Book Review: Camping Canine

Reviewed by Warren Maxwell

A Texas campground mystery filled with switchbacks, betrayals, and the warm camaraderie of friends

“Following the map, Lizzy led Holly deeper into the woods, in the general direction of the lake. Mavis chased butterflies and barked at shadows.”

In the wake of disasters back home, famous writer Elizabeth Hornwhistle—Lizzy—and her best friend Holly are going on an RV round trip to warm weather in Texas.

At the same time, Lizzy is preparing to step back into the literary spotlight she’s been hiding from in her small South Dakota town. Yet, their trip is barely underway when they become embroiled in a case of blackmail, murder, and even deeper secrets rocking Serenity, Texas.

What should have been a short stay in a campsite is extended indefinitely when they find themselves at the center of an investigation into the murder of Salamander, Sal—the bullied son of the local police chief who had dreamed of becoming a paparazzi. Taking the wrong photo at the wrong time seals his fate and it falls to Lizzy, Holly, and her tiny dachshund Mavis to navigate local corruptions and secrets, all while staying safe themselves.

“A motor home pulled up at the check-in gate and the driver descended from the cab. Sal’s pulse quickened as she rounded the front. Can it be? His research had finally paid off. A real-life celebrity: one who disappeared three months ago. He was almost afraid to believe his good luck. Yet there she was, Elizabeth Hornwhistle, her unmistakable waist-length brown hair blowing in the light breeze.”

As the novel begins, shifting perspectives weave the story of Lizzy and Holly with that of Sal, who’s making ends meet by working at the Serenity campground while waiting for a big break to launch his paparazzi career, This drums up tension and drama in the plot. Each move between characters generates a growing sense of danger as nuggets of information are alluded to, yet stay hidden in the gaps between perspectives.

An attempted break-in is mysteriously averted by Sal’s shadowy presence in the woods, ever on the lookout for a good photo. A peaceful scene of relaxation—Lizzy and Holly enjoying themselves in a woodland pool—is tainted by the hint of someone watching in the woods. As the novel progresses, the woods themselves that surround the campsite become a symbol for the way beauty and tranquility are often inseparable from danger. There is nowhere easier to hide than in plain sight.

“‘Why do you keep finding bodies?’
“‘Just lucky I guess.’”

Plot-wise, Camping Canine stands alone, yet as the third installment in a series, pieces of background information and history from the preceding books can prove confusing. Likewise, the trauma that spurs Holly to join Lizzy on her roadtrip—an arsonist burning down her animal clinic—appears off the page and prevents a certain level of emotional depth and connection from being established.

That said, the bond between Lizzy and Holly, and, above all, their mutual dedication to Mavis, comes across beautifully on the page. It’s an organic friendship you can step into at any moment and feel their connection immediately.

One of the joys of this book is the way it slowly accumulates and integrates new characters into the plot. There are love triangles, bereaved family members, local heroes, turncoats, and ambiguous characters who balance on the thin line between culpability and innocence. Each of them—from the unhelpful police officers Garcia and Corporal Quirk to the mysterious Helene who knows more than she says—are integrated into the world of this story so resolutely that it feels like building a small, life-like community from scratch. These hometown elements are masterfully created.

The book largely relies on narration and introspection, entering the minds of characters to push the story forward, while the dialogue can sometimes feel rote and obligatory.

A heartening exploration of relationships, small communities, and the sudden revelations that shake them to their core, Camping Canine follows a reclusive writer, her best friend, and her preternaturally talented dog as they overcome ruts in their lives and help Serenity, Texas get to the bottom of a curious murder investigation.

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