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Melanie Travis #10
Best in Show
Murder's on the ticket when intrepid Poodle breeder Melanie Travis travels to Maryland for a world famous dog show where the competition isn't the only thing that's cutthroat...
There are dog shows, and then there's PCA: the Poodle Club of America National Specialty show. For Poodle purists, it's the pinnacle of the show season, drawing thousands of competitors and spectators from all over the world. And though she has her own Standard Poodle puppy to show, Melanie gets leashed into helping out on the raffle committee by her formidable aunt. Selling tickets and sprucing Eve up for competition won't leave Melanie much time to spend with her almost-fiance, Sam on their first trip together without their usual chaperone, Melanie's seven year old son, Davey.
Once in Maryland, Melanie is put to work selling raffle tickets by the co-chairs of the committee, Betty Jean and Edith Jean Boone. Sixtyish steel magnolias from Georgia, the reclusive sisters make few appearances. But this year they have a silver Toy puppy that has already caused quite a buzz on the show circuit.
Even though the Poodles remain well behaved, it's their owners and handlers who start acting up. And then murder takes center stage. Betty Jean is found dead at the host hotel. But this is PCA--and the show must go on. As Edith Jean staunchly resumes her raffle duites, Melanie instinctively starts searching for clues, and comes up with a compelling cast of suspects: a rival owner whose bite may be just as bad as his bark, a handler with a nasty reputation, and a possibly fraudulent pet psychic.
With all the attention rivted on the ring, someone out in the crowd is about to get away with murder. Melanie is getting ever closer to the killer and soon she's shocked to discover that in the dog-eat-dog world of showing a life can be lost as easily as a blue ribbon. And unlike cats, dogs--and their owners--only have one to risk...
There are dog shows, and then there's PCA: the Poodle Club of America National Specialty show. For Poodle purists, it's the pinnacle of the show season, drawing thousands of competitors and spectators from all over the world. And though she has her own Standard Poodle puppy to show, Melanie gets leashed into helping out on the raffle committee by her formidable aunt. Selling tickets and sprucing Eve up for competition won't leave Melanie much time to spend with her almost-fiance, Sam on their first trip together without their usual chaperone, Melanie's seven year old son, Davey.
Once in Maryland, Melanie is put to work selling raffle tickets by the co-chairs of the committee, Betty Jean and Edith Jean Boone. Sixtyish steel magnolias from Georgia, the reclusive sisters make few appearances. But this year they have a silver Toy puppy that has already caused quite a buzz on the show circuit.
Even though the Poodles remain well behaved, it's their owners and handlers who start acting up. And then murder takes center stage. Betty Jean is found dead at the host hotel. But this is PCA--and the show must go on. As Edith Jean staunchly resumes her raffle duites, Melanie instinctively starts searching for clues, and comes up with a compelling cast of suspects: a rival owner whose bite may be just as bad as his bark, a handler with a nasty reputation, and a possibly fraudulent pet psychic.
With all the attention rivted on the ring, someone out in the crowd is about to get away with murder. Melanie is getting ever closer to the killer and soon she's shocked to discover that in the dog-eat-dog world of showing a life can be lost as easily as a blue ribbon. And unlike cats, dogs--and their owners--only have one to risk...
284 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 2003
132 people are currently reading
513 people want to read
About the author
Laurien Berenson
57 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 57 reviews
May 10, 2020
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I really enjoyed how dog-centred this book was. It was really nice to read more about poodles and to have a deeper look into the dog show world. I especially liked seeing Melanie show her own puppy in this book.
As usual, Aunt Peg has Melanie helping out--otherwise known as she volentold Melanie to help with the raffle for the show. In this book, Melanie was able to do what she is really good at--talking to people and getting information. The setting and characters of the book were really interesting, and I found the other two people helping with the raffle, the Boone sisters, to be quite charming and funny.
I also really enjoyed seeing Melanie and Sam together in this book though I did miss Davie. That said, I am really happy with how their relationship is growing and I think they get cuter every book.
The mystery itself was interesting, though I think that was mainly due to the fact that it involved so much of the show world. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how political the competition can get, so while the mystery itself wasn't super exciting, the gossip and politics around it were.
I really enjoyed how dog-centred this book was. It was really nice to read more about poodles and to have a deeper look into the dog show world. I especially liked seeing Melanie show her own puppy in this book.
As usual, Aunt Peg has Melanie helping out--otherwise known as she volentold Melanie to help with the raffle for the show. In this book, Melanie was able to do what she is really good at--talking to people and getting information. The setting and characters of the book were really interesting, and I found the other two people helping with the raffle, the Boone sisters, to be quite charming and funny.
