Book Review: The Wrong Dog

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Wrong Dog     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Carol Lea Benjamin
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Dogs
Series: Rachel Alexander and Dash # 5
Walker, Nov 2000, $23.95, 240 pp.

Sophie Gordon arranged to meet private investigator Rachel Alexander at the Washington Square Park dog run. There, Sophie explains why she needs a sleuth. The School of the Deaf teacher uses a service dog to help her by alerting her when she is going into a seizure. This allows Sophie the time to insure her safety. Her canine Blanche died, but before she did, the Side by Side agency cloned the dog. However, the canine Sophie received, Bianca, is unable to detect seizures. Sophie worries that the other clones will also fail to perform that task and wants the agency to warn their owners. However, the agency seems to have vanished off the planet.

Not to long after that meeting, Sophie dies conspicuously from a seizure. Rachel wonders about the questionable coincidence that her new client should die shortly after she tells the sleuth her tale, especially because Sophie was very careful with her ailment. Rachel feels obligated to find the Side by Side people and accompanied by Dash begins to make inquiries without yet realizing the danger she places herself and Dash in at the hands of unscrupulous individuals.

THE WRONG DOG is an exciting mystery filled with intelligence, humor, and a dash of Manhattan. The enjoyable yet educating story line is fun to read as the plot centers on cloning, disabilities, and an exhilarating investigation by one of the better female detectives as well as one of the better animal detectives in a current series. Fans will want to read Carol Lea Benjamin’s other well-written canine tales.

Harriet Klausner

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