Book Review: The Dogfather

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Dogfather     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Susan Conant
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Dogs
Series: Holly Winter # 15
Berkley, Feb 2003, $22.95, 272 pp.

In her not so distant past, Holly Winter, dog lover and owner of two Alaskan malamutes did something that brought her to the attention of mob boss Enzio Guarini concerning his hated son-in-law. Although she never intended to have anything to do with him again, she is virtually kidnapped by his overzealous employees while walking the dogs. The ride gets off to a bad start when the dogs eat Enzio’s cannolis before they are brought to his home where he informs Holly that he wants her to train his new four month old rambunctious puppy.

Not being an idiot who wants to relocate underground, Holly agrees to train the puppy. One day while Holly and Enzio are working together in a parking lot, one of Guarini’s guards is murdered. Holly is instructed to go home and forget about the incident. However that proves difficult when a bomb blows up her car, an FBI agent threatens her and somebody takes a shot at her while she is dining with her policeman buddy. What can one expect in Cambridge?

The DOGFATHER is a hilarious parody of "The Godfather" with Enzio being the right Brando. Surprisingly, the mobster discovers who the killer is, not the heroine. The female protagonist tries to make the best of an untenable position and at times her actions are extremely funny. Susan Conant always writes an excellent who-done- it but this one is especially good due in large part to Holly’s reactions to certain incidents, cannoli anyone?

Harriet Klausner

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