The Little Dog

The Red Grouse Tales

by Leslie Garland

The Little Dog – a story of good and evil and retribution.

A Red Grouse Tale. A modern day fable in which Bill recalls an increasingly uncomfortable week in his early working life whilst paired with an unsavoury workmate, and how they find a little domestic dog sitting beside a forest haul-road way out in a remote part of the forest. What was such a dog doing in such an unlikely location? When it disappears events take an unexpected turn, and our young troubled and naive Bill starts to learn some awful truths.

Adult, speculative, spiritual and philosophical, this tale of good and evil and retribution, contains a hint of the supernatural and is one for those who like a little more from what they are reading.

(Warning to sensitive readers; this tales does contain a tiny bit of bad language and references to sex)

Genres: Ebooks

102 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2019

About the author

I didn't start out in a career in writing; I qualified as a Chartered Civil Engineer. In this capacity I worked for several years on projects in the UK, the Far East and Africa. During this period I won the Institution of Civil Engineers 'Miller Prize' for a paper on tunnelling. Perhaps my first foray in to writing? It was a pretty dry technical piece. However my experience in tunnelling has given me an exciting idea for a story which I hope will be a lot more fun than my engineering paper and I have just recently made a start on this. Changing times resulted in a change in direction and after qualifying as an Associate Member of both the British Institute of Professional Photography and the Royal Photographic Society, started my own stock photograph library (the first in N.E.England) and wrote for the trade press. The Internet was new in those days and not very reliable. So an unexpected break in my Internet connection fortuitously presented the time to make a start on a long cherished project of a series of novella length stories, and the first story of The Red Grouse Tales, was drafted. Three more 'tales' followed and I published The Red Grouse Tales in 2016. Since then I have completed a further three novellas and a novel and started winning awards for my writing. Right now I am trying to complete a second batch of 'tales' and am part way through writing a trilogy.

Find more information on my website http://www.lesliegarland.com

And please follow me on:-
Amazon; https://author.amazon.com/profile
Twitter; https://twitter.com/LeslieWPGarland
FaceBook; https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
and Bookbub; https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lesli...
so as to catch the 'new' when it happens and not learn of it afterwards!

Reviews

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Little Dog is the first novella in the Red Grouse Tales series and is effectively a meditation on the nature of good and evil providing much food for thought, something I very much enjoy in my fiction, and despite being non-religious I found this short story heavily featuring Christian beliefs intriguing. There is a good smattering of suspense throughout its 103 pages and the themes explored are dark. It's a tale that touches on philosophy, morality, belief systems and psychology, amongst others. All in all, this is a compelling tale with a well-written narrative and plenty to think about. The sparse, isolated setting also adds to the tension and creates rather a mysterious, haunting atmosphere.

[Leslie Garland · Rating 5 out of 5]

My initial idea was of two men finding a small domestic dog sitting beside a road out in the back end of beyond. It struck me as bizarre - what is a dog like that doing in a place like that? But what if the dog was not as it appeared to be - then perhaps, its presence was not so bizarre. Link this with the age old question of “what makes men evil?” together with a modern take on an old Biblical battle and I felt I had a story. Of necessity the narrator had to be ignorant of what was going on - a crime story when you know whodunit and why on page one is unlikely to be much of a crime story! - so Bill (the narrator) had to be young and green at the time of the action and only gradually realise what was happening as the story progressed. I also needed someone emotionally and spiritually solid to metaphorically hold Bill's hand and so the Reverend Money was born. Yes, the ending is a bit ambiguous, because it is an account of what Bill thought he saw. What did actually happen? I'll leave it up to you the reader to decide what you think.

[Joshua Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leslie W.P. Garland spools a thoughtful tale in The Little Dog. Forester Bill is working in the middle of nowhere with a total jerk when they encounter a dog. The dog quickly disappears leaving Bill to wonder who it belongs to. The search for the answer to that question quickly reveals that there’s more to this story than meets the eye, that meets rationality as there is a supernatural element to it. The Little Dog’s twist leaves you thinking, something I enjoyed, making this one perfect for anyone looking to do a little soul searching while being entertained!

