Book Review: The Dogs of Babel

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Dogs of Babel     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Carolyn Parkhurst
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Fantasy   Romance
Little, Brown, May 2003, $21.95, 264 pp.

Linguistics Professor Paul Iverson returns home to find his wife Lexy Ransome dead from an apparent fall from a backyard apple tree that it seems she must have climbed up on. Their dog Lorelei is the only witness to the tragedy, but her barking brought help too late for the victim.

Over the next few weeks, the mourning Paul notices little things in his home seem out of kilter. Originally writing this off as grief, he begins to wonder about whether his spouse accidentally fell or committed suicide. Desperate to know the truth, the linguistic professor tries teaching English to the eye witness his canine, but little if any progress is made until the duo hooks up with an underground group that may enable improved communication between man and dog, but at what price?

THE DOGS OF BABEL can be divided into three parts the romance between Paul and Lexy, the teaching of English by Paul to Lorelei, and the workings of the underground group. Each segment in of itself is well written, but never fully integrates into a cohesive novel as if Carolyn Parkhurst could never decide on the main theme. Though some romance fans will appreciate that piece best, this reviewer relished the interplay between the professor and his dog. Ms. Parkhurst displays depth, imagination, and talent that makes this novel worth reading, but hopefully her next tale is more focused.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner