic climax involves just about every animal you can think of, and a certain veterinarian.
Will Pass’s debut is a bit sci-fi, a bit fantasy, a bit speculative, and quite a lot adventure. Until things take a slightly darker turn, the dialogue is often hilarious, and the cats are so very “cat”. Oogle, PeopleBook, Thinkipedia and Los Velos are all thinly-veiled references to a world that very closely resembles our own, in which some of these fantastic things might happen. More by Will Pass is most welcome.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Thiessen Press.
The Second Smartest Dog That Ever Lived is the first novel by former veterinarian and American author, Will Pass. All the dog remembers is coming to in Hoover Animal Control Officer Mitchell’s car as she rants about the sicko that discarded him from a van like a piece of trash. At the vet clinic, he escapes amputation of his broken leg when Mary Mitchell, charmed by his big floppy ears, pays for reparative surgery.
When the clinic’s cat, Birdie, warns him he’ll be losing his doodads too, escape becomes urgent. And he nearly makes it. He’s very grateful when Mary kindly brings him to her house on the edge of the desert, where the lights of Los Velos can be seen in the distance at night.
Mary shares her home with a proud hyacinth macaw named Antonio Banderas, an ever-optimistic pug named Shakespeare, who has a desire to run with coyotes, and superior-acting one-eyed tabby cat named Dwid. Mary names the new dog Leonardo di Caprio, Leo for short.
Even in his cage at the clinic, Leo felt he was different. As he heals from his broken leg at Mary’s, he begins to see just how much smarter he is than his companions. It’s when he returns to Dr Francis (whose later actions are a bit reminiscent of another Francis) to have the cast removed, that a major shock comes: the thoughts he sends to Dr Francis are received and understood, much to the vet’s consternation.
Ulysses Francis believes he’s going insane, until Leo can eventually prove to him that he isn’t. Back at Mary’s, Leo discovers that he can read, although he is frustrated that she has nothing better than magazines. Because he vaguely remembers things called books, that are much more interesting.
A backyard encounter with a coyote (Gus) and the reemergence of the neutering threat sees Leo once again planning an escape, vowing to find the human who made him the way he is, an escape accidentally facilitated by a housefire. Shakespeare tags along, rather to Leo’s dismay although, time and again during their quest, the pug’s overt friendliness, courage and enthusiasm save the day.
Before Leo finds out the incredible truth, there’s a confrontation with three coyotes in the desert, a long sojourn with a coyote family, a showdown with a trigger-happy rancher, an encounter with an escaped White Bengal Tiger and her feline tribe, and a trek to the centre of Los Velos under the guidance(?) of the delightfully-named weiner, Vernald von Lang Lichaam Grote Hersenen de Derde (Vernald of Long Body Large Brain the Third), Vern for short.
They are adopted by some stray humans for a time before the trio ends up in a circus act at The Palace, a casino overrun by clinically insane mice, all armed with hypodermic syringe swords, all named Sir Galahad, all in search of the Holy Grail. The dramatic climax involves just about every animal you can think of, and a certain veterinarian.
Will Pass’s debut is a bit sci-fi, a bit fantasy, a bit speculative, and quite a lot adventure. Until things take a slightly darker turn, the dialogue is often hilarious, and the cats are so very “cat”. Oogle, PeopleBook, Thinkipedia and Los Velos are all thinly-veiled references to a world that very closely resembles our own, in which some of these fantastic things might happen. More by Will Pass is most welcome.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Thiessen Press.
April 21, 2025
A couple of mongrels run away from home and call it a quest. One in pursuit of certain truths of his origin, the other because it's a quest, should be fun.
All the critters speak fluently in the English language to communicate with one another. Humans are unaware of this phenomenon, although the animals understand the humans, it doesn't work in reverse. Except, does it?
Our duo soon shack up with a coyote family and learn the finer points of survival mode. This however takes a sinister turn and our two lovable pups are back on the road to knowledge.
This trek is not all fun and games. There are some fun light-headed moments but also some darkness. Goodness and peril are met along the way. Street living is hard living and we see some of that played out here.
This story took an odd turn once the puppers make it to the city. I didn't really want it to go in that direction but after all is said and done, I accepted it as truth.
They do pick up a companion, the self proclaimed "smartest dog in the world" a lovable little stray Weiner who tags along and offers up some laughs. I couldn't been happier.
Do our two runaways realize that there's no place like home or is the life of Riley a more suitable existence?
Only one way to find out.
Which brings me to my 75 lb co-dependent beast of a dog.
He may not the smartest or even second smartest dog in the world. He can't open doors, but in his defense, he has no thumbs.
He's loud, he's obnoxious, he's nosey, he's huge and he drolls pools.
But he's mine all mine.
And he's such a good good boy.
All the critters speak fluently in the English language to communicate with one another. Humans are unaware of this phenomenon, although the animals understand the humans, it doesn't work in reverse. Except, does it?
Our duo soon shack up with a coyote family and learn the finer points of survival mode. This however takes a sinister turn and our two lovable pups are back on the road to knowledge.
This trek is not all fun and games. There are some fun light-headed moments but also some darkness. Goodness and peril are met along the way. Street living is hard living and we see some of that played out here.
This story took an odd turn once the puppers make it to the city. I didn't really want it to go in that direction but after all is said and done, I accepted it as truth.
They do pick up a companion, the self proclaimed "smartest dog in the world" a lovable little stray Weiner who tags along and offers up some laughs. I couldn't been happier.
Do our two runaways realize that there's no place like home or is the life of Riley a more suitable existence?
Only one way to find out.
Which brings me to my 75 lb co-dependent beast of a dog.
He may not the smartest or even second smartest dog in the world. He can't open doors, but in his defense, he has no thumbs.
He's loud, he's obnoxious, he's nosey, he's huge and he drolls pools.
But he's mine all mine.
And he's such a good good boy.
July 21, 2024
I was absolutely blown away by this book. I went into it thinking it would be a cute little animal adventure, but it was so much more than that.
The story follows Leo’s incredible journey, which begins when he falls from the back of a van on a highway and is picked up, injured, by animal control. From there, Leo embarks on an epic adventure along with his ‘brother’ pug Shakespeare and numerous other animals we meet along the way, including coyotes, a tiger, an orangutan, and more. Leo quickly recognizes that he is more intellectually gifted than some of the animals around him, and this is reinforced when he is able to read and speak to humans.
The whole story really hinges on the characterization of the animals, especially as it’s written from Leo’s POV. It would be easy to make the story fun and silly as dogs often are, but the author adds layers of warmth and emotion, which give depth and nuance to the story. It’s so easy to fall in love with Leo and Shakespeare, and you quickly do, which means that you want to root for them in all the chaotic situations and scrapes they get into. You feel a rollercoaster of emotions when danger is near. The bright yellow cover might fool you into thinking this is going to be a light-hearted, happy-go-lucky story, but it actually packs an emotional punch, and in some situations, I genuinely felt discomforted (thinking of the cat & coyotes moment). The story is full of twists and turns that leave you guessing and keep you gripped to find out what will happen next, giving it a movie-like quality.
As a dog owner, I found this a joy to read. The mannerisms of Leo and the others were spot on—unsurprising, as the author is a vet with the expertise to nail these details. This is honestly one of the best books I’ve read this year and is definitely one of the strongest debuts as well.
Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for this ARC which I received for free, and I am leaving an honest review voluntarily.
The story follows Leo’s incredible journey, which begins when he falls from the back of a van on a highway and is picked up, injured, by animal control. From there, Leo embarks on an epic adventure along with his ‘brother’ pug Shakespeare and numerous other animals we meet along the way, including coyotes, a tiger, an orangutan, and more. Leo quickly recognizes that he is more intellectually gifted than some of the animals around him, and this is reinforced when he is able to read and speak to humans.
