Have you ever loved a dog, a work of art, any part of Venice past, present or yet to be discovered?

In this humorous art world adventure Piccolo, a young artist who happens to be an Italian greyhound, leaves his native Venice to solve the mystery of his father's disappearance in America. Following his paw prints, readers will relish the sights, sounds, fine art, and culinary masterpieces of NYC and Venice Italy.
Eager to make art, Piccolo is soon thrown off his father's trail when a great American sculptor offers him a space in his Brooklyn studio where 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 that Piccolo will meet the spirits that haunt its Grand Canal to 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 Review
"Celebrating artistic pursuits... with a clear sense of whimsy, canine characters wear pork pie 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
"Skillfully the author weaves in artworld enticements and disappointments with such twists of humor and layers of insight that readers get a chance to feel what it might be like to crave success in that mad race to be part of the NYC art scene." -—Arteidolia
Amazon Verified Reader Reviews:
"....The tone of the book charms from the get-go. The whimsical storyline takes you from Venice to Brooklyn and back on the tale of a canine character named Piccolo who's a chainsaw-wielding sculptor (it runs in his family). It's hilarious... " Catherine A. Oden 2023
"I absolutely loved the first-person narrative through the voice of our canine protagonist and could not put the book down, reading it well into the night! It touched on themes important to many of us: family, love, and belonging." Ava Richardson 2023