"Call me Piccolo." So begins the tale of a young Italian greyhound who leaves his native Venice to seek his lost father in the City of York they call New. Eager to make art, Piccolo is soon thrown off the scent of his father's trail when a great American sculptor offers him space in his Brooklyn-based studio. Duped by his own desire, Piccolo labors for neither fame nor fortune--until his baptism by the fire of a hot chili pepper ignites his career. But it is only after his return to Venice will Piccolo meet the spirits that haunt its Grand Canal and make the greatest discovery in art of all time.
"The writing is smart, sly and very effective, and I found myself laughing out loud at the sheer verve and nerve of the narrative and the voice. In a sea of standard mysteries and genre books, this one clearly stands out." (Writer's Digest Competition)
"An appealing anthropomorphic dog story, celebrating artistic pursuits… with a clear sense of whimsy, as canine characters wear porkpie hats, enjoyably lap up wine, sing Frank Sinatra tunes, and yearn for romance. Along the way, the author also effectively skewers the modern-day art world—particularly its use of interns. Ultimately, this book is most effective as a joyful appreciation of Venice and great art.”—Kirkus Reviews"
