Dogs Don't Lie

Pru Marlowe #1

by Clea Simon (Narraged by Tavia Gilbert)

Pru Marlowe isn't your ordinary animal psychic. A tough girl on the  run from her own gift, Pru left the big city to return to her   picturesque Berkshires hometown looking for a little peace. Too bad   that her training as an animal behaviorist got her mixed up with  Lily, a rescue dog, and Charles, her person. Now Charles is dead, and   Lily looks good for it. After all, Lily is a pitbull, a fighting-ring   dropout, and way too traumatized to give Pru a clear picture of what   she has witnessed. But Pru knows something about bad girls trying to  clean up, and, with a sense of justice strong enough to overcome her dislike of human society, she takes the case. Listening to the animals, Pru picks up clues--and learns there are secrets in the  pretty little town that make murder look simple. Unable to tell  anybody about her psychic abilities, uncertain at times about her own  sanity, Pru comes to realize that if she clears Lily, she’ll likely   become the prime suspect--or the next victim. While the only  creature she can totally trust is her crotchety tabby Wallis, Pru’s  got to uncover the real killer--and find a way to live with her gift--before the real beasts in the town savage her and those she   has come to love. The first in the Pru Marlowe “pet noir” series.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Animals, Cozy, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal, Audiobook

Audiobook

First published April 5, 2010

About the author

Boston Globe-bestselling author Clea Simon is the author most recently of The Butterfly Trap, a sinister slow-build "he said/she said" that will definitely surprise you.

This follows Bad Boy Beat a fast-paced amateur sleuth mystery featuring a novice crime reporter with a nose for news who is convinced a series of street-level killings are connected.

In a different mood, Clea's most recent cozy is To Conjure a Killer, the fourth in her "Witch Cats of Cambridge" series.

She is also the author of the psychological suspense novels, Hold Me Down and World Enough, both named "Must Reads" by the Massachusetts Book Awards, as well as the dystopian Blackie and Care black cat series (The Ninth Life), the Dulcie Schwartz feline/academic mysteries (Shades of Grey), the Pru Marlowe pet noir mysteries (Dogs Don't Lie), and the Theda Krakow cats & crime & rock & roll mysteries (Mew is for Murder), as well as three nonfiction books: Mad House: Growing Up in the Shadow of Mentally Ill Siblings; Fatherless Women: How We Change After We Lose Our Dads; and The Feline Mystique: On the Mysterious Connection Between Women and Cats.

The recipient of multiple honors, including the Cat Writers Associations Presidents Award, she lives in Somerville, Massachusetts, with her husband, Jon Garelick, and their cat, Thisbe. Find her at Clea Simon.com

Reviews

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story has been reviewed from others very well, so I will tell you what I liked about it: the way the animals are portrayed. Of course it implements our projection on to them. But still Clea Simon obviously loves animals and spends a lot of time studying them.

What strikes me most is that Lily the pitbull-rescue-dog is drawn as a lovable soul, that just does not understand what happened.

Thank you for that Clea. Finally someone rallying for those beautiful animals. It becomes so clear, through Clea's writing that it is us, the humans who turn the pits and others into killing machines, for our own advantage. Without remorse whatsoever. And those dogs just try to live up to our expectations. They just want to please us by obeying.

I will continue reading Clea Simon's books, as long as she puts that much passion in her animalistic characters.

[Lauren Chase · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read! I picked it up from my library because I was tickled by the premise - reluctant animal psychic gone detective. It was a nice intro to the main characters and the small town setting, and nothing too horrible as far as content (think Murder She Wrote - people die but you aren't really upset about it or scarred for life reading about it 😅).

I've been reading a lot of non fiction so this was a nice, easy, enjoyable forray back into fiction. I'm actually going to read the next book in the series 😊 so we'll see what happens next 🐈

[Sandie Herron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small town life in Beauville is pretty much the same as any small town in New England. It is also the hometown for budding animal behaviorist Pru Marlowe. Pru had moved to New York City to do her schooling, but she didn’t quite finish. Between working herself sick, working toward her certification, and the internship required of a behaviorist, she’d ended up in the hospital discovering that she could hear the thoughts of the animals around her. There were far too many voices assaulting her in the big city, so Pru fled and returned home to Beauville and the house she grew up in. Finally accepting her new “gift” as real, she realized she needed to earn her way. She began working as an animal trainer and took on a few local clients. One was Charles and his rescued pit bull Lily who had a past she was trying to overcome. Unfortunately, that would be much harder after Pru finds a bloody Lily standing over Charles’ body.



