BLOODLINES

The real, tragic fact of puppy mills—breeding operations for the sale of pedigreed puppies to (mainly) pet shops, where breeding dogs in cages, in often wretched conditions, bear litter after litter—is the background for Conant's sixth dog-centered mystery (Gone to the Dogs, p. 571), which—in spite of the target subject- -is, again, lively, funny, and (to dog people) absolute Premium. This time out, Holly Winter, owner and adorer of two grand malamutes, sleuths to unravel pedigreed dog bloodlines—and to uncover the all-too-common incursions of greedy puppy-mill owners into the products of the reputable breeder. Oh, yes, there are also two murders, but the victims are (from a dog person's point of view) pond scum, so the reader is wholeheartedly with Holly as she gives her major attention to the problem of rescuing a purloined malamute and other doomed animals. Holly's detective work, superb dog-wise, is a bit casual on the murders, but who cares? Certainly not Conant's readers, who- -with ears up and alert eye—eagerly await her next.