The whole story really hinges on the characterization of the animals, especially as it’s written from Leo’s POV. It would be easy to make the story fun and silly as dogs often are, but the author adds layers of warmth and emotion, which give depth and nuance to the story. It’s so easy to fall in love with Leo and Shakespeare, and you quickly do, which means that you want to root for them in all the chaotic situations and scrapes they get into. You feel a rollercoaster of emotions when danger is near. The bright yellow cover might fool you into thinking this is going to be a light-hearted, happy-go-lucky story, but it actually packs an emotional punch, and in some situations, I genuinely felt discomforted (thinking of the cat & coyotes moment). The story is full of twists and turns that leave you guessing and keep you gripped to find out what will happen next, giving it a movie-like quality.
As a dog owner, I found this a joy to read. The mannerisms of Leo and the others were spot on—unsurprising, as the author is a vet with the expertise to nail these details. This is honestly one of the best books I’ve read this year and is definitely one of the strongest debuts as well.
Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for this ARC which I received for free, and I am leaving an honest review voluntarily.
June 15, 2024
This story is an absolute gem of a read. Will has captured the voice and personalities of each "character" with visualizations of places and emotions that transferred from the written word to the heart and tickled my funny bone. This work can turn your frown upside down—so many witticisms, and a captivating story. I genuinely fell in love and laughed more deeply with the turn of every page.
Will has created a wondrous "tail"...adults will relate and "on the other paw" children will delight with these mesmerizing vagabonds searching for freedom and adventure. There is a reason that it is said that "dogs are man's best friend". Through Will's brilliant imagination and ironic sense of humor, he voices what we think they're telling us through our connections with our furry companions.
A definite treasure to keep on your bookshelf and "Pass" down through generations.
Will has created a wondrous "tail"...adults will relate and "on the other paw" children will delight with these mesmerizing vagabonds searching for freedom and adventure. There is a reason that it is said that "dogs are man's best friend". Through Will's brilliant imagination and ironic sense of humor, he voices what we think they're telling us through our connections with our furry companions.
A definite treasure to keep on your bookshelf and "Pass" down through generations.
October 2, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. The Second Smartest Dog That Ever Lived has a point of view of a dog. So I needed no more encouragement to send a request to Will Pass to read this novel. The story follows a very smart dog, who has no memory and his new friends. What I liked is that cats are so arrogant as I always imagine, dogs are as adorable as they are and even the parrot is like a parrot, showing how talented veterinarian and author Will Pass is. I loved Shakespeare's welcome scene. Thank you BookSirens and Will Pass for this chance to read this interesting novel.
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July 9, 2024Full-RTC
I received an advanced digital copy of this book, courtesy of the author and publisher, via Netgalley, for review consideration.
I received an advanced digital copy of this book, courtesy of the author and publisher, via Netgalley, for review consideration.
July 30, 2024
The Second Smartest Dog That Ever Lived is a hard-to-categorise book by a retired vet, told from the point of view of Leo/Rou, a super-intelligent rescue dog with amnesia who goes on a quest to find out who or what made him so special. In the end I shelved it as fantasy rather than sci-fi, and it’s definitely not a comedy, nor is it suitable for children. I actually almost abandoned it after a horrific scene where a cat is killed by coyotes, and only kept going to find out what Rou’s backstory would be.
After being dumped from a car on a highway, a young dog wakes up at the vet’s with no memory of when he came from. Taken home to join her menagerie of other pets by lonely alcoholic Mary, he meets lovably dimwitted pug Shakespeare, but resents being kept captive, so seizes the chance to escape in order to find the human who abandoned him. Naming himself Rousseau, he has a series of unlikely adventures, encountering a range of other animals, on his mission to discover the truth.
This was a fantastical story that would probably appeal more to dog lovers than Cat Mothers - while not all the cats featured are bad, they are not portrayed sympathetically. While aspects of Rou’s voyage of discovery were amusing, as he attempts to make sense of the human world, the plot got quite dark at times. In the end I quite liked it but think it was a bit drawn out and the mystery aspect a bit disappointing. There are some good characters though, and I liked the originality of the premise and plot. Thanks to NetGalley and Thiessen Press for the ARC.
The Second-Smartest Dog That Ever Lived Is published on October 4th.
After being dumped from a car on a highway, a young dog wakes up at the vet’s with no memory of when he came from. Taken home to join her menagerie of other pets by lonely alcoholic Mary, he meets lovably dimwitted pug Shakespeare, but resents being kept captive, so seizes the chance to escape in order to find the human who abandoned him. Naming himself Rousseau, he has a series of unlikely adventures, encountering a range of other animals, on his mission to discover the truth.
This was a fantastical story that would probably appeal more to dog lovers than Cat Mothers - while not all the cats featured are bad, they are not portrayed sympathetically. While aspects of Rou’s voyage of discovery were amusing, as he attempts to make sense of the human world, the plot got quite dark at times. In the end I quite liked it but think it was a bit drawn out and the mystery aspect a bit disappointing. There are some good characters though, and I liked the originality of the premise and plot. Thanks to NetGalley and Thiessen Press for the ARC.
The Second-Smartest Dog That Ever Lived Is published on October 4th.
September 14, 2024
If a book has a dog in it, it’s pretty much an auto buy for me. However, I got this book for free from Veracious Readers in exchange for an honest review so thank you.
Our story begins when Leo/Rou is thrown out of a van on the highway and picked up by animal control. From there we discover that he is not your normal dog, he can read and communicate with humans. And he wants to know why.
From there, he goes on adventure with his ‘brother’- a pug called Shakespeare (who was my absolute favourite character!) to discover where he came from, meeting coyotes, a tiger and an orang-utan along the way.
I really enjoyed this story! I do feel that in some places Rou sounded more human than dog but that made sense when I got to the climax of the story.
The mannerisms of the dogs are spot on and although we were never told what breed of dog Rou was, his behaviours remained canine in nature. As the author is a vet it shows that he really understands the animals he works with.
The ending was exactly what I wanted from the story and I’m really glad I read this book! As a dog lover, it was great.
Also- my brother has a sausage dog and Vern is so like him it had me laughing out loud.
Cute characters
Great premise
4/5 stars.
Our story begins when Leo/Rou is thrown out of a van on the highway and picked up by animal control. From there we discover that he is not your normal dog, he can read and communicate with humans. And he wants to know why.
From there, he goes on adventure with his ‘brother’- a pug called Shakespeare (who was my absolute favourite character!) to discover where he came from, meeting coyotes, a tiger and an orang-utan along the way.
I really enjoyed this story! I do feel that in some places Rou sounded more human than dog but that made sense when I got to the climax of the story.
The mannerisms of the dogs are spot on and although we were never told what breed of dog Rou was, his behaviours remained canine in nature. As the author is a vet it shows that he really understands the animals he works with.
The ending was exactly what I wanted from the story and I’m really glad I read this book! As a dog lover, it was great.
Also- my brother has a sausage dog and Vern is so like him it had me laughing out loud.
Cute characters
Great premise
4/5 stars.
June 16, 2024
This book is an exciting, unusual, and daring experience for me, as it's my first ARC to review and my first book with an animal narrator. The story follows Leo, a.k.a. Rou, and a pug named Shakes as they embark on an adventure through unknown places, from the desert to the city of sins. I love how the story employs satire, making me giggle at parts and serving as a good palette cleanser for someone like me who enjoys mystery crime thrillers. The narrative focuses on the characters' experiences and encounters, making it occasionally gripping and reminiscent of watching an animated movie. However, some parts felt too long, leading to moments of boredom, and the plot felt familiar for an animal POV story. Overall, while a large chunk of the adventure bored me, I still appreciate the satire and slice-of-life elements the story offers.
