Ex-army Captain John Cunningham, a Falklands war veteran, is making the transition back into civilian life. After investing in a property in the Lowlands, Three Oaks Farm, Cunningham starts kennels for breeding and training gun dogs. The farm is in the middle of dog-breeding country. Neighbour Joe Little raises Labradors; Laura Daiches and Olive Cory, who live next to each other, also raise … other, also raise spaniels, but strictly for show – and never fail to express contempt for Cunningham’s working dogs.
But the dog breeding world proves to be a ruthlessly competitive business, where enemies are easily made. Especially when a rival breeder is murdered, and Cunningham is framed for the crime…
Gerald Hammond is a retired architect and the creator of the mystery series featuring John Cunningham, a dog breeder in Scotland, and Keith Calder, a gunsmith. He also writes under the pseudonyms Arthur Douglas and Dalby Holden.
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An interesting story. The book is filled with references to hunting dogs ahd their training, which was all new to me. I enjoyed the main characters but kept getting confused about the two women who bred show dogs.
Does for working dogs what Dick Francis did for horses. Start of a series.
wonderful information about training dogs, both for show as hunting dogs and as disciplined pets; great characters, a number of whom could have done the deed for good reasons
As a breeder of Golden Retrievers and familiar with this world, I found this book to be very well researched and realistic. Add in a murder and you have a wonderful read…
Wonderful beginning to a very entertaining series!
Another well written book from Mr. Hammond. Down to earth characters. However a familiar plot from Dead Game and not quite as well done as that book.
Interesting intriguing enjoyable read.
I entered a new world–that of kennels, dog breeding, dog training, and recovery from invisible wounds. Thank you for opening my eyes!
Great series!
II think this is a great read. The voice of the main character is a great voice . He is not all knowing but very human and you can even pick up on the things he does that might annoy the other characters. The dog part of the story is obviously very factual and interesting. This will make a good series to read.
I enjoyed this series about a breeder/ trainer of English Springer Spaniels. An unlikely number of murder victims show up in a small Scottish town.
I gave this book 5 stars but it is a good 4.5.
I enjoy English mysteries. I have read a fair number of them. This book stays in that English tradition. The plot moves along nicely, but with no hurry. There is a nice cast of characters. Some with only a few mentions but they all have a part in the plot. Mr. Hammond weaves a nice story. It is not one dimensional. There is the mystery of course, but there are more than few light hearted moments and much local charm. This is a mystery, not a cozy mystery. I also learned more about dogs from reading this book than I ever knew in my entire life.
I enjoyed this novel and recommend it
I liked what I read of this book. I only rec’d a sample.
t dog breeding, training and show dogs, this is for you.
Original setting, the only mystery series that uses a hunting dog trainer for the main character.
Ending seemed abrupt.
I’m recommending this book because it is quite unusual. there are no superheroes in the investigation, in fact there isn’t even a death until you are a long way into the story. It’s more an everyday story of a man setting up his gundog business. It’s pleasant to read something “real” even if at times real can be a little slow. I’ll certainly buy the other 2 books in the series.
Mystery and dogs can’t be beat. Interesting information about show and working dogs.
Decent mystery and I’m a dog lover
The dog training world was a perfect background for a village murder mystery. The added complication of a mysterious illness in the main character left room for twists. I would read more in this series.