Black and white and read all over - but not here!

Jonathan with his real dog Ruby

I love getting parcels. On Saturday I had an interesting one all the way from New York. Enclosed were some copies of "A Dog About Town" a new novel you can't buy here. It's a detective story with a twist. The central character is a Labrador called Randolph who has taught himself to read using the newspapers intended to house train him. He's kept his intellect a secret from the people around him, but when his owner Imogen disappears Randolph decides to help hapless boyfriend Harry solve the mystery.
I've read a few chapters - which with my hectic schedule means this book is quite a page turner. (I haven't read a book all the way through for six years - other working mum's will probably empathise... no long baths in that time either, these are the real sacrifices we make to repopulate the planet.)
Through reading this blog, Jonathan Englert the author of the books had figured out I like to stick up for the underdog, and its seems Randolph could be seen as just that. The book is selling very well in the States - getting great reviews. Randolph is obviously very much an Anglophile - yet the publishers are doing the next editions in Italy, Germany and Japan. Britain doesn't seem to figure in their plans and that troubles Jonathan as I expect he's a bit of an Anglophile, too!
So are we really still considered a nation of dog lovers? Or is it that we're no longer a nation of book readers?
Would you buy this book if it was on sale?
I have one copy to give away to anyone who might read it relatively quickly and then tell me what they think of it!
Jonathan is digging out an email address of who to complain to so that Randolph can get his passport and come to England. As soon as I have it I'll let you know.