Synopses & Reviews
"Mystery fans should hope that This Dog for Hire is only the first of a large litter". -- John Lutz
Carol Lea Benjamin's second Rachel and Dash mystery, set again in New York's Greenwich Village, fulfills all the promise of the first. Hired to investigate the suicide of a young woman whose family needs to find some understanding of why their daughter died, Rachel not only moves into the dead woman's apartment, but very much into her life as a student of the martial arts. From the dojo where she studied to the health clubs and restaurants that dot the Village, Rachel begins to develop the picture of a young woman with too much to offer to too many. Accompanied by Dashiell, her pit bull, Rachel's search for answers leads her through a maze of riddles worthy of a Zen master, and depends as much on human nature as on the nature of a popular breed of dog.
"Carol Lea Benjamin is as good at writing mysteries as she is at writing about dogs. The writing is as gritty and edgy as the location, with a good dollop of humor thrown in". -- Laurien Berenson, author of Underdog
"A spirited debut, written with enough flair to make it appealing to more than just dog lovers. And Benjamin writes with a wit nearly as sharp as Dash's teeth". -- Publishers Weekly
"Not nearly as arch as most dog or cat mysteries...the descriptions ring true...you will find Benjamin's work first-rate". -- Cleveland Plain Dealer