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Melanie Travis #26
Howloween Murder
As the town of Greenwich, Connecticut, counts down to a spooky celebration on October 31st, a horrifying murder leaves Melanie Travis pawing for clues in a hair-raising game of trick-or-treat . . . With just a few days left before Halloween, everyone at Howard Academy is anticipating the guaranteed sugar high they’ll experience from gorging on Harriet Bloom’s famous marshmallow puffs. The school’s annual costume party revolves around the headmaster’s assistant and her seemingly supernatural batches of gooey goodies. So, it's a shock when Harriet’s elderly neighbor is suddenly found dead with the beloved dessert in his hand. Melanie knows her tenured colleague would never intentionally serve cyanide-laced puffs to a defenseless old man. But as explosive neighborhood gossip reveals a potential culprit, it also brings her closer to sealing her own doom. Because on an evening ruled by masked revelers, Halloween might just be the perfect opportunity for a cold-hearted killer to get away with murder once again—this time sending a nosy, unsuspecting sleuth to an early grave!
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published August 24, 2021
75 people are currently reading
394 people want to read
About the author
Laurien Berenson
59 books843 followersLaurien Berenson is the award-winning author of the long running Melanie Travis canine mystery series and the new Senior Sleuths series starring Peg Turnbull and Rose Donovan as a pair of seventyish sisters-in-law who are learning to put aside old grudges as they work together to solve mysteries. DIE ANOTHER DANE (#31 in the Melanie Travis series) is out now.
Laurien's work has appeared numerous magazines and the New York Times. She and her husband live on a farm in Kentucky, surrounded by horses and dogs.
Laurien's work has appeared numerous magazines and the New York Times. She and her husband live on a farm in Kentucky, surrounded by horses and dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
October 17, 2020
Howloween Murder by Laurien Berenson is a 2020 Kensington publication.
It’s almost Halloween and Howard Academy is gearing up for the annual costume party… and Harriet Bloom’s famous Halloween marshmallow puffs!!
However, Harriet’s holiday tradition may be over, when her neighbor dies of cyanide poisoning after eating a batch of her gooey treats.
Harriet and the school administrator ask Melanie to help clear Harriet’s name and hopefully spare the school any unwanted scandal. After agreeing to help, Melanie’s first task is to hunt down all the recipients of Harriet’s gooey treats, which also gives her a chance to ask a few questions.
In the process, Melanie begins to form a sad picture of the victim, as well a possible motive. But can she prove her suspicions and get Harriet off the hook?
While looking for a light Halloween themed novel, I ran across this book in the Overdrive library. However, when I realized this series was 26 installments deep, I nearly took a pass, but I decided to take a chance on it anyway- and I am so glad I did!
Melanie may be an amateur sleuth, but her approach is very much like a procedural. Lots of legwork, and interviews, pitching theories, slowly putting the puzzle together. There are also some big surprises and a thrilling conclusion!
I enjoyed getting to know Melanie a little bit, and naturally I loved her standard poodle, Faith!
It goes without saying, my gamble paid off. While I still extol the benefits of reading a series in order, if possible- sometimes reading out of order can introduce one to a series, without the daunting task of trying to read through all the previous installments first, and make the author one more loyal fan, in the process. One can always go back and catch up on previous installments later. You can now count me in a future repeat customer!
Happy Halloween!
🎃👻
It’s almost Halloween and Howard Academy is gearing up for the annual costume party… and Harriet Bloom’s famous Halloween marshmallow puffs!!
However, Harriet’s holiday tradition may be over, when her neighbor dies of cyanide poisoning after eating a batch of her gooey treats.
Harriet and the school administrator ask Melanie to help clear Harriet’s name and hopefully spare the school any unwanted scandal. After agreeing to help, Melanie’s first task is to hunt down all the recipients of Harriet’s gooey treats, which also gives her a chance to ask a few questions.
In the process, Melanie begins to form a sad picture of the victim, as well a possible motive. But can she prove her suspicions and get Harriet off the hook?
While looking for a light Halloween themed novel, I ran across this book in the Overdrive library. However, when I realized this series was 26 installments deep, I nearly took a pass, but I decided to take a chance on it anyway- and I am so glad I did!
Melanie may be an amateur sleuth, but her approach is very much like a procedural. Lots of legwork, and interviews, pitching theories, slowly putting the puzzle together. There are also some big surprises and a thrilling conclusion!
I enjoyed getting to know Melanie a little bit, and naturally I loved her standard poodle, Faith!
It goes without saying, my gamble paid off. While I still extol the benefits of reading a series in order, if possible- sometimes reading out of order can introduce one to a series, without the daunting task of trying to read through all the previous installments first, and make the author one more loyal fan, in the process. One can always go back and catch up on previous installments later. You can now count me in a future repeat customer!
Happy Halloween!
