Give a Dog a Name (Portway Large Print Books) - Hardcover

Gerald Hammond

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0706610369 ISBN 13: 9780706610369

Publisher: Remploy Press, 1994

Synopsis

This latest of Gerald Hammond's carefully crafted mystery novels, set in the colorful Scottish Highlands, continues the adventures of amateur sleuth, war hero, and dog trainer Captain John Cunningham.
When a wealthy businessman brings his wounded springer spaniel, Horace, to the Cunninghams' Three Oaks Kennel, it all seems to be part of a day's work for John and Beth Cunningham. But the spaniel has been wounded by two weights of buckshot, arousing suspicions of foul play. With the Cunninghams on the lookout for answers, events take a sinister turn when one of the judges at a weekend dog show accuses John of cruelty to his dogs.
A surprised Cunningham learns that someone has anonymously sent the judge photographs purporting to show Cunningham beating his own spaniel, Stardust - and the implications for Three Oaks are grave.
Beth manages to get her hands on one of the photographs, but while she's contemplating this clever bit of fakery, the Cunninghams are faced with an additional twist as they realize that Stardust has been stolen. In his place is another dog, nearly identical to the Cunningham canine, but oddly frightened of men... and cigars.
With their beloved spaniel missing, and their professional reputations and livelihoods on the line, John and Beth must act quickly to uncover the motives behind these bizarre and disturbing events. And all signs keep pointing back to the need to find out who shot Horace - and why.

About this title

From AudioFile:

Quiet countryside, rolling farmland, hard-working villagers-sounds idyllic, doesn't it? Throw in adultery, animal abuse, plus the tabloid press and you've got the makings of a good mystery. However, the lead character's slow speech, which echoes his physically challenged status, gives the story a plodding, stuttering feel. Douglas's attempts to differentiate the female voices fail, but he succeeds with the males. The production is unadorned and delivered in a straightforward monotone. All in all, while the story is neither gripping nor riveting, it keeps listeners mildly interested and curious until the end. A.G.H. (c) AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

From Kirkus Reviews:

A tricky challenge for ex-army Captain John Cunningham (Doghouse, 1992, etc.), who, along with wife Beth and neighbor Isobel, runs dog-breeding and training kennels at Three Oaks Farm in the Scottish Highlands. Horace, a neighbor's dog, has been peppered with shot for no apparent reason, and John, entrusted with the dog's recovery, is asking questions of nearby farmers--among many others, Dan Sievewright and his womanizing brother George. Soon there are scurrilous accusations, floated in high places, of dog abuse at Three Oaks Farm; then the kennels are broken into, and a dog kidnapped. Beth is sure that someone wants the truth about Horace's incident kept under cover. Her persistence and intuitive detecting pay off--in an inspired last-minute confrontation. An often confusing puzzle neatly resolved; to be enjoyed most by lovers of dogs, especially those of the hunting kind. -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

About this edition

• Publisher: Remploy Press
• Publication date: 1994
• ISBN 10: 0706610369
• ISBN 13: 9780706610369
• Binding: Hardcover