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Rachel Alexander & Dash #1
This Dog for Hire
Winner of the Shamus Award for Best First PI Novel: In the first book of Carol Lea Benjamin’s acclaimed mystery series, Greenwich Village PI Rachel Alexander and her loyal pit bull must find a killer and a missing show dog
Divorced dog trainer–turned–private-eye Rachel Alexander and her canine assistant Dash—short for Dashiell—are hired by a man named Dennis Keaton to investigate the hit-and-run death of his friend and neighbor Clifford Cole, whose body was found on an isolated Christopher Street pier. The police are treating the gay painter’s suspicious death as a hate crime, but Dennis insists Cliff hadn’t cruised the waterfront in months. Plus, Magritte, Cliff’s champion basenji—a competitor in the upcoming Westminster Dog Show—may have been a witness to the crime and is now missing.
The search for answers takes Rachel and Dash from the SoHo art scene to the most famous dog show in America. Now Rachel is in the sights of a killer hunting her across a treacherous urban landscape. There’s no one she can trust—especially not of the two-legged variety.
Divorced dog trainer–turned–private-eye Rachel Alexander and her canine assistant Dash—short for Dashiell—are hired by a man named Dennis Keaton to investigate the hit-and-run death of his friend and neighbor Clifford Cole, whose body was found on an isolated Christopher Street pier. The police are treating the gay painter’s suspicious death as a hate crime, but Dennis insists Cliff hadn’t cruised the waterfront in months. Plus, Magritte, Cliff’s champion basenji—a competitor in the upcoming Westminster Dog Show—may have been a witness to the crime and is now missing.
The search for answers takes Rachel and Dash from the SoHo art scene to the most famous dog show in America. Now Rachel is in the sights of a killer hunting her across a treacherous urban landscape. There’s no one she can trust—especially not of the two-legged variety.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 1996
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About the author
Carol Lea Benjamin
38 books50 followersA noted dog trainer and former detective, Carol Lea Benjamin is the author of books on canine behavior and training as well as the Rachel Alexander and Dash mystery series. She has been honored by the International Association of Canine Professionals with her election to their Hall of Fame. Ms. Benjamin lives in Greenwich Village with her husband and their dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
October 19, 2020
This Dog for Hire was a pretty interesting book. In it, you will meet Rachel. She is a PI in New York and works along with her dog Dash. Now she is a true New Yorker and I'm only saying that because my whole family is basically from NY and they don't deal with anyone's bullshit. So after I first met her, I liked Rachel pretty easily. Same for Dash who was absolutely adorable.
While reading this book, I assumed it was going to be really predictable. So it's safe to say that I actually enjoyed all the twists and turns throughout the book. It even hits some deep and dark moments as well.
Overall, it was quite enjoyable and I might dive into the next book of this series if I can find it.
While reading this book, I assumed it was going to be really predictable. So it's safe to say that I actually enjoyed all the twists and turns throughout the book. It even hits some deep and dark moments as well.
Overall, it was quite enjoyable and I might dive into the next book of this series if I can find it.
August 10, 2022
This is a murder mystery with a very entertaining lady detective Rachel Alexander and her sidekick Pit Bull Dash (Dashiell). When she first lays eyes on the person who hires her to solve a murder, she describes him as ‘with a walk that announced his sexual orientation.’ The gay aspects of the book are done well for dramatic effect. The police are doing little to solve the murder as they are treating it as a gay bashing. The book was published in 1997 and I think at that time it was more of a dramatic statement instead of now where every movie and TV show is required to have at least one gay person represented.
At one point the gallery owner is hyping the work of the dead artist’s work in this way:
“It was his way of expressing not only his own alienation and the alienation all gay men feel, but a far larger issue, the alienation of the nineties, the understanding that we never really know each other, and the question of whether or not many of us care for each other.”
