Dog's Green Earth

If you have ever lived in a subdivision with a Homeowners Association, you probably can clearly see why it might lead to murder. I had the unfortunate experience to serve on a Homeowners Association Board, and there were times I had murderous thoughts.

In Neil S. Plakcy's Dog's Green Earth, Steve Levitan lives in a townhouse he inherited from his father. Above the garage is a sign that proudly says Levitan and has been on the garage for about as long as his father owned the townhouse. Ah, but that is not enough for the management company because they have rules about making changes to the exterior with plenty of red tape from them.  (Does this sound remotely familiar to anyone???)

The management firm has been busy assessing fines rather than managing the property. Fines, they discovered make a tidy revenue stream. Landscaping has been haphazard and sidewalks and paths have been neglected. Steve thinks someone is trying to drive the prices down to capitalize on low prices. 

The next morning, after a rather heated evening Board meeting where several homeowners made veiled threats, Steve and his golden retriever Rochester are on their daily walk, when they discover the body of association manager Todd Chatzky. Todd had been stabbed in the stomach and hidden in the bushes. Could one of the homeowners have followed through on his threat or is someone trying to sabotage the River Bend community?

Steve and his friend police detective Rick Stemper, along with Rochester, try to solve the crime. In Steve's case, he uses his former computer hacking skills to discover some anomalies in the ownership of various townhouses in the River Bend.  What he learns puts in right in the line of fire of the murderer. 

Rochester, an excellent judge of character, prevents Steve from danger and assists in the crime solving. Very clever and fun book. Looking forward to more adventures with Steve and Rochester.