Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce

Title: Blood Hound

Author: Tamora Pierce 

Series: Tortall Lengend / Provest's Dog

Summary: Our terrier Beka Cooper takes on a new role. This time as a Bloodhound on a hunt. She follows the scent of colemonging  (counterfeiting) to a new city (Port Caynn), with a new partner, new allies and new friends. She also has a new Rogue to contend with, one who is a lot less hospitable than her own. 

Thoughts: The diary style in this is fabulous, there are even paw prints (from Pounce) to make it look more realistic (although I don't like the cross-outs then spell-rights). Bloodhound is also excellent for details. Slang, political structure, and all other logistics are planned and detailed (with a super-handy reference guide in the back). Pierce has created an entire world, and throwing the reader into it, explains it beautifully. We can know Tortall as well as our own country.  Beka is also the idea protagonist; smart, strong, shy. Taken away from the usual cast of characters for most of the book, the new characters take an interesting turn. Beka keeps her stern-but-kind mentor however nearly everyone else mainly featured is new (even a new pet!). A charming new "friend" and a new cast of rogue drag Beka away from her usual routine as facets of her we hadn't seen before come out. However for devoted fans the usual whip back in for a very satisfying ending. 

Cover: I really like the illustration but they've stuck the blue bands across the top and bottom (under the lettering), I would have preferred it treated like the first 0ne (they cut out the pigeons). Nice colour though, and Beka lacks the demon eyes this time. I also really like the metallic sheen to the covers.

Rating: 5 stars

PS: Stop by randombuzzers.com to see Tammy answer fan questions!

Challenge:  7/26 Pierce books read

Friday Fives - Detective Types

Today the theme for Friday Fives is Top Five Detective Types (anyone who solves the mystery/crime.)

5. Suze - from the Mediator series by Meg Cabot, Suze can talk to ghosts. Most of the ones she sees are not yet at peace. A surprising amount of them have been murdered and she needs to find out who has done it before they off her. Not only is she stunningly resourceful, she also performs some incredibly awesome exorcisms. 
4. Nancy Drew - Nancy Drew is the original teenage detective (trumping both Donna Parker and Trixie Belson). She just wants to help. Nancy often inadvertently discovers a crime/conspiracy and with the help of cousins Bess and George she always solves the case. We also have her to thank for inspiring other teen mystery novels (Claudia Kishi, that's you!). 

3. Harriet the Spy - Harriet is the best spy ever, observing everything she notices about people in her journal (some of them not very nice).  She also has a spy route where she checks up on the most interesting people once a day (a bachelor with 26 cats, a rich couple with an ugly statue, a depressed divorcee, and of course an Italian family who run a grocery store). Harriet wants to figure out everything about everyone (future House maybe?) and eventually has a feud with the spy catchers club after they read her journal.

2. Beka Cooper - Beka Cooper is a Provest's Dog (think medieval cop) and once she sinks her teeth into something, she won't let go. Beka obsessively records everything about the victims of two of  the districts' most notorious serial killers. She also talks to Pigeons, and has the sight. She is accompanied by rogues, mages, other puppies, and her fair but stern mentors. And it's by Tamora Pierce!

1. Sherlock Holmes - Sherlock Holmes is the greatest investigative mind ever. Accompanied by his sidekick Watson, he solves crimes with his keen observations. He also is knowledgeable about chemistry and botany (poisons) and sensational literature. His only vice is his drug addiction.

Let me know your favorite detectives. 

BTW Readers Choice for Top Wizard is Gandalf ^_^