[Kevin Pfeifle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story about good and evil

I really enjoyed this short story. A great look at what could be possible. I will look for other books by this author!

[Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was approached by the author asking if I'd read and review his novella. As it was only ninety three pages long I was happy to abandon my current read and give this a go. Suffice to say I read it in one sitting taking me about an hour to read it.
The story is told by Bill, who is now an old man, but his tale is of when he was younger and learning the lumberjack trade.
Bill is assigned to Stan Blackman a guy no one likes. To get to the site they are working on they have to take the ferry across the river and back each day. On the first day they see a little dog sitting on the side of the logging road, this becomes an occurrence each day. What is this dog doing here ? Is there a meaning to its presence? 
Stan's uncaring attitude and threats to kill the dog leave Bill asking himself about good, bad and evil. He ends up going round in circles.
This story is eerie, menacing and has philosophical undertones very much like a Jostein Gaarder book which I've read plenty of. 
If you want a story that makes you think a little and leaves you thinking about the ending long after you've finished it then I strongly recommend giving this book a read.
Thanks to the author for asking me to read and review it. 
I gave it 4 stars . 


[Phil Leader · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first of The Red Grouse Tales follows a working week for Bill, a forester who has drawn the short straw of being partnered with Blackman, an unpopular co worker. On the way to their remote work site on the first day they encounter a small white dog sitting at the side of the road. Bill is curious why it is sitting miles from anywhere. Blackman shows a complete disinterest, if not active dislike. As the week wears on Bill comes to ponder on who Blackman is and why he behaves like he does. The final day is one he will never forget.

The tense nervousness Bill feels working with Blackman through the week permeates the page, the writing creating an energy from the silence between the two men and the attempts by Bill to keep away from Blackman as much as he can. As Bill's thoughts turn to the nature of what makes people do bad or evil things the presence of his co-worker becomes almost unbearable. Neither Bill nor the reader can wait for the week to end. The final events of the week make Bill question not only good and evil but if such deeds can provoke divine retribution.

As with the other Red Grouse tales, there is a subtle paranormal thread running through the story, and a great deal of philosophy too. It works almost perfectly as a short story, with its limited week duration and building sense of suspense and drama.

An excellent introduction to the Red Grouse stories, setting up the series quite neatly

[Reba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written

A story that explores good and evil and which is exceptionally written. The imagery is excellent and beautiful. The tale itself will make you believe in avenging angels.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of The Little Dog is told from the perspective of Bill, about his younger years as a logger and an experience he had with the most disliked employee at his place of employment and a little dog that they drove by every day for almost a week. Once again, Mr. Garland's writing will have you feeling like you're sitting in the pub (or coffee shop) listening to the old timers going on with their logging stories, something that happens quite frequently in the small logging/mining town that I live in. I read this story in a couple of hours because I honestly could not put it down until I finished it. I love Leslie Garland's writing style - not only does he paint the story with words but leaves you pondering about some of life's hardest questions.

[P Franke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right away I have to say what I enjoyed most about “The Little Dog” was its presentation.
It brought to mind a very late evening I spent at a pub in Todmorden many years ago. Most of the early evening crowd, who had been there for a drink or two, had left and all that remained were the old-timers settling in for “I remember a time when...” stories. I was one of those younger folks happily sitting back at a nearby table with another pint of Old Peculiar and ready to be pulled into a tale about something before my time that still applied to the present day then and now.
Of course, having a little dog as the thread to bind it was a bonus for me (as I read the book, my Jack Russell “Daisy” snored at my side, which was a good thing...I would have been more than a bit unnerved had she been awake and giving me cryptic glances).
Overall, this is a tale of good and evil, why do bad things happen to good people, and how do you define and separate evil in people from the merely “he was just a bad sort, one to avoid if possible”.
William (now wanting to be called “Bill” as he is transitioning from schoolboy to adult man, but not quite there as yet at the time the story takes place, but now several decades older as he shares the experience) grapples with this question when he finds himself with a week's assignment with a completely unlikable person, Stan, in a remote forestry area.
As the week wears on, both physically and mentally, Bill becomes more and more alarmed by factors, both on the job and in the village.
The story ends with more questions than answers, but that is the point. The reader is tested to make his or her own conclusions, or at least think about the questions raised.
For me, Garland's storytelling technique took me back to that late night in Todmorden, where perhaps not so coincidentally, a particular story raised the hairs on my neck and I left the pub for a short walk about the village to take a break. The midnight dark and fog had me hurrying back to the relative calmness of the lights, camaraderie, and more stories in the pub.

[Adrienne Way · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like this is something that needs to be discussed in all English classes across America. There is so much to talk about in such a short window. Even from the foreword there is a strong sense of voice from the narrator this even gives a sense of having an untrustworthy narrator which is always a more interesting read in my opinion. Garland writes with a stream of consciousness style which can make it difficult to keep track of the plot, but begs to be shared out loud. I will say it gets a bit confusing knowing who exactly is speaking because clear distinctions are not always there. For example, you will be in the middle of the story and then you will be sucked out of the story in order for an explanation or clarification to be made. This element made the writing have a cinematic element to it, to the point that I can clearly see this becoming a short film. As a reader you also get a clear picture of each character. Even the names represent who they are. The main antagonist’s name is Blackman and the teen boy that worked on the ferry was nicknamed Lanky. This sense of character is heightened through the different interactions with the most important character of all…the little dog himself. Through the course of the story I was debated what he represented. Was he a representation of guilt? Being naïve or blissfully ignorant? The protagonist’s growth as a man? Or judgment from God himself? I have my own ideas but I will leave it to the individual to decide for themselves. The conversations about what breeds evil and what the definition really means is discussed in the peace a bit, acting as a starting point for your own mind to wander around these ancient questions. Overall, this piece has much to offer and should be discussed in an academic setting, if this seems like your type of reading please give it a read and tell me what you think the little dog means.

[Debbie Viscosi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is a person inherently evil or does evil come upon a person and lure them in? This question is the basis for this short story. Bill, a young lumberjack, is assigned to clean up a section of forest that is being logged. He is assigned to work with an older lumberjack, Stan Blackman. The job is to take a week and young Bill is none too thrilled to be working with "Lard". To get to the site they ride a ferry and return in the evening on the same ferry. On their first trip to the job site, they see a little dog sitting in front of a tree beside the logging road. Bill is concerned as to what a dog would be doing so far from civilization but his co-worker doesn't care. The next day at the same spot they see the same dog. What is this dog doing? Is there a meaning to its continued presence?

Leslie W. P. Garland weaves a great tale. Little by little you are drawn in by his interesting characters and beautiful descriptions of scenery. By the time you realized he has wrapped you in his tangled web you can't wait to see where you are going. The Little Dog is a very quick moving and has many unexpected twists and turns. As for guessing the ending? Good luck, I never saw it coming. Read it, you'll see.

[Littlewolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually don't enjoy books with so much description that you feel like you have gotten lost in it. Yet I found myself getting so swept into it that it made me feel as if I was in the middle of a painting. So complex and beautiful even when the painting includes a greasy tub of lard. That being said, the story did drag on for a bit before anything started happing. Again, this is something that I usually shy away from in books I read. In this case it was different because of the story telling format the writer used. I took me back to a time when I would sit with my grandfather and listen to the stories he would tell me about his as a young man (or younger man, since my grandfather was forever 39). As the story continues, you start to get a sense of a light vs dark side that only increases as the story picks up it's pace. In the end, your left with more questions then you had answered. Though this would also tend to annoy me, I think in this case it complimented this story. My final thoughts... definitely not my typical read, but I truly enjoyed the feeling I received from this story. It may be short, but it is definitely worth reading.

