Book review: ‘Away to Me’
Away to Me by Patricia B. McConnell. Kensington Books, 2026. Hardcover, 320 pages.
Note to readers: This review is dedicated to the memory of my retired guide dog Laurence, who died on April 16, 2026. Rest in peace, my lovely Laurence. You were the best dog in the world.
Life has gotten better for animal behavior expert and sheepdog trainer Maddie McGowan. With her ex-husband in prison, she has tried to put the trauma of her marriage behind her as she settles into a new life in a small Wisconsin town. Her days are filled with clients looking for solutions to their canines’ behavior issues and with working her border collie, Jack, on her small farm.
If Maddie bears a striking resemblance to Patricia B. McConnell, the author of Away to Me, the first installment in a cozy mystery series, it isn’t a coincidence. A well-known animal behavior expert and sheepdog handler, Patricia brings her professional expertise and love of dogs into this engaging novel.
When Maddie’s mentor and friend George is shot and killed, Maddie is loath to call it an accident and begins to delve into other possibilities. Meanwhile, she has taken on the task of trying to rehabilitate a German shepherd from the local shelter. When that dog is stolen from her home and another friend is murdered, Maddie becomes even more embroiled in what is shaping up to be more than just a few local killings.
There will be no spoilers from this reviewer, but as someone who loves “cozies” almost as much as dogs, I guarantee Away to Me will captivate all readers. Besides being a deftly plotted mystery with a cast of interesting characters, Patricia’s foray into fiction after a long string of nonfiction books, such as The Other End of the Leash and The Education of Will, is a joy to read.
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