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Interviews | July 4, 2009

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A Dog Among Diplomats

by J. F. Englert

A Dog Among Diplomats Cover

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

He reads Proust. Surfs the net. Is the soul of diplomacy.

And when it comes to solving crime,

Randolph is the dog for the job.

Murder has come to Manhattan’s East Village. And when detectives call twenty-something artist Harry to the scene, his Labrador, Randolph, instantly smells a rat. Why? Because Harry’s missing almost-fiancée—and Randolph’s beloved mistress—has been implicated in the murder, which has ties to the U.N. While Harry looks to the spirit world for answers, careening between terror and wild hope that Imogen is alive, Randolph goes into detective mode, using his superior Lab brain—2.3 pounds of smoothly functioning gray matter—to surf the Net, track down clues, and even land a job as a “therapy” dog to a depressed diplomat. Suddenly the brainy, book-loving Lab has done the impossible: he’s penetrated the shadowy corridors of the U.N. (which boasts the most vicious, backbiting dog run in the city) in search of a killer. Now it will take all of Randolph’s cunning to protect Harry, clear Imogen’s name, solve the crime—and stay alive long enough to enjoy his upcoming birthday.

Review:

"Poetry-loving, bon vivant dog detective Randolf returns (after A Dog About Town) for another installment of the Bull Moose Dog Run mysteries. Imogen — mistress of Randolf, heiress of a mining fortune and partner to artist Harry — has disappeared, upsetting Randolf and Harry alike. Det. Peter Davis informs Harry that Imogen has been implicated in the murder of a foreign diplomat, whose body is discovered at one of Manhattan's last boarding houses in red heart — laden boxer shorts, with an open parachute on his back and pictures of a scantily clad Imogen by his side. To find out more, Labrador Randolf goes undercover at the U.N. as therapy dog to a diplomat with the blues and keeps Harry in the loop by various ingenious methods. Englert's droll mix of mystery, philosophical musing about man and beast, political doings at the U.N. and the mysteries of love make this an elegant, funny and inspiring romp in the park." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Synopsis:

In this second book of a smart and witty new series, beloved Labrador Randolph enters into the cloak and dagger world of diplomats and political intrigue in order to find his friend Harry's long-lost love. Original.
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About the Author

J.F. Englert, a writer of fiction and nonfiction for both book and screen, lives in Manhattan with his wife, P. Englert, daughter, C. Englert, and dog, R. Englert.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
elo, May 8, 2008 (view all comments by elo)
A Dog Among Diplomats could definitely be enjoyed on its own, as a quick recap of the backstory is provided at the beginning of the novel--but it is a series after all, so I would still recommend beginning with the first book, A Dog About Town (which I also reviewed).

I called the first book a fun read--which it was, and this one is too (If you like Vespas, I think it's not spoiling the plot to say that one takes a prominent role in this novel. Has product placement $s begun for books now?). --But I would also add that these light-hearted elements give the book a deceptively simple air.

In this sequel, Englert introduces a whole cast of additional characters, and the plot (mystery) as well as the themes grow more complex. Englert's writing skill is seen in that the plot does seem to unfold so effortlessly (it's a quick read), when in fact he is juggling dozens of plot threads and characters at a time.

My favorite part of these novels, though, is probably not the plot itself but Englert's prose and his wry commentaries, such as his tongue-in-cheek defense of obvious distortions of history, filtered through a character who intends no irony, "Leopold was merely taking the ideal sentiment of human brotherhood and rescuing it from the sordid march of history." (This said just before a senseless murder occurs..)

One more philosophical take-away, filtered through, Randolph (labrador-cum-detective and avid reader):
"Writing is the craft of the illusionist. A writer frames and reframes reality, and soon this mirror trick becomes the world."
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780440243649
Subtitle:
A Bull Moose Dog Run Mystery
Author:
Englert, J. F.
Author:
Anglert, J. F.
Publisher:
Dell Publishing Company
Subject:
General
Subject:
Mystery & Detective - General
Subject:
Dogs
Subject:
Manhattan (new york, n.y.)
Subject:
Mystery fiction
Publication Date:
April 2008
Binding:
Mass Market Paperbound
Language:
English
Pages:
305
Dimensions:
6.92x4.90x.91 in. .36 lbs.
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