A Pedigree To Die For (1994)

I enjoyed this book. It is the first in the Melanie Travis series. It tells about Melanie Travis, a school teacher and single parent. Melanie was going to teach summer school but funding fell through and she has lots of time on her hands. Her uncle Max died of what appeared to be a heart attack and his prize winning poodle Beau disappears. Melanie decides with all the time to spare to do a little investigating on her own. I enjoyed the characters and the story line kept me very interested. I was guessing all the way until the end! Melanie is somewhat easy to relate to but I didn't get a very good feel for who she really is or what she looks like. I enjoy characters where I can picture what they look like as I learn about them through the books. I will definitely read all the books in this series. If you love dogs, especially Standard Poodles, then you will really enjoy this book. It teaches a lot about what goes on around dog shows. ( )

The first, and one of the best, in an enjoyable series. People who enjoy dogs, mysteries, family dynamics, or all three elements, should find the book a good read. There's a hint of romance, and a well-handled undercurrent of humor. The heroine, single mother Melanie Travis' introduction to the (in this case) cutthroat world of dog breeding and showing is wonderfully and credibly writtten. ( )