In addition to the murder, we are told that “Margritte is missing.” A basenji who is a valuable AKC champion. The author uses the tie from Margritte to bring in details of the Westminster dog show and use that venue with great effect. Margritte is nicely described in this paragraph:
He was immaculately clean, almost sparkling, a little foxy-faced boy with small rounded-at-the-top triangular ears and dark, alert eyes. He was a ruddy chestnut brown with white points on his face, chest, paws, and tail, a handsome, elegant, and with an uncanny presence, especially considering he weighed not much more than twenty pounds. He was clearly the kind of dog judges say “asks to win,” the kind of creature you somehow find yourself drawn to look at, no matter how many other dogs are around. It was no surprise at all that he was so successful in the show ring.
Dash has a good role in the book and is not overplayed with no anthropomorphism. Here is one passage I enjoyed:
“Does Dashiell actually… do things, I mean, besides protecting you?”
I looked down at my dog. The top of his head had been slimed by one of the other dogs. His big meaty mouth was agape and panting, a loop of drool draped delicately over his worm-colored lower lip. And he was covered in dirt.
“You thought he was just a pretty face?”
I am just bad at figuring out who the murderer is. I just go along with the story and enjoy it. It is all tied up very well in the end. I enjoyed the writing and it made me chuckle at times. The book to me was a quick read and I always looked forward to picking it back up. I would recommend the book but probably not vote it as the best mystery with a dog series, which I am still on the hunt for.
At one point the gallery owner is hyping the work of the dead artist’s work in this way:
“It was his way of expressing not only his own alienation and the alienation all gay men feel, but a far larger issue, the alienation of the nineties, the understanding that we never really know each other, and the question of whether or not many of us care for each other.”
In addition to the murder, we are told that “Margritte is missing.” A basenji who is a valuable AKC champion. The author uses the tie from Margritte to bring in details of the Westminster dog show and use that venue with great effect. Margritte is nicely described in this paragraph:
He was immaculately clean, almost sparkling, a little foxy-faced boy with small rounded-at-the-top triangular ears and dark, alert eyes. He was a ruddy chestnut brown with white points on his face, chest, paws, and tail, a handsome, elegant, and with an uncanny presence, especially considering he weighed not much more than twenty pounds. He was clearly the kind of dog judges say “asks to win,” the kind of creature you somehow find yourself drawn to look at, no matter how many other dogs are around. It was no surprise at all that he was so successful in the show ring.
Dash has a good role in the book and is not overplayed with no anthropomorphism. Here is one passage I enjoyed:
“Does Dashiell actually… do things, I mean, besides protecting you?”
I looked down at my dog. The top of his head had been slimed by one of the other dogs. His big meaty mouth was agape and panting, a loop of drool draped delicately over his worm-colored lower lip. And he was covered in dirt.
“You thought he was just a pretty face?”
I am just bad at figuring out who the murderer is. I just go along with the story and enjoy it. It is all tied up very well in the end. I enjoyed the writing and it made me chuckle at times. The book to me was a quick read and I always looked forward to picking it back up. I would recommend the book but probably not vote it as the best mystery with a dog series, which I am still on the hunt for.
October 8, 2014
First in a series about New York PI Rachel Alexander and her American Pit Bull, Dashiell.
Each of the books involves a dog in some way and Rachel here investigates the murder of a struggling artist on a downtown pier and his missing champion Basenji, a barkless dog, called Magritte. Rachel is divorced and a former police officer, with contacts in the force. PIs today do a lot of their work by computer but Rachel has no option but to walk the streets looking for clues and talking to artists, bringing her neighbourhood to life for the reader. An AIDS hospice contrasts with a trendy SoHo art scene, and even the Westminster Kennel Club dog show turns out to be just as risky a location for a handler who knows too much.
Clearly in the first of a series the author has to spend time introducing characters and filling in the background for us, but she still manages to pack in a fair mystery along with her excellent storytelling. This series is gritty rather than cosy but excellent for dog lovers.