🎃👻
July 2, 2020
I received an advanced copy of this book from Net Galley and the publisher in return for an honest review. The release date for this book is 25 August 2020
I didn’t want this book to end. I am a huge fan of the Melanie Travis series and this new installment was brilliant. The author really knows how to bring out the best in her characters and that is definitely seen in the Howloween Murder. I get great comfort from reading this series. Some people have comfort food, I have comfort authors and Ms. Berenson is definitely one of them. Since I recently lost my father I was looking for a very light, fun and comfortable read and she definitely provided that for me. I hope the Melanie Travis series goes on for many many more years
I didn’t want this book to end. I am a huge fan of the Melanie Travis series and this new installment was brilliant. The author really knows how to bring out the best in her characters and that is definitely seen in the Howloween Murder. I get great comfort from reading this series. Some people have comfort food, I have comfort authors and Ms. Berenson is definitely one of them. Since I recently lost my father I was looking for a very light, fun and comfortable read and she definitely provided that for me. I hope the Melanie Travis series goes on for many many more years
July 2, 2020
I didn’t want this book to end. I am a huge fan of the Melanie Travis series and this new installment was brilliant. The author really knows how to bring out the best in her characters and that is definitely seen in the Howloween Murder. I get great comfort from reading this series. Some people have comfort food, I have comfort authors and Ms. Berenson is definitely one of them. Since I recently lost my father I was looking for a very light, fun and comfortable read and she definitely provided that for me. I hope the Melanie Travis series goes on for many many more years.
May 30, 2023
This short novel is book 26 in the Melanie Travis series. I’ve only read a couple of them, but I have enjoyed them. I did think the mystery moved a little slowly in the beginning and then rapid fast at the end, but overall I enjoyed it. While I can’t imagine having as many dogs as Melanie and her Aunt Peg have, I like their characters and how they add to the story. I thought what happened with Luke was sweet (even though I am a pretty firm rescue adopter). Harriet always makes her marshmallow puffs every year for Halloween, but when she gives a batch to her neighbor and he drops dead from poison she is the number one suspect. She asks Melanie for her help as Melanie has figured out a mystery or two in her time.
October 14, 2022
"Howloween Murder" is my first Melanie Travis Canine Mystery; it won't be my last. Laurien Berenson's writing talents lie in stories surrounding dogs; particularly Standard Poodles. Melanie is an amateur sleuth; she also teaches at an exclusive Boarding School in Greenwich, Connecticut.
It is only days before Halloween. The annual Halloween costume party is a "to go to" event at Howard's Academy. The school master's secretary is under suspicion for lacing her annual, famous marshmallow puffs with cyanide, and causing the death of a local in the community.
Harriet Bloom, the school secretary, has asked the assistance of Melanie to help prove Harriet's innocence.
In all of this there are the six poodles owned by Melanie and her husband, Sam: Faith, Tar, Augie, Eve, Raven and Casey. Although Tar is actually owned by Melanie's oldest son, Davey, who is 12.
I found this mystery fun to read and appropriate for the season.
It is only days before Halloween. The annual Halloween costume party is a "to go to" event at Howard's Academy. The school master's secretary is under suspicion for lacing her annual, famous marshmallow puffs with cyanide, and causing the death of a local in the community.
Harriet Bloom, the school secretary, has asked the assistance of Melanie to help prove Harriet's innocence.
In all of this there are the six poodles owned by Melanie and her husband, Sam: Faith, Tar, Augie, Eve, Raven and Casey. Although Tar is actually owned by Melanie's oldest son, Davey, who is 12.
I found this mystery fun to read and appropriate for the season.
October 23, 2021
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Howard Academy is getting ready for their annual Halloween costume party complete with the headmaster’s secretary’s marshmallow puffs. Harriet Bloom has been providing the treats for years and she even shares them with her neighbors. Everyone looks forward to these delightful puffs of marshmallows. But this year the treats appear to be the vehicle used to poison her elderly neighbor, Ralph Penders. So while everyone knows Harriet wouldn’t poison anyone the police have confiscated all the puffs made for the party.
Melanie is worried Harriet may be convicted of a crime she didn’t commit so she agrees to collect the marshmallow puffs from Harriet’s neighbors while trying to find out more about Mr. Penders and who may have wanted him dead. But not everyone is anxious to answer her questions. She may have even put herself on the killer’s radar sealing her own howloween fate.
I do love visiting Melanie, Sam, Davey, Kevin, Aunt Peg, and all their dogs. Faith is truly a special poodle, I love her empathic nature and the way she helps with Melanie’s students. I also love the relationship between Sam and Melanie. They truly are a perfect match and their love just shines in every interaction. Aunt Peg played a smaller role in this story but she does play a huge role for a special family. Almost all the characters Ms. Berenson creates are genuine and true to life. Even the dogs each have their own personalities, strengths, and weaknesses. Of course, she has to create a few people as suspects with questionable traits but she gives them layers to work through to reach their motives. I will say my heart was touched by the elderly victim and his circumstances.
I really enjoyed the Halloween theme as a background to the mystery. While Kevin tries to decide on a Halloween costume and she continues to work with her students Melanie divides her time up to include questioning likely suspects. The author blends it all together with a balanced hand. She drops the clues and inserts twists like the pro she is. I found myself leaning toward a certain character but it sure was fun to follow Melanie along step by step as she honed in on the killer and proved me right.
You really can’t go wrong with any book in this series. All are well-plotted and written. The characters are easy to become invested in too. The author does write each book to be read on its own so you can jump in anywhere. Howloween Murder was a fun and entertaining read perfect for this time of year. It was a howling good time.
