Showing A New Leash on Death by Susan Conant

The first of Susan Conant’s dog lover’s mysteries, A New Leash on Death introduces Holly Winter and Rowdy, the Alaskan malamute who has reliably gone Best of Breed in the hearts of dog-loving mystery readers and mystery-reading dog lovers since this book’s original publication in 1990.

Mourning the recent death of her angelic golden retriever, Dog’s Life columnist Holly Winter goes to a class at the Cambridge Dog Training Club only to help out—little suspecting that her help will consist of solving a murder! And little does she expect that in offering temporary shelter to the victim’s bereft Alaskan malamute, she’ll end with a dog she’ll do anything to keep forever—the bold and boisterous Rowdy.

Why didn’t the elderly Dr. Frank Stanton return to release Rowdy from a long down? Because Dr. Stanton was on the longest down of all, strangled with Rowdy’s leash! Even though Holly isn’t ready for a new dog, Rowdy is too beguiling to resist. But how can Holly make him her own? Only by discovering who killed Dr. Stanton—and risking her life in the process.
This 2011 edition opens with a new preface by the author.

PRAISE FOR SUSAN CONANT'S DOG LOVER'S MYSTERIES:

“Conant infuses her writing with a healthy dose of humor about Holly's Fido-loving friends and other Cambridge cliques; the target of her considerable wit clearly emerges as human nature.” Publishers Weekly on Gone to the Dogs

“Come. Sit. Stay.” Kirkus Reviews on Gone to the Dogs

“Even those not partial to canines will want to bark with pleasure at a good animal mystery in which the animals aren't portrayed as humans with fur.” Publishers Weekly on Creature Discomforts

“The author keeps readers entertained between major breakthroughs in the story by relating all sorts of pointers about dogs in general, and more specifically Holly's own malamutes, who play a role in solving the crime. Holly comes across as self-assured, independent, and knowledgeable, and all of the other characters are precisely drawn through subtle details and expertly manipulated facts.” School Library Journal on Animal Appetite

“A wonderful romp for canine lovers and others.” Library Journal on Ruffly Speaking

“Sheer bliss awaits the dedicated dog-lover.” Kirkus Reviews on The Wicked Flea
“There’s not a cat-writer around with Conant’s wit and breezy sophistication.” Kirkus Reviews on Bride and Groom

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

The author of nineteen mysteries featuring Holly Winter and her Alaskan malamutes, Susan Conant is a seven-time winner of the Dog Writers Association of America’s Maxwell Award. She has published one mystery for cat lovers, Scratch the Surface, and two nonfiction books. She and her daughter, Jessica Conant-Park, have collaborated on the Gourmet Girl series of culinary mysteries.