The Gordonston Ladies Dog Walking Club by Duncan Whitehead, is a short novel that sort of defies a specific genre. I suppose one could place it in the mystery suspense thriller group and be OK. But, there is touch of satire thrown in as well.
This book has about 196 pages, and I believe the publisher is Dog Ear Publishing and is a 2012 copyright.
Gordonston is a nice neighborhood in Savannah. On the surface it's a place anyone would feel comfortable living in. There's a nice park where on any given day you can see the citizens walking their dogs. You might notice three older middle aged women, sipping cocktails out of paper cups and enjoying each other's company while they gossip and let their dogs play.
However, appearances can be deceiving. These lovely ladies just lost one of their best friends to cancer.
Other residents of this quite neighborhood have their own problems as well. Doug and Veronica are having money problems. Tom and Kelly are just too good to be true, both beautiful and healthy and in love, until Kelly wins a trip to Paris and Tom can't go.
Elliot just lost his wife,Thelma, to cancer and his running for mayor. He's worried about something from his past coming out before the election.
Then there is a gentleman that refuses to pick up after his dog after walking him in the park.
The ladies vow they will have address this issue.
Slowly, we see this idealistic, charming neighborhood become a hot bed of jealousy, greed, dark secrets, lies, and maybe even murder.
I had no idea what to expect when I started reading this novel. This is I believe the first novel for this author and if that's true, then I'm impressed.
No one is what they appear to be on the surface and I promise you will never figure out what is going to happen next. Dark humor and quirky characters, twist and turns abound.
The tension builds to a climax that you never see coming.
This is a unique, imaginative story, very different from anything I have read in while.
I recommend this on for those who love a good satire, mystery , and a litte dark humor. Overall I would give this one a B.
Thanks Netgalley for the the ARC