Pru knew that Lily didn’t kill Charles, but Lily’s past trauma has made it impossible for her to communicate clearly with Pru. This was going take a whole lot of questions to a whole bunch of people before Pru would be able to prove Lily’s innocence. Somehow everyone in this small town was tied to everyone else, which made one question lead to another and another. Pru had her work cut out for her. She had to save Lily from execution while proving she didn’t kill Charles. Once she’d done that, Pru had to find out who really did kill Charles so she didn’t end up next on the hit list herself.



DOGS DON’T LIE is a charming character-driven mystery. Everyone, human and otherwise, was woven together in the fabric of small town life, past, present, and future. That doesn’t mean the plot didn’t twist and turn; it did. We don’t uncover the secrets we learn without some resistance and Pru’s persistence. First we got to know Pru and her tabby cat Wallis, the one who had introduced Pru to her new ability. Next we learned about Charles and the computer work he was doing. We became familiar with Lily and what had traumatized her so badly. And we were acquainted with the handsome police officer, the home health aide assisting Charles’ mom, the jock from her high school days, the town gossip, the owner of a long-haired cat who had problems the vet could not cure, and even Happy, the local dive’s bartender. In meeting all these characters and more, we also had the pleasure of listening in on thoughts from a number of animals such as Bitsy, who referred to himself as Growler, the Bichon Pru walked every weekday; Bandit, the ferret owned by the animal control officer, who had a penchant for shiny objects; Frank, a gorgeous black Persian cat lonely for his original person and neglected by his current one; and Floyd, a small red tabby cat with his own story to tell, if Wallis can connect with the shivering kitten. Pru’s talents extend beyond felines, leaving the door wide open for future tails.



Clea Simon has written two other series based around cats – the Theda Krakow mystery series published by Poisoned Pen Press, and the Dulcie Schwartz series from Severn House. Simon’s mysteries revolve around cats and other animals, but they by no means exclude human beings and the world at large. Her books are strongly flavored with information from her book THE FELINE MYSTIQUE: ON THE MYSTERIOUS CONNECTION BETWEEN WOMEN AND CATS. Coincidentally Clea Simon’s next Dulcie Schwartz book, GREY ZONE, is also being published in April, 2011 by Severn House. Simon has written several non-fiction books in addition to her contributions to numerous publications.



The small town of Beauville and its residents have many secrets to tell. I’ll be very curious to see where Pru Marlowe heads with her special talents along with her faithful tabby cat Wallis in Clea Simon’s cozy pet noir series.


Mm?Ñ

[Maria Schneider · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had some really good parts, but boy, did it drag, especially the second half. Visits to the same people, covering the same old ground over and over. The animals are way smarter than the humans and frankly, are what made the book readable. The main protag was more like a cardboard figure just going back and forth over the same territory trying to figure things out. Some clues (provided by the animals) seemed to come from nowhere. Sometimes the animals seemed to have such a good understanding of humans (and human phrases) and other times...everything had to be spelled out. The mystery part was good, but this book could have been half the length. I nearly didn't finish it after reading half of it because we were covering the same old ground over and over. The men in this book were inconsistent (but several were good looking. And the main didn't seem to require much more from men. She didn't ever comment on how smart they might be...and for that matter they didn't seem to be very smart.)

[Jazz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this cozy. I've wearied of most cozies written by 21st-century authors as too cute, too much romance, and way too little mystery. This one was several notches above, both in the writing and the characterization. If the series still has a "gimmick"-- a pet rescuer who can communicate with animals by thoughts -- it's so well done that I was convinced it's possible. Cats figure in this more than the dog who is the main suspect in a murder, but animal lovers in general will love this as much as I did. I will certainly read more in this series and Clea Simon's other series.

[Shomeret · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by Clea Simon, but it won't be my last. I really like the concept of this series. I don't really consider it noir. Perhaps it is very dark by the standards of cozy readers. On the spectrum of cozy to noir, this book would be somewhere in the middle. That happens to be the type of mystery I prefer, not too extreme in either direction.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book in the Pru Marlowe series. Pru learns she can understand animals and the noise is such takes Wallis her senior tabby cat and returns home. She is called to a murder scene to take charge of a white pit ball accused of killing its owner. Pru knows that the dog did not do the killing so she investigates to save the dog from being euthanized.

[Dixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free e-galley of Dogs Don’t Lie by Clea Simon from the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press.

Dogs Don’t Lie centers around the murder of Charles, owner of a pit bull named Lily (a.k.a. Tetris). The murder is staged to appear that Lily killed Charles. Animal psychic and behaviorist, Pru Marlowe, works as Lily’s trainer and finds Charles’ body during a routine training session. Recognizing Lily’s innocence, Pru must search for the true murderer in order to get Lily off the hook for murder and save her from certain euthanasia.

As a pit bull advocate, I was hooked right away. Simon did not disappoint in her portrayal of Lily as a sweet, loving dog that would never hurt anyone. Hooray to Simon for this portrayal of the breed!

The story took many twists and turns with lots of suspects and animals thrown into the mix. Pru communicates with the animals in the story – cats, dogs, birds and a lovable ferret named Frank. While it may seem hokey for animals to “talk,” Clea Simon handles the subject matter very well. I will definitely check out the next book in the Pru Marlowe series and also plan to check out Simon’s Theda Krakow series.

[Nora-adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dogs Don’t Lie
By: Clea Simon
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Copyright April 2011

Pru Marlowe couldn’t wait to get out of her small town. Now years later she is running home to get away from herself. She has a gift that while helpful in her chosen profession as an animal behaviorist is driving her a bit out of her mind.

After her mother passes away, and living in the house she grew up in, she starts a business working with pet owners teaching them (after talking to their pets) what they need to do to have happy and healthy pets. Things were getting better, her business was building until fate stepped in.

She was on her way to see Charles, her best client, and his rescue dog Lilly (Tetris). Upon entering their house Pru found Charles dead on the floor, killed in such a way as to implicate his pet in his murder. Lilly being a pit bull is taken to the town pound and now it’s up to Pru to prove the cops and the whole town WRONG.

Along the way we meet her very opinionated 13 year old Tabby cat Wallis. Oh, did I forget to mention that Pru is not only a behaviorist but an animal psychic? Yeap, she can understand their thoughts and in Wallis’s case it’s a two way communication. We also meet Albert who is the Animal Control Person for the town, various and sundry customers of Pru’s, whose business keeps food on the table for herself and Wallis. Enjoy the ride it’s a fun one.

Dog’s Don’t Lie is the first in a new series by Clea Simon, a published author, and a fantastic lady. I highly recommend this book to everyone that likes not only cozies, but also pet stories, and a bit of the paranormal thrown in for fun.

FTC Full Disclosure: I was sent this book as an ARC by the author in the hope that I would review it.

Clea Simon's other series include: the Theda Krakow Mysteries and the Dulcia Schwartz Mysteries. Visit her website at http://cleasimon.com/

[Tara Chevrestt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book. I loved the way the heroine, Pru has conversations with her cat Wallis, a ferret named Frank, a bichon frise called Growler, a pit bull, and numerous other felines. I really enjoyed that.

This is basically a whodunit, but with a twist. The twist being that animals are the key behind figuring it out. Pru is a "dog whisperer" who hears what the animals are saying, but doesn't always interpret it the right way. In this case, a pit bull and a kitten are the key witnesses to the murder of a client and Pru has to figure out what they mean by the following: "let go, let go, home, mama, home, let go.." or an already abused pit bull could be put to death. The pit bull is being made a scape goat. Pru knows the pit bull didn't do it. Can she find out who it really was in time?

She also ends up inadvertly getting to the bottom of messy and rather ridiculous town love quad thing. I can't use the word triangle because it involves way too many people. There's Mack, Delia, Chris, Eleanor.. Nevertheless, I didn't care for that twist, the who is doing who thing and who is having whose baby..

Good book tho and I plan to read the rest of the series.

[Mayar Mahdy · Rating 2 out of 5]

We have a protagonist who can communicate with animals and see their memories. This is the best cozy mystery premise ever. Why, pray tell, is this book so bad?

1) The line between human and animal is so blurry. Reading about how to manipulate humans to submission is sort of... Yikes! Who let Christian Grey in? The way she thought about people was really unhealthy

2) The way Pru oversexualized her interactions with every male in her vicinity. A man talks to her for the first time and in his second sentence she can detect his jealousy that the cop interrogating her is a man. How about no?
The gay guy must've had a thing for her. She's like James Bond when he made both ladies in the lesbian couple fall for him.
The cop? Yeah, totally smitten, head over heels for Pru.
Guy who hasn't seen her since high-school? He's been in love with her ever since.


