A Dog's Tale
Canines in mystery novels
Hello History Fans,
If you’re still in winter’s grip, pull up a chair and grab your beverage of choice. I have some history to share that might not warm up your cold toes, but will surely warm your heart. Starting with this little guy and working backwards in time. This is Major, my first golden retriever at age 7 weeks and a smarter, more beautiful creature never lived. He has been gone for a while now, as have his predecessors and the one who came after him, but he has been on my mind a lot lately as I’ve looked at the history of dogs in mystery novels.
The first instance I found dates all the way back to 1890 when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes novel Sign Of The Four, was serialized in Lippincott’s magazine and then published as a book. In the novel, a dog named Toby is described as “a mangy, odiferous hound”, a dog with “a very, clumsy, waddling gait” but with the “most amazing power of scent.” Needless to say, Toby helps Sherlock solve the case.
In 1937, Agatha Christie’s novel Dumb Witness featured a dog named Bob, a wire-haired fox terrier said to have been inspired by Christie’s dog Peter, also a wire-haired terrier. In Dumb Witness, Bob becomes a sidekick to the incomparable Hercule Poirot. Here's Agatha with Peter. She loved him so much she dedicated the book to him.
Since the 1930’s dogs have appeared in countless mystery novels. These days it seems almost a requirement of the genre. As I planned the Colinas County mysteries I gave the sheriff a golden retriever called Friday, after the TV policeman, Joe Friday. Here’s a shot of Major as my inspiration photo. He was about a year old. Born in Hollywood, California he lived up to his glamorous movie star roots.
As a kid, I read lots of novels featuring dogs. Looking back now I’m surprised at how many of those books had sad endings. I won’t discuss them here, since it’s too intense for some people, but if you’re interested and haven’t yet read them, here are three of my favorites: Lassie Come Home by Eric Knight ( 1940); Old Yeller by Fred Gipson, possibly the saddest one ever ( 1956) and Where The Wild Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls (1961).
If you love stories with dogs, stories about small towns, and especially historical mysteries, you might enjoy A QUIET LITTLE TOWN which came out on Wednesday. Available in ebook and print. I’m thrilled that Kay Bratt, who writes small- town mysteries among other genres, provided a cover quote. Link is to the e book but it will show you the print format if you prefer.
https://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Little-Town-Colinas-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0GJTT5QMR
Art Dabble: Back in December, I saw this cute watercolor of a gnome taking home a Christmas tree and wanted to try it, but I didn't have time until last week. It was fun to do. Although my star in the sky looks more like a dragonfly.
Coming Up: In the next INSIDE STORY, an interview with historical fiction author Catherine Richmond, talking about her books and what inspires her. You won’t want to miss that. Also, some intel on the 31 Days of Women’s History events that begin March 1st. The organizer, Janis Robinson Daly is planning some online games, prizes, and other good stuff. So stay tuned for that.
Finally, if you enjoy mystery novels, I have a giveaway for you that’s going on right now over at Bargain Booksy.
https://www.bargainbooksy.com/mystery-giveaway-020126?test=true
Catch you in two weeks. Till then, stay warm, stay kind, and happy reading.
Dorothy