Pumpkin Spice Puppy (A Melanie Travis Mystery Book 30)

Author:    Laurien Berenson

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book (Audiobook Available)

ISBN #:    9781496750624

Kensington Cozies

192 Pages

$22.95; $9.99 Amazon

August 20, 2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐

It's autumn in Connecticut and there's a chill in the air, the fall leaves are a riot of color, and pumpkin spice is the flavor of the season.  Melanie Travis is perennially busy, of course -- but when the owner of a local pet supply shop is found murdered. sleuthing tops her To Do list...

Between taking care of her family and assorted Standard Poodles, Melanie is also working as a special needs tutor for Howard Academy, a private school in Greenwich, where her younger son attends kindergarten.  This year, the headmaster has come up with an idea for a school fundraiser.  all students will participate in a town-wide treasure hunt, with grades competing against each other..

Tokens shaped like pumpkin spice muffins have been hidden in downtown stores.  Students will scramble to collect as many as they can in exchange for prizes.  At first all goes smoothly, and the uptick in foot traffic to the stores is a win-win...Until the pet shop supply owner lodges a complaint.  When Melanie stops by to smooth things over, she instead finds the man dead, a knife in his back, and his loyal, ever-vigilant Chow Chow locked in the storeroom.

Over the headmaster's objections, Melanie is once again drawn into an investigation.  It doesn't take her long to gather a list of suspects, from neighbors balking about the number of rescue Chows the man was fostering in his home, to the landlord who'd filed an eviction notice against him, to the bitter ex-wife who is happy he's gone.  With the fundraiser soon drawing to a close and celebrations imminent, Melanie will have to follow every clue -- before the biggest prize is staying alive...

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Melanie Travis is a mother, a teacher, and loves dogs -- especially her beloved Standard poodles, which she has 'shown' in the past and encourages her son David to continue.  But in her role as teacher at prestigious Howard Academy, she plans to begin her day as a special needs tutor when she is stopped by the headmaster's secretary, Harriet.  There's a fundraiser for the academy that local businesses are helping with, and one of the shop's owners has a problem.  Mr. Willet, the owner of a local pet supply business, has lodged a complaint, and Harriet has asked Melanie to look into it.  Of course, Melanie acquiesces.

When she arrives at the shop, the door is open but no one is around.  She sees the office door open ajar and soon wishes she didn't.  Mr. Willet has been stabbed in the back.  His beloved Chow, Cider, is penned in another room and trying to escape.  All Melanie can do is call the police.  She thinks that's the end of it.  But when Harriet asks her to investigate on the down-low, she can't refuse.  The academy's reputation is at stake.  So Melanie puts on her sleuthing cap again and hopes for the best...

In this latest installment of the series, it's autumn in Connecticut and the leaves have changed, but not the fact that there's another murder.  Melanie trusts her instincts once more to get her the information she needs.  But is everyone telling the truth?  And if not, who is the person with the best motive to want Mr. Willet dead?  And, of course, what about Cider?  We all know Melanie is going to be worried for his dog.  Not to mention, the dog might be the only person who can identify the killer.  Too bad he can't talk.

When Melanie starts asking questions she finds that Willet wasn't endeared by neither his personal nor business neighbors.  Certainly not by his philanthropic ex-wife.  The only one who seemed to like him was his daughter.  But even she could have had a motive.  So who did the deed?  Sifting through the clues, Melanie feels she's up against a wall of lies and secrets.  But someone killed him.  She just needs to figure out who.

I will say that I pretty much knew who the murderer was when they entered the book.  But only because I tend to read tons of mysteries, so I usually don't have a problem figuring it out.  But still, I love to know the motive, and that's never given until toward the end of the book.  There's never a limit on what crazy people will do to achieve their ends...if they ever do.  

The mystery is another well-written one by Ms. Berenson, and a worthy addition to the series.  It made me want to sit with a cup of pumpkin spice coffee (too soon!) and think about cooler days (where I live, there aren't a whole lot of them).  You're drawn into the mystery and Melanie's busy life and end up wondering how she does it.  Two kids, a job, dogs, an overbearing aunt (that she loves), and sleuthing for a living.  Whew!

The clues are there, but you need to look for them.  I was so caught up in the tale that I almost missed the final one.  But was I supposed to?  Hmmm...In the end, it all came together nicely and everything worked out (as it should).  I really enjoyed this mystery and look forward to the next in the series.  Recommended.

