An Improbable Companion

“Readers will cheer on this likable hero and the dog that chooses her,” says Kirkus Reviews about the new novel by Stephanie Wilson Medlock.

Can a dog help you solve your biggest problems? When Lucinda Flynn finds a husky on the doorstep of the caretaker’s cottage of Rakeshill Mansion, she has no idea that his arrival will set in motion events that will change her life.

Hired to write a new history of the historic Hudson Valley area house, Lucinda hopes her one-year appointment will lead to a successful book and an academic job. Cursed with a perfectionism that makes it difficult for her to complete projects, Lucinda gradually finds herself confiding in Rake, her brilliant pet. He helps her deal with the stresses of her life—the mansion’s imperious owner, her unhappy relationship with her family, and an unfortunate ability to alienate every man she meets. When Lucinda uncovers the link between Rake and the dark history of Rakeshill Mansion, it reveals the extent of Rake’s extraordinary abilities.

With Rake as her adviser, Lucinda’s love life improves dramatically. But when a man Lucinda rejects decides to take revenge against them both, she must find the strength to fight for what really matters.

Softcover, with 252 pages and a trim size of 6 by 9 inches. Dorrance Publishing Co. released it in 2024. ISBN: 9798893410686.

Listen to the 6/16/25 interview of Stephanie Wilson Medlock by Theresa Widmann of Radio Kingston.