I have mixed feelings about Lee Charles Kelley’s LIKE A DOG WITH A BONE, the sixth in his series featuring dog trainer Jack Field. There are indeed some great moments, such as when Field extrapolates his dog-training skills into human behavior. But the plotline is overly complicated, featuring convoluted familial relations, Mexican drug lords and political cabals.
Gen. Lamar MacLeary has agreed to let Field train his wire-haired fox terrier, who has a penchant for digging holes in the yard. Field arrives and the dog quickly digs a large hole in the yard, exposing the bones of a human hand. This is the beginning of a long and harrowing journey for Field and his new wife, chief medical examiner Dr. Jamie Cutter.
Action scenes are generally well-depicted, and for a dog trainer, Field sure gets into some tricky situations, but he’s often reckless to the point of suicide. The realism level is set fairly low. Field manages to destroy vital crime evidence, with the help of a deputy sheriff, no less. Once, he escapes via a secret passageway accessible only by raised knots in the wood paneling. Uh-huh.
It’s just a bit uneven. For every touching, emotional scene such as between Field and one of his employees as they discuss the behavior of a pack of beagles, there’s a somewhat hackneyed emotional scene between Field and his adopted son.
If you’re already a fan of Field as a character, and there’s not a whole lot to dislike in the affable trainer, or if you just love the idea of dog-centered mysteries, then you’ll enjoy LIKE A DOG WITH A BONE, but it’s probably not the place to start in the series. –Mark Rose
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