3) The story dragged. It couldn't use its charming protagonist as a crutch since she ain't charming. Even the talking animals didn't help, and they're talking animals!


I did like the whodunit part, though. I felt it was really clever. Don't know if it's enough to revisit the series.

[Tejas Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Dogs Don't Lie: A Pru Marlowe Pet Noir, the first book in author Clea Simon's Pet Noir series, we meet protagonist, Pru Marlowe, a young twenty-something animal-behaviorist who has returned to her small Berkshire hometown after hastily fleeing New York City under less than ideal circumstances. I really like the premise of this series, which revolves around Pru having psychic communicative abilities, at least with animals of the non-human variety. On the negative side, I thought there was too much stretching out the story with repetitive rehashing of events. This was meant to create suspense, but instead tried my patience. However, the author did succeed in capturing my imagination and in establishing the groundwork for future Pru Marlowe amateur-sleuthing adventures. I look forward to the second installment with high hopes that the author will gain momentum in storytelling as the series develops. If not, it might just be curtains for the Pet Noir series.

[Sassbot5000 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a really good mystery (which was almost a cozy mystery). Pru is an interesting character. She talks to animals and is a little unsure of herself but she seems in control throughout this entire novel. She can take of herself even when a few insecurities. The mystery was good and found it kept me guessing.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

LET GO

The first book in the Pru Marlowe series. Pru learns she can understand animals and the noise is such takes Wallis her senior tabby cat and returns home. She is called to a murder scene to take charge of a white pit ball accused of killing its owner. Pru knows that the dog did not do the killing so she investigates to save the dog from being euthanized.

[Kelly (Maybedog) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ll start with the good: There are three things I loved about this story. The first was how much she loved animals. The second was her advocacy for pit bulls. But I don’t think it went far enough. It didn’t explain that pit bulls are family dogs if raised right. One of my best friends has one she got at around a year old. The dog is the most affectionate I’ve ever known. She needs to be in the same room as her person. She loves chasing toys and brings them back and drops them, doesn’t show the controlling behavior of tugging or keeping the ball. Tug of war is fine but I’m saying that the dog has no power seeking behavior. She’s one of the sweetest dogs I’ve ever known and I’ve had dozens of dogs in my life. The third is that one of the dogs is gay.

I’ll come back to the characters. The mystery was convoluted and involved just about everyone in the small community over and over again. A lot of the book was spent getting to know people and their quirks and trying to talk to them about the murder. I really appreciate that the killing took place in the beginning and that we got to know the characters in the course of the investigation. Most of the town doesn’t like Pru, ostensibly because she moved away and came back. She had a reputation although no one could tell her what for.

Truthfully, I had a hard time paying attention to the mystery because I can’t stand the main character, either. She thinks she is really good looking and says so multiple times. All the guys want her even though they hate her and she flirts back. She is incredibly judgmental. She saw pretty much everyone as negative; people were stupid or nasty or had a weird affect or they abused animals or whatever. So many characters treated their animals like garbage which of course made them awful and I agreed. About another character who had never done anything wrong, Pru said, “Against my better judgment, I was starting to like her.”

People too. One character said something along the lines of, “Do you think I would take advice from a blonde?” Later Pru suggests a person for something and he makes some negative comment. She then says, “Why not? She’s a good-looking woman.” I’m not sure what his job was but he was in a tech company with the dead guy. And she was still attracted to this guy even after the conversation even though he kept calling her “babe.” She herself had so many of the same characters she complained about in others.

The second primary character is a cat and she’s beyond a typical one. Wallace is smarter and more sophisticated than dogs; she’s snotty and nasty. Pru doesn’t put Wallace her on lap because you don’t do that to your friends. But did Wallace enjoy it before Pru could talk to her? Then she probably would still enjoy it now. She’s not human and has different likes and dislikes.


Dogs are the lowest of the low. Ferrets rate higher. “Great. Now my cats thought I was as dumb as a dog.” One of the dogs was referred as frivolous seemingly because it was small. Pru heard words from cats and ferrets but not really dogs and certainly not the main one, the pit bull, Lily/Tetris. Put got one word from her I think because of course that would help solve the mystery. If she only gets emotions and images and some words, then how does she get their real names?