July 15, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the ARC!
This was such a smart, witty, fun book! It's told from the perspective of Rousseau, a stray dog with a vendetta against his former owner. He strikes out on a cross country trek to find his previous owner who dumped him and through his travels meets a menagerie of animals and personalities. The interactions between all the animals were hilarious and so fun to read. There were a few parts that were a little boring during their travels, but the pacing picked back up quickly. For a debut novel, this was a gem!
This was such a smart, witty, fun book! It's told from the perspective of Rousseau, a stray dog with a vendetta against his former owner. He strikes out on a cross country trek to find his previous owner who dumped him and through his travels meets a menagerie of animals and personalities. The interactions between all the animals were hilarious and so fun to read. There were a few parts that were a little boring during their travels, but the pacing picked back up quickly. For a debut novel, this was a gem!
August 7, 2024
The Second Smartest Dog That Ever Lived follows the story of Rou, a suspiciously intelligent dog that is suffering with amnesia after being thrown from a moving car. At its core, this is the story of Rou trying to understand why he is different, where he came from and what his place is within the world.
This was a real page turner. There were so many questions I wanted answers to and I was fully invested in the mystery of where this strange dog had come from. Short chapters and fast pacing helped with the bingeability of this book, it’s easy to say “one more chapter” and then blink and you’ve read another 7 and things are entirely different.
I expected this to just be a feel-good adventure story with some laughs, but I was surprised when it took some quite dark turns at times. The tone can change quite suddenly and there are some violent scenes of animal death, be aware if you are sensitive to that kind of content!
In the end I quite liked this, it’s a very strong debut. Every character has a unique voice and the story was engaging throughout. I did find the resolution somewhat disappointing, the ending felt a bit rushed and I would have preferred if there was some more foreshadowing throughout that indicated the outcome. Would definitely recommend this if you are looking for a bingeable animal story and don’t mind if it has some violent turns.
Thanks to Netgalley and Thiessen Press for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! This book is published on October 4th 2024.
This was a real page turner. There were so many questions I wanted answers to and I was fully invested in the mystery of where this strange dog had come from. Short chapters and fast pacing helped with the bingeability of this book, it’s easy to say “one more chapter” and then blink and you’ve read another 7 and things are entirely different.
I expected this to just be a feel-good adventure story with some laughs, but I was surprised when it took some quite dark turns at times. The tone can change quite suddenly and there are some violent scenes of animal death, be aware if you are sensitive to that kind of content!
In the end I quite liked this, it’s a very strong debut. Every character has a unique voice and the story was engaging throughout. I did find the resolution somewhat disappointing, the ending felt a bit rushed and I would have preferred if there was some more foreshadowing throughout that indicated the outcome. Would definitely recommend this if you are looking for a bingeable animal story and don’t mind if it has some violent turns.
Thanks to Netgalley and Thiessen Press for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! This book is published on October 4th 2024.
August 6, 2024
rated: 3.5 stars rounded up
while this definitely didn't end up where i was expecting it to, this was still a fun romp around through the eyes of a very intelligent dog learning about the world for the first time. set in the almost real world of los velos (which im pretty sure was supposed to be las vegas?? maybe??) we follow rou in his adventure to find out why he is the way that he is, making a bunch of fun side character friends along the way. the structure of the book gave the vibe of video game levels, with each part a level different in both scope and tone on the way to the final boss fight at the end.
the ending was definitely the weakest part, and it felt like a bit of a rushed moment where all the questions were answered in the last 10%. regardless of that though, i did really enjoy reading this, and even if it did use the cheapest trick in the book to set itself up for a possible sequel i would read that too.
thanks to the publisher via netgalley for an arc of this book
while this definitely didn't end up where i was expecting it to, this was still a fun romp around through the eyes of a very intelligent dog learning about the world for the first time. set in the almost real world of los velos (which im pretty sure was supposed to be las vegas?? maybe??) we follow rou in his adventure to find out why he is the way that he is, making a bunch of fun side character friends along the way. the structure of the book gave the vibe of video game levels, with each part a level different in both scope and tone on the way to the final boss fight at the end.
the ending was definitely the weakest part, and it felt like a bit of a rushed moment where all the questions were answered in the last 10%. regardless of that though, i did really enjoy reading this, and even if it did use the cheapest trick in the book to set itself up for a possible sequel i would read that too.
thanks to the publisher via netgalley for an arc of this book
August 25, 2024
This book is so entertaining and so unlike anything I've read before.
Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a dog, or even just wondered what they would sound like? Well, then this book is for you!
Leo suffers from amnesia after being thrown out of a car on the highway, and so following all of his experiences of firsts really brings out an adorableness to the entire book. Everything is new to Leo, just like it's new to the reader, what it's like to be a dog. All the idiosyncrazies of seeing our lives from the viewpoint of our pets. All of the different animals in this book is very distinct and their personality is spot on with the traits and behaviour they display in our lives. I love Shakespeare the pug!
This debut is such a delicious story, that put a smile-turned-grin on my face. Leo's reasoning on flat earthers and creationism vs evolution was especially delectable!
This book definitely gave food for thought on how we treat animals overall.
Thanks to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest opinion.
Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a dog, or even just wondered what they would sound like? Well, then this book is for you!
Leo suffers from amnesia after being thrown out of a car on the highway, and so following all of his experiences of firsts really brings out an adorableness to the entire book. Everything is new to Leo, just like it's new to the reader, what it's like to be a dog. All the idiosyncrazies of seeing our lives from the viewpoint of our pets. All of the different animals in this book is very distinct and their personality is spot on with the traits and behaviour they display in our lives. I love Shakespeare the pug!
This debut is such a delicious story, that put a smile-turned-grin on my face. Leo's reasoning on flat earthers and creationism vs evolution was especially delectable!
This book definitely gave food for thought on how we treat animals overall.
Thanks to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest opinion.
April 9, 2025
March Pollyanna. Definitely an interesting read! Animals make me emotional and I feel like this book will always live at the back of my mind. It started slow for me, but for the second 2/3 of it I couldn’t put it down. People don’t deserve dogs.
July 17, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and Thiessen Press for the ARC!
This book is very chaotic, in a really fun and confusing way. I fully expected this to be a contemporary fiction novel like “The Curious Incident” but it is more like a weird sci fi book. That is what I would call this book; weird (in a very good way)
The tone of this book is very strong. Rou, as the main character, is learning about the world and realizes that he is not like other dogs (no seriously), and doesn’t seem to remember his life before waking up in a vet clinic. So he, along with a silly pug named Shakespeare, set out on a journey to find out who Rou really is.
I think that Will Pass has a very strong direction and writing style. For a debut I was very immersed with the characters and the story, and it was fun to find out the new information alongside the characters. I will say that you have to have suspension of disbelief, because something’s happen that are 1) unclear 2) absolutely ludicrous and some characters will show up pages later and be absolutely bonkers, but it was very fun!
Go read this when it’s released, you will not regret it!
This book is very chaotic, in a really fun and confusing way. I fully expected this to be a contemporary fiction novel like “The Curious Incident” but it is more like a weird sci fi book. That is what I would call this book; weird (in a very good way)
The tone of this book is very strong. Rou, as the main character, is learning about the world and realizes that he is not like other dogs (no seriously), and doesn’t seem to remember his life before waking up in a vet clinic. So he, along with a silly pug named Shakespeare, set out on a journey to find out who Rou really is.
