Lady Vanishes: A Rachel Alexander and Dash Mystery (Rachel Alexander & Dash Mysteries) - Hardcover

Benjamin, Carol Lea

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0802733352 ISBN 13: 9780802733351

Publisher: Walker & Co, 1999

Synopsis

The disappearance of a beloved puli named Lady from a Greenwich Village home for the dispossessed draws Rachel and her pit bull partner to town to investigate.

About this title

From Kirkus Reviews:

Everybody who works at Harbor View, the Manhattan residential facility for a dozen autistic and Down's syndrome patients, loves the grueling work they share, but nobody loved the patients and the challenges they pose more than Lady, the mop-headed puli who worked as their therapy dog for over a year before she disappeared one night, shortly before someone ran down Harbor View co-owner Harry Dietrich on a bike and left Dr. Eli Kagan the sole owner. And when Venus White, the Harbor View manager as dreadlocked as the missing pooch, hires p.i. Rachel Alexander and her pit bull Dash to go undercover as the new therapy dog and trainer, they soon fall in love with the place and the people too, and no wonder, since their detective work doesn't go nearly as smoothly as their cover job. Nonagerian twins Dora and Cora Weissman unhesitatingly accept Dash as Lady; Jackson the painter, who's never spoken, asks to help Dash do tricks; David, the patient with a history of violence, is able to listen to music when Dash is in the room. But all these heartwarming moments aren't getting Rachel any closer to the dognapper and killer; in fact, she's about to lose even more ground, as one of her most valuable informants is due for another deadly assault. Like Rachel and Dash's three earlier cases (A Hell of a Dog, 1998, etc.), this one is indispensable for readers who love man's best friend right back. Human-watchers will find the psychology sound on everybody but the muffled killer. (Mystery Guild alternate selection) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

From Publishers Weekly:

The Shamus Award-winning author of This Dog for Hire is back with a fourth frisky adventure for dog trainer/PI Rachel Alexander and her canine sidekick, Dash. The duo have previously worked together both solving mysteries and providing therapy. Now they get the chance to demonstrate their complete skills at Harbor View, a small Greenwich Village residential treatment center for the developmentally challenged. Rachel is approached by Venus White, who asks her to look into the seemingly accidental death of one of Harbor View's owners, Harry Dietrich. The home's therapy dog, a puli named Lady, has disappeared, and Venus worries that nefarious doings are afoot. Rachel and Dash begin their respective work, but Rachel feels stymied by Venus's slow doling out of the information she needs to get results. The various residents of Harbor View, meanwhile, begin to respond to Dash's special brand of therapyAdoing tricks, comforting patients, bringing them out of their silenceAwhile Rachel works as quickly as possible to ferret out the murderer. Then Venus is badly injured in a freak accidentAand Rachel suspects further foul play. Benjamin writes with great sensitivity about the plight of the residents of Harbor View, who are neglected by their families and unable to lead independent lives. Though the plot moves slowly, canine fans will relish the insights of an author who writes realistically about dogs and their relationships with people. Agent, Brandt & Brandt. (Sept.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Walker & Co
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0802733352
• ISBN 13: 9780802733351
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 264