The cat is also is treated like an equal or higher in the hierarchy at home which is ridiculous. She is being taken care of, she’s a dependent so Pru should be in charge. If the cat doesn’t like it, she can go somewhere else. Wallace wouldn’t and would follow the rules.

I have no interest in reading the next one. A cat obsessed person would probably love this but I hate holding either cats or dogs over the other.

The narrator, Tavia Gilbert, is very good.

[Kenzie Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

The strange thing is I liked this before but now it just seems too dull.

[Kendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book from netgalley on a whim. I usually do not read animal books but something about this caught my eye and I am glad I gave it a chance.

The mystery is of course who killed Charles and why. Pru is trying to come to terms with her "gift" of hearing the animals, the gift that caused her to run from the big city home to small town of Berkshire where everyone knows your name and your business.

I found Pru to be an adorable main character who is able to communicate with animals. Pru is working with a pit bull who is blamed for her human's murder but Pru knows otherwise. Lilly is traumatized by what she's witnessed and is not able to give Pru the answers she needs to clear her and save her life. Clearing Lily also means pointing the finger towards herself as the murderer! That doesn't stop her from investigating on her own.

Add to this Pru's narcissistic cat, Wallis, who has an opinion on everything but is not always willing to share. She is also not a fan of dogs saying that they are not as smart as cats and she doesn't understand why Pru would waste her time on one! Wallis was good for more than a few laughs with her interaction with Pru and her definite catitude!

Dogs Don't Lie is a fun cozy that was a nice break from the heavy thrillers that I normally read. I loved the "voices" of the animals and seeing things the way they do. Wallis reminds me of my quirky cat Molly in so many ways. Listening to her complain about the "infant" that Pru brought home was like reliving our experience with Molly when we added a kitten to the family. Of course I could not hear Molly's comments and maybe that was for the best.

I have to say Wallis was my favorite character. The book kept me guessing and even though I did figure it out it was still fun watching Pru figure it out. I look forward to more in this series.

This book was free from Netgalley in the hopes of a reveiw.

[Jenny Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pru Marlowe was training to be an animal behaviorist, until she managed to work herself sick. She then woke up to realize she could hear animals’ thoughts, beginning with her own cat, Wallis. She tried to escape the animals’ voices by heading back home to a small town and told everyone it was because of her ailing mother. When her mother passed away, she inherited her childhood home. Pru was trying to build a business of working with people’s animals, secretly using her ability to hear the animal’s thoughts and get the real story, when she finds one of her clients dead. Charles Harris is brutally murdered in his living room. His throat has been ripped to shreds and the number one suspect is his pit bull, Tetris. Since Pru has been training with Charles and Tetris, Pru disagrees that Tetris would murder her owner. Pru is determined to clear Tetris’ name as well as her own. Only, Tetris tells Pru that she is no fighter and she prefers to be called Lily. Pru seeks counsel from Wallis, as she tries to sort out human motives and animal reasoning. Can she clear Lily’s name and her own? Can she keep her psychic abilities a secret? How does she piece together all the information she receives from the town’s pets? Can she reveal what she knows without telling how she found out?

The character development is fantastic, even the animals. The storyline itself has many twists and turns and I never saw the ending coming. I think Clea Simon has done a great job coming up with a new angle on the common Dr. Doolittle character. I may have to check out some of her other writings as well.

I received this book free from the publisher to read and give an honest review.

[Linda Strong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not the sort of mystery I usually read, but I was in the mood for something a little lighter. I read the back cover and figured I "might' get through the first chapter. I was so surprised that I really, really liked this book.

Pru Marlowe is an animal psychic, who is owned by a cat named Wallis. She's settled down in a small town after the passing of her mother. Pru advertises herself as an animal behaviorist so as not to attract any attention. Oh boy! That sure isn't working out for her. A man who owns a pitbull hires Pru to help the dog regain his self assurance after being forced to fight when he was a pup. When the man is found dead ... by Pru ... the dog is accused and arrested. It's Pru to the rescue and to prove that Lily the pitbull just doesn't have it in her to be a killer.

There are several characters that really add to this story and I found a few that you can't help but chuckle at. And then there are the animals .. the cats, dogs, ferrets, even a bird here and there who all lend their thoughts and voices. As a person owned by three cats, I truly enjoyed this book. There's enough of a mystery to keep you guessing until the end, and the animals are just terrific.

