Away to Me - by Patricia B McConnell (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The vivid, immersive nature writing of William Kent Krueger and Peter Heller meets the taut suspense of Louise Penny against the lush, sprawling landscape of rural Wisconsin in the first of a new mystery trilogy by internationally renowned animal behavior expert Patricia McConnell, bestselling author of The Other End of the Leash and The Education of Will.

Maddie is living her best second life on a 40-acre sheep farm in rural Wisconsin. In addition to her passion for training sheepdogs--including her spirited border collie Jack--she sees all manner of dogs with behavioral problems ranging from biting to thunder phobia as part of her local practice. No stranger to trauma herself, Maddie has worked hard to recover from the ordeal of her previous marriage.

But things take a turn when Maddie's friend and mentor, George, is inexplicably killed by a rifle shot fired from the woods during a sheepdog trial. Maddie is devastated and also baffled--it's not hunting season, and who could mistake a man, standing alone in a field, for a deer?

She's still reeling from George's shooting when a shelter calls her for help with a German shepherd found half dead beside the highway who's too aggressive to feed and care for. The dog flourishes at the farm, but when Maddie returns one day to find her house invaded, it's clear that she has stumbled into a situation far more complex and sinister than she realized. And her romantic involvement with an enigmatic young shelter worker soon leads to even more trouble. As Maddie continues to search for answers to George's death, it quickly becomes apparent that her own life is once again in danger . . .

Review Quotes

Praise for Patricia McConnell:

"The Education of Will delves deep into the minds of people and dogs, and into the effects of trauma, showing that healing is possible. McConnell gives a voice to those who can't speak in words and provides hope for fearful animals everywhere." --Temple Grandin, author of Animals Make Us Human on The Education of Will

"In addition to information sure to appeal to dog lovers, the author provides a compassionate account of the reclamation of her life from abuse and shame. An uplifting story of hope about how both dogs and humans need 'a sense that they are not helpless victims.'" ―Kirkus Reviews on The Education of Will

"This powerful memoir twines the lives of an extraordinary dog and an extraordinary woman. Their courageous, compelling story will profoundly deepen your understanding of people and animals, fear and shame, love and listening." ―Sy Montgomery, author of The Soul of an Octopus on The Education of Will

"Compelling . . . a wonderful blend of scientific knowledge, stories about real dogs and their behavior, and scenes from the author's life with her own dogs . . . [For the Love of a Dog] will make you think--but it will also touch your heart." --Associated Press

"This book is more than a story of a bad dog turned better, and it is more than a recitation of how dogs can help people. McConnell achieves something simple, honest, and beautiful in a book about a troubled woman and her troubled dog." ―Booklist on The Other End of the Leash

"Good reading for dog lovers and an immensely useful manual for dog owners." --The Washington Post on The Other End of the Leash

"Excellent . . . Warm and informative, The Other End of the Leash teaches us to bridge some differences and to honor others." --Dog Fancy

"[McConnell's] openness and bravery benefit both species. Centering on themes of trauma, recovery, shame, fear, setbacks, and healing, The Education of Will is captivating, a page-turner in fact." ―Scientific American on The Other End of the Leash

"Human and border collie lead each other to peace... An animal behaviorist's memoir parallels her healing from multiple traumas as she patiently leads her beloved border collie to overcome his fears." ―Shelf Awareness on The Other End of the Leash

About the Author

Patricia McConnell, PhD, CAAB is an internationally renowned animal behaviorist and author whose acclaimed books, including The Other End of the Leash, For the Love of a Dog, and The Education of Will, have sold more than 1.2 million copies. A former adjunct professor in Zoology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and behavior columnist for The Bark magazine, her nationally syndicated radio show, Calling All Pets, played in more than 110 cities for 14 years and her television show Petline aired on Animal Planet for two and a half years. She lives with her Border Collies and a flock of sheep on a farm in Southern Wisconsin and can be found online at PatriciaMcConnell.com.