The Hospice Dog

Colchester author Ken Aldred decided to take a break from technical and business writing and create a story about an environment he is familiar with, but which most people know little about. The Hospice Dog is an amusing collection of tales set against a hospice background, with enjoyable characters, strange events and an underlying positive tone. “There do not seem to be many books based on a hospice, except where it features as part of generally sad descriptions of personal experiences,” the author adds.

The book follows an eclectic cast of characters including Jilly, the occupational therapist who visited a casino with one of her patients, the secretive Audrey who won’t spill the beans, David the flamboyant chaplain who heard a rumour about Prince Rupert’s crown, Ted the volunteer who has his own family problems to deal with and Chief Executive Julian, who receives an unexpected visit from a firm of property developers who want to buy the hospice land.

Then there’s the mystery of the theft from the drugs cupboard. Why would someone break in just to steal laxatives? And where did that scruffy dog come from? Is this really a typical year at St Edward’s?

The Hospice Dog is an entertaining read for any adult who enjoys fiction with a bit of a twist and is bored with novels about serial killers pursued by dysfunctional detectives.