Each of the books involves a dog in some way and Rachel here investigates the murder of a struggling artist on a downtown pier and his missing champion Basenji, a barkless dog, called Magritte. Rachel is divorced and a former police officer, with contacts in the force. PIs today do a lot of their work by computer but Rachel has no option but to walk the streets looking for clues and talking to artists, bringing her neighbourhood to life for the reader. An AIDS hospice contrasts with a trendy SoHo art scene, and even the Westminster Kennel Club dog show turns out to be just as risky a location for a handler who knows too much.
Clearly in the first of a series the author has to spend time introducing characters and filling in the background for us, but she still manages to pack in a fair mystery along with her excellent storytelling. This series is gritty rather than cosy but excellent for dog lovers.
May 10, 2014
Waiting for Hamish Macbeth...my only personal reading problem...but one will pick up anything in a series to get on with the satisfaction of everything being solved in the end. Totally unlike life. That's why it's called fiction.
But I digress--I was browsing around Half Price Books in Seattle and found three books in a series by Carol Lea Benjamin. "This Dog for Hire". Now if you're a dog fan or a cat fancier, you'll still find the tension amping up in this book.
The main character, Rachel Alexander, (lots of interesting name changes in this book) and her pit bull solve a very complex murder in New York city. There's humor and sadness and what turns out to be a very intriguing story. No spoilers.
I have to send this one to my friend Valerie!!!
But I digress--I was browsing around Half Price Books in Seattle and found three books in a series by Carol Lea Benjamin. "This Dog for Hire". Now if you're a dog fan or a cat fancier, you'll still find the tension amping up in this book.
The main character, Rachel Alexander, (lots of interesting name changes in this book) and her pit bull solve a very complex murder in New York city. There's humor and sadness and what turns out to be a very intriguing story. No spoilers.
I have to send this one to my friend Valerie!!!
December 7, 2019
I liked "This Dog For Hire". It kept me entertained from beginning to end. It also kept refusing to be the easy-to-classify book I thought I'd bought.
I was expecting a cosy mystery with a sassy woman PI accompanied by a cute-but-muscular dog that saves the day. It sort of is that, but it mostly isn't.
Rachel Alexander is more spiky than sassy. She's a hard-bitten New Yorker who's too tough to intimidate or to bullshit. She's a thirty-eight-year-old, recently divorced woman who gave up her dog training business when she married and took up the PI business when she divorced, mostly because her family thought it was a terrible idea. Dash, her pitbull who she rescued (stole) as a puppy from punks who wanted to train him to fight, is cute but muscular but he's sidelined for most of the book.
The plot is clever, with a few unexpected but reasonable twists in it. Most of the action is set at the Westminster Kennel Club Show in Maddison Garden and it's clear that this is a world that Carol Lea Benjamin understands very well. Seen through Rachel Alexander's unforgiving and perceptive eyes, the fiercely competitive nature of the show and the idiosyncrasies of its participants are thrown into vivid relief.
The story is a lot darker and more emotionally intense than I'd expect a cozy mystery to be. This isn't a tidy middle-class white-picket-fence kind of tale. We're taken amongst New York's homeless and dying and we're shown the taken-for-granted gay-bashing. A childhood of abuse is a key plot element. It's revealed with skill and told with a compassionate honesty that makes it painful to read.
Once I scrubbed my pre-conceptions and took the book on its own terms, I found myself enjoying being in Rachel Alexander's often abrasive company, partly because the traumas she was dealing with were real and important and not just devices needed to enable neat plot twists.
"This Dog For Hire" came out in 1997 and is the first of nine books in the series, that last being published in 2006. I'm looking forward to reading the next one "The Dog Who Knew Too Much" when it comes out as an audiobook.
I listened to the audiobook version of "This Dog For Hire" which was released in November 2019. It's narrated by Dina Pearlman who is the perfect choice for this series.
I was expecting a cosy mystery with a sassy woman PI accompanied by a cute-but-muscular dog that saves the day. It sort of is that, but it mostly isn't.