I think that Will Pass has a very strong direction and writing style. For a debut I was very immersed with the characters and the story, and it was fun to find out the new information alongside the characters. I will say that you have to have suspension of disbelief, because something’s happen that are 1) unclear 2) absolutely ludicrous and some characters will show up pages later and be absolutely bonkers, but it was very fun!
Go read this when it’s released, you will not regret it!
November 29, 2024
First, I have to say I love books about dogs. And when the dog is the narrator, it's a no-brainer! This book was so funny at the beginning, then turned serious. It was a thoroughly enjoyable story, with a great ending!
October 5, 2024
Thanks to Netgalley and Thiessen Press for providing an ARC to review! Grab this novel, releasing October 4 2024!
What a whirlwind this story was! I went in, like some other reviewers, thinking this would be a cute talking animal story. I did not expect the complexity, the humor, the philosophy, and the humanness that exist in these pages!
We are jolted into the story in much the same way our main character, Leo, is jolted into consciousness after suffering a horrific accident. We spend the rest of the novel exploring and learning with Leo how he came to be injured and how he is the second smartest dog that ever lived.
This story is an adventure through and through. Along the way, we meet some interesting, ragtag characters that aid in the quest that Leo sets out on. There are some pretty significant highlights in theme, like confronting intellectualism, racism, homelessness, mental illness, elitism of higher institutions, animal rights, intelligence, family, and moralism/ethics. I'm serious.
This novel is divided into four parts. I believe part two was the weakest for me, although by the end I could understand the reason for the deviation. I just preferred the parts where Leo and his friends are juxtaposed with human motivations and interests. There are several parts that are absolute treasures to read. I went from being skeptical of what this story was trying to do to be completing enamored and wrapped up the questions it asks.
But don't be fooled-this is no boring, philosophical story. While the themes are underlying, the main force of this novel is action and movement. Leo is on a quest, and as such, we are taken through many different scenes and meet many different characters. There are battles, and danger, and death, and troublesome questions like which "side" of the fence Leo stands on (help humans or help fellow animals).
And this book is funny!! There were several times I laughed out loud-always unexpected and refreshing. I also felt my heart strings being pulled, particularly during a scene about 70% through when the dogs are living with the stray humans.
I am just as surprised as you are that this book is actually fantastic. I docked a star for some pacing complaints-some scenes I wanted to stay in, and we left too abruptly (when I say this moves at a breakneck pace, I mean it). Also factored into the star docking was the end-we had a beautiful climax that I kept looking at the percentage of time left because there was NO WAY it could wrap up in the time left. Will did his best to close, but it leaves a lot of questions and stops the action right when we were getting to the payoff. I think this is intentional, and I forgive it one hundred times because this story is exactly why I love reading.
It was surprising and heartfelt and truly well written. It could have been gimmicky but the author stays with it with such conviction that anything that would have felt stupid or cheap actually felt real and necessary. It's hard to pull off talking animals in an adult novel, but here we are. Will did it and did it so well. Bravo!
Some quotes I especially loved:
"Because we are just cells, all of us, and our cells are just atoms, and our atoms are just quarks, and all quarks are connected by forces that grow stronger with distance, and with this knowledge, and that of gravity, one begins to understand how contradictory it is to be anything at all."
"This vanity-this notion that you are somehow special-clouds your ability to see how similar to everyone else you really are. Pain is pain. To feel it is to be alive. Just like everyone else."
"...sorry surrogates of personal worth-money and power."
What a whirlwind this story was! I went in, like some other reviewers, thinking this would be a cute talking animal story. I did not expect the complexity, the humor, the philosophy, and the humanness that exist in these pages!
We are jolted into the story in much the same way our main character, Leo, is jolted into consciousness after suffering a horrific accident. We spend the rest of the novel exploring and learning with Leo how he came to be injured and how he is the second smartest dog that ever lived.
This story is an adventure through and through. Along the way, we meet some interesting, ragtag characters that aid in the quest that Leo sets out on. There are some pretty significant highlights in theme, like confronting intellectualism, racism, homelessness, mental illness, elitism of higher institutions, animal rights, intelligence, family, and moralism/ethics. I'm serious.
This novel is divided into four parts. I believe part two was the weakest for me, although by the end I could understand the reason for the deviation. I just preferred the parts where Leo and his friends are juxtaposed with human motivations and interests. There are several parts that are absolute treasures to read. I went from being skeptical of what this story was trying to do to be completing enamored and wrapped up the questions it asks.
But don't be fooled-this is no boring, philosophical story. While the themes are underlying, the main force of this novel is action and movement. Leo is on a quest, and as such, we are taken through many different scenes and meet many different characters. There are battles, and danger, and death, and troublesome questions like which "side" of the fence Leo stands on (help humans or help fellow animals).
And this book is funny!! There were several times I laughed out loud-always unexpected and refreshing. I also felt my heart strings being pulled, particularly during a scene about 70% through when the dogs are living with the stray humans.
I am just as surprised as you are that this book is actually fantastic. I docked a star for some pacing complaints-some scenes I wanted to stay in, and we left too abruptly (when I say this moves at a breakneck pace, I mean it). Also factored into the star docking was the end-we had a beautiful climax that I kept looking at the percentage of time left because there was NO WAY it could wrap up in the time left. Will did his best to close, but it leaves a lot of questions and stops the action right when we were getting to the payoff. I think this is intentional, and I forgive it one hundred times because this story is exactly why I love reading.
It was surprising and heartfelt and truly well written. It could have been gimmicky but the author stays with it with such conviction that anything that would have felt stupid or cheap actually felt real and necessary. It's hard to pull off talking animals in an adult novel, but here we are. Will did it and did it so well. Bravo!
Some quotes I especially loved:
"Because we are just cells, all of us, and our cells are just atoms, and our atoms are just quarks, and all quarks are connected by forces that grow stronger with distance, and with this knowledge, and that of gravity, one begins to understand how contradictory it is to be anything at all."
"This vanity-this notion that you are somehow special-clouds your ability to see how similar to everyone else you really are. Pain is pain. To feel it is to be alive. Just like everyone else."
"...sorry surrogates of personal worth-money and power."
August 17, 2024
I didn't know I needed an epic adventure narrated by a dog, but I absolutely did. "Dog stories" tend to be light and silly or very, very sad (in which case I will immediately put it down). This was thankfully neither and really became a bigger and bigger book, less about a dog and more about a quest, in the best way possible. My biggest compliment would be that when I came to the end of this 400 page book, I thought "aww, but what happens next?"
Thanks NetGalley and to the author for this advance copy.
Thanks NetGalley and to the author for this advance copy.
June 21, 2024
Told from Leo the Dogs’ perspective even though he doesn’t know he’s a dog initially, he’s not sure what he is, but he is very funny and the whole world around him is new. This is because he was abandoned, well half killed actually and found by the lovely Mary. Who takes him home and introduces him to other animals or he thinks their animals that he can speak to them but can’t understand why he can’t speak to Mary.
He can speak to his vet and Mary’s colleague Dr Francis, who thinks he’s going crazy.
Anyway, following on from a mysterious fire at Mary’s house, no one is quite sure how it started, but the animals get Mary and Dr Francis out, who both happened to be quite intoxicated from the night before. Leo uses the chaos and takes this opportunity to run away because he’s no longer happy being a house dog. And so Leo and Shakespeare embarks on his adventures across the country trying to find the bright light which he sees when he was in the garden which happens to be in Los Velos (Las Vegas to you and me). With his companions in tow, along the way he also decides he wants to be recognised as a coyote, because he came across one in the garden one night and after a conversation decides that they’re the original dogs and he now just wants to become one.
