The Dogs of Littlefield

Orange Prize winner Berne (The Ghost at the Table) delivers a satirically humorous tale of the dark side of suburban life. The New England town of Littlefield is idyllic, with good schools and a lovely village center that's decorated for each season. Sociologist Clarice Watkins has come to study the town to see what accounts for its high quality of life. What she finds, however, is that underneath its placid veneer, Littlefield is not a happy place. Someone is poisoning dogs, apparently to protest a proposed off-leash dog park. Plus, there are the usual affairs, unhappy marriages, mental health issues, gossip, and petty gripes. And Clarice, as a trained observer, sees it all. Berne digs into her characters, exploring their humor and humanity. The dog arc initially drives the narrative, but the portraits of Littlefield's quirky denizens are at the heart of the book. Carol Monda, with her deadpan delivery, captures perfectly the tone of this satirical look at small-town life.