Customer Reviews

Dog Eat Dog (Melanie Travis Mysteries)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
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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".

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!)

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!

I absolutely loved this book! It is well written and has a cohesive plot, which is rare for an animal mystery nowadays. I highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in dogs, dog shows, or just mysteries! The cast of characters in this book makes it (and the rest of the series) a laugh a page. Aunt Peg in particular is just the funniest.

If you're not looking for a classic, but rather fun laugh-out loud suspense, this series is for you. Three-dimensional characters with beliveable suspects, with no unfair punches as to the who-dun-it. I also liked how Berenson did not have to resort to multi murders in this one to keep the reader engaged. Leaves the reader with a cozy feeling, and empathetic satisfaction.

It all started with a phone call in the middle of the night. Melanie Travis is finally comfortable enough with Sam Driver that he spends the night at her house; but still not enough to have him there in the morning for breakfast. When the phone rings early in the morning, she finds out that her ex-husband is planning on coming to see the son that he abandoned four and a half years before. Since Melanie does not harbor too many good feelings about Bob, this starts her whole day off on the left foot. While she is obssessing about what this might mean, her aunt Peg takes her to a meeting of the local dog club and a murder takes place.

So, now we have the two basic problems being discussed in this book. What is it that Bob really wants, and who did the victim in? The rest of the 320 pages of this book take a look at those two main threads.

I thought this book was very well done. The pacing was rather deliberate and alternated between resolving the two mysteries in a comfortable pace. There are really no action sequences except for a mild attack at the end of the book, and the book's various resolutions take place in a logical and comforting manner. Yes, Bob leaves after a while without affecting Melanie's life too much. He does manage to resolve some of Melanie's angsts while he is visiting. We also note that his influence is encouraged by Melanie's brother and her aunt Rose. Since the characters are overall quite likeable, it is nice to see her move on in her life.

The murder mystery is handled the same way. Melanie investigates things that come up and finds out one thing after another that make sense. When one clue leads to the next, the resolution is not unexpected and it makes sense. So, there is not confusion or upset feelings about why that particular murder took place. At least the motive was clear and sensical.

Overall, this is a cozy read that takes no particular deep thinking. It is a fun way to spend a few hours and will definitely result in me reading more books in this series.

Oh, there is a dog show component too. So, those who know that scene will understand more of the underlying tensions. Although in this volume, the dogs are definitely subsidiary to the action.

I enjoy all the books by this author. They're interesting and have good story lines.

A Mystery that keeps the reader guessing (usually wrongly) about who "dunit". Fun and intertaining as Ms. Travis teaches you about "Dog people" and the intricaties of the dog show world. As a "dog person" myself, I found it pretty accurate and had to smile in spots at myself.

Of course Ms. Travis' dog shows are more exciting as she hunts down the latest perpetrator. But the whole series is truely delightful

This is a book definitely to be reserved for the rainy day read. It is not demanding or particularly compelling and the characters are somewhat two-dimensional and caricaturish. The plotting is simplistic and homespun. Yet, while not being among the more accomplished of the genre, it is generally unobjectionable if one's expectations are not set too high.