I also really enjoyed seeing Melanie and Sam together in this book though I did miss Davie. That said, I am really happy with how their relationship is growing and I think they get cuter every book.
The mystery itself was interesting, though I think that was mainly due to the fact that it involved so much of the show world. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how political the competition can get, so while the mystery itself wasn't super exciting, the gossip and politics around it were.
May 21, 2009
My second venture into Poodledom with Melanie Travis. This time, the setting is the national Specialty Show---the Superbowl of poodle competition. Although this is aimed primarily at dog lovers, non-dog people might enjoy the excitement of America's biggest poodle competition and and the antics of rabid (pardon the pun) competitors. A couple of nice plot twists (although I guessed the outcome halfway through the book, and good strong characters make this an enjoyable read.
February 23, 2019
Another terrific book in the Melanie Travis series! I especially enjoyed this because the mystery was clever, but also because many of the scenes took place at The Poodle Club of America National Specialty Dog Show. Berenson's descriptions are wonderful. I can still see all of the poodles and their handlers in the show ring. So entertaining.
July 23, 2023
This story is set at the national Poodle Dog Show where Melanie, the main character, has been volunteered to help with the raffle table. She is also showing her puppy, Eve in one of the classes in the competition. The book was an easy read.
August 16, 2015
I have read one of the newer books in this series and being that I really liked that one, I thought for sure I would love this one. But, that was not the case. I did not connect to any of the characters in this book. The Boone sisters were cute with their constant bickering though. A positive note about the book is that it's very informative on the dog show world.
August 13, 2008
Eh...it was ok. Would be better if you were a big fan of dog shows. Decent story but not hard to guess the next twist.
July 3, 2010
I learned more about poodles than I needed to know, but it was entertaining nonetheless. The subplot with the lookalike sisters was a bit predictable.
October 13, 2014
Poodle show at Show Place Arena.
Very cute.
Melanie helps with raffle.
2 older sisters look alike.
1 is murdered. The other pretends she is the other sister.
Very cute.
Melanie helps with raffle.
2 older sisters look alike.
1 is murdered. The other pretends she is the other sister.
April 6, 2022
I am really a cat person, but I find this series about dogs very enjoyable. It is a well-written light-hearted cozy mystery. It usually contains a murder, sleuthing, humor, romance, and lot of dogs. It flows along with a multi-layered plot with plenty of twists and turns and a surprise ending.
Melanie Travis leaves her seven-year-old son Davey with her ex for a week and travels from Connecticut to Maryland to attend the PCA aka the Poodle Club of America National Specialty Dog Show. It's the high point of the season for poodle purists. Aunt Peg who is on the Board of Directors has volunteered Melanie to work on the raffle committee when she's not showing her Standard Poodle puppy, Eve. She also needs time to spend grooming and prepping Eve for the competition. She finds herself working with two elderly southern sisters from Georgia who are eccentric, look alike (clue), dress alike (clue), were born eleven months apart, and continually argue with each other. Their names are Betty Jean and Edith Jean Boone. They also are showing a silver Toy Poodle puppy named Bubba that is electrifying the crowds.
Melanie's friend Bertie surprises her by showing up at her hotel door. She's also Melanie's Sister-in-law married to her brother Frank, pregnant, a dog handler, and on a vacation to learn about poodles. She helps out with some investigating of her own. Aunt Peg has scheduled a genetics expert for a symposium who cancelled out at the last minute. She quickly finds a replacement with Rosalind Romanescue, an animal communicator who talks with dogs telepathically and lets their owners know what they are thinking. One of the handlers has a proposition for her that she refuses to consider. Melanie and Aunt Peg are walking their dogs in the exercise area at the host hotel when they hear a piercing scream. Betty Jean is found dead. It looks like she fell and hit her head on a planter. Later, the police determine she had been murdered. Melanie is determined not to get involved in investigating on her own, but she can't help herself when she sifts thru clues and information she gathers as she talks to people about the incident.
There are lots of suspects who materialize: a handler who seems to have a grudge against the sisters, Damien Bradley who has been banned from all hotels where handlers and owners stay during competitions, Christian Gold who owns Golds' Poodles and has an agenda of his own, his wife Nina who was seen coming out of a their handler's (Dale Atherton) room - was it Betty Jean who might have seen her?, Harry Gandolf who offers money to Edith Jean to have her Bubba pulled from the competition - why?, Edith Jean who shows suspicious behavior by never going back home after her sister dies but stays to see Bubba in competition and steadfastly continues to finish the raffle sales, and etc. Then near the climax, Melanie and a handler are deliberately almost run down by a van. And Edith Jean has plans for the raffle drawing to honor her sister (is that the real reason?), but the Board of Directors will not let her do it - the show is all about the dogs not people.
