*** Overall *** Story **** Narration – Unique K9 Mystery
Tracy Carter provides excellent insight into dog training for specific tasks that aid law enforcement in Lawyers, Dogs, and Money, A Veronica Kildare K-9 Mystery, Book 2. The fictional mystery stands on its own. The strong female protagonist, Veronica Kildare, is portrayed as a renowned dog trainer in Colorado who trains pups to locate missing persons, expose hidden drugs, and protect their owners.
Veronica’s father, Bob, and Michael, an intern dog trainer studying law, leverage one another’s capabilities to support their community. The dogs, especially Leta, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, are not just animals but key characters with unique personalities and loyal natures to their humans. The dogs play a prominent role in resolving several problems with their unique talents, making this a multi-level mystery. The supporting cast of characters was well-developed and complimented the story.
The story’s premise, though interesting, emphasizes too many details about endangered species animal rights, Estonian history under the Soviet Union invasion, and step-by-step specialty dog training, which distracts from the mystery theme. These critical social issues might be better served in separate books. Pictures will appear in the listener’s mind with realistic, vivid descriptions of the panoramic views, rugged hiking trails, living quarters, the nightclub, and the warehouse.
Alyssa Baumann’s narration was the highlight of this fiction. No issues or errors were found during the audiobook rendition, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable listening experience. The tonality was good, and the pauses were well-timed. The voices of various characters are consistent from beginning to end. Ms. Baumann delivers excitement and emotions into the story.
The well-developed characters and the smooth narration are some of the book’s strengths that listeners will appreciate. Unfortunately, the clarity of narration emphasizes unrealistic stilted language within the dialogue and uncommon though accurate words scattered like a thesaurus challenge. Fans of mystery and suspense will appreciate the initial story ramp and surprising culprits. Everyone will fall in love with the loyal dogs.
About the Author
Tracy’s early infatuation with mysteries began, as it did for many other young readers, when she discovered the Nancy Drew books. A monthly visit to the department store to purchase the next yellow spine picture cover book in the series (for $1.50!) was a special treat. She savored the dramatic cover art and the adventures of the resourceful and resilient Nancy, who in the days before cell phones, often managed to save herself from dire circumstances just in the nick of time.
Nancy Drew even owned a terrier named Togo, but he was more a naughty house pet, who clearly had never heard the words “obedience class,” and could not be expected to partner with his owner to decipher a mystery! Togo was intermittently incorporated in the older editions for comic effect, such as the time he stole a woman’s purse and dropped it in the middle of a lake, or capsized a waiter carrying a tray of dishes at a casino.
Tracy took a slightly different approach in her books; the featured dogs are never on the sidelines, but interwoven through every facet of their humans’ lives, just as her own retrievers have been in her life. As Tracy entered her 20s, she began working as an assistant trainer for a highly-respected dog obedience school, and then added training in rally and agility to the mix. Her desire to write a mystery series (that would ideally enthrall readers for years to come) crystallized around the central concept of a main character, Veronica Kildare, who gradually overcomes a violent and traumatic incident at her workplace with the assistance of Leda, her Chesapeake Bay Retriever, who becomes her highly trained search and rescue and drug detection dog. Dogs can simply be our beloved family companions. But they can also be trained to do so much more.
The Veronica Kildare K-9 Mystery series showcases diverse and fascinating jobs for which dogs are trained by the main character for her clients, as Veronica also gets drawn into a baffling mystery in each book. Of course, the abilities of her K-9 partner are highlighted as Veronica and Leda face every peril together—because the only thing better than a great mystery is a great dog!
After growing up near Cleveland, OH and attending Allegheny College in Meadville, PA, Tracy graduated from the University of Glasgow, Scotland with a Master’s degree in History. (She absolutely loves Scotland, but has never acquired a taste for haggis.) Her lengthy career as a legal assistant has included stints at international law firms (in Cleveland, Denver, and London) and Prosecutors’ offices, followed by jobs as the Horse Identifier at two thoroughbred racetracks—all while training dogs in obedience and rally. She currently lives near Cleveland, with her husband and Llewellin Setter (aka the diva), where she is an avid hiker and dedicated college football fan.
