Peg sits down for a question-and-answer session with dru’s book musings so that we can learn more about what makes her tick. Let’s see what she has to say.

What is your full name?
My full name is Margaret Wentworth Turnbull, which is more of a mouthful than anyone needs to bother with. I am now, and have always been, Peg.

How old are you?
In my early 70s and still going strong.

What is your profession?
I breed and show Standard Poodles. I am also a dog show judge, currently approved for all the breeds in the Non-Sporting and Toy Groups.

Do you have a significant other?
My husband, Max, was a wonderful man. Unfortunately, he is now deceased.

Do you have any children?
No

Do you have any siblings?
No, although I do have a meddlesome sister-in-law, Rose Donovan.

Who is your best friend?
I am fortunate to have two best friends. One is my niece, Melanie Travis, and the other is my sister-in-law, Rose. Both those ladies tend to mixed up in solving mysteries which certainly keeps my life interesting.

Do you have cats, dogs, or other pets?
I have three black Standard Poodles: Hope, Coral, and Joker, all of whom are homebreds. The two bitches are retired champions, and Joker is my current show dog.

What town do you live in?
Greenwich, Connecticut

What type of dwelling do you own or rent?
My house is a hundred year old farmhouse, once the hub of a working farm, and now remodeled to suit my needs.

What is your favorite spot in your home?
My favorite spot is actually outside my home. I have a spacious backyard where my Poodles and I love to sit in the sun and enjoy the beauty of nature.

What is your favorite meal and dessert?
My favorite meal is any meal that includes dessert, and my favorite dessert is mocha cake, preferably from the St. Moritz Bakery.

Do you have any hobbies?
It seems that poking my nose into other people’s business and solving the mysteries that cross my path have become my hobbies. I couldn’t be more pleased about that development.

What music do you listen to?
Classic rock

What is your favorite color?
Blue

What is your favorite vacation spot?
Wherever the Poodle Club of America specialty show is currently being held

Are you a morning or night person?
Definitely a morning person. My Poodles get me up early and I love sipping a mug of Earl Grey tea as I watch the sun come up over the horizon.

What is your idea of a really fun time?
Judging a large entry at a dog show and having the opportunity to put my hands on a number of quality dogs.

If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
Going To The Dogs

Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
I am an amateur sleuth, and even saying that feels as though I might be overstating my credentials. Mostly I’m just nosy and thoroughly enjoy getting involved in other people’s problems.

What is a typical day in your life like?
My typical day includes spending time with my Poodles, a brisk walk, a good book, and checking in with Rose to see what kind of trouble she’s gotten herself into now. And, of course, cake. Inevitably, there will be cake.

Peg and Rose Play the Ponies, A Senior Sleuths Mystery Book #3
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: June 2024
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link

Murder, She Wrote meets The Odd Couple in award-winning author Laurien Berenson’s brand-new mystery series, spun off from her much-loved Melanie Travis Canine series and featuring Melanie’s elderly aunts—tough-as-nails Peg and soft-spoken Rose—who’ll put their differences aside to stop a killer, if they don’t throttle each other first. The latest installment will tickle all cozy lovers, especially fans of “senior” sleuths in the tradition of Miss Marple and Jessica Fletcher.

From the moment Peg arrives in Kentucky, dragging level-headed Rose along for the week-long excursion proves a smart move. Because after she brings her canine expertise to prestigious conformation shows, next on the agenda is selling her Thoroughbred broodmare’s offspring at a high-stakes yearling sale. And when the ladies arrive to meet the young horse at Six Oaks farm, something seems off about the place—especially Jim Grable, the yearling manager with serious anger issues . . .

While Peg feels comfortable again judging pedigree pups over Labor Day Weekend, Rose judges a shocking new turn of events. Jim has been found dead on the farm and a young employee needs help convincing police she didn’t kill him. As disjointed clues lead to a list of misdeeds swirling around Six Oaks, everyone connected to Jim agrees on one thing—he had it coming . . .

It isn’t until Peg guides her colt’s journey to the auction ring that she grasps how much Jim had been manipulating the process behind the scenes. Now, unable to rely on her instincts alone, Peg must also trust in Rose’s talents to expose the real culprit. But the two need to have each other’s backs before tangling with a killer—a deadly criminal set on halting their dog and pony show for good!

About the author
Laurien Berenson is the bestselling author of the Melanie Travis Canine Mysteries and the Senior Sleuths Mystery Series. An Agatha and Macavity finalist, she’s a four-time winner of the Maxwell Award, presented by the Dog Writers Association of America. She and her husband live on a farm in Kentucky surrounded by dogs and horses. Visit her online at LaurienBerenson.com.