Review by Frank Plowright
Congratulations to Tony Fleecs for coming up with a really original premise, as Stray Dogs is a murder mystery told from the viewpoint of a bunch of dogs abducted and kept in comfort by a killer. It’s a concept that avoids slipping into sentimentality despite the astonishingly cute variety of dogs drawn by Trish Forstner.
The plot hinges on key information subtly dropped near the start when Sophie, an exotic breed Papillon, is undergoing an operation. Apparently dogs remember people, smells and commands, but their short term memory is nearly non-existent. Sophie, though, when arriving at her new home hasn’t forgotten her kidnapping and the killing of her previous owner, whereas the other dogs have. Most consider Sophie’s accusations fantasy, but although having no bad memories himself, Rusty is prepared to believe she’s telling the truth.
Forstner works from layouts provided by Tone Rodriguez, and dog lovers will instantly be able to recognise the assorted breeds so carefully and attractively drawn, while everyone else is given the full specs in follow-up Dog Days, with which this is combined in 2025’s complete edition. While remaining within the broader bounds of realism, Forstner actively makes the dogs cuter via cartoon expressions. This is reinforced by humans only being seen with faces obscured, covered, or shown without heads.
If the art gives the impression this is a sentimental story, be assured it’s not. Despite revealing early that the dogs’ new owner is a killer, Fleecs lulls readers into a false sense of comfort as the dogs interact with each other. Sophie is originally the outsider and unwelcome messenger, but as explorations take place other dogs become convinced, and begin to wonder about their master’s habits. A suspenseful fourth chapter supplies desperation and horrific discovery.
Forstner’s art alone is going to sell Stray Dogs to dog lovers who see the book or pages from it, but it’s recommended to a general readers on the basis of being a novel twist on crime fiction where the finale elevates an already fine set-up.
