Started Early, Took My Dog

Started Early, Took My Dog by Kate Atkinson          Audio Book:  12 hrs., 22 mins        Paper back Book:  400 pages                          

I liked this book.   It is so quirky and weird and funny.    Lots of stuff happens that leads up to a female detective (there is a great backstory as to how she finds herself with lot of cash) who, seeing a known heroin addicted prostitute literally dragging a child along with her at a fast almost running clip to which she is berating the child for not keeping up.   In a split second, the detective makes the decision to give the prostitute money and take the kid because she believes she would be a better mother to the child.    She hands the prostitute $2,000 for her.      The prostitute is confused but takes the money, leaves the kid and hops on the next subway train and is gone.    Her (former) partner has taken up the cause of a dog who’s master is mistreating it terribly.   Lots of story has brought them to this point but the detective just can’t take any more of it and beats the guy for mistreating the animal and takes the dog himself.    The detective tends to the dog and feeds him.   The dog is waiting for him to start wailing on him but the detective doesn’t.   It is a sweet moment when animal and new friend more than master decide o.k.  this could work just like the female detective who feeds the child candy because she isn’t really up on the parenting thing but is doing her best charging off with the child from an amusement park to other adventures.   So funny and waaaaaaaaaaaaay quirky but amusing and fun.   I don’t want to give too much away because it will all fall into place better if it is a surprise, but, I think you will like this one.    I certainly did.   It is so bizarre it Is funny, like when the two detective partners are investigating crime scenes – their banter Is a crack up.    Just goes to show, the most unusual pairings make the best of friends.  I highly recommend this book – it is so here there and back again but everything plays into the thing before it and comes together.   I loved this book.    I would recommend it to Middle Schoolers on up.       

 - Shirley J