Melanie Travis -- teacher, single parent, and proud owner of Faith, a rambunctious Standard Poodle pup -- just can't escape the chic show circuits of Fairfield County dog fanciers. Now, Laurien Berenson sends her irrepressible heroine on a third irresistible outing into the inner circles of an elite Connecticut kennel club, where shocking secrets gnaw at the best of the breed and competition has a sharp -- and deadly -- bite.

As if raising her son Davey, training her poodle pub for the show ring, and grooming fellow handler Sam Driver for romance aren't enough, Melanie's Aunt Peg is pushing her to join the exclusive Belle Haven Kennel Club. But the contentious group barely managed to disagree on this year's trophies when money turns up missing -- and one of the members turns up in the restaurant's parking lot -- dead. The only witnesses to the crime were the dead woman's startled pair of Beagles -- and they aren't talking. Unfortunately, neither is anyone else.

Melanie hadn't intended to do any serious snooping, what with coping with the unexpected arrival of her ex-husband out to get joint custody of the son he's never known. In need of some serious distraction, she's off at more than a dogtrot to sniff out dangerous secrets... only to discover that everyone at Belle Haven has something damning to hide.

As the truth about forged pedigrees and illegal show practices comes to light -- and her own domestic drama moves center stage -- Melanie finds herself moving closer to a dogged killer who's desperate enough to strike again. Melanie Travis book 3 ( )

Melanie Travis has survived the events of the past year, and is now the owner of ten-month-old poodle puppy Faith, as well as the mother of five-year-old son Davey, and teacher in the school Davey attends.

And Aunt Peg is pulling her ever deeper into the world of dog breeding and showing. Peg's most recent maneuver is to bring Melanie to meetings of the Bell Haven Kennel Club, as her guest. It's just an unfortunate coincidence that her first meeting starts with an announcement that the previous meeting's dinner checks have gone missing, and the evening then finishes with the club's corresponding secretary being murdered right after the end of the meeting, just out of sight of other members in the dark.

Peg, of course, bullies Melanie into investigating both problems. Melanie starts asking questions, while continuing to teach, care for her child, and compete in dog shows with Faith. If that weren't keeping her busy enough, no worries; her ex-husband, Bob, has got that covered.

Because yes, Bob has suddenly reappeared, after having departed from Melanie and Davey's lives when Davey was less than a year old. It seems Bob has grown up some in the last four years, is getting married, and thinks he wants joint custody of their son. Did I mention he's moved from Connecticut to Texas?

It's all a lot to juggle. It's not made easier by the fact that asking questions about the dead corresponding secretary, Monica, is turning up lots of evidence that there are too many people with potential motives to have her killed, rather than too few. Monica was in the habit of tucking in little notes to various members with the club newsletter, letting them know she knew about the secrets they would least want revealed. She'd written to most members of the club. Which one thought their secret was worth killing for?

On top of everything else, there's the small matter of Melanie's relationship with Sam Driver. Bob isn't pleased. Sam isn't pleased. Melanie isn't pleased. Davey, though, is enjoying getting to know his father, as well as all the gifts Bob is giving him.

This is an enjoyable mystery, with characters who are interesting and decently developed. My personal complaint is that not enough time is spent on the dogs, but that's my dog-loving preference. Berenson keeps the focus on the mystery and the people who play a role in it, and handles the plot and the people well.

Recommended. ( )

Aunt Peg's New England Kennel Club is the scene of a murder. She enlists her niece as the sleuth to solve the mystery. The story revolves around the cut-throat world of competitive dog shows. A romance is blooming for the niece. The animals are just too darling. This book is a must for all dog lovers. ( )