About
Michael E. Benson was born in a small coal mining town in Kansas. He moved to the deserts of Utah when he was twelve and there he learned to hunt and to survive in the wilderness. It was there he also learned of his affinity with horses. Later, his parents moved to Kansas City. After high school, he joined the United States Coast Guard. After he returned home, he worked at many occupations. Eventually, he became a private detective and later a police officer.He earned a Master of Science in Education degree in Criminal Justice and a Master of Arts degree in American History. He became a member of the faculty at Longview Community College in Lee's Summit, Missouri, where he stayed for the next twenty-five years teaching American History and Criminal Justice. After his retirement, he began his writing career in earnest. Today, Michael lives in south Texas with his wife Barbara
Description
<p>When Jessica Bryant pesters her wealthy parents to allow her to have a dog as a pet, the answer is a resounding "No"; but they soon come to regret their decision when thier home is broken into one evening whilst they are out and their daughter kidnapped and held for ransom. The kidnappers, in the form of four seedy and incompetent characters wearing Disneyland-type masks, take her hostage and keep her incarcerated in a place from which there appears to be no escape. However, they reckon without the resourcefulness of our heroine, and the courage of a wonderful stray dog who comes to her aid and whom she names 'Murdo'. And so begins an exciting and humurous accounting of the couples' adventures together as they consistently foil and outwit the abductors whilst on the run together.<br /> This is a lovely story of the friendship between a girl and a dog, bringing out themes of responsibility, camaraderie, redemption, salvation and self-sacrifice. It includes some wonderful dialogue sequences as Jessica teaches her new four-legged friend how to communicate with her, with additional delightful conversations between the animals when a rabbit and a sparrow join forces with them in an effort to outwit the kidnappers and restore Jessica safely back to her parents' home. </p>
Story Behind The Book
This book began as a game we played in the car. Pretend I've just escaped from prison and I call you. I know the authorities are listening and I have to give you a clue to a place we can meet that only you would know. From that game came the basic plot of the story.