On his travels, following the light, he meets a pack of coyote and after being accepted as one he changes his name to Rousseau or Rou for short. Then he meets a pack of dogs and picks up Vern who (a wiener breed) is dressed like a sausage dog, an actual sausage in a bun dog costume. And along with Shakespeare the pug they embark on their quest to get to the Golden Palace to find the Rajah who nearly killed them earlier, with a snake, but didn’t succeed. And with the help of Dr Francis, who is beginning to act even more insane since meeting Leo and then being bitten by Rou, and with ANOTHER pack of dogs. They all perform some aerial dynamics and they finally gain admittance into the palace. But once inside they realise it is something else which the Rajah with and more antics ensue.
This is a very long book about the Leo’s/Rou’s very long journey and the characters they all encounter on his quest and the mischief they all get up to. During the travels he eventually decides he wants to go home and after completing his quest they do. Because the book is from Leos perspective, it shows how the now wild dogs live and survive in the wilds of America. Also, how the friends communicate and help each other along the way. It really does give off the Wizard of Oz vibes in certain places which is quite funny. But hasn’t this been made into a film or two already?
I absolutely loved the book. It was so funny, totally bonkers and so endearing and is beautifully written from the only person who could understand a Dogs’s perspective, a vet. I hope there’s another adventure featuring Leo, maybe not so long the next time.
He can speak to his vet and Mary’s colleague Dr Francis, who thinks he’s going crazy.
Anyway, following on from a mysterious fire at Mary’s house, no one is quite sure how it started, but the animals get Mary and Dr Francis out, who both happened to be quite intoxicated from the night before. Leo uses the chaos and takes this opportunity to run away because he’s no longer happy being a house dog. And so Leo and Shakespeare embarks on his adventures across the country trying to find the bright light which he sees when he was in the garden which happens to be in Los Velos (Las Vegas to you and me). With his companions in tow, along the way he also decides he wants to be recognised as a coyote, because he came across one in the garden one night and after a conversation decides that they’re the original dogs and he now just wants to become one.
On his travels, following the light, he meets a pack of coyote and after being accepted as one he changes his name to Rousseau or Rou for short. Then he meets a pack of dogs and picks up Vern who (a wiener breed) is dressed like a sausage dog, an actual sausage in a bun dog costume. And along with Shakespeare the pug they embark on their quest to get to the Golden Palace to find the Rajah who nearly killed them earlier, with a snake, but didn’t succeed. And with the help of Dr Francis, who is beginning to act even more insane since meeting Leo and then being bitten by Rou, and with ANOTHER pack of dogs. They all perform some aerial dynamics and they finally gain admittance into the palace. But once inside they realise it is something else which the Rajah with and more antics ensue.
This is a very long book about the Leo’s/Rou’s very long journey and the characters they all encounter on his quest and the mischief they all get up to. During the travels he eventually decides he wants to go home and after completing his quest they do. Because the book is from Leos perspective, it shows how the now wild dogs live and survive in the wilds of America. Also, how the friends communicate and help each other along the way. It really does give off the Wizard of Oz vibes in certain places which is quite funny. But hasn’t this been made into a film or two already?
I absolutely loved the book. It was so funny, totally bonkers and so endearing and is beautifully written from the only person who could understand a Dogs’s perspective, a vet. I hope there’s another adventure featuring Leo, maybe not so long the next time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2024
Through the tenderness of Mary from Hoover Animal Control and TLC from veterinarian Dr. Francis, our canine narrator was able to recover from life threatening injuries after being ejected from a moving car. The mutt, with floppy ears, seemed to have heard a voice in his hazy fog, “Roger That”. Why did Roger do that to him?
“...a bewildered dog with a cone on his head…[his] right forelimb looked more like a yellow cannon than a leg…I barked. I whined…I panted…”. Mary took him home and introduced him to her animal family including a pug named Shakespeare. Shakespeare, an incessant talker, was thrilled to have a big brother. Mary named the newbie, Leo.
As Leo healed, he questioned why he had no memories of being a puppy. Noticing a basket of glossy papers, he was intrigued by the lines and squiggles. “The squiggles meant something…transforming…within my mind…I went through the squiggles over and over, repeating the meanings, in my head…I loved letters. I loved words! And I loved reading!”
Using Mary's laptop with a bitten apple on the lid, Leo saw the word “Oogle” on the screen. “Oogle knew everything! Moving the arrow with his nose, Leo searched for “Roger”. He found Roger Federer, Roger Ebert and Roger Moore. There seemed to be a plethora of Rogers.
Oogle searches explained why Leo lost facts and memories of the past, leading to a diagnosis of retrograde amnesia. “The past cannot be changed, and while your future is determined in the present, the final fabric is anyone’s guess.” “Why should man have dominion over every creeping thing…since I am an animal, I creepth upon the earth…humans think they have the right to control me. To dominate me.” Leo and bestie Shakespeare decided to run away. Theirs was a quest for freedom but it would come with a cost…”morals are a luxury of the well fed.” A quest required a new moniker…Rousseau!
Rousseau and Shakespeare were escaping captivity, however, kindness of members of the animal kingdom and contact with humans were necessary components of a care-free lifestyle. They needed to learn survival skills including hunting and foraging. “If there was no Roger, then I lost all connection with my past.” Rousseau’s dialogue with both animals and humans would determine his future as well as that of Shakespeare.
Debut novelist Will Pass has taken this reader on a very creative, fascinating journey based upon his knowledge of animals as a former veterinarian and current medical writer. The read was both humorous as well as touching. Loved the drive-thru! I look forward to future writing from the pen of Will Pass! Highly recommended.
Thank you Thiessen Press and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
“...a bewildered dog with a cone on his head…[his] right forelimb looked more like a yellow cannon than a leg…I barked. I whined…I panted…”. Mary took him home and introduced him to her animal family including a pug named Shakespeare. Shakespeare, an incessant talker, was thrilled to have a big brother. Mary named the newbie, Leo.
As Leo healed, he questioned why he had no memories of being a puppy. Noticing a basket of glossy papers, he was intrigued by the lines and squiggles. “The squiggles meant something…transforming…within my mind…I went through the squiggles over and over, repeating the meanings, in my head…I loved letters. I loved words! And I loved reading!”
Using Mary's laptop with a bitten apple on the lid, Leo saw the word “Oogle” on the screen. “Oogle knew everything! Moving the arrow with his nose, Leo searched for “Roger”. He found Roger Federer, Roger Ebert and Roger Moore. There seemed to be a plethora of Rogers.
Oogle searches explained why Leo lost facts and memories of the past, leading to a diagnosis of retrograde amnesia. “The past cannot be changed, and while your future is determined in the present, the final fabric is anyone’s guess.” “Why should man have dominion over every creeping thing…since I am an animal, I creepth upon the earth…humans think they have the right to control me. To dominate me.” Leo and bestie Shakespeare decided to run away. Theirs was a quest for freedom but it would come with a cost…”morals are a luxury of the well fed.” A quest required a new moniker…Rousseau!
Rousseau and Shakespeare were escaping captivity, however, kindness of members of the animal kingdom and contact with humans were necessary components of a care-free lifestyle. They needed to learn survival skills including hunting and foraging. “If there was no Roger, then I lost all connection with my past.” Rousseau’s dialogue with both animals and humans would determine his future as well as that of Shakespeare.
