"He came to be a hero, and heroes don’t run.”

Lucky is a young three-legged Basset Hound mix who dreams of being a hero in this delightful, champagne-esque middle grade read.

A “freakishly smart and outrageously funny” canine, Lucky can hardly wait to become a police dog like his yard mate and best friend, Chief. A regal German shepherd, Chief is a retired police dog. Chief’s human is Officer Bob.

Lucky is crushed to learn he won’t be going to the police academy. Or fulfilling his dream of becoming a police dog. Could this disappointment be “the thing that breaks the happiest dog in the world”? If Lucky’s not going to be a police dog and a hero, then what’s he supposed to be? Should he be called “Lucky” or “Not Lucky”?

Meeting up with Mutt the “fearless free” Jack Russell Terrier mix, Lucky and Mutt hatch a plane to raid a hot dog factory. Bonus points: The lovely Flea Bag is also in on the job. The canine trio makes off with a bunch of wieners, but Flea Bag is captured later by the evil truck driver Zane.

Back home, Chief scolds Lucky for his actions. Chief and Lucky belong to a law enforcement family. Doesn’t Lucky know stealing is wrong? But Lucky wants a life with purpose. Like what Chief had with Officer Bob. Meanwhile, rescuing Flea Bag is a three-dog job. But the obedient Chief will not leave the yard per Officer Bob’s rules. And Chief won’t let Lucky leave to rescue Flea Bag, either. Chief must choose between leaving the yard and saving his friend or obeying his human and letting Lucky die. Which will he choose? Will Lucky risk all for love? What about a third dog? Can Lucky find his purpose in rescuing Flea Bag before it’s too late?

This book really surprised me. I didn’t know what to expect. Diving in, it didn't take long to discover a real gem. Pitch-perfect pacing and a carefully crafted plot percolate with adventure, action, gentle humor and valuable life lessons on friendship, loyalty, courage, and compassion. Clever, quirky, and catchy, Three Dog Job sudses with sass and spunk. Chapters are brief and flow seamlessly one into another. Brimming with wit and whimsy, Three Dog Job is what you might call the “cat’s meow.” But. Well, you know.

With age-appropriate vocabulary, plenty of action, and loveable, well-rounded characters, Three Dog Job will certainly appeal to its target audience of middle grade readers. Ditto anyone who enjoys a creative, fast-paced story that’s well told. I LOVED it!

Three Dog Job is Book 1 in The Lucky Chronicles. I can’t wait for more!

My rating: 4.5