I (Rob) just finished reading my third novel by Laurien Berenson in the "Melanie Travis Mystery" series. "Dog Eat Dog" was one of her first books. I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars, as it was heavy on the detail of dog showmanship and filled with a lot of personal detail that took away from solving the mystery.
I enjoy the main character, her son, the introduction of her long-missing ex husband, her new boyfriend Sam, and her Aunt who is a master dog show handler. There were also a lot of characters to keep track of, and Lauriend did a great job of that.
This was an enjoyable book, and as you read more of the mysteries you learn the characters better, too. I found the later books 5 star stories - They are definitely good mysteries with interesting characters and DOGS!
BOOK SUMMARY: Welcome to an elite Connecticut kennel club where shocking secrets gnaw at the best of the breed and competition has a sharp--and deadly--bite.
As if raising her son Davey, training her rambunctious Poodle Faith for the show ring, and grooming fellow handler Sam Driver for romance aren't enough, Melanie Travis's entrée into the exclusive Belle Haven Kennel Club has been met with a grisly murder. Unfortunately, the only witnesses to the crime were the victim's startled pair of Beagles. And they aren't talking. . .
Melanie hadn't intended to do any serious snooping, what with coping with the unexpected arrival of an ex-husband out to get joint custody of the son he's never known. In need of some serious distraction, she's off to sniff out dangerous secrets. . .only to discover that everyone at Belle Haven has something damning to hide.
As the shocking truth slowly comes to light--and her own domestic drama moves center stage--Melanie finds herself eager to put the bite on a dogged killer who's desperate enough to strike again.