Gone With the Woof (A Melanie Travis Mystery)
Aunt Peg decides Melanie is taking her stay-at-home mom role too seriously and volunteers her to help Judge Edward March, a famous dog breeder, write his memoirs. Irascible March wants to do a tell-all about his many affairs rather than exploring the world of show dogs. When March’s son is killed in a hit and run, police suspect Edward, as the son had replaced the father in his business. March asks for Melanie’s help, and she talks to his former lovers as well as to the son’s jilted, pregnant girlfriend, only to realize that there is a plethora of possible motives and suspects. Meanwhile, there are the dogs—a two-year-old, a new puppy—and the prospect of dog shows on the horizon. Berenson’s canine frame story will have dog lovers’ tails wagging, and it doesn’t detract from either the savvy heroine or the smart mystery. --Amy Alessio