Game of Dog Bones by Laurien Berenson is the 25th book in the “Melanie Travis” canine mystery series. Publisher: Kensington Books, coming June 30, 2020.
Standard Poodle owner Melanie Travis is an excellent judge of dogs—and people. But what happens when an unnamed killer emerges at one of the fiercest all-breed competitions ever?
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 . . .
Dru’s Musing:
What a fun book that showcased the inner workings of dog shows. In their latest adventures, a much-despised breeder is murdered and Aunt Peg becomes the prime suspect. It will be up to Melanie to figure out who had a stronger motive to want this victim dead.
This was a fast-paced and well-written whodunit that quickly became a page-turner as I could not put this book down. From the first page, the author captured my attention and I had to know what was going to happen next. Once Melanie sprang into action, I had to keep up with her with the bevy of suspects that she encountered. The author knows how to tell a story with a good plot, engaging dialogue and a superb cast of characters that elevates my desire to see the outcome with all the players having pivotal roles. There were a few red herrings that the author wanted me to follow and when it was all said and done, I liked the direction it took. Good job.
This is one of the series that gets better with each book written. A fun and delightfully charming series and I can’t wait for more exploits with Melanie, Aunt Peg and their friends.
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FTC Full Disclosure – I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) from the author.