First Line: When Anna saw why her dog Bonnie had half-dragged her on to the bright-green spongy ground beyond the trees, her heart started to beat so fast that she was afraid she'd choke.
Every morning, Anna Hopkins walks her rescue dog, Bonnie, through Oxford's Port Meadow, but one morning the white shepherd uncovers a body in the undergrowth. It's a double shock for Anna because she knew the victim, a professional researcher who helped Anna trace Bonnie's original owner.
Police believe Naomi's death was a random act of violence, but Anna disagrees and teams up with fellow dog walkers Isadora Salzman and Tansy Lavelle to learn the truth. Little do the three realize how much danger they're putting themselves into.
The White Shepherd has an evocative Oxford setting and an extremely strong cast of characters. Anna is very self-contained and has purposely shut herself off from forming relationships due to severe trauma in her childhood. She realizes that she needs to make friends, but it certainly doesn't come naturally to her, as readers see through her attempts with fellow dog walkers Isadora and Tansy (who are every bit as interesting as Anna).
Anna has developed a good rapport with her white shepherd, Bonnie, who also has an unusual history, and there's even a budding romance or two for her. See what happens when she decides to come out of her shell?
The White Shepherd is a case of a vivid setting and a wonderful cast of characters being let down by a weak story. Read The White Shepherd to acquaint yourself with the characters because the story is much too predictable. I'm hoping that the second book in the series, Written in Red, will be different.
The White Shepherd by Annie Dalton
eISBN: 9781780106748
Severn House Publishing © 2015
eBook, 256 pages
Amateur Sleuth, #1 Anna Hopkins mystery
Rating: B-
Source: Purchased from Amazon.
Setting? Check. A dog that actually acts like a dog, but is still a great character? Check. Interesting character? Check. I can see how you saw things to like here, Cathy. But I know what you mean about things being too predictable. I prefer my stories to have some surprises, too, as long as they're believable.
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