Robert E. Armstrong, DVM
Publisher: iUniverse Star
ISBN: 0-595-29795-1
267 Pages
$17.95

    Dr. Duncan Macdonell is not your typical protagonist. He's an older, rounder gentleman with a penchant for smart-talk and one of the most thankless jobs in the world-- he heads the Houston Department of Animal Control.
    As an animal lover, I cringe at the statistics he presents on the number of animals destroyed by the city each day, but he inserts these figures skillfully within his compelling story and doesn't use them as a plot device or shocker, simply to establish Dr. Mac's mindset and feelings about his job.
    The story is written in an easy, comfortable style that is akin to having an old friend tell you a tale over dinner rather than florid prose that waxes eloquent and makes you want to skip paragraphs. Not a word is wasted in Dr. Mac's world!
    Finally, the mystery aspect of the book is excellent. Armstrong had me suspecting everyone but the kitchen sink, then still managed to surprise me at the end. The plot is believable, fast-paced and well worth your time and money. Skip James Patterson's new one and buy CANIS instead!