Murder at the Puppy Fest
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5.0 • 6 Ratings
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- $5.99
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- $5.99
Publisher Description
A mystery from the Agatha Award finalist: “[An] appealing picture of the dog-show world… Cozy fans who love dogs are in for a treat.”—Publishers Weekly
Busy mom and pedigree Standard Poodle owner, Melanie Travis doesn’t mind helping out at Puppy Fest, an annual fundraiser to benefit a local dog rescue. Considering the venue—Belle Haven mansion, owned by wealthy philanthropist Leo Brody—it’s shaping up to be the can’t-miss charity event of the summer. Unfortunately, when Melanie’s breeding background lands her in the doghouse with Jane, Leo’s snappy daughter who runs the rescue, Melanie finds herself simultaneously managing Puppy Fest and the millionaire’s hopelessly fractious family.
But once Puppy Fest kicks off, Leo is nowhere to be found—until Melanie discovers his current mistress crouching over his dead body. According to police, the father’s severe nut allergy went into overdrive after he accidentally consumed a contaminated cookie. However, Libby, one of Leo’s children and a friend of Melanie’s Aunt Peg, believes someone deliberately put him down for good…
From a four-time winner of the Maxwell Award from the Dog Writers Association of America, this witty novel is an entertaining read for fans of canines and cozy mysteries.
“It’s mutts vs. purebreds as Melanie Travis investigates the death of a dog-loving philanthropist…Worth the price of admission.”—Kirkus Reviews
“If you like dogs, you’ll love Laurien Berenson’s Melanie Travis mysteries!”—Joanne Fluke, New York Times-bestselling author of the Hannah Swensen series
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In Berenson's intriguing 20th Melanie Travis mystery (after 2016's Live and Let Growl), the Stamford, Conn., dog lover and breeder of standard poodles is looking forward to helping out at Puppy Fest, a dog rescue benefit sponsored by philanthropist Leo Brody. But when Melanie goes to visit Leo at his Greenwich office, she finds him lying dead on the floor with his latest paramour leaning over him. Leo, who suffered from a severe peanut allergy, died of anaphylactic shock after eating cookies containing ground-up peanuts delivered to his office. The authorities declare Leo's death an accident, but one of his daughters, Libby Rothko, suspects murder and asks Melanie to find out who may have wanted Leo dead. Melanie soon discovers that Leo's nine entitled children by three wives all had reasons of their own to hasten his demise. Berenson's appealing picture of the dog-show world more than compensates for the straightforward investigation and the too-convenient solution. Cozy fans who love dogs are in for a treat.
