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Rachel Alexander & Dash #6
The Long Good Boy
Book by Benjamin, Carol Lea
238 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2001
104 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
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 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 13, 2020
This book is seriously dated (like all the early books in this series, it was published in the nineties).
The use of the term “tranny” [sic. And apologies!] for transwomen characters is harshly grating.
I guess I was looking for something redemptive in this book, like that the transwomen are real people, that they are not destined to die. And I didn't find that in this book.
we see the same tired tropes. It’s well-meaning and perhaps intended to be sensitive. Falls short for this queer reader. Obviously, I would’ve liked to see this go in a different direction.
I'd much rather hear LaDonna's story than Rachel's. I don't like when characters are "disposable." One of my fantasies is that authors will pay in hell for every queer of color character they killed off to further their plot. That sounds harsh. Representation is deadly serious.
Side note: someone else said the dog training (of all things) was not believable in this book. I disagree! I totally believe the dog training in this book. Clint really IS the long good boy! Rachel Alexander is a professional dog trainer!
The use of the term “tranny” [sic. And apologies!] for transwomen characters is harshly grating.
I guess I was looking for something redemptive in this book, like that the transwomen are real people, that they are not destined to die. And I didn't find that in this book.
we see the same tired tropes. It’s well-meaning and perhaps intended to be sensitive. Falls short for this queer reader. Obviously, I would’ve liked to see this go in a different direction.
I'd much rather hear LaDonna's story than Rachel's. I don't like when characters are "disposable." One of my fantasies is that authors will pay in hell for every queer of color character they killed off to further their plot. That sounds harsh. Representation is deadly serious.
Side note: someone else said the dog training (of all things) was not believable in this book. I disagree! I totally believe the dog training in this book. Clint really IS the long good boy! Rachel Alexander is a professional dog trainer!
August 17, 2016
Sometimes a book is just so painful to read, the sadness of whatever slice of life the author is portraying is just so overwhelming that even if the mystery itself is riveting and the ending a surprise and well done you are left feeling somewhat depressed. There is a reason I read cosies rather than true crime or hardcore mysteries...I have seen too much of real life and I am no longer interested in taking in the pain of some realities. That being said, there are three more Rachel and Dash books and I plan to read them. The people in Rachel's life live gritty lives.
June 29, 2007
I'm a sucker for clever titles. Often they don't pan out.
March 31, 2011
Rachel & Dash, sad, sordid, tranny hookers, dope, bad cops
July 6, 2013
okay to good but great surprise ending
February 2, 2023
So this book is starring transgender female prostitutes and before we go further I need to say I have two trans kids, one of whom committed suicide because of the issues she faced—not from me, she told me I was the only one who ever truly accepted her for who she was. I only say this so you read my review knowing that I am as sensitive to transgender issues as a CIS female can be (maybe it helps that I’m also LGBTQIA+).
This book was published in 2001 when most people had never heard of transgender issues. Trans people were treated as the people in the story were back then. Queer folk were still arguing whether transgendered people should march in the parades. They only thought in terms of drag queens and transvestites and not those that actually wanted to change their bodies to reflect their gender, who they really were inside. The acceptable terms were different so she uses the word tranny and doesn’t mean it pejoratively.
So understanding that, I think she does a pretty good job of talking about disposable people and the plight of people with gender dysphoria, a word which she actually uses. She doesn’t just talk about the prostitutes but also her cousin who was not on the streets but still suffered. She always refers to them with female pronouns.
There are moments that aren’t good, that are judgey or clueless but not as many as could be expected and I think it’s more for them being hookers and drug addicts (which isn’t okay for her to do either) but I really feel the author was trying to be open minded and teach us something about what life is like for these
She understands that these women see themselves as women and it doesn’t match what their bodies look like. They are taking hormones too, and saving money for transitioning.
These are prostitutes who she’s treating like real people but real people with really awful lives. (Though her depiction of a pimp is a ridiculous stereotype.) she discovers some reasons why these people end up on the street.
But about the mystery itself:
This just jumped right in, no preamble, no going about her day. It starts right off with a phone call and she’s right in the thick of it. It ends just as suddenly. I wanted a little more about the aftermath especially since I don’t know directions in NYC. I think I know what she meant but not sure.
It was a good good mystery, although I think the whodunnit was cheating a little. But other things were revealed and she did some good detective work. I wouldn’t even know where to start. And a lot is revealed near the end that were great twists b
the dog training part was ridiculous though—too complex and it happened WAY too fast and the author knows better. She trains dogs! Dogs need their handlers next to them when they do agility and it takes months and years of practice to be good and this is so far beyond that.
Then she sneaks into an office and faxes papers back to her home phone number. What an idiot. She figures that out but later.
Anyway, I think this was a good story and broke some ground for the era. The street girls were human, not all good, not all bad, not all nice, not all mean, etc.
This book was published in 2001 when most people had never heard of transgender issues. Trans people were treated as the people in the story were back then. Queer folk were still arguing whether transgendered people should march in the parades. They only thought in terms of drag queens and transvestites and not those that actually wanted to change their bodies to reflect their gender, who they really were inside. The acceptable terms were different so she uses the word tranny and doesn’t mean it pejoratively.
So understanding that, I think she does a pretty good job of talking about disposable people and the plight of people with gender dysphoria, a word which she actually uses. She doesn’t just talk about the prostitutes but also her cousin who was not on the streets but still suffered. She always refers to them with female pronouns.
There are moments that aren’t good, that are judgey or clueless but not as many as could be expected and I think it’s more for them being hookers and drug addicts (which isn’t okay for her to do either) but I really feel the author was trying to be open minded and teach us something about what life is like for these
She understands that these women see themselves as women and it doesn’t match what their bodies look like. They are taking hormones too, and saving money for transitioning.
These are prostitutes who she’s treating like real people but real people with really awful lives. (Though her depiction of a pimp is a ridiculous stereotype.) she discovers some reasons why these people end up on the street.
But about the mystery itself:
This just jumped right in, no preamble, no going about her day. It starts right off with a phone call and she’s right in the thick of it. It ends just as suddenly. I wanted a little more about the aftermath especially since I don’t know directions in NYC. I think I know what she meant but not sure.
It was a good good mystery, although I think the whodunnit was cheating a little. But other things were revealed and she did some good detective work. I wouldn’t even know where to start. And a lot is revealed near the end that were great twists b
the dog training part was ridiculous though—too complex and it happened WAY too fast and the author knows better. She trains dogs! Dogs need their handlers next to them when they do agility and it takes months and years of practice to be good and this is so far beyond that.
Then she sneaks into an office and faxes papers back to her home phone number. What an idiot. She figures that out but later.
Anyway, I think this was a good story and broke some ground for the era. The street girls were human, not all good, not all bad, not all nice, not all mean, etc.
January 30, 2018
I’ve only read a few books in this series. This one by far has the most drama, intrigue, and mystery. There are two murders and Rachel sees a connection between the two: one is a transvestite and the is an undercover cop. Rachel gets a part time sales job in the day and by night is a hooker (hired by other transvestite hookers to help find the killer of their friend). The ending is very harrowing and I was surprised how it ended. I have to read the next book to find out what happens next. I love the character, Rachel and especially her dog/companion Dashiel! Once I got started it was difficult to put down. Very easy reading!
April 4, 2018
I just couldn't get into this book. I kept picking it back up to try again but it wasn't for me. I recognized the author's name from my years in dogs and her regular articles in AKC Gazette. She is so informative and I loved her articles but her fiction is just not my taste.
June 1, 2018
2.5 stars. A bit conflicted on this one. The plot was interesting although gritty and rather depressing. I didn't like the long section where Rachel trained the dog to go into a building. It seemed completely far fetched that it could be done so quickly.
December 23, 2019
Great series! Wish there were more!
Well written, expertly plotted with vivid characters and villains. A terrific series if you love dogs and murder mysteries. Wish she would write more!
Well written, expertly plotted with vivid characters and villains. A terrific series if you love dogs and murder mysteries. Wish she would write more!
January 25, 2018
Good read.
March 13, 2019
3.5 stars
July 13, 2024
Quirky & fun! Nice twist at the end! Love when animals are part of the story. Nice quick read in between something “heavy”.
July 13, 2024
Quirky & fun…got a few chuckles out of me :). Quick fun read after reading something “heavy”. Recommend the series!
February 24, 2016
Okay, it wasn't the greatest PI story I've read -- but I read it with my wife and she is a dog lover and enjoyed this more than I did.
The protagonists actions in this book seem just a bit too unbelievable for me.
The protagonists actions in this book seem just a bit too unbelievable for me.
March 20, 2016
#6 of the Rachel/Dash series takes on the sad lives of transvestite prostitutes. This book had more weight than her previous books in this series because of the subject matter. At the same time, the titled dog, a long-haired dachshund, is as cute as the picture of him.
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June 23, 2018I read about 10% and lost interest. It's well written but trying to decipher the street talk of the prostitutes wore me down and it just wasn't enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews