I received this ebook free from the publisher through NetGalley.com. I enjoyed reading this private eye murder mystery. It was first published in 1988 and some things are a little dated,i.e, constant references to Chernobyl meltdown. The beginning was confusing, where the 2 main characters seem to be writing mystery books, each of them taking turns narrating chapters, sometimes repeating dialogue.. After I sorted that out, I was able to follow the plot reasonably well. The two central characters are Leo Bloodworth, private eye, and his self appointed assistant, Serendipity Dahlquist, a precocious 15 year old, who wants a career in criminology and has decided to intern with Bloodworth. They pursue separate cases that soon connect. ( )

Good Mystery, Superb Characterization

Laughing Dog, by Dick Lochte, is a fairly typical mystery, but with two protagonists, Serendipity Dahlquist and Leo Bloodworth. In Laughing Dog there are, as well, not one, but two mysteries, each paired with one of the detectives. The story of each is narrated by its respective detective in alternating chapters from a limited first person point of view. And for each detective there are multiple murders, baffling clues, incomplete information, drugs, treks to foreign lands, chases, fights and aha moments.

What is not typical of the genre is the high quality of characterization found in this olio. Leo, the senior member of this team, is a former policeman, has a problem with alcohol, has paid his dues and has a well-earned cynical and gruff view on life. He is also refreshingly vulnerable, though he'd never admit it. Serendipity is a clever young woman (she's 15 years old) who has a very strong sense of her personal worth and is always willing to defend it. When once asked by a potential client how old she was, she immediately replied, "I don't see the relevance of such a question. And I find it patronizing and offensive." (Kindle location 228) She is not really a member of Leo's detective firm, but has attached herself to Leo because she wants to do detective work and sees Leo as heroic and wisely capable. She helps with the filing, acts as a receptionist, tries to manage Leo's alcohol consumption, and when a case arrives and Leo is not available, she jumps in with alacrity.

The relationship Serendipity has with her grandmother, famous actress Edith Van Dine, is particularly telling. 'Gran' is another veteran who has worked through the trenches and has earned a sense of entitlement. She has raised Serendipity and would like her to become first, an actress, but most importantly, a normal young lady, exhibiting proper behavior, limiting her acquaintances to proper individuals and definitely not hanging around detective offices and associating with the criminal types encountered in that mileau. Gran is demanding of Serendipity and the love they bear for each other is obvious, but Serendipity is smart and knows Gran's soft spots. She can cajole Gran into allowing her enough freedom to pursue her interests.

In short, Serendipity's personality has been highly influenced by her grandmother's own character. It is quite interesting to see how Serendipity develops through the guidance and role models of both her prim and proper grandmother Edith Van Dine and the gruff but wise detective Leo Bloodworth. It makes what would be an entertaining run-of-the-mill murder mystery become a story that one always wants to pick up and continue reading.

The author also displays a deft touch with his dialogue. Serendipity sounds like a young woman, using the slang of her age group and taking particular care with being specific in her references (she's an aspiring author as well as a detective); Leo is looser, more casual, and uses similes appropriate to the world in which he works. The secondary characters shine - Gran is the older matron who assumes privilege and forcefully states her desires and aversions, expecting everyone to acceed to her; an old acquaintance of Gran's and occassional escort of Serendipity is Carol Taylor-Bright, a fellow actor and distingué gentleman, always in an exquisitely tailored three-piece suit and very very prim in his speech patterns as well as his behavior.

Laughing Dog is delightful to read, particularly if one pays attention to how the personalities of the characters are portrayed as they interact and change. I definitely look forward to reading the other books in this series by Nero Wolfe award winner Lochte.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ( )