A subplot involves Sam Driver who shows up midweek with his dog Tar to join the festivities and frantic atmosphere. Melanie can only hope for some quality time with him as the romance heats up once again. The reader learns about dog breeders, handlers, judges, dog maintenance, owners, exhibitors, dog prepping, and show officials, but it is all weaved seamlessly into the plot so as not to be overwhelming to a novice. It was informative but not too technical. A series well worth reading but needs to be read in order for character development. Recommended.
Melanie Travis leaves her seven-year-old son Davey with her ex for a week and travels from Connecticut to Maryland to attend the PCA aka the Poodle Club of America National Specialty Dog Show. It's the high point of the season for poodle purists. Aunt Peg who is on the Board of Directors has volunteered Melanie to work on the raffle committee when she's not showing her Standard Poodle puppy, Eve. She also needs time to spend grooming and prepping Eve for the competition. She finds herself working with two elderly southern sisters from Georgia who are eccentric, look alike (clue), dress alike (clue), were born eleven months apart, and continually argue with each other. Their names are Betty Jean and Edith Jean Boone. They also are showing a silver Toy Poodle puppy named Bubba that is electrifying the crowds.
Melanie's friend Bertie surprises her by showing up at her hotel door. She's also Melanie's Sister-in-law married to her brother Frank, pregnant, a dog handler, and on a vacation to learn about poodles. She helps out with some investigating of her own. Aunt Peg has scheduled a genetics expert for a symposium who cancelled out at the last minute. She quickly finds a replacement with Rosalind Romanescue, an animal communicator who talks with dogs telepathically and lets their owners know what they are thinking. One of the handlers has a proposition for her that she refuses to consider. Melanie and Aunt Peg are walking their dogs in the exercise area at the host hotel when they hear a piercing scream. Betty Jean is found dead. It looks like she fell and hit her head on a planter. Later, the police determine she had been murdered. Melanie is determined not to get involved in investigating on her own, but she can't help herself when she sifts thru clues and information she gathers as she talks to people about the incident.
There are lots of suspects who materialize: a handler who seems to have a grudge against the sisters, Damien Bradley who has been banned from all hotels where handlers and owners stay during competitions, Christian Gold who owns Golds' Poodles and has an agenda of his own, his wife Nina who was seen coming out of a their handler's (Dale Atherton) room - was it Betty Jean who might have seen her?, Harry Gandolf who offers money to Edith Jean to have her Bubba pulled from the competition - why?, Edith Jean who shows suspicious behavior by never going back home after her sister dies but stays to see Bubba in competition and steadfastly continues to finish the raffle sales, and etc. Then near the climax, Melanie and a handler are deliberately almost run down by a van. And Edith Jean has plans for the raffle drawing to honor her sister (is that the real reason?), but the Board of Directors will not let her do it - the show is all about the dogs not people.
A subplot involves Sam Driver who shows up midweek with his dog Tar to join the festivities and frantic atmosphere. Melanie can only hope for some quality time with him as the romance heats up once again. The reader learns about dog breeders, handlers, judges, dog maintenance, owners, exhibitors, dog prepping, and show officials, but it is all weaved seamlessly into the plot so as not to be overwhelming to a novice. It was informative but not too technical. A series well worth reading but needs to be read in order for character development. Recommended.
Read
September 26, 2024Even at a specialty dog show, intrigue mystery and murder can occur
Melanie went to the dog show thinking that she would be a vacation, time to spend with Sam, who she finally decided to wear the engagement ring but around her neck on a chain, rather than on her left hand, but Sam said it was small steps and he would accept it.
Aunt peg had volunteered Melanie to work out with the raffle table and selling raffle tickets for the specialty show. Two spinster old ladies who were dog breeders for toy poodles, we're in charge of the booth but needed someone to go around and sell the tickets. That's where Melanie came in. And the first two days she sold quite a few.
Except she didn't know that she was landing in the middle of a mystery and so many different players, and they all had different parts and puzzle pieces to the one big one. Who killed one of the sisters? And what was all the intrigue circling around that one aspect.
You will have to read the book to find out, Melanie solves the case at the very end, and ties up all the pieces. It'll shock you! It did me I thought I had it figured out, but I was so wrong! Read the book come to your own conclusions make your own notes and see if you can guess who all the players are and above all who killed Edith
Melanie went to the dog show thinking that she would be a vacation, time to spend with Sam, who she finally decided to wear the engagement ring but around her neck on a chain, rather than on her left hand, but Sam said it was small steps and he would accept it.
