Dog Eat Dog [Hardcover]

Laurien Berenson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1996

When money turns up missing from the exclusive Belle Haven Kennel Club and one of the members is found dead in a parking lot, Melanie Travis--teacher, single parent, and proud owner of Faith, a rambunctious Standard Poodle pup--finds herself moving closer to a killer desperate enough to strike again.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In her third adventure (after Underdog) in the rarefied world of dog fanciers in Southern Connecticut, Melanie Travis copes with the unexpected reappearance of her ex-husband, Bob. After almost five years of deadbeat dadhood, Bob has decided to become a responsible parent, and if that's not enough, Melanie's unrelenting aunt Peg is nipping at her heels to join the Belle Haven Kennel Club. Still learning how to groom and show her new dog, a standard poodle named Faith, Melanie finds discovers that kennel club members anything but a well-bred lot. Plying her with pictures of their dogs, they quiz her on her own and align themselves into various camps. When the president announces that some cash and checks are missing, the meeting quickly degenerates into accusation and innuendo. A week later club member Monica Freedman is found murdered in a parking lot. Beginning to dig, Melanie soon unearths a few skeletons, which turn out to be the same ones Monica had uncovered and used to taunt her colleagues, including Aunt Peg. It seems the cream of Connecticut society has dabbled in fraud, animal abuse, alcoholism and deception in the ring. All of this is a romp among puppies compared to Melanie's problems with Bob, who wants to take their son, Davey, back to Texas, to live with him and his 20-year-old fiancee. Melanie's easygoing common sense helps her solve both problems in a story as calm and as controlled as a well-behaved dog on a lead.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Single parent, teacher, and dog-show enthusiast Melanie Travis investigates murder at a prestigious Connecticut kennel club. As she uncovers illegal show practices and fake pedigrees, she closes in on the murderer. Lightweight yet involving stuff from the author of Underdog (LJ 1/96).
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 326 pages
• Publisher: Kensington Books; First Edition first Printing edition (October 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575661039
• ISBN-13: 978-1575661032
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #325,424 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Woof!, December 4, 2000

By 

"kathrynlively" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dog Eat Dog (Melanie Travis Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

Welcome back to the "dog eat dog" world of dog breeding and shows, where Melanie Travis and her Aunt Peg are once again embroiled in a mystery. This time, in Dog Eat Dog, a member of Peg's kennel club is murdered shortly after a meeting, and Melanie is compelled to find the killer despite the fact that she is not a member of the club herself.

This, however, is not the only thing "eating" at Melanie: the ex-husband is back in town and anxious to take up where he left off with Melanie's son, five-year-old Davey, even though the two haven't seen each other in four years and two months. Needless to say, the reunion does very little for Melanie's escalating relationship with Poodle breeder Sam Driver, particularly when the former hubby drops hints of taking Davey back to Texas.

Discoveries of gossip and blackmail are the focus of Dog Eat Dog, which is a good followup story to Underdog. A light, sometimes humorous read, this is a recommended "cozy".

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Characters, including the Dogs!, June 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Dog Eat Dog (Melanie Travis Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

I got this book on a whim because on the cover are two beagles similar to my beloved hound. I also bought it looking for a fun, light-hearted mystery that has as its background something that I am interested, in this case the dog world. It is not overly ambitious, nor is it very complicated. But I enjoyed it greatly and have read all the others in the series. There is a new one in September, and I can't wait! I would put this on par with Grafton's mysteries, or the Jackson Braun Cat Who.. series. One piece of advice: I'd read them in order, starting with Pedigree to Die For. (And Aunt Peg is a hoot!)

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A glimpse into dog show life, July 2, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Dog Eat Dog (Melanie Travis Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

Not only are these mysteries entertaining, but they also inform the reader of the ins and outs of the dog show business and breeding. I am new to dog ownership and these books have answered many questions I was afraid to ask others.
Surely worth enjoying!