L A Larkin has written six hard-bitten thrillers set in places as diverse as Antarctica, South Africa, and an island off the coast of Washington State (causing a lot of people a lot of sleepless nights!) but, under the name Louisa Bennet, she writes cosies featuring a dog detective. She talked about her dual career with Sisters in Crime member and author, Karina Kilmore, for February’s Murder Monday. (Click below to view.)
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Louisa’s most recent book, The Bone Ranger, out late last year via Clan Destine Press, is the second to feature Monty, a food-obsessed, naughty, and totally loving Golden Retriever who will do anything for his owner, Detective Constable Rose Sidebottom.
In Monty & Me, the first in the series, Monty uses his formidable nose to track down the killer of his earlier master. He manages to find a home with Rose who’s investigating the case. Together, with the assistance of a network of unique animal informers, they solve the crime despite the opposition of her colleagues.
Primarily narrated in first-person-dog (!), The Bone Ranger begins with Rose at home on sick leave with PTSD. But Rose isn’t happy unless she’s investigating crimes and Monty is worried about her. Then a stranger begs for help to find a missing person…
The novel takes readers to a quaint English village where Monty communicates with other dogs by ‘wee-mail’ or by a ‘howlathon’ if messages need to travel over long distances.
The Monty books are aimed at adults though children can read them if they’re up to reading Harry Potter.
BTW – you don’t have to be a dog lover to love these books. Cat devotees also apparently get into them.
Murder Monday interviews are available on Sisters in Crime’s YouTube channel at 6 pm once a month on a Monday.