What a Dog Knows

I've always been a HUGE fan of Susan Wilson's work. The way that she interconnects animals and human is next level genius. These books aren't simply about a human's bond with their beloved dog. They are about so much more. The novels Wilson writes are about the journey of life. It's trials and tribulations that are thrown at us. The joy and sorrow. Her books are so amazing. I would highly, highly recommend this to any animal lover or just a person who wants a fantastic pageturner.

A story of a traveling psychic, Ruby Heartwood who for years has wandered from town to town, carnivals, festivals to circuses to make a living at her trade.
Left at an orphanage in Canada when she was just a baby, where she grew up, and eventually left at 16 after finding out she had this special gift. She had always wondered who had left her there and why.
While on the road, now in her 50's, Ruby who has been living out of her Volkswagen Westie van , stops at a campground outside of the town of Harmony Farms, a storm is howling outside, when she hears a voice say “let me in” not seeing anyone through the window, she opens her door to see a small dog by her door. She realizes that now she may have another talent as an animal communicator.
She names the pup Hitchhiker, Hitch for short and soon they become inseparable.
With big plans to see if she can find her mom, and travel the road to other venues, Ruby is all set to hit the road, but those plans always seem to be thwarted, as something always happens which keeps her close to Harmony Farms. She has made friends there, and staying there is against her life style. Her daughter lives not too far away and has always tried to get her mom to settle down, but now it feels like something is happening that might keep her there.
A very fun story, of friendships both animal and human and a chance at getting to find what she wants and maybe a chance to settle down for awhile.
I will definitely check out more books by this author.
I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book.

Protagonist Ruby Heartwood is a traveling fortune teller, psychic, seer who reads tarot cards and tea. Sheltering during a storm in her little Westie, she hears a voice pleading to be let in. It’s a little black and white dog with light brown “caterpillar” eyebrows. The distinct voice, or images, is the beginning of her ability to “hear” the dogs’ thoughts.

It doesn’t take long before she is aware this dog, the one she’s named “the Hitchhiker” will become her familiar and partners with her in helping to provide answers to other canine, and soon equine, dilemmas.

Much as she’d like to hit the road, a series of events occur to keep Ruby in Harmony Farms, now sporting the new title of “animal communicator” gains new business. She’s been having increasing dreams of her mother, however, and she starts to seek answers to the woman who left her in an orphanage in Ottawa as an infant. But the admonition to “find me, find you” keeps getting side-tracked and keeps her local.

She is beginning to meet people, make contacts. One of them is Polly who is the local animal control officer. Her office has gotten a call regarding a show dog of the Hitchhiker’s description. Something else to keep her there until she can get that sorted out.

In the meantime, the reader is privy to a warm-hearted narrative with amazing characters, well developed and engaging. It’s easy to get caught up in Ruby’s search for her mother, the relationship with her daughter, and particularly the POV of the dog, his thoughts and feelings—so simple but so profound. No one gets into a dog psyche like Susan Wilson.

The author has a beautiful, artful hand in setting up human to canine dialogue, the prose and sensitivity so strong. This sweet novel may be her best yet. Highly recommended!

This is a wonderfully, intriguing story of hope, fear, courage, family, friends, faith, love and dogs that I absolutely enjoyed!
I would love to have the "gift" that Ruby has for just one hour!
I have always wished to know what my fur kids were thinking and what kind of life they had before we met, just like Ruby.
It's not an easy life for Ruby Heartwood, but she had always made it work.
It takes the help of her new best friend "Hitch", to help her find the courage to search for someone that she has been wishing for her entire lifetime.
I truly really got caught up in this novel and I am sure you will too! Susan Wilson never disappoints!

What a Dog Knows is an interesting look into how dogs can change our lives. Ruby Heartwood started life without a family. She was left at a Catholic orphanage/ school. There was no information about how she wound up there. One day Ruby discovers she can sometimes see what will happen to others before it really happens. The reader learns about Ruby's life through flashbacks that are skillfully interspersed with present day life. The transitions are smooth and give the reader a look at how Ruby became a woman who uses her gift to earn a living telling fortunes. One night during a storm she parks the van she lives in at a park and starts hearing things she can't identify. She cautiously opens the van door and sees a little wet dog who asks her if she can come in. Ruby doesn't understand how she knows what the dog is saying but she lets the dog inside where it's warm and dry. This begins a new time in her life when she can add animal communications to her list of abilities.

Susan Wilson has a way of writing that pulls me into her stories about humans and dogs. I was totally immersed in this book from beginning to end. The characters are well developed and felt real as I read. The story came to a satisfying conclusion, even though I was sorry to see it end. An excellent book worth a five star rating.

I received an Advanced Reader's Copy from St Martin's Press through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
#WhataDogKnows #NetGalley

What a truly uplifting, heartwarming and happy book to read! I love Susan Wilson’s dog books and look forward to her next one. She mentions at the end how this book was finished remotely during the pandemic - thank you for giving us this wonderful book during this dark time!

I loved and appreciated What a Dog Knows for so many reasons.
1. The characters were well fleshed out. To me they read very much as real people that I liked and cared about which is important to me in a novel. Even the characters you’re supposed to dislike.
2. The book features dogs and horses. What could be better? And Susan Wilson writes a great dog.
3. The plot was great as well as unusual. Psychic Ruby Heartwood lives in her camper van traveling the carnival circuit and loves not settling in one place for too long. During a bad storm she hears a voice saying, “Let me in”, and when she opens her door it’s to a small shivering dog. Much to her amazement she can hear and understand everything the dog is thinking. Ruby decides to stay in town to work the Saturday market and soon discovers while her people physic skills are spotty, her animal skills only continue to grow. Wandering Ruby, who won’t even live with her daughter for fear of staying in one place too long, not only stays in Harmony Falls for a few months but makes friends she cares about.
I don’t know about you but with the world being what it is these days, especially covid and pre election, this was the perfect book to enjoy and take me out of myself. And I’m sure it will be when it’s published this Spring. Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martins for the ARC.