I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Pumpkin-Melanie-Travis-Canine-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CNYK2J68/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6605274977

More on Laurien Berenson's Books:     https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/laurien-berenson/

A Furry Little Christmas (Two Book Anthology)

Author:    Laurien Berenson

Genre:     Mystery/Christmas

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781496742070

Kensington Cozies

352 Pages

$12.95; $8.81 Amazon

September 26, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

WAGGING THROUGH THE SNOW:

With a demanding teaching job and five poodles scampering around the house, Melanie Travis barely has energy for the upcoming Christmas rush.  When an unexpected business venture leads to a dead body, Melanie must run through a flurry of likely suspects and muzzle a dogged murderer in time -- or she'll be next on someone's deadly list.

HERE COMES SANTA PAWS:

As Melanie attempts to deck the halls in a house overrun by pampered Poodles, her event planner friend, Claire, is busy playing Santa for the wealthiest clientele on Connecticut's Gold Coast.  But when Claire's stylish stint uncovers a dead body, Melanie and her nosy Aunt Peg dash into a dizzying investigation to rein in a sinister Kris Kringle before they're the next ones on someone's deadly wish list...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

This book is a compilation of two earlier Christmas tales by the author, gathered together in this one book for those who haven't read them (as I haven't) or even for those who are fond of the series and want to re-read them (or even give this as a Christmas gift to your favorite book lover).

In the first book, Melanie's brother Frank has realized a new business opportunity, and bought some land that he thinks can make himself and his business partner -- Melanie's ex-husband -- a nice profit.  But it's not very nice when Melanie's son Davey discovers a body.  Melanie, along with her determined Aunt Peg, of course, decide to figure out who the dead man is and how he got into the woods.  When Melanie starts asking questions, she finds out that he had quite a history, and not a good one.  But with all the suspects having motive, how can she figure out which person killed him?...

In the second book, Melanie answered a frantic call from her friend Claire, who is an event planner and personal shopper.  When she arrives at the location Claire directs her to, there's a dead body in the house.  Claire insists she doesn't know the killer, and, as it turns out, doesn't really know the dead woman, either.  An investigation ensues, with the police telling Melanie to butt out, and Melanie paying no attention to them (naturally).  When she discovers more about the dead woman, she's sure there's a mystery there besides murder.  But who wanted her dead, and why?

I have not read either of these books before this, so they were new to me, which is very nice.  I was pleasantly involved in Melanie's trials as both a sleuth and a mother, and the backstory of her home life was woven easily into both stories.  They fall in succession, so there's no having to go back into time; and I must say she's married to the most patient man in the universe.  My husband, wonderful as he is, would be hanging onto my shirt collar and saying 'no'. (Ha).  Her investigation is done well, with asking questions easily, and not pushing people for answers.  She instinctively knows when to pull back.

I love Melanie, being smart and inquisitive, but also the love she has for not only her own small family, but the extended one as well.  We should all be so lucky.  When Melanie finally begins to put everything together (in both books) it brings us to a climax that's definitely worth waiting for.  Finding the murderer isn't as easy as one would think, but it leaves a satisfying ending to two tales, and wanting us to fall into Christmas once more.  Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley, but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Furry-Little-Christmas-Laurien-Berenson-ebook/dp/B0BRF5F68F/ref

Goodreads:    TBA

More on Laurien Berenson's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/laurien-berenson/

Killer Cupid (A Melanie Travis Mystery Book 29)

Author:     Laurien Berenson

Genre:      Mystery

Hardcover: Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781496741035

Kensington Cozies

208 Pages

$20.53; $8.97 Amazon

December 27, 2022

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Melanie is delighted at the prospect of three uninterrupted days alone with Sam (and, of course, her prize-winning Standard Poodle, Faith.)  They're booked at the White Birch Inn, a picturesque New England resort nestled at the foot of a snow-covered mountain.  The inn has a full slate of couples activities planned for the busy Valentine's weekend -- date nights, sleigh rides, tobogganing, ice skating, and pop-up shops in the inn's ballroom -- from the bubbly to the bubble bath, the resort is a perfect match for Melanie and Sam's vacation.  But the first night of festivities feature an event that isn't on the program: murder.

