"Doglegs" is not simply a dog story but also an emotional adult triangle, with all the requisite plot twists: crime, punishment, redemption. The narrative intertwines tragedy with comedy and whimsy. And in the process of unfolding the human story, "Doglegs" also unfolds a treatise on the relative merits of humans and canines. Thematically, the novel demonstrates that-in terms of intuition, devotion, and purity of spirit-dogs are the masters, while humans, all too often, behave like animals. Most of the pivotal action takes place in a wooded area called Doglegs. The woods become symbolic of the obstructed human perspective. The title also refers to the "doglegs"-gradual shifts-in the thinking of the three main human characters. "Doglegs" reflects all of these changes through a shifting narrative as each character takes their "turn."
Take a stroll with Matt and Emily through Doglegs Park, where a colorful cast of characters runs off in all directions, howling, clawing, drooling-and these are the humans When you come out on the other side, you may never again look at dogs-or people-in quite the same way.