Rachel Alexander is more spiky than sassy. She's a hard-bitten New Yorker who's too tough to intimidate or to bullshit. She's a thirty-eight-year-old, recently divorced woman who gave up her dog training business when she married and took up the PI business when she divorced, mostly because her family thought it was a terrible idea. Dash, her pitbull who she rescued (stole) as a puppy from punks who wanted to train him to fight, is cute but muscular but he's sidelined for most of the book.
The plot is clever, with a few unexpected but reasonable twists in it. Most of the action is set at the Westminster Kennel Club Show in Maddison Garden and it's clear that this is a world that Carol Lea Benjamin understands very well. Seen through Rachel Alexander's unforgiving and perceptive eyes, the fiercely competitive nature of the show and the idiosyncrasies of its participants are thrown into vivid relief.
The story is a lot darker and more emotionally intense than I'd expect a cozy mystery to be. This isn't a tidy middle-class white-picket-fence kind of tale. We're taken amongst New York's homeless and dying and we're shown the taken-for-granted gay-bashing. A childhood of abuse is a key plot element. It's revealed with skill and told with a compassionate honesty that makes it painful to read.
Once I scrubbed my pre-conceptions and took the book on its own terms, I found myself enjoying being in Rachel Alexander's often abrasive company, partly because the traumas she was dealing with were real and important and not just devices needed to enable neat plot twists.
"This Dog For Hire" came out in 1997 and is the first of nine books in the series, that last being published in 2006. I'm looking forward to reading the next one "The Dog Who Knew Too Much" when it comes out as an audiobook.
I listened to the audiobook version of "This Dog For Hire" which was released in November 2019. It's narrated by Dina Pearlman who is the perfect choice for this series.
December 1, 2025
Cute conceit, cute enough, a straightforward formulaic 'quirky' MC, with a dog. Didn't feel real tension, almost disappointed at how little the dog(s) came into play. They were more plot points than significant players in this tale.
Want to read
July 28, 2008Manhattan P.I. Rachel Alexander and her formidable canine partner, Dash, search for a witness to the murder of a New York artist--the victim's barkless dog. Finding the champion Basenji and solving this case will have Rachel and Dash checking out the Westminster Dog Show and the SoHo art world. Carol Lea Benjamin's debut mystery (she's also written nonfiction books about dog training) won the 1997 Shamus Award for Best First P.I. Novel; if you enjoy it, check out the next book in the series, The Dog Who Knew Too Much. Kirkus Reviews says This Dog for Hire is "highly satisfactory even for readers who prefer two-legged animals."
May 21, 2015
with high hopes, I dove into this novel of a woman detective and her dog partner, Dashiel. I liked the setup, and the mystery involved quirky characters and was set in the dog-showing area (featuring a Basenji, of all breeds, which the author authentically portrayed). The fact that her partner is a dog is simply a side note. In this story, while he did eventually play a vital role, it was almost as an afterthought. Perhaps some of the other stories in the line have the dog more involved. I do recommend the book as a light read; just don't have your sights set on a "Bernie and Chet" partnership.
August 10, 2019
It's so rare to have a book featuring a dog that isn't sappy. This book features two -- Dashiell (aka Dash) the pit bull and partner of private investigator Rachel Alexander, and Magritte, a champion basenji who goes missing when his artist owner is run over and killed.
This book is filled with interesting characters and an intriguing and complex mystery. Rachel Alexander is sassy and committed to avoiding the conventional life her mother and sister are hell-bent on directing her to.
Author Carol Lea Benjamin is particularly qualified for writing this series because she is a former dog trainer and a former private investigator.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
This book is filled with interesting characters and an intriguing and complex mystery. Rachel Alexander is sassy and committed to avoiding the conventional life her mother and sister are hell-bent on directing her to.
Author Carol Lea Benjamin is particularly qualified for writing this series because she is a former dog trainer and a former private investigator.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
February 21, 2013
Excellent start to a great series. Thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns and of course the fab pit bull that is always where he needs to be. ;)I read some of her other books in the series first and they get better and better. Interesting settings, complex storylines and suspenseful.
