Canis

Rating:
Summary: Gripping thriller!
Review: After reading the first paragraph of Canis, I found myself wanting more. Robert Armstrong has weaved a tale of intrigue mixed with politics and a bit of humor and has captured the local flavor of Houston. The characters were believable and the story compelling. Armstrong is definately an author to keep your eye on...Bravo!

L.C. Martin

Rating:
Summary: A mystery/thriller with real fangs and an O. Henry twist
Review: Bob Armstrong has conjured up a classic, believable character in Dr. Duncan MacDonell; a veterinarian with the skill and heart to take care of all the species -- including us. And the good doctor needs every trick in his bag when he meets the frightening monster Armstrong brings to life in Canis. It's a heck of a read that I highly recommend.

Rating:
Summary: Could not put it down, even in Afghanistan!
Review: Bob Armstrong's first suspense novel is truly a work of art! First, he leads you gently into the bowels of the incredibly difficult, and often emotional world of animal control in the big city and the strange and greedy people that surround it. Next, he carefully weaves his role as chief veterinarian into a believable and chilling plot that keeps you guessing until the end. This is a spell-binding thriller for those who want to learn how animal control professionals do one of the toughest jobs in the world, written by the subject matter master! You won't want to interrupt your reading with even one beer trip to the fridge!

CRAIG N. CARTER, DVM PhD
LTC, USAR VC
Commanding, 994th Medical Detachment (Veterinary Services)
Currently Assigned To SW Asia, Operating Enduring Freedom

Rating:
Summary: A dark and enjoyable vet mystery
Review: CANIS is a dark story-- have you ever noticed that nearly all
good vet mysteries are dark? Robert Armstrong's main character, Duncan MacDonell, is the Houston city vet. He works for animal control in a city where the annual euthanasia statistics are given in TONS. He spends a lot of his time trying not to beat the snot out of local politicians who want to look good to the animal-loving public while doing absolutely nothing to help his
department, where morale is understandably low. And then something starts attacking homeless people.

CANIS is a good example of Lawrence Block's comment that people who really know their subject can confidently take you along without telling you every step. Armstrong injects credible information when and where it's needed, and he doesn't overdo it. At the same time, readers are so steeped in the miasma
of the Animal Control department that I had to stop reading several times, because I was getting as depressed as some of the euthanasia techs. A warning to sensitive readers: chapter twenty-four is very hard to read. We're taken along as Mac does his weekly walk-through of the shelter, and in few vivid lines he describes what the workers there deal with every day. There were a few descriptions of animals in the euthanasia ward that haunted
me all weekend, even though they were only a couple of lines long. (Your pets ARE spayed and neutered, right? Right?)

The thing is, by this point in the story, Mac is up to his neck in trying to figure out who and what is responsible for the gruesome deaths of at least four people, and the chapter reinforces our impression of his state of mind. It's atmospherically very effective. And his feelings of anger and
helplessness are channelled into his quest to solve this crime.

Mystery-wise, I suspected everyone. There's at least one unexpected turn of events that converts the story from a thriller to a true mystery, and although I suspected everyone, I completely missed a number of clues and so was honestly surprised by the solution. I also give Mr Armstrong kudos
for making the victims into real people, rather than pieces of a puzzle. This isn't a story for the squeamish, but it features real people and a satisfying mystery.

Rating:
Summary: An All Nighter
Review: Dr. Duncan Macdonell is not your typical protagonist. He's an older, rounder gentleman with a penchant for smart-talk and one of the most thankless jobs in the world-- he heads the Houston Department of Animal Control.
As an animal lover, I cringe at the statistics he presents on the number of animals destroyed by the city each day, but he inserts these figures skillfully within his compelling story and doesn't use them as a plot device or shocker, simply to establish Dr. Mac's mindset and feelings about his job.
The story is written in an easy, comfortable style that is akin to having an old friend tell you a tale over dinner rather than florid prose that waxes eloquent and makes you want to skip paragraphs. Not a word is wasted in Dr. Mac's world!
Finally, the mystery aspect of the book is excellent. Armstrong had me suspecting everyone but the kitchen sink, then still managed to surprise me at the end. The plot is believable, fast-paced and well worth your time and money. Skip James Patterson's new one and buy CANIS instead!

Rating:
Summary: Great read!!
Review: I'd had a "sneak peak" of the first chapter, so I was curious to see what this book was like and where it was going. It wasn't what I expected ... it was BETTER!! :D From page 1 it had me hooked. It was a VERY entertaining book which I couldn't put down. Every chance I got, I read more, then I felt like I'd lost my best friend when I finished. I only have a few authors I enjoy, Robert Armstrong is now in that list, he's a great writer!! :D Can't wait to read Index of Suspicion and the next one he's working on now!