[NUNZIO · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was uncertain what this book? story? would be. Childrens? Philosophical? When I found out, I wasvery much pleased. The author uses details as a canvas to paint a splended painting. I was there with Bill and saw, smelled and felt his surroundings. It started out slow and if it was'nt my obligation to write this review, I would have stopped. Only so much detail and surroundings. Then the meat came and Bill had a conversation with Reverand Money that started my min a thinking. It lead me in an area I hadn't thought about in many years. Here, right on the page, was my thinking about good and evil in people that reinforced my beliefs that have lied dormant for along time. In fact, I used this same kind of thinking because of our elections. I thoroughly enjoyed the conformation of my beliefs. The f word in the two or three times used shocked me but I understand it was used to present the abased evil dwelling in Blackman. Thank you for taking me in a not so offered area Iwould have chosen. I will read more from this author not in pdf form.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book unnerved me for some reason. It wasn't scary or gory or anything like that, but there was an underlying unease about it. The ending is not what you would expect. This book is just hard to describe; it isn't a bad read (it is a quick one though). Would I read it again? No. Would I recommend to a friend? Depends if you like morals to stories I guess.

Two of the main scenes aren't really explained; the author leaves it to the reader to flesh it out for themselves is the closest I can get to critiquing the story. These two scenes are basically the entire story. The rest is just background and filler. When they're on the boat after the last day of work, and then the last time when he goes looking for the little dog again; these are the ones where you yourself need to read between the lines and stretch the limits of your imagination. There's a reason it's called faith.

Read it for yourself and tell me what your thoughts are, because I've never read anything quite like this before. I guess that's the highest compliment you can give to an author.

[Rendz · Rating 3 out of 5]

RTC.

[Allen Madding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Attention grabber

A short story that grabs you and refuses to let you go until the very end and leaves you wishing for more. Excellent storytelling.

[Steph Warren · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received a free copy of this short story, with thanks to the author. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*

The Little Dog is a short story-within-a-story-within-a-story.

The author introduces the tale by explaining that it originated with a group of friends telling stories and that he would be recounting a few as Red Grouse Tales, of which this story was one. Then the story opens proper with Bill telling his friends a story over drinks. The actual plot of the story is then relayed by Bill.

The story itself is a short one and reminiscent of a particular kind of ghost-story style, which is also usually ‘told’ by an involved narrator. This similarity was heightened by the apparently supernatural appearances of the titular animal and the growing sense of foreboding about Bill’s very unpleasant colleague.

This is Christian fiction so the plot turns more to the spiritual than spirits as it progresses and there are large chunks of religious philosophy and moral speculation throughout the story as the young Bill struggles to make sense of events through his beliefs. This morality also permeates the mystery plot at the heart of Bill’s tale.

I find the idea of a series of thematically linked tales fascinating; very Canterbury Tales, but felt the religious aspect here was a little more prominent than I would generally select for my own personal reading. For those who enjoy Christian fiction with a darkly suspenseful plot then this is the ideal short story and it is one of a series of similar tales.



“I remember I didn’t like him, You always got the feeling that he was trying to be your best mate, though you knew full well he had no intention of being so and in fact didn’t care less about you. Yes, he could smile and joke though he rarely did, but both had a hollow ring which suggested that he was trying to be funny, trying to be one of the lads, which he just wasn’t. There was also something greasy about him, so I didn’t trust him one bit either; and if that lot wasn’t enough, he was also one of the world’s bullies and could have a nasty temper, and I was just learning that this was the chap that Peterson, my manager, was pairing me with for the next week”.
So began Bill’s story.

– Leslie W. P. Garland, The Little Dog

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...

[Brigitte · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Little Dog is one of the stories shared amongst friends over drinks at The Red Grouse pub.

This story is narrated by Bill, recalling his days as a forester fifty years ago.

Stan has a bad reputation and is not popular with his fellow foresters. He is new to the area and is a bit of an enigma. Bill is paired up with him for a week to clear one of the forests across the lake. He doesn't feel comfortable about the situation, but it's only temporary.

On their first journey, they spot a dog, sitting by the road side and he still there on their return journey. There is no sign of his owner and Bill starts to worry when they find him in the same spot for the next few days. Stan's uncaring attitude bothers Bill who starts to ask himself questions about good, bad and evil. He finds himself analysing the subject and ends up going round in circles. What happens on their final journey is a mystery. The nature of the dog is an even bigger mystery.