September 12, 2013
Carol Lea Benjamin's books are wonderful in so many respects. Great mysteries, good writing, and very realistic portrayals of a dog breed often misrepresented in American society. I'm crushed that she's not continuing this series anymore.
July 23, 2023
I am a big fan of Carol Lea Benjamin's nonfiction books about dog training and her knowledge of understanding of dogs shines through in this book, too. The story was strong and the mystery complex and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
February 20, 2016
I found the depiction of people in a retired living facility to be in poor taste.
March 14, 2019
"Animal mysteries must have been a fad that everyone jumped on. This writing is just bad. I should write doggie mysteries instead."
June 21, 2020
“Woof woof!” This dog takes his bite out of crime! And all the time wagging his tail (behind him) as this furred marauder makes a monkey out of just about everybody!
In “This Dog for Hire,” Carol Lea Benjamin gives us private investigator Rachel Alexander, working out of the back alleys of her Greenwich Village cottage along with her partner in crime, Dash, her pit bull terrier who takes no nonsense from anyone, especially murderers. Rachel (in an earlier episode) had saved Dash’s life and Dash is eternally grateful—and devoted. (Dash is, of course, short for Dashiell Hammond, naturally.)
As it turns out, the fearless duo is looking for a missing champion basenji (We looked it up: An “African ‘barkless Dog,’ a compact, sweet-faced hunter of intelligence and poise, unique and beguiling.”) belonging to a down and out (struggling) artist on the Soho scene there who has been found dead (and under suspicious circumstances). They are hired by the dead man’s friend to find the guilty “dog”! In doing so, we find Rachel trolling through the local art scene and on to the Westminster Kennel Club dog show (with stops in Manhattan’s homeless areas, too—she leaves no paths unlettered!). Or as Dash might say, “in for a pound….”
While the 38-year-old Rachel is the real “top dog” of this agency, Dash holds his own, providing and following up on clues in such a fashion that this combo works (well, with a stretch of the imagination)! Needless to say, the book reads almost at the speed of light and the plot, as usual, is simple; at the same time, Benjamin gives us an interesting look at her New York scene.
A recipe for murder? It seems
In “This Dog for Hire,” Carol Lea Benjamin gives us private investigator Rachel Alexander, working out of the back alleys of her Greenwich Village cottage along with her partner in crime, Dash, her pit bull terrier who takes no nonsense from anyone, especially murderers. Rachel (in an earlier episode) had saved Dash’s life and Dash is eternally grateful—and devoted. (Dash is, of course, short for Dashiell Hammond, naturally.)
As it turns out, the fearless duo is looking for a missing champion basenji (We looked it up: An “African ‘barkless Dog,’ a compact, sweet-faced hunter of intelligence and poise, unique and beguiling.”) belonging to a down and out (struggling) artist on the Soho scene there who has been found dead (and under suspicious circumstances). They are hired by the dead man’s friend to find the guilty “dog”! In doing so, we find Rachel trolling through the local art scene and on to the Westminster Kennel Club dog show (with stops in Manhattan’s homeless areas, too—she leaves no paths unlettered!). Or as Dash might say, “in for a pound….”
While the 38-year-old Rachel is the real “top dog” of this agency, Dash holds his own, providing and following up on clues in such a fashion that this combo works (well, with a stretch of the imagination)! Needless to say, the book reads almost at the speed of light and the plot, as usual, is simple; at the same time, Benjamin gives us an interesting look at her New York scene.
A recipe for murder? It seems
January 11, 2021
Pry more a 3.5 book. Better than average but still some issues.
I remember reading this decades ago pry when it first came out and hating it. I read a lot of cozies back then and this just didn't appeal to me AT ALL.
Now, years later when i find most of the cozies annoying...age and cynicism having had an effect on my reading habits...I found this a pretty enjoyable read.
