A fun cozy mystery: Watchdog (A Melanie Travis Mystery Book 5) by Laurien Berenson

As a mystery novel fan, and a dog dad, the Melanie Travis Mystery series by Laurien Berenson is a perfect read. I've read the first 4 novels in the series and just finished enjoying the fifth called "Watchdog."  
     The main character, Melanie is a single mom, a teacher and shows her standard Poodle, Faith in dog shows. She's very involved in dog shows with her quirky Aunt Peg, and you really learn a lot about showing a dog in these novels. She gets involved in solving murders usually by accident. In this case, her brother was being accused of murder, so she felt obligated to help. 
    All of these books are easy to read and have very interesting plots. This one is no different. In fact, it goes deep into the world of breeding and show dogs. Well worth the read!- Rob

ABOUT THE BOOK FROM AMAZON: It's autumn in Connecticut. Melanie Travis has just started a new job, and with the added excitement of showing her Standard Poodle, Faith, in the fall shows, the last thing she wants is to become embroiled in yet another of her brother Frank's moneymaking schemes. His current brainstorm--remaking an old store in stylish suburban Fairfield County into a trendy coffee bar--already has the neighbors snarling. Worse, wealthy Marcus Rattigan, who's bankrolling the project, is found murdered on the premises, and the police think Frank did it.
    Always the family watchdog, and faced with Frank's imminent arrest, Melanie has no choice but to take on the investigation. Drawing on her connections in the dog world, Melanie is soon successfully unmuzzling the dead man's nearest and dearest, including a bitter ex-wife, a spurned mistress, and an ambitious second in command. But Melanie is about to learn that being a watchdog can sometimes be dangerous--especially when every clue she uncovers leads her one step closer to a murderer who is desperate enough to kill again. 

   "Fresh, lively writing, a tough mystery, light humor, and insight into the peculiarities of human and canine behavior."--Booklist

Enjoyable Mystery: Hush Puppy by Laurien Berenson

The sixth book in the "Melanie Travis Mystery series" was the best yet. I (Rob) have read several of them, and I really, really enjoyed "Hush Puppy." Melanie is a single mom, and poodle parent. She's a tutor and also shows her poodle in dog shows. As with the previous 5 mysteries, there are great supporting characters, including her son, her Aunt Peg, her boyfriend Sam and more. This mystery had me going until the end, trying to guess the murderer. It was really enjoyable. Five out of five starts from me! - 


ABOUT THE BOOK: Melanie Travis loves her teaching job at Connecticut's elite Howard Academy, where plans are underway for a Spring Pageant to honor the school's fiftieth anniversary. Immersed in the preparations, Melanie is hurrying to retrieve a painting of one of the illustrious co-founders when she comes upon a disturbing scene: Eugene Krebbs, the Academy's elderly caretaker is arguing loudly with a girl half his size. Before Melanie can learn more than the girl's first name--Jane--she disappears.

It's clear that Jane isn't a student at Howard Academy, so what is she doing there? Melanie doesn't have a chance to answer that question before more problems arise. Two days later, Krebbs is discovered stabbed to death right on the school grounds. Now Melanie is embroiled in a full-fledged homicide investigation as she tries to find out who's added murder to the school's curriculum. And when Melanie's trail leads her dangerously closer to the truth, she must race against time to track down a cunning killer before she becomes the next victim to be hushed. . .forever.