Underdog (Melanie Travis Mysteries) [Mass Market Paperback]

Laurien Berenson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Laurien Berenson is author of the delightful Melanie Travis canine cozy mystery series, including Jingle Bell Bark and Best in Show. She has a degree in psychology from Vassar College and has been married for almost twenty-five years. She lives in Georgia with her husband, her son, six dogs, and two Welsh ponies.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Kensington Books (May 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 075820292X
• ISBN-13: 978-0758202925
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #866,518 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars good plot but wooden characters, May 3, 2009

By 

Elaine "loves a good mystery" (McKinney, TX, USA) - See all my reviews

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

I generally love dog mysteries, because I love dogs and I love mysteries. Even with that going for it, I found this novel very hard to get into. In fact, I didn't completely finish the book. It was my first book by Berenson, and perhaps I should give another book a try, but I probably won't. The plot was okay, but unfortunately it was just that -- okay. I found the main character Melanie to be somehow emotionless, even at times slightly unlikable. A little more joy in living would have helped this character a lot.

The only time the book ever seemed to come a little bit alive was when the dogs became engaged, but it was just lukewarm even then. I'm sure others feel differently about it, perhaps it's just how it strikes the reader.

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I love these books, February 5, 2005

By 

Laura (Seatac, WA, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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

I was so delighted when I found this series. I don't normally pick mysteries, but am an avid dog-lover.
I do not agree that Melanie "...wear(s) on your nerves because she is so obstinate about EVERYTHING." She's tough; she's had to be, as most single parents do. She's also had a lot of change in her life just in the year that's taken place in the books.
This series, and author, are on my favorites list.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good story, but I was offended, October 30, 2007

By 

R.M. (Naperville, IL United States) - See all my reviews

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

While I enjoyed the book overall, I have to say that I was a bit offended by some things I read. I am a groomer, and in the story, the heroine makes it clear that she does not think highly of groomers. She visits a grooming salon, and much was made of the fact that the groomers were unprofessional, slovenly, and dumb. It was mentioned at least twice that groomers do not know how to "really" groom any show Poodle, and that all they do is "tie some bows on the ears and send them home." She doubts that groomers can do quality work on any show dog, especially since her Aunt Peg, a show dog handler, spent several hours doing a show trim on her Poodle.

Well, pardon ME. When a show dog handler can trim an entire poodle by hand, with no pieces sticking out, and scissor a perfect top knot, THEN you can tell me that the show dog handler has true grooming skills. As far as I am concerned, the extent of the grooming *they* do consists of mostly brushing and fluffing. I don't think it is necessary to snidely comment on the so-called "non-skills" of pet groomers just because the majority of dogs we groom do not end up in the show ring. Talk about snobbery.

Yes, I know this book is fiction, but apparently the author's opinion of groomers is not. This 'groomer-bashing' occurred in another of her books, and I just cannot ignore it anymore. I will be the first to admit that there ARE many slovenly, unprofessional groomers out there. But the things I read in this book offended ME, and I happen to be the consummate professional groomer. I work pretty darn hard, and I don't need some author constantly belittling my industry. It's certainly not fun to read.

The fact that I gave the book 3 stars despite this gripe? I guess I was feeling generous. Who would've thought a groomer had ANY redeeming qualities, right?