Howard Academy is getting ready for their annual Halloween costume party complete with the headmaster’s secretary’s marshmallow puffs. Harriet Bloom has been providing the treats for years and she even shares them with her neighbors. Everyone looks forward to these delightful puffs of marshmallows. But this year the treats appear to be the vehicle used to poison her elderly neighbor, Ralph Penders. So while everyone knows Harriet wouldn’t poison anyone the police have confiscated all the puffs made for the party.
Melanie is worried Harriet may be convicted of a crime she didn’t commit so she agrees to collect the marshmallow puffs from Harriet’s neighbors while trying to find out more about Mr. Penders and who may have wanted him dead. But not everyone is anxious to answer her questions. She may have even put herself on the killer’s radar sealing her own howloween fate.
I do love visiting Melanie, Sam, Davey, Kevin, Aunt Peg, and all their dogs. Faith is truly a special poodle, I love her empathic nature and the way she helps with Melanie’s students. I also love the relationship between Sam and Melanie. They truly are a perfect match and their love just shines in every interaction. Aunt Peg played a smaller role in this story but she does play a huge role for a special family. Almost all the characters Ms. Berenson creates are genuine and true to life. Even the dogs each have their own personalities, strengths, and weaknesses. Of course, she has to create a few people as suspects with questionable traits but she gives them layers to work through to reach their motives. I will say my heart was touched by the elderly victim and his circumstances.
I really enjoyed the Halloween theme as a background to the mystery. While Kevin tries to decide on a Halloween costume and she continues to work with her students Melanie divides her time up to include questioning likely suspects. The author blends it all together with a balanced hand. She drops the clues and inserts twists like the pro she is. I found myself leaning toward a certain character but it sure was fun to follow Melanie along step by step as she honed in on the killer and proved me right.
You really can’t go wrong with any book in this series. All are well-plotted and written. The characters are easy to become invested in too. The author does write each book to be read on its own so you can jump in anywhere. Howloween Murder was a fun and entertaining read perfect for this time of year. It was a howling good time.
Read
September 27, 2025Welcome to an official Charlotte’s BookNook book review! Make sure to go follow my YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@charlottes_bookn...) if you haven’t already. I post video reviews and all sorts of clean bookish content! Now let’s get this review started.
4.5⭐️
This book was an immaculate fall read. All the vibes were there as well as scenic descriptions of the fall season and a cozy Halloween murder mystery. If you’re a fan of dogs, especially standard poodles, this one’s for you. Although it was part of a series I never read, it was easy enough to read as a stand alone and I could tell the author was explaining past events in a way that made sense to a new reader. Overall I think this is the perfect cozy mystery with all the fall vibes. It’s short, clean, and atmospheric. Go check it out!
Language:
Oh my god, dammit, oh lord, bitch used for dogs, “ I would rather stick pins under my fingernails than…”, damn, pissed, what the hell, bejesus, all used once or twice, it was not excessive and usually fit the story without being harsh or mean
LGBTQ+:
None
Romance:
Our main character is married with two children. Mentions of seeing someone kiss on tv, mentions of a couple kissing, a husband says he likes whatever his wife has on under her dress and looks at her chest. A woman says she is wearing a push up bra for a costume
Violence:
Mentions of death by poison
Religious Views:
None. A woman offers whiskey to another who declines. This is a books that takes place around Halloween so there are lots of mentions of decor and costumes, a few being witches or demons but nothing scary or demonic.
Authority Roles:
This book follows adults who have children, and although they work a lot, the parenting seemed great in the scenes we got. The adults seemed pretty wholesome overall.
4.5⭐️
This book was an immaculate fall read. All the vibes were there as well as scenic descriptions of the fall season and a cozy Halloween murder mystery. If you’re a fan of dogs, especially standard poodles, this one’s for you. Although it was part of a series I never read, it was easy enough to read as a stand alone and I could tell the author was explaining past events in a way that made sense to a new reader. Overall I think this is the perfect cozy mystery with all the fall vibes. It’s short, clean, and atmospheric. Go check it out!
Language:
Oh my god, dammit, oh lord, bitch used for dogs, “ I would rather stick pins under my fingernails than…”, damn, pissed, what the hell, bejesus, all used once or twice, it was not excessive and usually fit the story without being harsh or mean
LGBTQ+:
None
Romance:
Our main character is married with two children. Mentions of seeing someone kiss on tv, mentions of a couple kissing, a husband says he likes whatever his wife has on under her dress and looks at her chest. A woman says she is wearing a push up bra for a costume
Violence:
Mentions of death by poison
Religious Views:
None. A woman offers whiskey to another who declines. This is a books that takes place around Halloween so there are lots of mentions of decor and costumes, a few being witches or demons but nothing scary or demonic.
Authority Roles:
This book follows adults who have children, and although they work a lot, the parenting seemed great in the scenes we got. The adults seemed pretty wholesome overall.