The author paints a good picture of the environment and the occurrences. There are a lot of unanswered questions. Everyone criticises Stan's appearance without really knowing anything about him. What transpires proves that he is an unsavoury character, but there is no closure. It's a philosophical story which leaves it open to interpretation. An interesting read, indeed.

[Whitney Reinhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Garland's Red Grouse Tales are so very thought provoking. The stories in and of themselves, presented as records of stories told among friends, are compelling and kept me turning pages well into the wee hours when I should have been sleeping instead of reading. Garland masterfully weaves social commentary into tales of the uncanny without being heavy-handed or overbearing.

The Little Dog is a thrilling commentary on good and evil with chilling twists and turns on nearly every page. This story, told by Bill of The Red Grouse Inn gang, centers around Bill’s time working in the forest service and a miserable week spent working with the particularly unpleasant Stan Blackman. The little dog makes an appearance on their way to the worksite the first day and serves as a beacon of hope for Bill during the trying workweek. When events unfold which expose the depths of Blackman’s depravity, Bill’s need for the dog’s comfort grows. Both vengeance and justice are righteously served.

[Jeanne Pocius Dorismond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morality Play? Perhaps

Author Leslie W P Garland has created a deeply thought-provoking story. Young Bill spends a week working high in the forest with a curmudgeon of a co-worker, but it is only after a serious shock on the last day of the week while riding the ferry back across the lake that leads to learning just how bad a man his colleague actually was. I won't ruin the story, but one must wonder at Bill's experience the following week: did he suffer somewhat of a psychotic break, or did he actually witness something supernatural? Read the book and decide for yourself. A+ Bravo!

[Bundledupbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

It poses some questions, reflects on human nature, and there is even a little dog. If you are looking for a short book you can read in a sitting that will be a good read throughout, this is the book for you.

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The narrator ends up posing some questions about an event that ends up happening that will most likely not ever have answers; questions about the ways of human nature. For those who like pondering over some of life's topics, you might enjoy this one. I got a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Book Inspector · Rating 1 out of 5]

The blurb is very accurate for this book and it gives you all you need to know about it. Bill is paired up with a nasty man who everyone hates and the whole book is about him trying to figure out who his coworker really is and why he is so evil. Does he figure that out? Not really. The only character who had some sort of personality in this book was Bill, all the other characters for me were quite plain and not interesting. I am not a big fan of philosophy, I can digest it if it is well incorporated into the story, but in this case, it was an obvious transition to the philosophical parts and it just doesn’t work for me. So to conclude, for me this mixture of philosophy, crime, religion, supernatural and very detailed descriptions of trees and saws don’t work together, but if you into such topics, you might enjoy it. 🙂

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A chilling tale with an air of menace.

I received this book in return for an honest review.

One of a series of stories, based on the tales the author and friends used to tell each other in the pub. The Little Dog is Bill’s tale of a sequence of events from many years before in his youth. In the story, Bill is a young woodsman, tasked with logging in a particular area of the forestry estate. He’s paired up with Stan Blackman, a greasy individual that no-one particularly likes and they drive off to a remote site to finish the logging job started the year before. At a particular point in their drive, they spot a little dog, seemingly by itself. I won’t say any more as I don’t want to give the story away, but suffice it to say, all is not quite as it seems.

The book is well written and the tale is gripping, even though it is a little slow to start. I loved the descriptions of the landscape and the author’s attention to detail made the story become almost cinematic: I could see the landscape in my head, the sweeping beauty of it as well as the drama of the weather. All the while you are aware that something is not quite right: there is a sense of impending calamity, but you can’t quite put your finger on what’s wrong. I think this would actually make a very good film.

There is a little philosophical discussion between some characters on the nature of good and evil – all interesting and very relevant to the story. There is the odd explanation that is not really needed, though this may be to make the story more accessible to non-UK readers?

I ended up reading this all in one day and would very much recommend it. I will be going back and purchasing more of this author’s work.

