Dog Book Review: The More the Terrier

Lauren Vancouver is at it again in the second novel in Linda O. Johnston‘s pet rescue mystery series, The More the Terrier. Director of a private, no-kill shelter, Vancouver gets caught up in a murder mystery, when her former mentor (turned hoarder) is accused in the death of a smarmy cosmetics mogul who strong-arms small shelters and rescue groups to join her animal rescue network.

While I enjoyed the first book in the series, Beaglemania, I had a tough, tough, tough time wading through all the alpha baloney that the trainer at Vancouver’s fictional shelter used.

I’m happy to report that in The More the Terrier Vancouver is in the market for a new trainer at the shelter, and the new guy is sold, at least on the surface, as a positive reinforcement trainer.

However, he snaps a leash to get an exuberant dog to walk at his side (page 238).

The trainer goes on to use small food rewards when the dog responds to his requests, but then the book says, “Soon, Flash appeared to concede that Gavin was alpha in this small pack.”

[Insert Charlie-Brown-style scream here … head thrown back, frustration evident]

Aside from that one disappointing alpha reference, I really did enjoy the book. In fact, I made a fire in our back stove, and I hunkered down one night last week and read the entire thing in one sitting. I haven’t done that in a long, long time.

The More the Terrier delivers beyond expectations in two spots:

• The realism of how easily animal lovers / animal rescuers can become animal hoarders (and what real friends do when it happens)
• The hate factor of the novel’s murder victim (… seriously, I loathed this lady from the get-go)

I’m still a tiny bit annoyed that the shelter in the book uses what I consider old-fashioned adoption policies and processes, but I can live with that, as long as the plot delivers.

And, it does.

Thanks to our 500th Fan!

Normally, we’d do a giveaway for the free review copy Johnston’s publisher sent me, but we’re giving it to our 500th Facebook Fan, Lesa.

Lesa was one of many new fans sent to us by Living Large in Our Little House. Many thanks for the help broadening our reach.