Matt Haig: The Last Family In England

Reviewed by PHILIPPA JAMIESON

How to spice up what might otherwise have been a pedestrian novel: narrate it from an unusual point of view. The protagonist of The Last Family in England is an earnest young labrador called Prince, who lives with the Hunter family. Every day in the park he meets his mentor, Henry, an older labrador who tutors him in the principles of the Labrador Pact.

The Pact states that human happiness and security depends on the devotion and sacrifice of the family dog. Its slogans include "Duty Over All". Challenging these morals are the springer spaniels, who have led some other breeds in an uprising against the Pact, choosing instead a hedonistic lifestyle.

At first this idea seems forced and laid on thick, but halfway through the pace accelerates and the author romps through a carefully plotted maze of tragi-comedy.

Outwardly, Kate and Adam Hunter have a comfortable and happy family life, but the arrival of a new couple in the neighbourhood cranks up the possibility of mid-life crises for them both. Adam becomes infatuated with Emily, a beautiful airhead aromatherapist, and her husband Simon seems to have had an intimate connection with Kate in the past. On top of this, the Hunters' teenage children are rebelling, testing their parents' patience and parenting skills to the limit.

Prince provides a point of view that is not quite omniscient. He is a confidante of all the Hunters, and is often present during the most intimate family moments, like a fly on the wall. He also gleans information from other dogs.

Guided by his instincts and mostly his nose, he presents an ingenuous picture of what the family is going through, but is not always able to analyse the humans' emotions and behaviour — the author wisely leaves this to the reader.

Prince is not just an innocent bystander; his role and actions are increasingly integral to the story as he becomes embroiled in the curdling plot. Along the way, he encounters temptations and moral dilemmas.

What should he do when faced with breaking the Pact one way or another? Our gallant canine hero struggles through a quagmire of obligation and ethics, striving to protect the family at all costs.

With short chapters and an accessible writing style, The Last Family in England is an enjoyable novel to toss off in a weekend, not especially remarkable, but with enough depth to be satisfying.

Jonathan Cape, $34.95

* Philippa Jamieson is a Dunedin freelance writer