It takes a strong paw to enforce the law

Laying Down the Paw by Diane Kelly St Martins Press Pub Date: August 4, 2015 Description IT'S A DOG-EAT-DOG WORLD. When a raging tornado hits Forth Worth, Megan's squad car is flipped over-and her devoted police dog, Brigit, is not amused. But that's not all that's upside-down. The streets are littered with looters-and members of a violent street gang, and no local business is safe. It's time to get back on all fours and see that the job of protecting the public is done. BUT WHO'S LEADER OF THE PACK? But Megan, outmanned and outgunned, has no choice but to let the gang members get away. Later, when she learns that one of them is a suspect in an unsolved murder case, Megan is determined to see that justice is served. But will she end up in the doghouse? Her investigation has her and Brigit barking up the wrong tree at every turn. Meanwhile, a killer's on the loose....who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Review If I ever needed to call the police, I'd want Officer Luz and Sergeant Brigit on my side. There are few more dynamic duos than Officer Megan Luz and Sergeant Brigit, her K-9 partner. Sergeant Brigit may be well trained and dedicated on the job, but she is all dog when off duty, digging holes, chewing shoes, and chasing squirrels with the best of them. Intelligent, talented, a devoted partner and great at being a dog - what more could a woman want. Well, for that, there is Seth, the bomb expert who has finally decided that Megan is the only one for him. Not to mention, his lab Blast makes a willing playmate and wrestling partner for Brigit. Megan hopes to gain the experience necessary to become a detective, and isn't afraid to put in extra effort. Before that, she needs a few more years on patrol. That isn't easy. Between handling a mixture of minor offenses, she gets called to the scene of a brutal murder. Evidence points to it being drug related. Then a horrendous storm hits Fort Worth, leaving damage in its wake. Officer Luz and Brigit attempt to stop a group of looters, but they end up escaping, and one is a possible murder suspect. The novel cycles between different perspectives, including Brigit's. While a lot of the book is serious, there is also humor throughout. Brigit is clever but she definitely has her own agenda at times. I absolutely adore her - I won't say that too much or my own dogs might get jealous. Megan Luz is cool too, a terrific mix of justice-seeking dedication and compassion, a blend that makes her a wonderful police officer. Laying Down the Paw is not only an entertaining novel, it's a great reminder to be thankful for all the wonderful working dogs and their handlers. I can't wait to get my paws on Diane Kelly's next novel. 5/5 --Crittermom