Early on the book is trying to hard to be like Hammett and Chandler and just feels off and I became leery. But shortly, within the first 5 chapters, it settles down and the near parody level dialogue softens a bit and the narrative becomes interesting rather than laughable.
The story is very dark...and honestly the solution is unpleasant and hard to read...but it is at least for me, surprisingly unexpected and pleasingly satisfying.
I'm not really one for dog books...and while Dash is fine...he doesn't really hold much interest for me and as far as I'm concerned the story would be just as strong as a stand alone PI story.
Also it would avoid the cliche ending of one's dog coming out from nowhere to save owner...but that's a small enuff quibble.
As 2021 begins I have decided to whittle down my collection of 1000+ women written mysteries by trying to re-read as many as possible and decide if I still value them as "keepers."
I thought for sure this series of 6 would be one of the first to be placed in the donation bin. But that's not going to be case...and I'm glad I made the decision to re-read rather than go from memory.
I suspect when this purge is thru in a few years alot more of my cozies will be relegated to charities and books like this will have new places of importance on my bookshelves.
I remember reading this decades ago pry when it first came out and hating it. I read a lot of cozies back then and this just didn't appeal to me AT ALL.
Now, years later when i find most of the cozies annoying...age and cynicism having had an effect on my reading habits...I found this a pretty enjoyable read.
Early on the book is trying to hard to be like Hammett and Chandler and just feels off and I became leery. But shortly, within the first 5 chapters, it settles down and the near parody level dialogue softens a bit and the narrative becomes interesting rather than laughable.
The story is very dark...and honestly the solution is unpleasant and hard to read...but it is at least for me, surprisingly unexpected and pleasingly satisfying.
I'm not really one for dog books...and while Dash is fine...he doesn't really hold much interest for me and as far as I'm concerned the story would be just as strong as a stand alone PI story.
Also it would avoid the cliche ending of one's dog coming out from nowhere to save owner...but that's a small enuff quibble.
As 2021 begins I have decided to whittle down my collection of 1000+ women written mysteries by trying to re-read as many as possible and decide if I still value them as "keepers."
I thought for sure this series of 6 would be one of the first to be placed in the donation bin. But that's not going to be case...and I'm glad I made the decision to re-read rather than go from memory.
I suspect when this purge is thru in a few years alot more of my cozies will be relegated to charities and books like this will have new places of importance on my bookshelves.
September 4, 2017
There's no joy quite like reading a great book that's part of a series and knowing you have at least eight more books to enjoy. Haven't been this happy since I found the Jane Austen mysteries by Stephanie Barron. This Dog for Hire is the start of a series of mysteries about a PI, New York based Rachel Alexander, and her dog, Dashiell. In this first book in the series, they are investigating the death of a gay artist at the Christopher Street pier, notorious as a spot for hook-ups. The plot revolves around the artist's beloved dog, a Basenji, who is cleverly named Magritte (his pedigree name is Ceci Ce N'est Pas un Chien--so an art pun!. There are plenty of suspects (a duplicitous trainer, a jealous lover, a scheming gallery owner) and clues. The scenes at the Westminster kennel show are the most compelling in the book, as it's clear the author knows this world well (she's a dog trainer). I was a little annoyed, thinking Carol Lea Benjamin had stolen a plot device from Judi McCoy whose dog mysteries I love but it turns out this book was written first (in 1997 and it's very 1997). I'm looking forward to reading the second book in the series, The Dog Who Knew Too Much. Who knew there were so many books about PI's and their dogs? With noir movie titles? Spencer Quinn's Chet and Bernie. Judy McCoy's Ellie Engelman and Rudy. And the books I write with Curt Colbert about Geri and her talking Chihuahua Pepe.