September 26, 2022
An old read (2020) that I enjoyed but didn't think quite lived up to the rest of the Melanie Travis series. I didn't do a proper review at the time, so that's about all I have to offer as I don't recall why. I do always like her books, so don't imagine I was at all put of by anything, just expecting more. I need to read this one again, me thinks, hence putting this here as a reminder. Love Aunt Peg, always a force onto herself, and the poodles and I'm not really a poodle kind of person. ;)
November 8, 2021
Oooooh lordy, lordy, lordy....were do I begin! First, I am flummoxed that this book got so many rave reviews from hundreds of readers! Second, I'm amazed this is an installment in a long-running series by an established mystery author because it reads like a first book by a newbie indie author who never took a workshop on character development and overall story structure. This book is everything that's wrong with the worst of the worst in this genre. In fact, this might actually be the WORST cozy I've ever read. Thankfully it was short, and I did't spend money on it!
For starters, the story was BORING! I've had more fun watching the paint dry on my nails. I never got to know the murder victim; he's just some old dude with dementia who annoys everyone with his illness (thanks for enforcing the stigma, Miss Berenson). We don't even really know anything about the personality-free Melanie Travis because I guess the other books covered that? All we know is that she's some tutor lady at a posh private school who drives around town with her standard poodle (proudly acquired by a breeder) questioning suspects in a tedious mechanical manner.
Question...does the police force exist in this cutesy little town? I mean...the mystery was SO easy to solve because the most likely suspect was in fact the killer, so how was this hard? Why did they rely on a private school tutor to solve the case? Don't even get me started with her laughable showdown with the killer. It looked to me like the author just realized, "Oh yeah, I need a climax ending with some suspense." Just a quick face punch should do it!
Let's talk about the "detecting" aspect of this story. This author's idea of chasing clues does not actually involve any action, adventure or puzzle solving. Nope, it's just a LOT of tedious conversations with suspects on the list. And then we run into a major ethical problem with her strategy. As a favor to her friend, she decides to not call all the recipients of the possibly toxic marshmallow puffs and save them ahead of time from being poisoned to death. Nope, she doesn't want the word to get around that her friend's baking could be questionable, so she decides to slowly knock on each of their doors and tell them in person that they may die from eating the puffs. What an endearing leading lady.
I don't know, y'all. If you like mysteries that involve a plain-as-vanilla "sleuth" knocking on doors and having conversations in nondescript rooms with multiple suspects, then this book is for you. I had no sense of place throughout the entire book. It was like reading a screenplay with all dialogue and no setting descriptions.
As a dog lover, I would like to say that the poodle Faith improved the book at least a little, but then I discovered she was acquired from a breeder while Melanie was hard-selling her aunt's breeding services to a bereaved little boy in need of a replacement poodle. I know that many, many people just love breeders and argue that they are necessary for keeping bloodlines going for these must-have pure-bred dogs. As a longtime shelter dog volunteer and advocate, I can't buy into that. So many dogs are waiting in kill shelters--dogs that have served their purpose as "quarantine pets" and are now abandoned at miserable shelters. Meanwhile breeders are pumping out more dogs for people who just have to have a specialty breed. You'd think at least those dogs would have a fighting chance, but I've seen many breeder dogs get dumped at the shelter because the novelty has worn off or they're just too much work. To be honest with you, I'm disgusted by the business of breeders and the elitist adopters who support them.
That said, this book is a hunk of garbage, and I'm going to take a hard pass at any other titles produced by this author.
For starters, the story was BORING! I've had more fun watching the paint dry on my nails. I never got to know the murder victim; he's just some old dude with dementia who annoys everyone with his illness (thanks for enforcing the stigma, Miss Berenson). We don't even really know anything about the personality-free Melanie Travis because I guess the other books covered that? All we know is that she's some tutor lady at a posh private school who drives around town with her standard poodle (proudly acquired by a breeder) questioning suspects in a tedious mechanical manner.
Question...does the police force exist in this cutesy little town? I mean...the mystery was SO easy to solve because the most likely suspect was in fact the killer, so how was this hard? Why did they rely on a private school tutor to solve the case? Don't even get me started with her laughable showdown with the killer. It looked to me like the author just realized, "Oh yeah, I need a climax ending with some suspense." Just a quick face punch should do it!
Let's talk about the "detecting" aspect of this story. This author's idea of chasing clues does not actually involve any action, adventure or puzzle solving. Nope, it's just a LOT of tedious conversations with suspects on the list. And then we run into a major ethical problem with her strategy. As a favor to her friend, she decides to not call all the recipients of the possibly toxic marshmallow puffs and save them ahead of time from being poisoned to death. Nope, she doesn't want the word to get around that her friend's baking could be questionable, so she decides to slowly knock on each of their doors and tell them in person that they may die from eating the puffs. What an endearing leading lady.
I don't know, y'all. If you like mysteries that involve a plain-as-vanilla "sleuth" knocking on doors and having conversations in nondescript rooms with multiple suspects, then this book is for you. I had no sense of place throughout the entire book. It was like reading a screenplay with all dialogue and no setting descriptions.
As a dog lover, I would like to say that the poodle Faith improved the book at least a little, but then I discovered she was acquired from a breeder while Melanie was hard-selling her aunt's breeding services to a bereaved little boy in need of a replacement poodle. I know that many, many people just love breeders and argue that they are necessary for keeping bloodlines going for these must-have pure-bred dogs. As a longtime shelter dog volunteer and advocate, I can't buy into that. So many dogs are waiting in kill shelters--dogs that have served their purpose as "quarantine pets" and are now abandoned at miserable shelters. Meanwhile breeders are pumping out more dogs for people who just have to have a specialty breed. You'd think at least those dogs would have a fighting chance, but I've seen many breeder dogs get dumped at the shelter because the novelty has worn off or they're just too much work. To be honest with you, I'm disgusted by the business of breeders and the elitist adopters who support them.
That said, this book is a hunk of garbage, and I'm going to take a hard pass at any other titles produced by this author.
September 4, 2020
Howloween Murder is the twenty-sixth book in Laurien Berenson’s Melanie Travis Mystery series. Each book in this series can be read as a standalone because the author provides sufficient background information, which makes the character’s relationships easy to understand. The storyline is well plotted and flows at a steady pace. Other than some mild adult language, this is a clean, fun, and quick read.
Melanie Travis and her husband, Sam, live in Stamford, Connecticut with their two sons, Davey Kevin, five Standard Poodles, and a mutt they found on the side of the road. Melanie is a special needs tutor at Howard Academy, Sam is a software developer who works from home, and dog shows are a way of life for Melanie and her family. Aunt Peg, who is a seasoned dog shower, is now a well-respected judge at the shows. Harriet Bloom, the headmaster’s secretary, becomes Detective Raymond Young’s prime suspect in the poisoning death of her elderly neighbor, Ralph Penders, when it’s determined that he’d been eating her popular marshmallow puffs which had been laced with cyanide. Both Harriet and Aunt Peg ask Melanie to look into Ralph’s death and clear Harriet’s name. As Melanie asks questions, she discovers that while most people liked the victim, some of the actions, which were related to his dementia, troubled a few of his neighborhoods.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
Melanie Travis and her husband, Sam, live in Stamford, Connecticut with their two sons, Davey Kevin, five Standard Poodles, and a mutt they found on the side of the road. Melanie is a special needs tutor at Howard Academy, Sam is a software developer who works from home, and dog shows are a way of life for Melanie and her family. Aunt Peg, who is a seasoned dog shower, is now a well-respected judge at the shows. Harriet Bloom, the headmaster’s secretary, becomes Detective Raymond Young’s prime suspect in the poisoning death of her elderly neighbor, Ralph Penders, when it’s determined that he’d been eating her popular marshmallow puffs which had been laced with cyanide. Both Harriet and Aunt Peg ask Melanie to look into Ralph’s death and clear Harriet’s name. As Melanie asks questions, she discovers that while most people liked the victim, some of the actions, which were related to his dementia, troubled a few of his neighborhoods.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
August 13, 2020
Howloween Murder
Melanie Travis,book #26
Laurien Berenson
5 Stars
Synopsis:
As the town of Greenwich, Connecticut, counts down to a spooky celebration on October 31st, a horrifying murder leaves Melanie Travis pawing for clues in a hair-raising game of trick-or-treat . . .
With just a few days left before Halloween, everyone at Howard Academy is anticipating the guaranteed sugar high they’ll experience from gorging on Harriet Bloom’s famous marshmallow puffs. The private school’s annual costume party revolves around the headmaster’s assistant and her seemingly supernatural batches of gooey goodies. So, it's a shock when Harriet’s elderly neighbor is suddenly found dead with the beloved dessert in his hand. In a snap, police start questioning whether Harriet modified her top-secret recipe to include a hefty dose of lethal poison . . .
Melanie knows her tenured colleague would never intentionally serve cyanide-laced puffs to a defenseless old man. But as explosive neighborhood gossip reveals a potential culprit, it also brings her closer to sealing her own doom. Because on an evening ruled by masked revelers, bizarre getups, and hidden identities, Halloween might just be the perfect opportunity for a cold-hearted killer to get away with murder once again—this time sending a nosy, unsuspecting sleuth to an early grave! (Goodreads)
Review:
Books written by this author are always good, and this one was no exception. I would not have cared if there was no mystery to solve, I was enjoying spending time with the Travis family.
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Melanie and her family are getting ready for Halloween and all of the fun that goes with it. But until she can completely enjoy the season, she has to find a murderer before a coworker is sent away for life.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning and took me on a great adventure. The mystery was well plotted and even though I had the killer on my radar, I was not sure I was right.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I cannot wait for the next time I get to spend time with Melania and her family.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Melanie Travis,book #26
Laurien Berenson
5 Stars
Synopsis:
As the town of Greenwich, Connecticut, counts down to a spooky celebration on October 31st, a horrifying murder leaves Melanie Travis pawing for clues in a hair-raising game of trick-or-treat . . .
With just a few days left before Halloween, everyone at Howard Academy is anticipating the guaranteed sugar high they’ll experience from gorging on Harriet Bloom’s famous marshmallow puffs. The private school’s annual costume party revolves around the headmaster’s assistant and her seemingly supernatural batches of gooey goodies. So, it's a shock when Harriet’s elderly neighbor is suddenly found dead with the beloved dessert in his hand. In a snap, police start questioning whether Harriet modified her top-secret recipe to include a hefty dose of lethal poison . . .
Melanie knows her tenured colleague would never intentionally serve cyanide-laced puffs to a defenseless old man. But as explosive neighborhood gossip reveals a potential culprit, it also brings her closer to sealing her own doom. Because on an evening ruled by masked revelers, bizarre getups, and hidden identities, Halloween might just be the perfect opportunity for a cold-hearted killer to get away with murder once again—this time sending a nosy, unsuspecting sleuth to an early grave! (Goodreads)
Review:
Books written by this author are always good, and this one was no exception. I would not have cared if there was no mystery to solve, I was enjoying spending time with the Travis family.
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Melanie and her family are getting ready for Halloween and all of the fun that goes with it. But until she can completely enjoy the season, she has to find a murderer before a coworker is sent away for life.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning and took me on a great adventure. The mystery was well plotted and even though I had the killer on my radar, I was not sure I was right.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I cannot wait for the next time I get to spend time with Melania and her family.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
August 24, 2020
Howloween Murder by Laurien Berenson is A Melanie Travis Mystery novella. This was a fun tale to read. Melanie Travis and Halloween equals a delightful murder mystery. Melanie Travis is looking forward to Howard Academy’s annual Halloween party where everyone devours Harriet Bloom’s marshmallow puffs. Unfortunately, there will be no sugary treats this year after one of Harriet’s neighbors dies after eating one of the fluffy delights. It seems that someone added a little cyanide to that batch which puts Harriet at the top of the police departments suspect list. Melanie gets an appeal for help from Aunt Peg and Harriet. Melanie ends up visiting each of Harriet’s neighbors to ask questions while retrieving the pans of marshmallow puffs. Howloween Murder can be read on its own for those new to the series (I highly recommend reading all the books). I thought Howloween Murder was well-written with developed characters and a heaping helping of humor. Melanie’s youngest son, Kevin is quite a charmer and enough energy for five kids. He has yet to settle on a Halloween costume which means there will be rushing around at the last minute unless decisive action is taken. Melanie meets Harriet’s neighbors and gets a variety of responses. I enjoyed following the mystery. I had my list of suspects and collected the clues which allowed me to make a guess at the guilty party’s identity. I then waited to see if I was right or way off base. I had a howling good time reading Howloween Murder. There is a recipe for Harriet Bloom’s marshmallow puffs (minus the cyanide). Howloween Murder is a ghostly good time with a costume conundrum, poisoned puffs, nosey neighbors, a poodle problem, and Halloween hijinks.
September 6, 2020
Melanie Travis and Faith have a deadly case to solve, before a long-time Howard Academy administrative assistant, Harriet Bloom, is charged with murder by marshmallow puff!
I loved this book! It was a perfect mystery to get into the Fall/Halloween mood! a favorite part is when Melanie questions all the neighbors who received the puffs from Harriet and what an entertaining group of suspects....they were such fun! Faith was featured more in the book and I loved it. I also enjoyed the descriptions of family life with Sam, the kids and Aunt Peg. Aunt Peg has a heartwarming moment that I loved and you will.too!
A Halloween mystery you'll love! I received an ARC from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I loved this book! It was a perfect mystery to get into the Fall/Halloween mood! a favorite part is when Melanie questions all the neighbors who received the puffs from Harriet and what an entertaining group of suspects....they were such fun! Faith was featured more in the book and I loved it. I also enjoyed the descriptions of family life with Sam, the kids and Aunt Peg. Aunt Peg has a heartwarming moment that I loved and you will.too!
A Halloween mystery you'll love! I received an ARC from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
October 10, 2021
I haven't read much of this series and normally I don't like to read out of order, but I thought the author did a good job of telling us about Melanie and her family that doesn't make me feel like I am missing things from previous books.
I figured out the killer and had a good idea going to motive, but I wasn't 100% sure if I was right or not until the end.
I loved the scene with the young boy that was very quiet but took to Faith, the standard poodle. There is something to be said about dogs and their calming behavior.
I figured out the killer and had a good idea going to motive, but I wasn't 100% sure if I was right or not until the end.
I loved the scene with the young boy that was very quiet but took to Faith, the standard poodle. There is something to be said about dogs and their calming behavior.
September 1, 2020
Interesting and fun cozy mystery book (and series) featuring intrepid amateur sleuth, Melanie Travis. The characters were engaging and the mystery was intriguing and had me guessing whodunit. Plus...poodles!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.
June 9, 2020
I loved this short story by one of my favorite authors, Laurien Berenson.
Melanie has her hands full with her poodles, her children, her husband, job, and Aunt Peg. Murder never takes a break, not even on Halloween, so it’s no surprise that Melanie finds herself involved in another investigation.
Melanie has her hands full with her poodles, her children, her husband, job, and Aunt Peg. Murder never takes a break, not even on Halloween, so it’s no surprise that Melanie finds herself involved in another investigation.
May 19, 2020
Su ch a happy story about anyone's home town.! Loved that we got recipe for murder at the end! An enjoyable story GOOD reading
August 26, 2020
4.5 stars
This is the twenty-sixth book in the Melanie Travis mystery series by Laurien Berenson.
This was a pretty interesting mystery. I was fascinated by the relationship between Melanie and co-worker, Harriet. They had worked together for awhile but she had never learned the woman’s last name. The whole mystery surrounded a poisoning of a man who died by eating a marshmallow puff made by Harriet which was a Halloween staple in their town. Tracking down all the puffs Harriet had gifted was probably the best part of this. We got insight into so many characters due to this tactic.
The story was pretty complex when it all came down to it. I was surprised by how it all connected together.
Great series that I plan on reading more of. Highly recommended.
If you like cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
This is the twenty-sixth book in the Melanie Travis mystery series by Laurien Berenson.
This was a pretty interesting mystery. I was fascinated by the relationship between Melanie and co-worker, Harriet. They had worked together for awhile but she had never learned the woman’s last name. The whole mystery surrounded a poisoning of a man who died by eating a marshmallow puff made by Harriet which was a Halloween staple in their town. Tracking down all the puffs Harriet had gifted was probably the best part of this. We got insight into so many characters due to this tactic.
The story was pretty complex when it all came down to it. I was surprised by how it all connected together.
Great series that I plan on reading more of. Highly recommended.
If you like cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
September 10, 2020
Howloween Murder by Laurien Berenson is the 26th book in the Melanie Travis mystery series, and another great addition. Reading this book made me feel like I was visiting good friends, and catching up on their latest adventure. This book focus around the school where Melanie teaches, and the Dean's admin Harriet Bloom. It's Halloween time again, and everyone is anxiously waiting for Harriet's home made marshmallow puffs. When her neighbor is found dead, after eating one, Melanie is on the case. I love this series, and this book! I love the well developed characters and plot of this story. This book kept my interest, and was fast paced and all round fun . I strongly recommend this book and this whole series, for people who love cozy mystery book and dogs.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
October 18, 2022
What an entertaining mystery. It is the first I've read from this author but will not be the last.
December 18, 2020
Melanie Travis is a teacher at Howard Academy, an upscale school that was once the Joshua Howard mansion and is now home to the Connecticut private school. Since she is the special needs teacher, she also brings her ex-champion show dog and standard poodle, Faith, along with her.
After an unexpected trip to the attic, Melanie is heading back to her office when she spots the director's assistant, Harriet, sitting at her desk, clenched fingers and staring straight ahead. Harriet tells her that her neighbor Ralph Penders is dead, and the police think she killed him. It seems Harriet makes marshmallow puffs every Halloween not only for the academy's annual Halloween party, but for neighbors as well, and when Ralph was found, he had one very tainted puff in his hand. Now she's afraid she'll be arrested for a murder she didn't commit.
So she asks for Melanie's help in finding out who killed the old man, and while Melanie doesn't want to get involved, she knows she'll need to do so. After informing the director -- who will be sorely upset by the news -- Melanie sets about retrieving the puffs that Harriet gave to neighbors and trying to find a killer. But it's not going to be easy, since none of the suspects know who she is, and the ones that do talk to her aren't giving her much. It's when Melanie gets a little too close that the killer becomes nervous -- and decides the best thing to do is get her out of the way -- permanently...
While I must admit that I haven't read all of the Melanie Travis books, I've lately been doing so, and liked them. This is a mystery set at Halloween, and while there isn't a lot of detail regarding the holiday, there's enough sprinkled throughout to remind you.
Melanie vows to help Harriet any way she can, and if that means dealing with people she doesn't know, then so be it. The people she questions are a motley bunch, and while I'm not sure I'd want to spend time with any of them, it's definitely an interesting group. The most interesting of all is Harriet's sister Bernadette, who's merely two years younger than Harriet but doesn't want to get old. So she's found herself a much-younger boyfriend, and unfortunately, Melanie isn't sure what to make of it, especially since they act like teenagers around each other. But Melanie is discovering more about Harriet that she never knew, and it surprises her; realizing that she should have made better friends with Harriet years ago.
Woven in between this is, of course, subplots; one of which is the fact that her younger son Kevin still hasn't made up his mind on what he wants to be for Halloween; and there's also a young boy named Luke who is one of her students and has taken a real shine to Faith. Both of these subplots are central to the story in one way or another, giving us a relief from finding a killer.
While I knew the murderer the moment the person stepped onto the page (I read a lot of mysteries); it still was quite a bit of fun reading the story and seeing if I was right (I was). Finding the motive seemed rather sad and cold, and gave me no sympathy toward the killer at all. In the end, this is a quick read that can be read in one evening, and definitely worth the time. Recommended.
I received an advance copy from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
After an unexpected trip to the attic, Melanie is heading back to her office when she spots the director's assistant, Harriet, sitting at her desk, clenched fingers and staring straight ahead. Harriet tells her that her neighbor Ralph Penders is dead, and the police think she killed him. It seems Harriet makes marshmallow puffs every Halloween not only for the academy's annual Halloween party, but for neighbors as well, and when Ralph was found, he had one very tainted puff in his hand. Now she's afraid she'll be arrested for a murder she didn't commit.