Debut novelist Will Pass has taken this reader on a very creative, fascinating journey based upon his knowledge of animals as a former veterinarian and current medical writer. The read was both humorous as well as touching. Loved the drive-thru! I look forward to future writing from the pen of Will Pass! Highly recommended.
Thank you Thiessen Press and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 31, 2024
I'm not a dog person. I have nothing against dogs, they stay in their lane and I'll stay in mine, and it's not really personal (though they are my first bitey/snappy memory), I'm just not all that interested in animals, the snuggly fur looks nice in theory but now we've invented polyester who needs the shedding hassle. All that to say I wasn't sure why I got this on a whim, and this review will not be using words like "good doggo" etc. But I liked the book, being a rollicking, relatively incredible journey, about a dog who narrates like a human and can't quite work out how the world works around him. Able to talk to other animals, and a few humans, it is a comic adventure whose pathos derives from its narrator, not what its narrator is.
The dog calls itself Rousseau eventually (for rights-based reasons, the dog also knows how to read), but the book starts with him waking up with amnesia in a vets clinic after having been hit by a car on a freeway. We get welcomed to the world through Rousseau's exploration, talking to other animals at the vets and then when he is a rescue pet, realising that he is much smarter than the other animals, and trying to work out how and why. Pass peppers the book with comic asides from a dog's point of view, not least a dog with human sensibilities, so food becomes an interesting dichotomy. Once he develops a quest to find the person who abandoned him, and perhaps made him that smart, he gathers a small questing band and heads of to Las Vegas - where we will discover a lot of animals in captivity. Pass keeps it light though obviously deals with a lot of inhumane treatment, and finds his lead dog asking lots of naive but good questions. Even more naive are the asides from Shakespeare, the pub he joins when rescued, who is fantastically stupid in an often lucidly smart way and is fundamentally his Sancho Panza.
The Second-Smartest Dog That Ever Lived confounded my initial preconceptions by not at all being cute, whilst observing and not dwelling on a number of its own horrors. There is an over-arching sci0fi plot buried in here, but Pass transitions from small-scale dog drama, to something more world-shattering deftly. The highest praise is it made me care about its dog protagonists and not just the smart one. And the tiger, the cats, the coyotes and birds.
The dog calls itself Rousseau eventually (for rights-based reasons, the dog also knows how to read), but the book starts with him waking up with amnesia in a vets clinic after having been hit by a car on a freeway. We get welcomed to the world through Rousseau's exploration, talking to other animals at the vets and then when he is a rescue pet, realising that he is much smarter than the other animals, and trying to work out how and why. Pass peppers the book with comic asides from a dog's point of view, not least a dog with human sensibilities, so food becomes an interesting dichotomy. Once he develops a quest to find the person who abandoned him, and perhaps made him that smart, he gathers a small questing band and heads of to Las Vegas - where we will discover a lot of animals in captivity. Pass keeps it light though obviously deals with a lot of inhumane treatment, and finds his lead dog asking lots of naive but good questions. Even more naive are the asides from Shakespeare, the pub he joins when rescued, who is fantastically stupid in an often lucidly smart way and is fundamentally his Sancho Panza.
The Second-Smartest Dog That Ever Lived confounded my initial preconceptions by not at all being cute, whilst observing and not dwelling on a number of its own horrors. There is an over-arching sci0fi plot buried in here, but Pass transitions from small-scale dog drama, to something more world-shattering deftly. The highest praise is it made me care about its dog protagonists and not just the smart one. And the tiger, the cats, the coyotes and birds.
July 7, 2024
Rating: 4.5/5
I was drawn to this novel by its synopsis. Although a little different to the majority of my reading material, I anticipated an entertaining and light-hearted read that would likely be along the lines of "The Secret Life of Pets". For the first part of this four-part story that was pretty much what I got. However, by the end of the book I could only only conclude that it was so much more than just that.
As I said, "Part One" of this story delivers pretty much what I was expecting and at this point I was finding it enjoyable and amusing. That said, I also had some niggling reservations beginning to form. Although not excessively long, this is no novella either, and I was starting to doubt whether the joke would run out of steam and become tiresome before I reached the end. I need have had no such concerns. Will Part takes the storyline to places I would never have imagined and the pathway it follows is a surprising, amusing and often touching one. There are astute social observations with insightful commentary and the anthropomorphic characters are delightfully captivating and engaging.,
Although I went into this expecting something a little reminiscent of "The Secret Life of Pets", it would probably be more accurate to compare this with the Anna Sewell classic, "Black Beauty", which was also written in the autobiographical first person of its central protagonist. Over the years, "Black Beauty" has become predominantly viewed as children's literature, which is something of a disservice. Anna Sewell intended it as an informative piece of fiction aimed primarily at adults and it certainly contains some dark and heartrending scenes and themes. In many ways the same could be said of "The Second-Smartest Dog That Ever Lived". I am sure that many younger readers will fall in love with the wonderfully endearing cast of characters, but there is ample brevity to the underlying themes to make this work for more mature audiences too. Will Pass has produced a very impressive debut that works on a variety of levels and I will certainly be looking out for more from him in the future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
I was drawn to this novel by its synopsis. Although a little different to the majority of my reading material, I anticipated an entertaining and light-hearted read that would likely be along the lines of "The Secret Life of Pets". For the first part of this four-part story that was pretty much what I got. However, by the end of the book I could only only conclude that it was so much more than just that.
As I said, "Part One" of this story delivers pretty much what I was expecting and at this point I was finding it enjoyable and amusing. That said, I also had some niggling reservations beginning to form. Although not excessively long, this is no novella either, and I was starting to doubt whether the joke would run out of steam and become tiresome before I reached the end. I need have had no such concerns. Will Part takes the storyline to places I would never have imagined and the pathway it follows is a surprising, amusing and often touching one. There are astute social observations with insightful commentary and the anthropomorphic characters are delightfully captivating and engaging.,
Although I went into this expecting something a little reminiscent of "The Secret Life of Pets", it would probably be more accurate to compare this with the Anna Sewell classic, "Black Beauty", which was also written in the autobiographical first person of its central protagonist. Over the years, "Black Beauty" has become predominantly viewed as children's literature, which is something of a disservice. Anna Sewell intended it as an informative piece of fiction aimed primarily at adults and it certainly contains some dark and heartrending scenes and themes. In many ways the same could be said of "The Second-Smartest Dog That Ever Lived". I am sure that many younger readers will fall in love with the wonderfully endearing cast of characters, but there is ample brevity to the underlying themes to make this work for more mature audiences too. Will Pass has produced a very impressive debut that works on a variety of levels and I will certainly be looking out for more from him in the future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
July 25, 2025
‘The Second Smartest Dog That Ever Lived’ is a curious debut from Will Pass, a former vet surgeon, who probably knows better than anyone what an animal MIGHT be thinking or saying.
The premise is a smart one, bringing the reader inside the mind of the protagonist, a dog named Leo/Rou, and Pass is smart in how he approaches this, particularly as the need is there to give our main character more intellect in the interests of the storyline.
But each canine character is well rounded: from the old boy brought to the vet’s in the early chapters, asking Rou to tell the squirrels that he’s going to catch them one day; to Vern, the most neurotic and narky of sausage dogs, consistently at his wits’ end.
The story is relatively simple; Rou wants to find the person who tried to kill him by throwing him out of a van on the highway. Shakespeare, the pug belonging to his adopter, Mary, decides that he will also go on this quest, which brings them across a coyote-stalked desert into a Las Vegas type landscape, with a homeless commune and hundreds of feral cats dotted in between.
At its simplest, it’s an adventure, even a coming-of-age novel but, as others have mentioned, the book splits its genres a little and it, for the most part works in terms of paying off questions we have earlier in the story. Pass weaves some interesting themes through the story: ideas like nature/nurture, homelessness, animals as entertainment, and scientific experimentation, among other things.
While suspension of disbelief is paramount when reading a book about a dog that can read, the novel does descend into a bit of chaos in the final third, as Rou and co. enter the circus life. The denouement of the story is rushed and frantic, and more than a little confusing as to who the actual villain of the piece is.
Nonetheless, this is a fun read with plenty of humour and just the right amount of peril and danger at various times, and a wonderfully imaginative interpretation of the inner workings of an animal’s mind.
3.5 stars rounded up.
Thanks to Thiessen Press for an eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2024
An epic adventure from the perspective of a dog? It sounded like a unique and intriguing premise and I was excited to request this and read more.
The last thing Leo (or Rou as he is later known), remembers is being rescued by a kind human as he was thrown out of a moving car on the highway. Leo is no ordinary dog however, he is as smart as a human and with his best friend Shakespeare the Pug (who is as smart as a Pug), he is on a quest to discover what has happened to him and where he came from.
This was a delightful book which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Leo is a great narrator, not always understanding the nuances of everything that was presented, but describing it enough that as an audience member, you knew what was coming. The quest takes us from the Vets office, to the wilderness with cayotes to the desert and undercity of ‘Los Velos’. There is a menagerie of characters and animals we meet on the way, but each one was well written and described, I felt like I empathised with all of them. It really did feel like you were being taken along on an epic quest with Leo and Shakespeare. Be warned that there are some darker moments in this book, and it is certainly not a light read although it has light hearted moments.
The book did struggle a little with pacing - occasionally it felt like it dragged in the middle, but then the ending felt very rushed, and I struggled to really picture what was happening with the Rajah’s show. I would have perhaps liked more pages spent on the Los Velos section, and less on the cayotes to really understand what was going on and to wrap up the story in a better way.
Overall, The Second Smartest Dog That Ever Lived is a delightfully epic tale with some brilliant characters. Thank you to NetGalley & Thiessen Press for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my reviews check out www.kindig.co.uk
The last thing Leo (or Rou as he is later known), remembers is being rescued by a kind human as he was thrown out of a moving car on the highway. Leo is no ordinary dog however, he is as smart as a human and with his best friend Shakespeare the Pug (who is as smart as a Pug), he is on a quest to discover what has happened to him and where he came from.
This was a delightful book which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Leo is a great narrator, not always understanding the nuances of everything that was presented, but describing it enough that as an audience member, you knew what was coming. The quest takes us from the Vets office, to the wilderness with cayotes to the desert and undercity of ‘Los Velos’. There is a menagerie of characters and animals we meet on the way, but each one was well written and described, I felt like I empathised with all of them. It really did feel like you were being taken along on an epic quest with Leo and Shakespeare. Be warned that there are some darker moments in this book, and it is certainly not a light read although it has light hearted moments.
The book did struggle a little with pacing - occasionally it felt like it dragged in the middle, but then the ending felt very rushed, and I struggled to really picture what was happening with the Rajah’s show. I would have perhaps liked more pages spent on the Los Velos section, and less on the cayotes to really understand what was going on and to wrap up the story in a better way.
Overall, The Second Smartest Dog That Ever Lived is a delightfully epic tale with some brilliant characters. Thank you to NetGalley & Thiessen Press for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my reviews check out www.kindig.co.uk
October 1, 2024
This book was not quite what I expected (in a good way)! Narrated by the DOG who finds himself waking up in an animal control van with a head trauma and leg injury but no other memory of his previous life. The animal control officer, Mary, takes him to a vet and then saves him from getting his leg amputated. She takes him home and names him Leo. There he meets her other pets: Antonio, the parrot, Dwid, the cat, and Shakespeare, the pug. They can all communicate with each other but soon Leo discovers that he has skills that ‘normal’ animals don’t have. He is determined to find out why and to look for his previous owner who might have been the one who threw him out of a driving vehicle at 80 mph. A dangerous and scary quest.
Soon an opportunity presents itself, and Leo and Shakespeare leave for the City. Their journey really had me at the edge of my seat most of the time. I quickly realized that this is not a cute little doggy tale but a very serious adventure. On their route, they meet many animals and dangers, and I found myself fearing for their safety all the time.
This book is a must read for all dog lovers, I enjoyed how the author conveyed the story from the dog’s POV. The writing and description of the different species and their mannerisms, including humans, are amazing. The book is packed with suspense, emotion and humor. I loved the short chapters with titles. Leo and Shakespeare are absolutely lovable, and their friendship - even though they are so different - is one of a kind. Bravo, Mr Pass, what a debut! This is one of my favorite books of this year, I’ll be looking forward to your next book!
I would like to thank Netgalley, Thiessen Press and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC. It was an absolute joy and honor. This is my personal opinion and an honest review.
Soon an opportunity presents itself, and Leo and Shakespeare leave for the City. Their journey really had me at the edge of my seat most of the time. I quickly realized that this is not a cute little doggy tale but a very serious adventure. On their route, they meet many animals and dangers, and I found myself fearing for their safety all the time.
This book is a must read for all dog lovers, I enjoyed how the author conveyed the story from the dog’s POV. The writing and description of the different species and their mannerisms, including humans, are amazing. The book is packed with suspense, emotion and humor. I loved the short chapters with titles. Leo and Shakespeare are absolutely lovable, and their friendship - even though they are so different - is one of a kind. Bravo, Mr Pass, what a debut! This is one of my favorite books of this year, I’ll be looking forward to your next book!
I would like to thank Netgalley, Thiessen Press and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC. It was an absolute joy and honor. This is my personal opinion and an honest review.
February 14, 2025
This story is told from the perspective of a dog with amnesia who quickly realises that he is more intelligent than the animals around him. All he knows at the start is that he has been thrown from a van into traffic; the story focuses on his quest to find out who is to blame and how to get revenge.
There's a lot to like in this book. The observations of humans from someone who doesn't quite understand them are interesting and come together to create convincing portraits. However, the animal characters are central to the story. Alongisde protagonist Rou is his pug friend Shakespeare, who is often silly but has flashes of perception that often steer Rou on his adventures. They make various friends along the way, including a family of wild coyotes and a bitter daschund that has never had a home.
The final fifth of the book descends into the strange, as Rou gets closer to finding out why he is the way he is. By the end the story becomes a blend of science fantasy and magical realism, and I did feel it lost some of the focus.
Overall I'd give this book 3.5 stars - I enjoyed quite a lot of it but it did feel overlong and the change of tone at the end threw me. However, as a non-fluffy story from an animal perspective I would say it's definitely worth reading. It ranges from funny to disturbing, with a memorable cast of characters.
Thank you to the publishers for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
There's a lot to like in this book. The observations of humans from someone who doesn't quite understand them are interesting and come together to create convincing portraits. However, the animal characters are central to the story. Alongisde protagonist Rou is his pug friend Shakespeare, who is often silly but has flashes of perception that often steer Rou on his adventures. They make various friends along the way, including a family of wild coyotes and a bitter daschund that has never had a home.
The final fifth of the book descends into the strange, as Rou gets closer to finding out why he is the way he is. By the end the story becomes a blend of science fantasy and magical realism, and I did feel it lost some of the focus.
Overall I'd give this book 3.5 stars - I enjoyed quite a lot of it but it did feel overlong and the change of tone at the end threw me. However, as a non-fluffy story from an animal perspective I would say it's definitely worth reading. It ranges from funny to disturbing, with a memorable cast of characters.