Aunt peg had volunteered Melanie to work out with the raffle table and selling raffle tickets for the specialty show. Two spinster old ladies who were dog breeders for toy poodles, we're in charge of the booth but needed someone to go around and sell the tickets. That's where Melanie came in. And the first two days she sold quite a few.
Except she didn't know that she was landing in the middle of a mystery and so many different players, and they all had different parts and puzzle pieces to the one big one. Who killed one of the sisters? And what was all the intrigue circling around that one aspect.
You will have to read the book to find out, Melanie solves the case at the very end, and ties up all the pieces. It'll shock you! It did me I thought I had it figured out, but I was so wrong! Read the book come to your own conclusions make your own notes and see if you can guess who all the players are and above all who killed Edith
January 25, 2020
After the last horrible entry I swore off reading anymore of this series.
But I have the next several books in hardcover already purchased. And with a blizzard weekend upon me I decided to plow thru as many as I could before donating since they were handy.
Better than Hot Dog by leaps and bounds.
But really these are quite silly ,preposterous easily deduced stories.
Cozies, while typically far-fetched and simplistic can be very entertaining...but to be worthwhile I have to care about or at a minimum LIKE the characters I'm being asked to repeatedly engage with book after book after book.
Therein lies the problem. I find Melanie tolerable, her family forgettable, Sam undesirable, Aunt Peg overbearing, and the poodles and talk of the poodles and lessons on poodle characteristics/virtues/maintenance/ breeding/showing/ownership unbearable.
Because it improved i will plod thru the remaining copies i already own, but from here on out i won't waste any more time writing detailed reviews and will just rate each book. Clearly, I have tired of this series and spending time writing multiple reviews stating that fact over and over again wastes everyone's time. Once finished with the copies I own I will donate to my library's book nook, delete all the remaining books off my library wishlist, remove her from authors following status and move on to a new author with no regrets.
All things in life have an expiration date and my interest in Melanie and her poodles has reached that date.
But I have the next several books in hardcover already purchased. And with a blizzard weekend upon me I decided to plow thru as many as I could before donating since they were handy.
Better than Hot Dog by leaps and bounds.
But really these are quite silly ,preposterous easily deduced stories.
Cozies, while typically far-fetched and simplistic can be very entertaining...but to be worthwhile I have to care about or at a minimum LIKE the characters I'm being asked to repeatedly engage with book after book after book.
Therein lies the problem. I find Melanie tolerable, her family forgettable, Sam undesirable, Aunt Peg overbearing, and the poodles and talk of the poodles and lessons on poodle characteristics/virtues/maintenance/ breeding/showing/ownership unbearable.
Because it improved i will plod thru the remaining copies i already own, but from here on out i won't waste any more time writing detailed reviews and will just rate each book. Clearly, I have tired of this series and spending time writing multiple reviews stating that fact over and over again wastes everyone's time. Once finished with the copies I own I will donate to my library's book nook, delete all the remaining books off my library wishlist, remove her from authors following status and move on to a new author with no regrets.
All things in life have an expiration date and my interest in Melanie and her poodles has reached that date.
February 11, 2017
I enjoyed this book more than the previous in this series. Melanie finds herself in the middle of the most prestigious poodle show in the world and then there is a death of one of the sisters who are the owners of Bubba. I really enjoy the fact that Melanie is on the outside looking in to figure this out. There is Sam her once fiance who wants to come back into her life after taking off without a word. Her aunt who is the poodle expert and has recently become a judge is a great source of information and moral compass. The sister-in-law is a great sidekick and pregnant. She is also a dog person, handler but not poodles. However, she wonders if she should be.
November 22, 2019
Not the best book I've read, but certainly entertaining. A young woman, Melanie, is roped into helping out her aunt Peg, (the ruthlessly efficient leader)at the PCA, Poodle Club of America, annual show. Very early on, a woman, Betty Jean, is found dead; the very woman that Melanie is assigned to help. Clues slowly start to emerge, who was doing what to whom,who was blackmailing whom, who was sleeping with whom...just checking to see if you were paying attention. There are so many things going on in this story...murder, cheating, blackmail, attempted murder, bribery, etc. If you're looking for a quick read, this is it.
February 9, 2018
Road trip for this book, off to Maryland the group for a HUGE poodle show. Once again Aunt Peg ropes Melanie into a job she isnt sure she wants. She ends up being an assistant to two senior citizen sister who run the raffle at the show. Early on, one sister is found unresponsive on the patio and dies. Is it accident or murder? For most of the book, it is really the concern of most at the show. Melanie at the end figures it out, this book was just okay in the series but I will read the next one.