So she asks for Melanie's help in finding out who killed the old man, and while Melanie doesn't want to get involved, she knows she'll need to do so. After informing the director -- who will be sorely upset by the news -- Melanie sets about retrieving the puffs that Harriet gave to neighbors and trying to find a killer. But it's not going to be easy, since none of the suspects know who she is, and the ones that do talk to her aren't giving her much. It's when Melanie gets a little too close that the killer becomes nervous -- and decides the best thing to do is get her out of the way -- permanently...
While I must admit that I haven't read all of the Melanie Travis books, I've lately been doing so, and liked them. This is a mystery set at Halloween, and while there isn't a lot of detail regarding the holiday, there's enough sprinkled throughout to remind you.
Melanie vows to help Harriet any way she can, and if that means dealing with people she doesn't know, then so be it. The people she questions are a motley bunch, and while I'm not sure I'd want to spend time with any of them, it's definitely an interesting group. The most interesting of all is Harriet's sister Bernadette, who's merely two years younger than Harriet but doesn't want to get old. So she's found herself a much-younger boyfriend, and unfortunately, Melanie isn't sure what to make of it, especially since they act like teenagers around each other. But Melanie is discovering more about Harriet that she never knew, and it surprises her; realizing that she should have made better friends with Harriet years ago.
Woven in between this is, of course, subplots; one of which is the fact that her younger son Kevin still hasn't made up his mind on what he wants to be for Halloween; and there's also a young boy named Luke who is one of her students and has taken a real shine to Faith. Both of these subplots are central to the story in one way or another, giving us a relief from finding a killer.
While I knew the murderer the moment the person stepped onto the page (I read a lot of mysteries); it still was quite a bit of fun reading the story and seeing if I was right (I was). Finding the motive seemed rather sad and cold, and gave me no sympathy toward the killer at all. In the end, this is a quick read that can be read in one evening, and definitely worth the time. Recommended.
I received an advance copy from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
May 29, 2020
I loved this quick read from Laurien Berenson. Set at Halloween time, it was a perfect time for a murder. As always, the twists and turns in the plot kept me on my toes, guessing who done it and of course, reading! The character development and further clues into their motives was great. I had a feeling as to who did it and Laurie was able to put a wrench into whether it was true or not.
I'm glad I found the series again and can't wait for the next book in the series!
I'm glad I found the series again and can't wait for the next book in the series!
November 10, 2020
For those of us who read every book, the repetition at the start is a bit ponderous, though I see the necessity for others. I will say I was crying by the end ;). Overall, a good, but not my favorite , read.
May 30, 2020
Fun, quick read packed with a mystery that must be solved. So many suspects to choose from. To me this is more novella than novel
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for allowing me this arc
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for allowing me this arc
August 20, 2020
Melanie is sure that her colleague Harriett didn't poison the marshmallow puff that killed her neighbor Ralph- but who did and why? Melanie is back! Its Halloween and she's got the usual lot of stuff on her hands, especially since there might be a ghost in the attic of the Howard Academy. Her loyal poodle Faith plays a key role, as always, as does her family (although this is less a poodle novel than most in the series). Cozy readers know that the victim usually has more than one person who doesn't like him. How Melanie finds the villain- no spoilers from me but pay attention to what might seem like small subplots. If you haven't read all the books in the series- or any of them for that matter- know that you will enjoy this just as much as those of us who have. Berenson's a good storyteller and she's got a way with a twisty, but not too twisty, solution. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A favorite cozy read.
October 6, 2021
This has terrific reviews so apparently I'm just not the right audience for the book. I found it way too cozy for me. It was slow-paced, with awkward dialogue, some odd passive-aggressive interactions, and a transparent mystery.
On the positive side, I took it out from the library for a light Halloween read and didn't realize it was part of a series. But the author did a good job of writing it as a stand-alone. And, of course, everything is better with doggos!
On the positive side, I took it out from the library for a light Halloween read and didn't realize it was part of a series. But the author did a good job of writing it as a stand-alone. And, of course, everything is better with doggos!
August 26, 2020
A delight to be once again surrounded by poodles. Melanie has to help her coworker prove her innocence. Many sweet moments are interspersed within the murder mystery. A charming and enjoyable series with this latest addition being equally so. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.
September 28, 2020
This takes place at Halloween. The story involves marshmallow puffs, sisters, a private school, dementia, and murder. The school is the one Melanie teaches at. Faith was in this story quite a bit, which I liked, and I liked that the children weren't in it much. I was disappointed that there wasn't a dog show, but this is shorter than most of the other books.
October 11, 2020
It’s almost Halloween and everyone at the Howard school. The secretary that has been their longer than anyone knows, is famous for her Halloween treats and passes them out to her neighbors. All is fine until one of the neighbors dies after eating one of them. Melanie is asked to help find out who really did it. Some talk about her Aunt Peg and dogs.
August 25, 2020
I have loved everyone of Laurien Berenson's books since I started reading them. Her books are entertaining, humorous cozies that you can snuggle up with along with a good cup of tea (and of course your favorite blanket!). Mel always seems to get "her" man or woman and the antics of Kevin and the poodles make it an exceptional read. Enjoy! 📚
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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