Review – Pedigreed Bloodlines

In Pedigreed Bloodlines we meet Leigh Dennison an antique furniture shop owner who has little knowledge of dog rearing. When her dear friend, Addie Jordan is murdered, Leigh finds herself owning and operating Addie’s Kennel. Not trained to care for dogs at all, much less show quality dogs, Leigh must find help. And what better assistant could she dream of than love interest Blake Cameron. Wait, did I say love interest? Maybe I meant murder suspect. Or did I mean both? Yes, that’s it. Both. What? You think I’m trying to mislead you? Don’t take my word for it, this is right from Leigh’s anguished thoughts.

Leigh sets out on a path to find Addie’s killer,not stopping when events prove threatening and not stopping even though the killer might to be Blake. Adventure abounds along the way, leaving the reader truly puzzled as to who the real killer is. Is it Blake, or Preacher, the homeless vet who lives in an underpass near the property? Or maybe it’s Ross, the Cherokee high school drop out who works at the kennel and a troubled teen that Leigh has never liked. Surely, it couldn’t be the rival kennel owners. But who, then?

I’ve given you all the help I can without spoiling the story. You’ll have to read Pedigreed Bloodlines to find the answer. Not that reading will be a hardship, mind you. In fact, once you pick up the book, you’ll want to read to the end to learn the identity of the murderer. The plot is strong with twists you don’t see coming, the pace moves along, and the relationships are delightful.

Along the way you’ll come to care for Leigh a gentle, warm soul who suffers from Attention Deficit Disorder bringing chaos into an otherwise orderly life. Her innocence coupled with tenacity will leave you wanting another book featuring her. The good news is a sequel, Murder in Small Doses, the second in the Leigh Dennison series, will release from Barbour in February 2009.