April 20, 2025
Different
This isn't my usual read, but I liked it. Rachel is the black sheep in her Jewish family. She refuses to live her life like her family thinks she should. Her sister tells her that she simply can not be a private detective, so Rachel decides then that that's what she's going to do. She previously was working with dogs as a trainer, and her best friend now is a big heavyweight pit bull named Dashiell, or Dash. He's a big guy but mild mannered enough to take care of a child, unless Rachel is threatened. Then, he will scare the pants off any aggressor. Rachel takes on a job for Dennis, a gay man whose good friend, an artist, was killed, and Dennis suspects it was murder. At the heart of the crime is a little prize-winning Besenji named Magritte, who was owned by the murdered man. He was the only witness, and the killer might now be after him. Rachel has to track down a killer who could be anyone in the dead man's circle of friends and acquaintances. The clues lead to Westminster and the famous dog competition. I did enjoy this book, and Rachel and Dash are a winning combination. If you like a clean, cozy book, this is not for you. But I just might look into reading the next book. I think I could be a fan of Rachel and Dash.
This isn't my usual read, but I liked it. Rachel is the black sheep in her Jewish family. She refuses to live her life like her family thinks she should. Her sister tells her that she simply can not be a private detective, so Rachel decides then that that's what she's going to do. She previously was working with dogs as a trainer, and her best friend now is a big heavyweight pit bull named Dashiell, or Dash. He's a big guy but mild mannered enough to take care of a child, unless Rachel is threatened. Then, he will scare the pants off any aggressor. Rachel takes on a job for Dennis, a gay man whose good friend, an artist, was killed, and Dennis suspects it was murder. At the heart of the crime is a little prize-winning Besenji named Magritte, who was owned by the murdered man. He was the only witness, and the killer might now be after him. Rachel has to track down a killer who could be anyone in the dead man's circle of friends and acquaintances. The clues lead to Westminster and the famous dog competition. I did enjoy this book, and Rachel and Dash are a winning combination. If you like a clean, cozy book, this is not for you. But I just might look into reading the next book. I think I could be a fan of Rachel and Dash.
July 6, 2020
First in series of PI Rachel Alexander and her pit bull partner Dashiell
Detective (private investigator - former dog trainer) Rachel gets hired for a job that combines her two professional interests: find out who killed Chris Cole, a talented gay artist who owns and shows an award winning basenji named Magritte who is missing. Chris died on a pier that is a known hook up spot for.folks of his persuasion.
His closest friend doesn't think it's as cut and dry as the set up appears.
And Dennis' instincts are absolutely correct. The investigation takes you to t!he back side of the Westminster Dog Show. The action.is non-stop and just when it looks like the mysteries are solved another death turns everything around.
Detective (private investigator - former dog trainer) Rachel gets hired for a job that combines her two professional interests: find out who killed Chris Cole, a talented gay artist who owns and shows an award winning basenji named Magritte who is missing. Chris died on a pier that is a known hook up spot for.folks of his persuasion.
His closest friend doesn't think it's as cut and dry as the set up appears.
And Dennis' instincts are absolutely correct. The investigation takes you to t!he back side of the Westminster Dog Show. The action.is non-stop and just when it looks like the mysteries are solved another death turns everything around.
May 31, 2021
This Dog for Hire appeared to be a cozy mystery, however I would not really classify as that. Yes, there is non-police sleuth and yes, we have an animal sidekick. But the crime and underlying mood of the book feels darker and more tense. The sleuth, Rachel Alexander, is hired to work on the case of murdered artist, whose valuable dog disappeared is missing. There are many theories of the crime batted around and Rachel does quite a bit of chasing down leads. The dog is recovered early on, the gist is not animal abuse by any means. The resolution and events that led to the crime are shocking when revealed. Great first in a series.
July 28, 2017
3.5 stars. I read at least one in this series back when they were first published but don't remember any details. A bundle of the first three came across as a Kindle deal so I picked it up. It started out a bit rough but settled down nicely. The plot had some interesting turns and I like Rachel. It's a bit dated (90's) and that 80's-90's time period is hard to ignore. Earlier and it feels different enough that it's not distracting but this time period is tough--it's too similar and yet totally pre-digital so it just feels off. I'll definitely read the next in the series.