[Namitha Varma · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received this book from the author through Booktasters in return for an honest review.*

The Little Dog is a philosophical story that makes one think about evil and punishment, of karma. It tells the story of Stan Blackman through the narrative of Bill Armstrong.

What I liked: It is a simple tale, told with passion and emotion. The story flows smoothly. Despite long musings on good and evil, the little book, at no point, seems boring. It contains some beautiful descriptions of nature too.

What I wasn't comfortable with: Blackman is discussed as bad company, a bully, and progressively evil. However, the characterisation is 2-dimensional and we don't get a full picture - only what Bill relays from his own experience and from what others have told him. Also, the reason why the triple murder was committed is not talked about. That leaves a gap in both the narrative and characterisation of Blackman. If someone had found out something about Blackman's past it would have added to the human element of the story. It would have made for a bit of psychological study as well as a moral study. But then again, maybe that's something the author did not want - to turn it into a psychological case study rather than the mysterious case of retribution that it is right now.

A slightly annoying point was that there were too many looooong sentences in the book. Some are a little clumsy to read because by the time you reach the end of the sentence, you've forgotten what it started with.

[Kelly Glenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took a little while to get into. I liked the idea of two men finding a little dog along the side of the road on their way to work. This book had a lot of philosophy and deep questions about good versus bad and what constitutes evil. However, it left me wanting more. As a short story, I missed some relationship building and character development. For example, I wanted Bill to talk to Blackman and just ask him a few questions about his life. I wanted Bill to be more sympathetic and to find out what Blackman was going through and what made him so grumpy. Especially after Bill had talked to the priest, I thought he would at least try to find out more personal information about Blackman or just be more sympathetic in general. All humans are going through battles and struggles that we don't know about, it is our duty to sympathize and assist humankind. Could some of the evil been prevented if Blackman had felt kindness or sympathy? We didn't have enough information.
I really didn't like how Bill considered the little dog to be evil towards the end. The dog was a sweet, innocent creature. I wanted Bill to take Mickey home and use him as a companion.

A book with a lot of good questions about human nature and deep thoughts on philosophy.

Note: I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Bonnye Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don't have to attain a great age to put into perspective your naive youthful miscues on life. But it helps. Bill is now a retired forest ranger in England, looking back on a week in his youth when he worked with another ranger he did not know but could not like. As they cut the remaining scrub trees on an old clearcut site, Bill is exposed to a level of unspoken malice that shocks him. Looking back he is sure it was not an exaggeration. But the little dog was really special...

The story is fine - the descriptive passages of the beauty and grandeur of the forests he was working in are exceptional. I want more by Leslie W. P. Garland.

I received a free electronic copy of this novelette from TheFussyLibrarian and Leslie W. P. Garland. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work.

Reviewed on July 17 on Goodreads, AmazonSmile, and BookBub. Not available to review on Barnes & Noble or Kobo.

[Heather Mellars · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella is eerie, yet engaging, and thought provoking. It will stay with me for a long time.
It took a while to get into the story, the beginning is slow. But well worth the perseverance. I feel it has a palpable atmosphere skillfully created and woven together with beautiful naturalistic descriptions. It has philosophical questions which are posed, which you can carry on debating with yourself, your friends, long after you have finished reading and know the end of the tale.
I thoroughly recommend this book and will be reading others in the series.

I received this book in return for an honest review.

[Becky Zales · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Leslie W P Garland's The Little Dog I couldn't shake that creepy feeling I get after watching an episode of The Twighlight Zone. Garland describes a beautiful landscape where a little dog sits off the side of the road. Two co-workers repeatedly see the dog on their way to work and back, throughout the week. Of course, I kept asking myself; who is this little dog haunting and what did they do? This is a story about good and evil and the kind of story I was still thinking about after reading it. Eerie and interesting, makes me want to read more of Garlands tales.

[bryan richter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet

A story inside a story. Author clearly has a deep appreciation of nature, particularly the forest, and dogs. A kind protagonist coming of age through a trying experience with a bad man. A simple, short, open ended story that lets you decide