The Great Dane - by Suanne Laqueur (Paperback)

About the Book

After his son's death, Liko Greenman investigates a mystery within a video game, leading him to Danelaw Strong and a complex love story.

Book Synopsis

"The Great Dane is both literary and approachable, a modern love story distinguished by its literary prose and comedic dialogue. Laqueur has crafted an unusual love story with heart, humor, and enough narrative mystery to keep readers turning the pages." -Kirkus Reviews

An unsolved video game puzzle. A grief-stricken father. A isolated farm in upstate New York holding twenty years of secrets.

Reeling from the tragic loss of his only son, Liko Greenman clings to the one thing that connects him to his late child: an obscure, unsolved riddle inside the video game Three Hares. Following a mysterious clue left behind by the game's developer, Liko arrives at a remote Birch Island farm, where he meets Danelaw Strong.

Dane is a striking, genderqueer man carrying his own heavy solitude. For over twenty years, he shared a unique, deeply devoted three-way bond with the creator of Three Hares and his wife. Now on his own, bereft and lonely, Dane agrees to help Liko decipher the game's final secret.

As summer turns to autumn, working together to solve the puzzle unlocks unexpected feelings, unburied grief, and a profound connection neither man saw coming.

Perfect for fans of John Irving, Fredrik Backman, Matt Haig, John Boyne, and lovers of emotional, thought-provoking fiction.

Review Quotes

"The Great Dane is both literary and approachable, a modern love story distinguished by its literary prose and comedic dialogue. Laqueur has crafted an unusual love story with heart, humor, and enough narrative mystery to keep readers turning the pages." -Kirkus Reviews

"Laqueur delivers prose that shifts effortlessly between conversational intimacy and philosophical reflection, trusting readers to follow emotional logic rather than conventional plotting. The Great Dane is a generous, deeply human book that lingers precisely because it refuses simple answers.​​" -BookLife Reviews

"Five stars. The Great Dane is a powerful and emotional read for anyone who has dealt with loss and a difficult grieving process... It is also a very sharp look at how queerness and alternative lifestyles can be an architecture for people sharing grief and experiencing loss together." -ReaderViews