The sheriff quickly launches an investigation, but at the innkeeper's urging -- and because she suddenly finds herself a person of interest in the case -- Melanie tries to sneak a little detective work into her romantic getaway.  But with the resort nearly sold out for the holiday weekend, there's no shortage of suspects, and Melanie's secret sleuthing is already attracting the wrong kind of attention.  Her Valentine's trip is heating up faster than the chocolate fondue...just not in the way Melanie hoped.  But if she doesn't catch the cold-hearted killer soon, another innocent victim will get the kiss of death...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Melanie Travis and her husband, Sam Driver, are surprised by Melanie's Aunt Peg with a Valentine's Day getaway for the two of them.  No kids, no dogs -- except, of course, Melanie's beloved Standard Poodle Faith.  Along with them for the weekend is Mel's best friend Bertie and her husband Frank, who is Mel's brother.  While the first part of the first evening goes smoothly, Mel takes Faith and the inn's dog, Sammy, out for an evening run.

While out there, she sees a couple apparently in a tryst.  But when the woman is found dead the next morning, she wonders if it is murder.  When the innkeeper asks her to look around and see if she can find any suspects, Mel reluctantly agrees.  Unfortunately, the inn is almost full and anyone could be the killer.  Mel is convinced it must be an employee, or someone that the dead person knew very well.  Whatever she learns, the police chief isn't buying, so Mel is on her own.

In between enjoying what the inn offers for the weekend, and spending time alone with Sam, Mel is asking questions.  But is she questioning the wrong people?  Before long, she finds that she might be on the right trail...with the killer right behind her...

This is the 29th book in the series, and the first one that I have read that wasn't dog-centric.  Not that I mind reading about dogs, or I wouldn't read the series at all.  But there are no descriptions of dog shows or grooming practices, etc.  It shows what a talented writer Ms. Berenson is; bringing us into the mystery with her, and wanting to know who killed the person and why.  I had a hard time putting this one down for a few hours, and when I started again it was as if I never left.

The descriptions of the surrounding areas and the events that Mel and Sam were involved with were quite fun, and the dialogue was done quite well.  It was difficult at first to decide who the murderer might be, but as the book progressed, we were given clues, and it was only a matter of time, as with Melanie herself, that we figured it out and all came together.  I have to say that I enjoyed this book quite a bit and look forward to the next.  Recommended. 

I was given a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Killer-Cupid-Melanie-Travis-Mystery-ebook/dp/B09YKNJQ3C/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5244569301

More on Laurien Berenson's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/laurien-berenson/

Show Me the Bunny (Melanie Travis Mysteries #29)

Author:    Laurien Berenson

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781496735812

Kensington Publishing

208 Pages

$22.95; $9.99 Amazon

January 25, 2022

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Aunt Rose already has a strike against her for not being too fond of dogs -- or Aunt Peg.  But Melanie still agrees to organize Easter festivities at Gallagher House, the new women's shelter opened by the stern former nun, even if it takes all the jellybeans in Greenwich to sweeten the arrangement.  No sooner does Melanie arrive to dye multicolor eggs and stuff baskets, than she learns devastating news about Beatrice Gallagher, the respected benefactor of the estate.  Beatrice has fallen to her death, and the circumstances are shocking.

No one can say why or how charitable Beatrice got pushed into an early grave.  Yet for a supposedly warm and generous philanthropist, rumors have her pinned as an overbearing manipulator who used money to control the unfortunate few trapped in her inner circle.  Facing an uncertain future as danger lurks around Gallagher House, Melanie and Aunt Rose must tolerate each other's company long enough to discover the truth about Beatrice's true nature and identify a vengeful killer -- before another person's idyllic spring break becomes a serious nightmare...

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Melanie Travis is looking forward to spring break, where she can enjoy her family: her youngest son, Kevin, is waiting for the Easter bunny, and her husband Sam is training his Standard Poodle pup Plum for her first time in the show ring.  She thinks everything is going well -- at least until her Aunt Peg arrives and tells her she needs to call her Aunt Rose.

It seems Aunt Rose, who is an ex-nun, and her husband Peter, an ex-priest, have returned from a sojourn in Honduras and have now taken residence in Gallagher House, a women's shelter that has recently opened.  Rose, who isn't fond of dogs in the least, and hasn't warmed up to Melanie ever, needs Melanie to organize an Easter egg hunt for the three children in the home.  Melanie, ever soft of heart herself, agrees to the task.  But no sooner does that occur when she discovers that the home's benefactor, Beatrice Gallagher, has died from a fall in her own home.