Rating:
Summary: Gripping thriller!
Review: In 1993 Houston, Duncan MacDonell runs the Animal Regulation and Care section similar to when he served in the military although his superior in the health department thinks of him as the head dog catcher. He insures his ninety-eight employees receive proper training and has hired former military K9 trainer Janie Longley as a special instructor. In spite of his and his department's successes, the politicos still use his group as dumpsters when the public complains about animals running wild on the streets.

While visiting street person Alexander Pitkin, owner of numerous dogs, a giant canine attacks Duncan and dents his front driver's door. Not long afterward, a wild dog described as the size of a gorilla starts killing people. As panic sets in and the politicians blame Duncan though they offer neither solutions nor proper funding, he investigates the gorilla dog assaults not realizing how close to home the truth is.

This is an exciting thriller that provides the audience insight into the politics of animal control in a big city that will shock readers as Dr. Robert Armstrong takes a major bite out of the butt of city leadership's indifference until a public uproar. The gorilla dog provides suspense and Duncan and his support leadership are a delightful cast. However, what makes CANIS a bark above the typical animal chiller is the atmosphere that the "dog catcher" squad must work within especially when two faced city hall is involved.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: CANIS, by Robert E. Armstrong
Review: In Canis, by Robert E. Armstrong, the head of Houston's Bureau of Animal Regulation & Care is Dr. Duncan MacDonell, a man of compassion, intelligence and common sense who's already doing what anyone will recognize as a difficult, depressing and thankless job. Then street people begin to turn up dead, victims of attacks by a huge canine. The police come to MacDonell for help. Is this killer beast a loose dog? A wild animal? A wolf-dog hybrid? Is it under someone's control?

In the process of sorting it all out, MacDonell goes up against local politicians, his boss, the news media, animal rights activists, and some shady characters who sell vicious guard dogs to criminals and to ... well, politicians.

MacDonell, with years of experience as a military veterinarian behind him, enlists the help of his employees, some trusted and some not. He recruits a former Air Force colleague who is an expert dog trainer. MacDonell even seeks the aid of his delightful wife, Jeannie. Just when he learns who is turning huge canines on homeless people and why, MacDonell finds himself in immediate danger of becoming the next prey in a deadly hunt.

This gripping story, its details handled with sensitivity, balance, and just the right dashes of humor and brilliance, will keep you enthralled to the heart-palpitating end. A great read.

Rating:
Summary: A First Novel With Real Bite
Review: It is always nice when an author takes the genre and shakes things up a bit. Author Robert Armstrong has done exactly that in this well-done mystery featuring Veterinarian Duncan MacDonell.

As head of the Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care in Houston, Texas, Dr. MacDonell is all too familiar with the problems presented by pet overpopulation. These problems are compounded by thoughtless owners and petty bureaucrats more concerned with image than safety. Already overburdened with a shortage of qualified and competent staff, financial woes, and unwanted pets, Dr. MacDonell has another problem that once it gets out, will cause media problems. Something of animalistic origin, possibly some sort of hybrid super dog, is killing Houston's homeless population.

If it was human, it would be a serial killer and generate a task force. But it isn't, and it is left primarily to Dr. MacDonell to identify the animal and find a way to stop it before it kills again. But the animal has apparent help so Dr. MacDonell is not only faced with finding the animal but also its owner. Despite all the good he has done, bad P. R. begins to pile up and Dr. MacDonell is running out of time to stop the animal before it kills again.

Fast paced and never preachy, this engrossing novel points out many of the problems and the few rewards for people who work professionally with animals. At the same time, the primary focus is on the mystery, which is interesting, very detailed, with several false trails and clues, but ultimately and fully resolved. This is a well-written book full of interesting and very human characters and Dr. MacDonell is a refreshing character all himself.

This is the first book I am aware of to feature a Veterinarian as the main character and it was a refreshing read in the mystery genre. It is my understanding that this is the first book of several and if the rest of the series maintains this level of quality should provide many hours of enjoyable reading.

Canis
By Dr. Robert E. Armstrong
iUniverse
2000
ISBN # 0-595-14703-8
Large Trade Paperback

Rating:
Summary: Suspenseful! Excellent Mystery!
Review: Robert Armstrong has written an amazing mystery. The main character, Dr. Duncan MacDonell, DVM, is both very believable and likable, and so are the other characters in the book. My complete attention was held from start to finish, and Mr. Armstrong's humor showed through at times, adding some fun to the reading. I never guessed who the real culprit was. Several characters could have been the murderer and that only made it more exciting. I never expected the outcome, so the ending was a total surprise. I am excited about CANIS and plan to read more of Robert Armstrong's books. He's an excellent writer. You will not be disappointed in this book!