Written from the point of view of a family's labrador, this novel charts the disintegration of a family and their dog's attempts to stop it from happening.
The conceit is that Labradors, the dog world's most trusty retainers, are really here to look after us. Dogs can understand everything we say, just not communicate back in a way we are able to comprehend fully. Unlike Springers, who always let the side down, Labradors have a pact - "Duty over all" which won't let them do mad things - unless they're driven to it by the actions of their families.
This book is ultimately very sad, but we know the very end by the time we've read the first few pages, which permits us to enjoy the journey, which is actually very funny in parts. The personalities of the dogs and humans encountered may seem cliched, but the dogs work well, the humans maybe less so - especially those from outside the family, (but the family cat was fabulously amusing).
This original novel was absolutely gripping - I read it in one day. Highly recommended.