Book Review: The Long Good Dog

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Long Good Dog     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Carol Lea Benjamin
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Dogs
Series: Rachel Alexander and Dash # 6
Walker, Oct 2001, $23.95

When the call came in the middle of the night Manhattan private detective Rachel Alexander was already awake, suffering from insomnia. The caller paints a mysterious scenario that boils down to wanting to hire Rachel. Intrigued, Rachel agrees to meet the three potential clients at night in Abington Square.

Accompanied by her partner, Dash the dog, Rachel meets three transsexual hookers, Jasmine, LaDonna, and Chi Chi as well as the latter’s daschund Clint. The threesome wants Rachel to investigate the murder of a peer Rosalinda since the police would not waste time on the underbelly of society. Putting together tens and twenties, they give Rachel $6,000. She begins her investigation by seeing a link between Rosalind’s death and the gangland style murder of meat plant manager Kevin Mulrooney. As the prostitutes worry that the killer is coming for them too, Rachel realizes she may have to go undercover as bait to catch a killer.

THE LONG GOOD DOG is an entertaining urban noir that shows a different darker side of New York City. The story line is crisp and the investigation enjoyable while Rachel and Dash are strong characters. However, this edition of the Alexander mysteries belongs to the three hookers who paint a different type of cozy.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner