Double Dog Dare (Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter Mystery, No. 6)

by Linda O. Johnston

Book Overview

As an attorney and pet-sitter in L.A., Kendra Ballantyne, Esq., has met more than her share of difficult pets and people. But when some arrogant cloners cross her path, she meets a whole new breed... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425222322
• ISBN13: 9780425222324
• Release Date: June 2008
• Publisher: Berkley
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.7" x 0.7" x 4.2"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

Kept Twisting and Turning

There is no point in repeating the premise as most of the other reviews give a synopsis. I found the book a fun read with lots of twists and turns. Just when you thought you knew who did it, there was more to the story. I liked the way Linda brought readers up to speed with characters that had been in previous books. The plot was interesting, but not so convulted that it was hard to follow. I wonder if Ned Noralles is going to become a romantic interest. I'll just have to read the next book to find out.

Cloning and Murder

Jeff Hubbard, Kendra Ballantine's boyfriend, is missing. Jeff had gone out of town like normal related to his work with his security and private investigation business. But when he ends up incommunicado and his Escalade is found in the aqueduct, there is concern he isn't coming back. Kendra is a lawyer and pet sitter. She's also done some investigating in the past and helped solve some murders. Lois Terrone, a surrogate mother to Jeff Kendra had never heard of, enlists her aid. She had gone to The Clone Arranger to try to have her dog cloned. She feels they did something that caused her dog to die. Kendra visits The Clone Arranger to see what she can find out under the guise of wanting to have a dog cloned. Lois also tells Kendra that Jeff had come back to town to look into The Clone Arranger for her before his Escalade was found. Could he have found something that caused him harm? Is he alive? Plus Kendra has her law practice and pet sitting to keep up with. These keep her plenty busy. She ends up working with a couple that run a business that trains animals for the movies. Some of their unhappy customers are suing them because their pets never got any parts. They never promised results. Can Kendra come up with an agreeable outcome to everyone? This was a great installment in this series. I devoured it in two days. I thought the author did a great job of presenting the cloning aspect without too much controversy. I like how she intertwined the stories so seamlessly. She also did a great job of having Kendra having to go on with her life and yet showing her devastation at not knowing Jeff's fate. I really like Kendra, Jeff, their two dogs, and the other regulars in this series. Having Kendra working as a lawyer and a pet sitter gives so many great storylines in this series. I hope this series will go on for years. I can't wait to read the next book! Please write fast! I highly recommend this book.

A great mystery

Kendra Ballantyne is a person with many talents as she holds down two jobs and enjoys both of them. First she is a pet sitter and second she is an attorney. She also has time to forge a relationship with private detective Jeff Hubbard, who she met when she pet sat his Aikida. Jeff recently asked Kendra to move in with him; after much soul searching and doubting, she agrees only to have Jeff go MIA while working a case. Already fearing something bad has happened to him, she panics when the police inform her they found his car in the water with blood inside the vehicle. Kendra soon learns that Lois Terrone, who is a surrogate mom to Jeff, had asked him to look into the practices of the Clone Arranger, a firm that clones cats and dogs because her died shortly after she brought it in to be cloned.. She wonders if perhaps Jeff learned something that made it imperative for someone to insure he died. Unable to not know the truth, Kendra snoops until she learns what is going on at the Clone Arranger only now she is caught in the crosshairs. This fabulous series stars a kind hearted animal lover who though an amateur sleuth is strong willed; Kendra is opinionated and unforgiving especially at those who harm animals as she is an animal rights advocate. Thus two passions merge as she goes from one clue to another to learn what someone will kill to conceal at the Clone Arranger. Linda O. Johnston writes a strong tale that fans will enjoy as the mystery is difficult to solve though the clues are there. Harriet Klausner

Genius

I hold Linda Johnston in high esteem as a writer. Her characters well developed. Kendra is witty as well as funny to read about. Her misadventures keep you wanting the book series to never end. I highly suggest this book to anyone wishing for a well written book.

Another winner

This is the 6th book in the lawyer and pet-sitter Kendra Ballantyne series and my favourite to date. Kendra's boyfriend Jeff has gone missing and after his car is discovered in a canal she wonders if he is still alive. Kendra's investigations turn up a connection with a pet cloning firm also linked to her vet friend Tom Venson. Kendra's nemisis Detective Ned Noralles also makes an appearance, though this time he seems to be on Kendra's side. I for one can't wait to see what happens in the next book. Good one, Linda!