Dyana's Reviews > Hot Dog

This was an enjoyable fast read with a new twist for this series - there are NO dead bodies. Even so, there is plenty of suspense and action in this well written cozy mystery. I would suggest reading this series in order as character development and relationships between the memorable characters progress with each book. Humor is also supplied mostly by the asides of the main character, Melanie Travis. She's usually saying one thing and thinking another.

Sam, Melanie's boyfriend, is back. Melanie was planning her wedding and future life, when in a previous book he disappeared to "find himself" after his ex-wife was murdered. Melanie never heard from him; and now he's back and ready to continue their relationship. Melanie is having second thoughts and is not so eager to forgive. While Sam was away healing, Melanie was being torn apart by his absence; and now, he still has no explanations for the past six months. Her ex-husband, Bob, has divorced his 2nd wife, moved to town, and has just delivered a pony to Melanie's front door for their young son Davey. It comes complete with riding lessons from his new love interest, Pam Donnelly. Oh boy!

Ex-nun, Aunt Rose stops by. Her husband Peter (ex-priest) and she have just acquired a Dachshund puppy they have named Dox. Peter is in charge of an auction to raise money for the community center, and the puppy was donated to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Melanie and her other aunt, Peg, find it appalling that the adorable puppy will be turned over to just anyone, because it probably will be an impulse buy. Melanie ends up taking the puppy as a temporary boarder until the auction, because Aunt Rose doesn't know the 1st thing about taking care of an animal.

At a dog show, Melanie encounters a reporter named Jill Prescott and her cameraman, Rich, who are looking for her Big Story. Jill has chosen Melanie because of Melanie's predilection for getting involved in murder investigations. They begin following Melanie around hoping Melanie will get involved in something soon, and Jill will get her big break in the industry. AND it looks like that might be the case when sinister things begin happening to Melanie. She comes home one night and every light in her house has been turned on; a TV is turned on in the middle of another night; another time her house is broken into again and Dox is dognapped and her poodles, Faith and Eve, are running loose in the neighborhood; she receives harassing phone calls; and her wallet is stolen, etc.

Melanie is also talked into finding Dox's owner and discovers he is part of a divorced couple's bitter disputed property settlement. George Firth (who doesn't like dogs) won custody and is now out to use Dox as ammunition to hurt his wife Marion (who breeds and shows Dachshunds) by donating the puppy to the auction. Marion can't do anything about it. Suspects begin showing up all over the place in Melanie's case. Added into the mix is a dog sitting client whom Melanie discovers has a nanny cam. A couple named Jean and Mike Azaria are Bichon breeders and "who are furious at Melanie because of a favor gone awry". Then the stalker ups the ante and plays the game for higher stakes. Melanie almost becomes a body, but guess who comes to the rescue? And where is the TV reporter when you need her?

I am most definitely a cat person but can diversify when it comes to books. I enjoy this series; and although there is a lot of information on poodles, dog shows, breeding, handling, showing, and competition, I consider this info as a learning moment. Perfect for a lay person. Highly recommended series.