Thank you to the publishers for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 28, 2024
The beginning of this book cut right into my heart. Mistreating a dog (or any animal) is something I find very difficult to bear. I can't imagine someone would do something cruel and reading that in the opening pages of a book I was looking forward to almost made me stop and close it.
Fortunately I kept reading. And the book was almost everything I hoped it would be.
Funny, recognizable (especially for dog owners) and it also made me think. My dog and I understand each other, because I can read him quite well after 4 years and he understands key words and is familiar with my patterns of the day.
What if... we could really communicate? What language would we use, or would it be direct communication, the silent one like in this book? I haven't figured it out, and probably never will, but it's interesting to let your mind wander about that.
The adventures Rou and his companions experience during their quest are nice to read about.
All in all I loved it, the book nade me smile, even laugh out loud from time to time. What I do think is, that it's a bit longish here and there, especially when Shakespeare's behaviour is coming back very often. On the one hand that's him, of course, but on the other hand it gets a but boring after several times.
Thanks to Will Pass and BookSirens for the ARC I received, in exchange for an honest review.
Fortunately I kept reading. And the book was almost everything I hoped it would be.
Funny, recognizable (especially for dog owners) and it also made me think. My dog and I understand each other, because I can read him quite well after 4 years and he understands key words and is familiar with my patterns of the day.
What if... we could really communicate? What language would we use, or would it be direct communication, the silent one like in this book? I haven't figured it out, and probably never will, but it's interesting to let your mind wander about that.
The adventures Rou and his companions experience during their quest are nice to read about.
All in all I loved it, the book nade me smile, even laugh out loud from time to time. What I do think is, that it's a bit longish here and there, especially when Shakespeare's behaviour is coming back very often. On the one hand that's him, of course, but on the other hand it gets a but boring after several times.
Thanks to Will Pass and BookSirens for the ARC I received, in exchange for an honest review.
September 9, 2024
Read his full review on Rosepoint Publishing.
The life of a stray is not an easy one. Dr. Francis attempts to save them all. However, his budget is limited. As a result, there is a large population of strays around the desert areas near Los Velos.
One of this band of strays has secured a local hamburger joint. His trick is to hide beside the driver’s side of the car and wait until the bag of burgers is offered through the drive-up window. A quick jump and there may be hamburgers all around.
Leo is one of those strays and a little bigger than most. He has been living in the desert with coyotes and is thankful he is not their dinner. A few smaller dogs that travel with him take advantage of his size and protective tendencies.
The book is well written with many fun vignettes. The writer has woven human relationships and prejudices into a very believable tapestry of adventures.
Trigger: Animal death
This is a real surprise for a debut that combines both humor and anguish. You’ll enjoy the adventure and characters whether or not a dog lover. 4.5 stars - CE Williams
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. These are my own thoughts.
The life of a stray is not an easy one. Dr. Francis attempts to save them all. However, his budget is limited. As a result, there is a large population of strays around the desert areas near Los Velos.
One of this band of strays has secured a local hamburger joint. His trick is to hide beside the driver’s side of the car and wait until the bag of burgers is offered through the drive-up window. A quick jump and there may be hamburgers all around.
Leo is one of those strays and a little bigger than most. He has been living in the desert with coyotes and is thankful he is not their dinner. A few smaller dogs that travel with him take advantage of his size and protective tendencies.
The book is well written with many fun vignettes. The writer has woven human relationships and prejudices into a very believable tapestry of adventures.
Trigger: Animal death
This is a real surprise for a debut that combines both humor and anguish. You’ll enjoy the adventure and characters whether or not a dog lover. 4.5 stars - CE Williams
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. These are my own thoughts.
October 9, 2024
I read an ARC provided kindly by the publisher and NetGalley.
I find it hard to rate books poorly as I know I’m not capable or writing one myself, however I feel it’s only fair give an honest and unbiased review.
This book felt very disjointed to me. It felt like three books smashed together - one funny, engaging and intriguing book to top and tail, with an adventure book and then a sci-fi book wedged in between. The adventure and sci-fi parts read like a fever dream and I struggled to finish the story.
The concept was wonderful, and it was easy to root for our protagonist Leo/Rou, however the lack of cohesion really got to me. There were inconsistencies about what Leo/Rou could and couldn’t understand or knew about, such as he knew what a university was and was able to comprehend what an “Indian Oxford” was, but didn’t know what Harvard was, and he knew what it was for someone to be “wasted” (I think that was the term used) but yet he commented on Mary drinking elsewhere in the book without an understanding of the concept.
Other random thoughts I noted whilst reading:
- The adventure with Gus et al didn’t add anything to the story (in my opinion)
- The meeting of and plight of the “trolls” seemed unnecessary / misplaced
- Sometimes the language used didn’t fit well, e.g. “bird shit” within the narration
- It felt like a chore to finish
I find it hard to rate books poorly as I know I’m not capable or writing one myself, however I feel it’s only fair give an honest and unbiased review.
This book felt very disjointed to me. It felt like three books smashed together - one funny, engaging and intriguing book to top and tail, with an adventure book and then a sci-fi book wedged in between. The adventure and sci-fi parts read like a fever dream and I struggled to finish the story.
The concept was wonderful, and it was easy to root for our protagonist Leo/Rou, however the lack of cohesion really got to me. There were inconsistencies about what Leo/Rou could and couldn’t understand or knew about, such as he knew what a university was and was able to comprehend what an “Indian Oxford” was, but didn’t know what Harvard was, and he knew what it was for someone to be “wasted” (I think that was the term used) but yet he commented on Mary drinking elsewhere in the book without an understanding of the concept.
Other random thoughts I noted whilst reading:
- The adventure with Gus et al didn’t add anything to the story (in my opinion)
- The meeting of and plight of the “trolls” seemed unnecessary / misplaced
- Sometimes the language used didn’t fit well, e.g. “bird shit” within the narration
- It felt like a chore to finish
June 15, 2024
This book was a crazy , quirky adventure ride right from the start of the book — where we follow a dog in his adventure for revenge for the human that tried to kill him and his own self- discovery of how he was so uniquely different from other dogs. This story has us from the suburbs to the wild dessert to down town Los Vegas ( at least that is what my mind assumed the city was ).
Since I am a dog/ animal lover I have always enjoyed anything with animal narrators — I am always narrating for my own dog too !
I was engaged with our main characters Leo/ Ru and Shakespeare on and off throughout the story — part 1 — living with Mary — was engaging and transitioning into part 2 — in the dessert aspects were interesting and terrifying and I became more engaged again as that part of the story came to a close — Part 3 heading into the city to find the villain —I became more engaged in finding out Leo/ Ru`s origins and their travels to get into the city — but later in the story began to miss the fun banter between the dogs —but when I put it all together — I enjoyed the ride and would love just a slice of life update of Shakespeare and Leo/Ru in the future.
Thanks to Netgalley and Thiessen Press | willpassbooks.com for this ARC. This is my honest review.
Since I am a dog/ animal lover I have always enjoyed anything with animal narrators — I am always narrating for my own dog too !
I was engaged with our main characters Leo/ Ru and Shakespeare on and off throughout the story — part 1 — living with Mary — was engaging and transitioning into part 2 — in the dessert aspects were interesting and terrifying and I became more engaged again as that part of the story came to a close — Part 3 heading into the city to find the villain —I became more engaged in finding out Leo/ Ru`s origins and their travels to get into the city — but later in the story began to miss the fun banter between the dogs —but when I put it all together — I enjoyed the ride and would love just a slice of life update of Shakespeare and Leo/Ru in the future.
Thanks to Netgalley and Thiessen Press | willpassbooks.com for this ARC. This is my honest review.
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