June 14, 2020
Rachel and her pit bull Dashiell work on a murder investigation the cops figure is gay bashing.
Rachel and Dash find the missing basenji Magrite in time for his Westminster Kennel Club Show.
Rachel finds who has been selling frozen sperm and pocketing the proceeds. What the deceased has discovered that caused his death was captured on audio and video at his shrink's.
Nice characterization and interesting plot. The dogs are just dogs, and do their jobs as guards and faithful companions.
Rachel and Dash find the missing basenji Magrite in time for his Westminster Kennel Club Show.
Rachel finds who has been selling frozen sperm and pocketing the proceeds. What the deceased has discovered that caused his death was captured on audio and video at his shrink's.
Nice characterization and interesting plot. The dogs are just dogs, and do their jobs as guards and faithful companions.
December 14, 2020
I’m being a little generous here. I really only want to give the book 3 1/2 stars. Don’t get me wrong. It’s a good book with a good plot.
But I just don’t care for some of the… coarseness in language and deed.
I do understand that that is probably what would’ve been said and done in real life, but I can get that anytime I want off of the news. Rachel Alexander’s a little rough for me. I do admit I would rather have the white-washed version of, say Blue Bloods or Big Sky. (Which is my new favorite.)
This won’t put me off though, I’m reading more of Rachel and Dash adventures.
But I just don’t care for some of the… coarseness in language and deed.
I do understand that that is probably what would’ve been said and done in real life, but I can get that anytime I want off of the news. Rachel Alexander’s a little rough for me. I do admit I would rather have the white-washed version of, say Blue Bloods or Big Sky. (Which is my new favorite.)
This won’t put me off though, I’m reading more of Rachel and Dash adventures.
March 15, 2024
first book in a series
This is the first book in a series and a new author to me. I really enjoyed the story. The characters were interesting and the plot kept me guessing until the end. There was plenty of mystery, plenty of secrets to be unraveled plenty of humor. I found myself reading until deep into the night. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes cozy mysteries with dogs.
This is the first book in a series and a new author to me. I really enjoyed the story. The characters were interesting and the plot kept me guessing until the end. There was plenty of mystery, plenty of secrets to be unraveled plenty of humor. I found myself reading until deep into the night. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes cozy mysteries with dogs.
May 6, 2017
Good Suspense
I love books about dogs so this was right for me. This was an interesting read as well as a suspenseful read till the end. I enjoyed all the interesting twists which gave me pause to think about rescue shelters, dog shows, homeless shelters, pet therapy, etc in general. This was a book I enjoyed and would recommend.
I love books about dogs so this was right for me. This was an interesting read as well as a suspenseful read till the end. I enjoyed all the interesting twists which gave me pause to think about rescue shelters, dog shows, homeless shelters, pet therapy, etc in general. This was a book I enjoyed and would recommend.
September 8, 2017
I liked it, until the very end. It was slightly comical and I liked the main character, but the end was a twist of dark sadistic motive out of nowhere. I found it depressing and it darkened the whole book. I own another in the series but I'm afraid to read it for fear it will blindside me out of nowhere. Awesome dog, though...
November 4, 2016
This is a series of good stories that I consider interesting with characters that will steal your heart. I look to books like these when I want a light read. Felt like I was barking up the right tree!
I was given an ARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review
I was given an ARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review
December 13, 2017
the story was OK. Writing OK, I just can't enjoy the thought of a Pit Bull dog living off-leash in the city, solving crimes, and walking around like it's normal. Tongue in cheek dogs like Chet and Bernie are intended to be satirical, this isn't and doesn't work for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2019
Tries too hard to be noir. I knew who the killer was from the get go. Probably because author wrote that it could be so-so but no it's not, when yep-it was him. just a little to cheesy and predictable.
December 6, 2020
This book was published something like 25 years ago. It shows. I didn’t know that at first and was confused by references to “gay men in the nineties,” thinking it was a look back on “the past” when it was really supposed to be “the Present.”
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