This Dog for Hire

Winner of the Shamus Award for Best First PI Novel: In the first book of Carol Lea Benjamin’s acclaimed mystery series, Greenwich Village PI Rachel Alexander and her loyal pit bull must find a killer and a missing show dog

Divorced dog trainer–turned–private-eye Rachel Alexander and her canine assistant Dash—short for Dashiell—are hired by a man named Dennis Keaton to investigate the hit-and-run death of his friend and neighbor Clifford Cole, whose body was found on an isolated Christopher Street pier. The police are treating the gay painter’s suspicious death as a hate crime, but Dennis insists Cliff hadn’t cruised the waterfront in months. Plus, Magritte, Cliff’s champion basenji—a competitor in the upcoming Westminster Dog Show—may have been a witness to the crime and is now missing.
The search for answers takes Rachel and Dash from the SoHo art scene to the most famous dog show in America. Now Rachel is in the sights of a killer hunting her across a treacherous urban landscape. There’s no one she can trust—especially not of the two-legged variety.
This Dog for Hire is the 1st book in the Rachel Alexander and Dash Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
“A spirited debut . . . written with enough flair to make it appealing to more than just dog lovers. . . . Benjamin writes with a wit nearly as sharp as Dash’s teeth.” —Publishers Weekly
“You will find Benjamin’s work first-rate.” —The Plain Dealer
“The book has a strong female character and lots of action. The dogs are realistically portrayed. . . . Snappy dialogue and a fast-paced story will hold readers’ attention.” —School Library Journal
“A first mystery that’s de rigueur for dog fanciers and highly satisfactory even for readers who prefer two-legged animals.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Move over cats! Benjamin has given us a nifty piece of work here, with two dogged detectives, one of which happens to be a canine. This Dog for Hire will grip you and hold you like a puppy with a rag. Mystery fans should hope this is only the first of a large litter.” —John Lutz, New York Times–bestselling author of Tropical Heat
“A witty and colorful story . . . great fun.” —Mostly Murder
“Joy! Rejoice! Carol Lea Benjamin has arrived and This Dog for Hire will be celebrated by murder-mystery buffs, the hydrant set, and all eclectic readers.”—Roger Caras, former president of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Carol Lea Benjamin is the author of the Rachel Alexander and Dash mystery novels, which feature a Greenwich Village–based private investigator and her pit bull sidekick. This Dog for Hire, the first book in the series, won the Shamus Award for Best First PI Novel. Benjamin has also been a teacher, worked as a private investigator, trained dogs, and written dog-training manuals such as Mother Knows Best: The Natural Way to Train Your Dog. She lives in New York City with her husband and two dogs.