Tail docking, practiced humanely, can give a dog an advantage in chasing pheasant through the underbrush at the well-heeled Three Oaks Kennel. But when a cheerful - if wandering - springer spaniel named Clarence returns home maliciously wounded, kennel proprietor and amateur sleuth John Cunningham smells trouble. Several neighborly squabbles and a poacher or two hanging about the well-stocked game preserve leave Cunningham with a brace of suspects at hand. But his instinct points to something darker: an overzealously militant animal-rights activist may be cruelly at work in the area. And with an important breeder's competition coming up and a party of wealthy American shooters on the way, bad publicity could bring disaster. Once our well-bred sleuth gets on the scent, Sting in the Tail will delight Hammond fans new and old alike. Praise for Gerald Hammond: 'Compelling... will appeal to dog lovers and mystery enthusiasts alike' - The Mail 'Short and snappy as a terrier's bark and crammed with country lore' - Daily Telegraph 'The cast of characters, human and canine, is convincing and appealing. A nice series' - Financial Times Gerald Hammond worked as an architect for thirty years which, he says, was quite long enough. In 1982 he accepted a nominal retirement. He lives in Scotland and spends his time shooting, fishing and writing.
