started early, took my dog: a novel (jackson brodie book 4)  tracy waterhouse leads a quiet, ordered life as a retired police detective -- a life that takes a surprising turn when she encounters kelly cross, a habitual offender, dragging a young child through town. both appear miserable and better off without each other -- or so decides tracy, in a snap decision that surprises herself as much as kelly. suddenly burdened with a small child, tracy soon learns her parental inexperience is actually the least of her problems, as much larger ones loom for her and her young charge. <br /><br /> meanwhile, jackson brodie, the beloved detective of novels such as <i>case histories</i>, is embarking on a different sort of rescue: that of an abused dog. dog in tow, jackson is about to learn, along with tracy, that no good deed goes unpunished.