Books in Melanie Travis Canine Mysteries series

As a busy mom and pedigree Poodle owner, Melanie has little time to spare. Still, she doesn’t mind helping out at Puppy Fest, an annual fundraiser to benefit Puppy Posse, a local dog rescue organization. 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.

Thanks to Aunt Peg and her enthusiastic pedigree dog show pals, Melanie’s aptly named Bite Club reading group has book lovers all over town burying their noses in thrilling murder mysteries. But another pet project surfaces when Melanie reluctantly agrees to train a Bulldog puppy for elusive member Evan Major. Between the unusual bruise on his face and a bizarre run-in with an unknown dog-show attendee, introverted Evan can’t dodge trouble. It even sends him to an early grave — while landing Melanie in the hot seat for homicide . . .

It’s summer in Connecticut, and Melanie’s life has become an endless string of dog shows, soccer camp, and the antics of her energetic toddler. She hardly has time to pay much attention to her Aunt Peg’s new protégé, Nick Walden, a self-proclaimed “dog whisperer” with an uncanny gift for decoding dog-speak. The well-heeled dog owners of Fairfield County are lapping up his alleged talents, anxious to discover exactly what their pampered pets are thinking — that is until the pooches start spilling their secrets.

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 the PCA: The Poodle Club of America National Specialty Dog 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, Eve, 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 much time for Melanie 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 raffle committee, Betty Jean and Edith Jean Boone. Sixty-ish steel magnolias from the South, 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 the PCA--and the show must go on. As Edith Jean staunchly resumes her raffle duties, 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 riveted on the ring, someone out in the crowd is about to get away with murder.Scraps of conversations and suspicious goings-on have Melanie looking for a suspect--and getting ever closer to the killer. Soon she's shocked to discover that in the dog-eat-dog world of showing, a life can be as easily lost as a blue ribbon. And unlike cats, dogs--and their owners--have only one to risk...