Review: A fun read and a  visual treat
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 3, 2013
The Barker's Dozen - Reminiscences of an Early Police Dog by English author Robert Warr is a delightful series of twelve stories from Victorian England as recounted by Snuffles, a Springer spaniel belonging to Scotland Yard Inspector Thompson. With illustrations in the vein of Strand artist Sidney Paget for Sherlock Holmes, this reader soon felt like she was caught up in a 19th century detective novel.Using deductive abilities in the style of Sherlock Holmes, Inspector Thompson, aided more than just a little by his staunch aide-de-camp, Snuffles, solves crimes that confound the local constabulary.  The stories are told from Snuffles point of view, who assists his master by consulting with other animals literally on the `scene of the crime.'  From an assortment of cats, a fox, a swan, and nefarious others, Snuffles brings to light clues that would no doubt go unnoticed by his less linguistically-gifted master.  Not lacking for opinions, Snuffles regales his audience with dry witticisms such as describing a cat as having `all the moral fiber of wet bread,' and designating an alleged murder involving a magpie as `murder most fowl.'The Barker's Dozen - Reminiscences of an Early Police Dog is in the venue of a stroll through a fictional detective novel and a visual treat.  Sherlock Holmes fans...and animal lovers...take note.