Dru’s Short Musing:
When asked to look for a stolen brooch and later the person is found dead, Melanie must put two and two together to solve this puzzling case that involves a stepsister and other Great Dane breeders.

This was a fast-paced and action-packed whodunit that I could not put down, quickly becoming a page-turner as I read it in one sitting. The writing was crisp and the tone comfortable making it easy to follow the path the author has set. The mystery was staged with an abundance of dogs and a few human suspects that kept me intrigued as I had to know who had a stronger motive for the crime. I loved the way Melanie gets her clues by chatting and observing what is around her. Melanie and her Aunt Peg make a great duo and are a force to reckon with when it comes to solving crime. I also enjoyed the interactions between Melanie and her family, this time with Davey and Kevin as they had a pivotal role in the story being told. Overall, this was an excellent read and one of the best books in this long-running and delightfully engaging series.

Series Name: A “Melanie Travis” Mystery, Book 31
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: October 28, 2025
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link

Book Synopsis:
It’s June in Connecticut and Melanie Travis has her hands full with her family and her Standard Poodles, but when a breeder and exhibitor of Great Danes dies under suspicious circumstances, she also has a big mystery to solve …

After seeing a Great Dane at a dog show, Melanie’s younger son Kevin has become obsessed with the giant breed. Some kids get into dinosaurs—for Kevin it’s Great Danes. Aunt Peg introduces Melanie and her son to Audrey Kane, a charming older woman who breeds and shows the big dogs.

Aware of Melanie’s talent for sleuthing, Audrey asks for her help in finding a missing brooch. She suspects her stepsister Lara. Sam and Melanie are showing their Standard Poodle puppy, Plum, at a dog show where Lara will also be exhibiting her Great Dane. Melanie makes contact with Lara but gets no answers.

When Audrey is found dead in her home, Aunt Peg enlists the help of the local Great Dane Club to foster Audrey’s 10 dogs, one of whom Melanie takes on. To her surprise, Lara comes to her and asks her to solve her stepsister’s murder. From the president of the Great Dane Club to Audrey’s dependable dog-sitter—and not ruling out Lara herself—Melanie soon has more suspects than Audrey had Great Danes. With Aunt Peg’s assistance, she doggedly pursues the killer . . .

FTC Full Disclosure – I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) from the author.