Phoebe and Fred

By: Nathaniel S. Johnson
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Publication Date: November 22, 2022
ISBN: 978-1639885640
Reviewed by: Dianne Woodman
Review Date: December 27, 2022

Phoebe and Fred by Nathaniel S. Johnson is a delightful novella featuring two adorable basset hounds with exceptional abilities.

The bassets in Phoebe and Fred are cherished members of the Watson family. The Watsons and their adventurous hounds reside in Harmony, a quaint New England seaside village. When the bassets take the family's jaguar for a ride through the community, it raises a kerfuffle among the residents. With the hounds becoming involved in social activities and more of their unique abilities being divulged, the main topics in everyday discussions center around the bassets and the Watsons, who have acquired the reputation of being a tad on the eccentric side. Life for the bassets and the Watsons takes a scary turn when an unfortunate incident puts the lives of the basset hounds in danger. Will the bassets be rescued or ignored by the villagers?

Johnson has written an amazingly creative story that includes fun-filled and serious interactions among the characters. There is a perfect combo of compelling and memorable characters with diverse personalities, communication styles, and behavioral tendencies. The author's excellent use of sensory language paints vivid pictures in readers' minds. It makes them feel as if they are standing next to the characters and experiencing everything the characters are going through.

Readers are drawn into this basset-centric story that will keep them enthralled from the first page to the end. The author has provided readers with an effortless reading experience, with the story flowing seamlessly from start to finish. It includes music and television shows enjoyed by the bassets, poetry written by a resident, Bible verses, and methods used for teaching the basset hounds how to communicate.

Phoebe and Fred is a story not to be missed. Readers will find the novella a fascinating read about a charming community whose existence is interrupted by the adventures of two basset hounds. A mixture of positive and negative viewpoints circulates among the villagers, with opposing schools of thought on how to resolve the disruption to the village. On the flip side, there is a community-inspired camaraderie at work among the residents, even with disagreements about the best way of dealing with two intelligent and adventurous basset hounds that appear to have taken on human-like characteristics.

Quill says: A marvelously entertaining and heart-touching story that draws you into the wondrous world of clever and spunky basset hounds.

For more information on Phoebe and Fred, please visit the author's website at: www.natjohnsonauthor.com/

Author Interview