Silas Kennerson was positive that his wife, June, was having an affair. He hired Val, a PI, who had big success on the "Long Island job," to confirm his fears, and he was willing to pay very well. She had to move to Bethesda, Maryland from her home in New York, which was fine as long as Silas covered expenses, but she also had to get a dog. June didn't have much of a life or many (any) friends, but she did hang out at the dog park with her beloved golden retriever, and it was there that Val was going to find the evidence for Silas. The dog was just her accessory.
Val went to the shelter to pick out a dog and misheard a small fluffy pug-faced critter being referred to as a "grift." As grifts were her specialty, she was interested, only to find out that the dog was really called a "griff," short for Brussels Griffon. She was small, cute, and valuable so Val adopted her and named her Cash-when the job was over she could resell her and make a profit. She later found out that griffs are anxious and clingy, but she could deal with that later.
She brought Cash to the dog park and met June and the other dog parents (never owners). She found that June was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside and seemed to have zero romantic interest in any of the others. After Val and Cash left, June encouraged another woman watching from outside the fence to enter the park and play with the dogs. The new woman's name was Alex, and June told her to come back the next evening for doggie happy hour.
At sunset, the regulars gathered again at the park, which was covered in rain, mud, and unshoveled dog poop. Alex showed up and June introduced her to Val who immediately perceived something off about her. Alex's "just folks" clothes didn't match her patrician bearing, she seemed to be trying too hard to fit in, and was shadowing June a little too closely. Was she a spy, and if so, what was so interesting about a dog mom? But before Val left the park, a very upsetting incident occurred involving the dog park queen, mud, and the loss of balance. Something HAD to be done to make this place a haven rather than a liability-and the Hamilton Dog Park Gala was born!
Perri sets up a wonderfully humorous mixture of dogs, spies, narcissists, social strata, and guilt driven rich people in her tale. As the three women learn to care for and trust each other through the healing power of doggie love, they each grow and change in the best ways. And when things get tough, they solve their worst problems together. I read this book quickly the first time for plot, then savored a reread for character and detail-the author has a real way with words and her novel is smart, witty and heartbreaking all at once which is a real feat. Four paws up!
Reviewed by Donna Ballard
June 9, 2026
Reserve a physical copy - Coming soon
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