It's a tangled web indeed.  Gallagher House is the former home of Beatrice, and the children -- Charlie and Charise, want it back.  Then there's the little case of Rose being a suspect -- which Melanie refuses to believe -- and it tumbles from there.  When Rose asks for her help, Melanie can't refuse.  But where does one start when one has no clue?  And who would want the woman dead?  Finding a killer might not be what Melanie planned to do on her break, but it's what she's doing -- and she needs to figure it out before the last egg is dyed, or Rose won't have a home to go to...

In this latest installment of the series, Melanie has her hands full with planning Easter egg hunts for both her own children and the children of battered women.  It's keeping her busier than she expected, but Melanie has never backed down from someone wanting help.  

Since I came late to the series, I've never met (nor heard of) Rose; and since Rose is Aunt Peg's sister-in-law, the sister of Rose's late husband Max, then it must be that Peg is an aunt by marriage.  This I never knew.  Otherwise, Rose wouldn't be Melanie's aunt at all.  It confused me for only a moment, but it makes some things clearer.  I do like Rose's no-nonsense attitude, but it would be nice to see her soften toward Melanie.  The woman already has to deal with sensible Aunt Peg; she should get affection from one of them, at least!

But the story line was very good, and written very well.  Melanie does what she does best; asking questions and putting clues together.  Even if the local detective doesn't listen to what she says, (or already has the information), she plunges forward, vowing to find the truth of the matter.  I like the fact that she doesn't run willy-nilly into a bad situation, and can think on her feet.  It makes her likable indeed.  I also enjoy the fact that she has a happy home life, with a loving husband who understands her and two growing boys who adore her.  It makes it all pleasant reading.

When the murderer is revealed, it's a sad situation all around.  Things come to a head in the most surprising way, and it all wraps up nicely.  The book was easy to read, a nice cozy for a cold evening with a cup of tea or cocoa.  Recommended.

I received an advance copy from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Show-Bunny-Melanie-Travis-Mystery/dp/1496735811/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4504540729

More on Laurien Berenson's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/laurien-berenson/

Pup Fiction (A Melanie Travis Mystery Book 27)

Author:    Laurien Berenson

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781496718389

Kensington Publishing

304 Pages

$22.99; $12.99 Amazon

June 29, 2021

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

With a new litter of standard poodles on the way and her sons enrolled at the Graceland School's summer camp, it's shaping up to be a vibrant July in Greenwich, Connecticut for dog show champ and amateur sleuth Melanie Travis.  But Melanie's busy life shows no sighs of slowing down for the dog days of summer -- especially when the arrival of three rambunctious Dalmatian puppies sets of a series of mysterious events...

While usually protective, Melanie feels comfortable sending her sons to the Graceland School's summer camp for two reasons: The institution is well-regarded and proprietor Emily Grace is a trusted friend.  But Emily has been acting strange since three rambunctious Dalmatian puppies suddenly appeared on her doorstep.  The unusual arrival marks the first of several mysterious happenings at camp, each more intense than the last.  Emily's rough streak takes a frightening turn with a discovery in the nearby woods -- the body of her estranged ex-husband.

As suspicions rush in, proving that Emily didn't murder her biggest mistake will be about as easy as raising prize-winning show dogs.  Realizing that she's the only one who can prove her friend's innocence and keep the Graceland School from shutting down, Melanie dives into an investigation on the victim's whereabouts leading up to his demise.  With a few spotting clues and Aunt Peg's growing curiosity about the Dalmatian pups' origins, Melanie must name the culprit before good intentions come back to bite!

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Emily Grace runs one of the best preschools in Connecticut, and Melanie Travis has sent both of her sons there.  Now younger son Kevin is going to camp, and older son Davey will be one of the counselors.  It's perfect for Melanie, who can use the free time...but she doesn't expect that when she sees Emily, the woman will look ragged, due to the three Dalmatian puppies her ex-husband gave her.  Nor the 'accidents' that are befalling the school, or the discovery of Emily's ex-husband's body, found behind the school in the woods.

With Emily the chief suspect in his murder, she asks Melanie to investigate.  But Melanie doesn't get much closer to finding a killer when she questions people; at least not until she realizes there's someone else who's really running the show...

In this latest installment in the Melanie Travis mysteries, there's plenty of intrigue and suspects, and I have to say that I enjoyed this one more than many of the last that I've read.  I know that Melanie and her aunt show dogs, and I love all animals, and have owned a pedigree Cocker Spaniel myself.  I know what hard work they are, and how much it takes to keep them up to snuff.  My darling Moppet (my nickname for her) was a joy.  But it's also nice not to have too much of the showing in every single book; it takes away from the mystery.

That's not a problem in this one.  Yes, there are definitely the showings and descriptions, but there is also a good mystery hidden behind it.  There are red herrings running through the prose; and people who keep popping up as suspects more than once.  It's something you can really get into and read in one session (which I did).

We also have Peg being Peg, but we are shown a bit of a softer side to her (that I didn't know existed at all!), and this makes her a bit more human (even though we know we're low on the totem pole for her); and I enjoyed reading that.  She takes a big interest in the Dalmatian puppies and takes charge of something else -- that woman's energy is boundless...

When the ending comes and the murderer is revealed it comes as a big surprise, which is exactly how it should be.  I really enjoyed this book immensely, and cannot wait until the next in the series appears.  Highly recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/Pup-Fiction-Melanie-Travis-Mystery/dp/1496718380/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4008552519

More on Laurien Berenson's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/laurien-berenson/

Game of Dog Bones (Melanie Travis Mysteries #25)

Author:  Laurien Berenson

Genre:   Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:  9781496718372

Kensington Publishing

304 Pages

$19.51; $12.99 Amazon

June 30, 2020

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

As Greenwich, Connecticut slows down during a bitterly cold February, Melanie and her spunky Aunt Peg head to the city that never sleeps for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden.  Aunt Peg can't wait to demonstrate her judging chops on national TV, even after being hounded by frustrating mishaps -- all seemingly orchestrated by Victor Durbin, an ousted Paugussett Poodle Club member with a bone to pick.  But the bright lights of the show ring grow dim when Victor is found murdered, and she's the one topping the suspect list...

Driven to solve the crime on her aunt's behalf, Melanie fetches hair-raising clues about the victim.  Victor didn't score many friends with his unethical breeding practices, sketchy puppy café, and penchant for mercilessly scamming others to get ahead.  He burned so many bridges that his own business partner admits to being delighted by news of his death.  It appears Victor finally toyed with the wrong person, and as Melanie digs up more chilling evidence, she realizes that exonerating Aunt Peg means confronting a murderer who's in it to win it...

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Melanie, her family, and Aunt Peg are heading to New York City, where Peg is going to host a seminar on raising and caring for show dogs.  Unfortunately, Victor Durbin, who hates Peg and blames her for getting him kicked out of the Paugussett Poodle Club for his unsavory practices with his dogs, has started his own Empire Poodle Club, and has slated his judging to be opposite Peg's seminar, hoping to lure away her guests to watch his judging.  But his plans go awry when Peg's seminar is filled, and Melanie, who has slipped away to watch the judging, is confused when she notices that the judge seems 'off' a bit and seemingly giving awards to dogs who aren't, in Melanie's opinion, deserving of the ribbons.

Later on, Victor accosts Aunt Peg and demands that she has a drink with him, even though she asks him to let her go.  Eventually Melanie, who can't take it anymore, forces Victor to release her aunt and they go on their way.  But the next morning before they are to head to the show, Peg calls Melanieand tells her that Victor has been murdered.  When Peg discovers that she's a suspect in the murder, she asks Melanie to sniff around and see if she can figure out who had a motive to kill him.  But Melanie doesn't know what she's in for -- it seems everyone hated Victor and had a reason to kill him, including his own godmother...

This is the 25th book in the series, so it's been long-running.  While I must admit that there were some earlier books that just couldn't hold my attention (mainly because most of the story was about dog shows and very little about finding a murderer), I am glad to say that this is not the case here.  While we learn quite a bit about the show itself, the tale is still focused on the murder.

While Melanie is trying to discover who might be the killer, she learns much about Victor's life, and what she does is distasteful to her and everyone around her.  His practices as far as dog breeding were compromising, as well as his relationships with women.  Therefore, Melanie has her work cut out for her in trying to find the killer.  

Meanwhile, she's still attending the Westminster with her family and watching Aunt Peg as she judges there for the first time.  She's also dealing with the upcoming wedding of her friends Crawford and Terry, who are dog handlers, and the fact that Crawford is holding a grudge against Melanie for something she did in an earlier book, which is causing stress in their relationship.  But still, this has to be put on the back burner in favor of finding the killer.

But when she asks questions, she might be hitting the wrong notes with some people, and she's trying not to burn her own bridges in the process.  When Melanie does finally figure it all out, it's shortly after we've figured it out ourselves, which is not a problem; and finding the murderer's motive is very sad indeed.  All in all, a good book that can be read in one evening and I look forward to the next in the series.  Highly recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/Game-Bones-Melanie-Travis-Mystery/dp/1496718372/ref

Goodreads:   https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3445948851

More on Laurien Berenson's Books:  https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/laurien-berenson/

Howloween Murder (Melanie Travis Canine Mysteries #26)

Author:  Laurien Berenson 

Genre:   Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:  9781496730572

Kensington Publishing

224 Pages

$20.00; $9.99 Amazon

August 25, 2020

⭐⭐⭐⭐

With just a few days left before Halloween, everyone at Howard Academy is anticipating the guaranteed sugar high they'll experience from gorging on Harriet Bloom's famous marshmallow puffs.  The private school's annual costume party revolves around the headmaster's assistant and her seemingly supernatural batches of gooey goodies.  So, it's a shock when Harriet's elderly neighbor is suddenly found dead with the beloved dessert in his hand.  In a snap, police start questioning whether Harriet modified her top-secret recipe to include a hefty dose of lethal poison...  

Melanie knows her tenured colleague would never intentionally serve cyanide-laced puffs to a defenseless old man.  But as explosive neighborhood gossip reveals a potential culprit, it also brings her closer to sealing her own doom.  Because on an evening ruled by masked revelers, bizarre getups, and hidden identities, Halloween might just be the perfect opportunity for a cold-hearted killer to get away with murder once again -- this time sending a nosy, unsuspecting sleuth to an early grave!

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Melanie Travis is a teacher at Howard Academy, an upscale school that was once the Joshua Howard mansion and is now home to the Connecticut private school.  Since she is the special needs teacher, she also brings her ex-champion show dog and standard poodle, Faith, along with her.

After an unexpected trip to the attic, Melanie is heading back to her office when she spots the director's assistant, Harriet, sitting at her desk, clenched fingers and staring straight ahead.  Harriet tells her that her neighbor Ralph Penders is dead, and the police think she killed him.  It seems Harriet makes marshmallow puffs every Halloween not only for the academy's annual Halloween party, but for neighbors as well, and when Ralph was found, he had one very tainted puff in his hand.  Now she's afraid she'll be arrested for a murder she didn't commit.

So she asks for Melanie's help in finding out who killed the old man, and while Melanie doesn't want to get involved, she knows she'll need to do so.  After informing the director -- who will be sorely upset by the news -- Melanie sets about retrieving the puffs that Harriet gave to neighbors and trying to find a killer.  But it's not going to be easy, since none of the suspects know who she is, and the ones that do talk to her aren't giving her much.  It's when Melanie gets a little too close that the killer becomes nervous -- and decides the best thing to do is get her out of the way -- permanently...

While I must admit that I haven't read all of the Melanie Travis books, I've lately been doing so, and liked them.  This is a mystery set at Halloween, and while there isn't a lot of detail regarding the holiday, there's enough sprinkled throughout to remind you.  

Melanie vows to help Harriet any way she can, and if that means dealing with people she doesn't know, then so be it.  The people she questions are a motley bunch, and while I'm not sure I'd want to spend time with any of them, it's definitely an interesting group.  The most interesting of all is Harriet's sister Bernadette, who's merely two years younger than Harriet but doesn't want to get old.  So she's found herself a much-younger boyfriend, and unfortunately, Melanie isn't sure what to make of it, especially since they act like teenagers around each other.  But Melanie is discovering more about Harriet that she never knew, and it surprises her; realizing that she should have made better friends with Harriet years ago.

Woven in between this is, of course, subplots; one of which is the fact that her younger son Kevin still hasn't made up his mind on what he wants to be for Halloween; and there's also a young boy named Luke who is one of her students and has taken a real shine to Faith.  Both of these subplots are central to the story in one way or another, giving us a relief from finding a killer.

While I knew the murderer the moment the person stepped onto the page (I read a lot of mysteries); it still was quite a bit of fun reading the story and seeing if I was right (I was).  Finding the motive seemed rather sad and cold, and gave me no sympathy toward the killer at all.  In the end, this is a quick read that can be read in one evening, and definitely worth the time.  Recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/Howloween-Murder-Melanie-Travis-Mysteries/dp/1496730577/ref

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3442513067

More on Laurien Berenson's Books:  https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/laurien-berenson/

Live and Let Growl (A Melanie Travis Mystery #19)

Author:  Laurien Berenson
Genre:  Mystery

Hardover; Mass Market Paperback; Ebook
ISBN #:  9781496703385; 9781496703408
Kensington Publishing
304 Pages
$18.93; $7.99; $2.99 Amazon
July 26, 2016; May 30, 2017

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When her Aunt Peg lands a gig as a judge at a Kentucky dog show, Melanie Travis welcomes the opportunity for a road trip.  Too bad a killer has planned a deadly detour...

For a dog lover like Melanie, the opportunity to attend the Kentuckiana Dog Show Cluster is not to be missed.  Fortunately, the timing coincides with her spring break from teaching, so she heads for central Kentucky with her sister-in-law Bertie and Aunt Peg, who's accepted a week-long judging assignment.  Once there, Aunt Peg reconnects with an old friend, Ellie Gates Wanamaker, a former Standard Poodle exhibitor and a member of a well-heeled Kentucky family.  Miss Ellie has been out of the dog show world for more than a decade, but when Melanie invites her to spectate at the Louisville Kennel Club dog show, she's eager to accompany her.

Miss Ellie's presence at the expo center, however, provokes mixed reactions from exhibitors she hasn't seen in years, including some outright animosity.  The following day Melanie learns that Miss Ellie has suffered a fatal accident while exercising her dogs,  Aunt Peg, however, suspects foul play.  Wishing to avoid any scandal, Miss Ellie's pedigreed family prefers to let sleeping dogs lie, but as Melanie begins to sniff around, she discovers Miss Ellie had many secrets, both in the dog show world and amongst her Kentucky kin...

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Melanie Travis' Aunt Peg is a judge at a dog show in Kentucky, and has also learned that she's now the proud owner of a very pregnant Thoroughbred broodmare.  Peg wants to see the horse and see the stables, and Melanie, of course, after gentle prodding from her husband Sam, heads off to the Kentuckiana Dog Show.  When they arrive, Peg reconnects with an old friend, Ellie Gates Wanamaker, who grew up on a Thoroughbred farm and once showed standard poodles herself.  She's hoping Ellie can give her some pointers on horse ownership, racing and care.

For Melanie's part, she's delighted with Miss Ellie.  Ellie is larger than life and still a force to be reckoned with.  Melanie is surprised by the woman's energy and number of people she knows.  While Ellie is greeted with affection by many, Melanie can't help but notice there are some who keep their distance, and while she notices the looks and whispers of some people, Ellie appears to be unfazed.  What Melanie does learn is the reason Ellie retired was due to a tragic car accident that killed her Champion Poodle.  What she doesn't know is the rest of the story.

After Miss Ellie is discovered dead on her family's land, Peg suspects foul play.  Even though it was deemed an accidental fall, Peg is suspicious given the fact that Ellie knew the land inside and out, and had walked it on a regular basis, along with her four Jack Russell Terriers.  And when they encounter someone else who doesn't believe it was an accident either, a plan is hatched to discover the truth.

While I enjoyed the book, I will tell you that much of it is devoted to dog shows and Thoroughbreds.  There is detail after detail regarding show dogs and judging; if you don't derive pleasure from watching the Westminster Dog Show (et al) you might find it slightly boring and it seems extraneous.  On the other hand, while there is nearly as much information regarding race horses, much of this information is crucial to the book.  

The mystery itself seemed to be forthright:  Someone dies, it looks suspicious, and Peg decides to find out the killer, asking Melanie to investigate.  Unfortunately, the mystery itself got bogged down in all the information on the dog show; and I felt that Melanie allowed herself to be pushed around a little too easily.  I love my aunts, too, but I wouldn't let them order me around this way.  I got the feeling reading this book that Peg had no respect for Melanie and thought she was rather dim-witted.  She never asked her what she thought or what she wanted to do; she just told her this was the way it was going to be, period.

Even though this is the 19th book in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone, as there is enough information given to where the reader doesn't feel lost, and it's pretty easy to gauge personalities of lesser characters, which is a nice touch.  A decent book worth the read.  Recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/Live-Growl-Melanie-Travis-Mystery/dp/1496703383/

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1874608731

More on Laurien Berenson's Books:  https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/laurien-berenson/