I am now hooked .. and looking to find the other 2 books in this series. If you like 'cozies' more than the deep, dark psychological reads, or if you just want to try something a little different, please give this one a shot. I don't think you'll be sorry!

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clea Simon is one of my favorite Authors and here we are given the tasty treat of a new series, involving, pets, their behaviors, their thoughts, and how, if we were given the gift that Pru Marlowe has been, would communicate with each other.

Pru Marlowe is only a bit away from being a certified animal behaviorist. She has a mystery illness in her past which halted her studies but gave her an incredible gift of being able to communicate with her animal clients, if she can learn to control the gift while hiding it from non-understanding humans.

Lily's human is murdered. Lily, a loving, previously abused pit-bull is charged with the crime. Pru knows Lily is innocent but how can she prove it...well, by finding the murderer.

In this debut novel, we learn that Pru Marlowe needs rescuing as much as Lily and her best and closet friend is her cat, Wallis. Wallis is one opinionated Lady.

I look forward to reading the next in the series and getting to understand Pru better.

[Karen & Gerard · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Dogs Don’t Lie" by Clea Simon is a good, quick mystery in a small town. A man is found dead at his home and all signs point to his dog, but did the dog really do it? The best parts of the book for me are that Pru Marlow could understand what her cat, Wallis, was saying and the Dog, Lilly, becomes a hero at the end! The plot was a bit confusing, but it’s still a good read!

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this light hearted tale. Pru Marlowe is an animal psychic who relies on her animals to solve a murder mystery. While I usually read more hard boiled thrillers, I especially liked the canine and feline characters!!!

[Ingrid Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed Clea Simon's DOGS DON'T LIE, a great murder mystery featuring an animal psychic, her feline "roommate" and an endearing pit bull accused of murder. It's a great read for anyone who loves animals and mystery.

Can't wait for the next book in Ms. Simon's Pet Noir series!

[Teresa Kander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the idea of someone who can pick up on animal thoughts---and the way they are voiced in the audiobook. My favorites are Pru's cat, Wallis, Albert's ferret, Frank, and Delia's kitten, Tulip.

Can't wait to listen to more of this series!

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good start to a new series - I'd like to read more of them. Interesting mix of characters, and I especially like Wallis.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting premise. Sometimes I think I can "almost" hear my dog .... what if someone really could pick up on what animals are sensing, feeling, thinking??

[Staci · Rating 2 out of 5]

Light reading, nothing special, but not awful.

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting into it. Maybe if I was in a different mood or another time, but it just didn't catch me. Maybe because it is the idea of a dog being accused of mauling its owner.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an animal lover it was difficult to get through the beginning of this book. A pit bull wrongly accused of killing her owner. But I stuck with it and was rewarded with a good book.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

After an illness, where her cat saved her life, Pru Marlowe can hear the voices of animals--all kinds. Fleeing the cacophony of the City (NY,NY) she returns to her home in the Massachusetts Berkshires, ostensibly to nurse her mother through her final illness. In reality, Pru is seeking more peace as she learns to accept her new found sensitivity. Three years later, she has inherited her mother's home and is making her living as an (uncertified) animal behaviorist, She works in tandem with the veterinarian of the County Shelter and with the county's lazy animal control officer. Much of her work is a glorified dog walker, but it pays the bills and she is control of her schedule.

In this first of the series, she discovers her client, Charles is dead and his rescued pit bull, Lily, standing over his body covered in blood. As many rush to think Lily is guilty, Pru is not convinced. Lily seems confused about what happened. Pru, driven by a sense of justice for animals and also by a curious nature, investigates. It leaves her into danger and the possibility that she may become the accused.

I enjoyed this enormously and have read all the way to #6. Dubbed as "pet noir," Pru is a bad girl gone almost-good. This has all the earmarks of a cozy mystery with a small town and many quirky characters. In addition, there's Pru's cynical, unsentimental view of the world. Anyway, aren't cozy mysteries kind of noir-ish. These small towns and villages are positively littered with dead bodies.

One of the strengths of this series is the characterizations of the animals and the attempts to get "walker lady" to see what is front of her nose. I'm not really fond of talking cats and other animals, but these animals are cantankerous, practical, and perhaps a good view of our imagined perception of animals' world view.