It is hot, hot, hot in The Mopwater Files. Hank is plumb worn out. All he wants to do is lie in the shade, but the shade keeps moving on him. Who's responsible for this outrage?!

Drover enters the picture and convinces Hank to try eating a grasshopper. Head rooster J.T. Cluck warns Hank about a problem with eating grasshoppers, but Hank pays no attention. He should have. He winds up drinking from Sally May's bucket of root stimulator and finds himself so full of energy that he impresses visiting Beulah the beautiful collie and her beloved Plato the bird dog. Unfortunately, Rufus the Doberman with no manners (and the mistaken belief that Beulah belongs to him), is also in the back of neighbor Billy's pickup.

Hank has a date to meet Rufus for a fight, but the root stimulator is no longer available. Drinking Sally May's mopwater doesn't have the same effect.

On his way to what might be his death, Hank sees Madame Moonshine, the witchy little owl already met in The Further Adventures of Hank the Cowdog and Lost in the Dark Unchanted Forest. Madame Moonshine is being menaced by Rip and Snort, the coyote brothers (who appeared in the first Hank book and many books after). Can Madame Moonshine's bodyguard, Timothy, save her? If not, should Hank run for his life or try to save the day?

In fairy tales, helping someone else will gain the hero the help he needs with the main villain. Can our favorite cowdog save himself by doing the decent and honorable thing?

Sadly, I noticed only two old-time songs being used for the background music. Still, it made for fun listening. ( )