September 9, 2018
I am so surprised when this author can keep finding new ways to get her main character in the thick of things! But she does and it always pulls me along HAPPILY! Loved it. At some point, I'm going to catch up in the series and have to wait like everyone else for each next one....... I do not look forward to that. So I'll keep pacing myself with one book every other read and follow Melanie and Sam and Aunt Peg and Faith and Eve and Davey!
January 9, 2020
Murder mystery set at the biggest national poodle dog show. Melanie is roped into helping by her formidible legand of dog shows her aunt Peg. She discovers one of the owner murdered and almost get run over herself searching for clues. Between preparing her own poodle for the show, rooting for Sam and the sheer number of suspects she has her work cut out for her. I never realized it was so hard to get a poodle ready for a show. Loved the descriptions of the beautiful smart dogs
April 17, 2021
Love this series - even though I'm a cat person rather than a dog person. Actually, love all animals, just cats better than dogs (easier to take care of)!
The author definitely know her stuff. She throws out enough clues to keep you guessing. I did have part of the "who done it" figured out this time, but not all of the reasons or connections. Glad there are quite a few more in the series for me to read!
The author definitely know her stuff. She throws out enough clues to keep you guessing. I did have part of the "who done it" figured out this time, but not all of the reasons or connections. Glad there are quite a few more in the series for me to read!
February 12, 2022
I love all of the books in this series! They are great fun with lots of humerous situations. I specially like the detailes of everything dog-breeding and dog-show related! Laurien Berenson really knows how it is to live this life with dogs, children (yes in that order) ;) and all people that are involved to make the wheeles spin around. I rate her book with 5 stars just because of her ability to give us an interesting and funny story with the dog-world knowledge.
September 23, 2024
Another delightful adventure with Melanie and company. I figured out part of it rather early, but it didn't diminish my enjoyment, I just kept reading to confirm I was right and find out the motive.
This one takes place at the largest poodle competition in America.
Had no idea the dog world was so cut throat.
If you like dogs and mysteries you will like this one. Can't wait to read the next.
This one takes place at the largest poodle competition in America.
Had no idea the dog world was so cut throat.
If you like dogs and mysteries you will like this one. Can't wait to read the next.
November 7, 2018
All the details about the poodle club were mildly interesting, though they detracted from the action in a few spots. Half of the big reveal was obvious very early on, and the ending seemed to come out of nowhere. A fun little read though.
June 19, 2019
Not her best
This one made me suspend logic more than most. The series is a quick, light read that spends too much time with dog shows and not enough with the mystery, but this one stretched believability more than usual..
This one made me suspend logic more than most. The series is a quick, light read that spends too much time with dog shows and not enough with the mystery, but this one stretched believability more than usual..
October 23, 2023
This book is clever and witty! 3.5 stars because I felt it to be a bit repetitive towards the end and it became a slow read.
However, I do love these pocket ‘cheerful’ mysteries and would read more of the author’s books.
However, I do love these pocket ‘cheerful’ mysteries and would read more of the author’s books.
November 11, 2024
Dogs on stage
I enjoyed this book but the characters were quite confusing. Melanie seemed to be running around doing very little at this conference. Sam and Aunt Peg' s characters were not very notable in the storyline. No real purpose for Bertie.
I enjoyed this book but the characters were quite confusing. Melanie seemed to be running around doing very little at this conference. Sam and Aunt Peg' s characters were not very notable in the storyline. No real purpose for Bertie.
December 23, 2025
When a club member turns up dead at the biggest poodle show of the year, Melanie gets involved. More of this book focused on the dog show than the murder but the dog show sections were interesting. And I liked that there were several twists to the plot, one of which I figured out early on.
August 2, 2017
Like a mystery version of the movie with the same name. As much as I like reading about Melanie's day-to-day life, a vacation is always a welcome change.
February 3, 2019
Big Poodle show!
June 5, 2019
Haiku review #16
Liked this 'til the end.
Normal people would have called
The police. Not here.
Liked this 'til the end.
Normal people would have called
The police. Not here.
July 10, 2020
LOVE LOVE LOVE HER BOOKS!!!!
Dogs, romance and comedy. What's not to like?
Dogs, romance and comedy. What's not to like?
December 25, 2020
These books are fun to read. Melanie is a fun lead character. Her Aunt Peg is a pain but a lovable pain! The dogs are wonderful! All in all, I'm loving this series of books!
May 5, 2021
This one was okay, but it was pretty easy to guess the big twist at the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews