Pumpkin Spice Puppy - (A Melanie Travis Canine Mystery) by Laurien Berenson

About the Book

"Between taking care of her family and assorted Standard Poodles, Melanie is also working as a special needs tutor for Howard Academy, a private school in Greenwich, where her younger son attends kindergarten. This year, the headmaster has come up with an idea for a school fundraiser. All students will participate in a town-wide treasure hunt, with grades competing against each other. Tokens shaped like pumpkin spice muffins have been hidden in downtown stores. Students will scramble to collect as many as they can in exchange for prizes. At first all goes smoothly, and the uptick in foot traffic to the stores is a win-win... Until the pet supply shop owner lodges a complaint. When Melanie stops by to smooth things over, she instead finds the man dead, a knife in his back, and his loyal, ever-vigilant Chow Chow locked in the storeroom. Over the headmaster's objections, Melanie is once again drawn into an investigation. It doesn't take her long to gather a list of suspects, from neighbors balking about the number of rescue Chows the man was fostering in his home, to the landlord who'd filed an eviction notice against him, to the bitter ex-wife who is happy he's gone. With the fundraiser soon drawing to a close and celebrations imminent, Melanie will have to follow every clue--before the biggest prize is staying alive..."--

Book Synopsis

Melanie Travis and her pedigree poodles are back on the case in an adorably giftable, fall time-themed hardcover by award-winning author Laurien Berenson!

It's autumn in Connecticut and there's a chill in the air, the fall leaves are a riot of color, and pumpkin spice is the flavor of the season. Melanie Travis is perennially busy, of course--but when the owner of a local pet supply shop is found murdered, sleuthing tops her To Do list . . .

Between taking care of her family and assorted Standard Poodles, Melanie is also working as a special needs tutor for Howard Academy, a private school in Greenwich, where her younger son attends kindergarten. This year, the headmaster has come up with an idea for a school fundraiser. All students will participate in a town-wide treasure hunt, with grades competing against each other.

Tokens shaped like pumpkin spice muffins have been hidden in downtown stores. Students will scramble to collect as many as they can in exchange for prizes. At first all goes smoothly, and the uptick in foot traffic to the stores is a win-win. . . . . Until the pet supply shop owner lodges a complaint. When Melanie stops by to smooth things over, she instead finds the man dead, a knife in his back, and his loyal, ever-vigilant Chow Chow locked in the storeroom.

Over the headmaster's objections, Melanie is once again drawn into an investigation. It doesn't take her long to gather a list of suspects, from neighbors balking about the number of rescue Chows the man was fostering in his home, to the landlord who'd filed an eviction notice against him, to the bitter ex-wife who is happy he's gone. With the fundraiser soon drawing to a close and celebrations imminent, Melanie will have to follow every clue--before the biggest prize is staying alive . . .

Review Quotes

Praise for Laurien Berenson and her Melanie Travis Canine Mysteries

"A perfect stocking stuffer for the dog-loving mystery reader in your life." --Florida Weekly on A Furry Little Christmas

"The perfect introduction to the delightful Berenson, this volume brings together two previously published novellas--and five standard poodles!--set during Christmas in Connecticut... Lucky readers just discovering Melanie, her dogs, and her family have several armfuls of books to enjoy." --fIrstCLUE on A Furry Little Christmas

"Well worth a read." --Fresh Fiction on Killer Cupid

"Pup Fiction is another terrific addition to the Melanie Travis mystery series." --Suspense Magazine

"There are so many great elements to this mystery including family, friendship, murder, undercover villains, and lots of dogs. This is a first-place entry for sure." --Suspense MagazinE

"Toxic treats spell trouble for a school secretary at Halloween...once Melanie starts digging, she discovers a treasure trove of microaggressions and petty grievances in this quiet corner of Connecticut, with motives aplenty for murder. A quick and tasty tale of sabotage in the suburbs." --Kirkus Reviews on Howloween Murder

"When a new book by Laurien Berenson comes out, I'm on it like a dog on a liver treat...not only do readers get a diverting story, they also get lots of behind-the-scenes intel on dog shows and the main character's preferred breed." --The Bark on Bite Club

"Anyone who has not read Berenson should venture into this cute and humorous mystery. The reader will feel they are a part of the story whether investigating the murder, playing with the darling puppies, or setting up holiday decorations." --The Military Press on Here Comes Santa Paws

"Filled with more dogs, more fun, and more mystery, this cozy is the perfect summer read." --Modern Dog on Bite Club

"Bite Club is another satisfying title in Berenson's Canine Mystery series. Boomer, Lilly and I give it our highest rating--ten dog biscuits!" --Suspense Magazine

"Dog-loving mystery fans will welcome another Christmas caper featuring Melanie, Aunt Peg, and their Poodles." --Library Journal on Wagging Through the Snow

"Well-drawn characters, especially Melanie and her acerbic aunt, contribute to the appeal here, along with the warm, sometimes humorous scenes of family life. Melanie's beloved six dogs are woven throughout the holiday-themed cozy, which will appeal to readers of Susan Conant's Holly Winter mysteries and Barbara Allan's Trash 'n' Treasures series." --Booklist on Wagging Through the Snow

"This exciting Christmas whodunit is a great book to curl up with at any time of the year, and is one that is sure to keep you on your toes!" --Modern Dog

"Berenson weaves together mystery, humor, dogs (of course!) and the effects of homelessness and alcoholism on families to create a short but sweet holiday tale." --Philadelphia Daily News on Wagging Through the Snow

"Cozy mysteries may have cats galore to charm their readers, but dog lovers are well served by Berenson's sweet series." --Publishers Weekly on Ruff Justice

"This long-running series continues to appeal with its combination of an always sprightly pace, a realistically harried but quick-thinking heroine, and a wealth of fascinating details about the dog show world." --Booklist on The Bark Before Christmas

"Melanie's engaging narration, with its slightly sarcastic flair, makes her utterly relatable. Fans will roll over with joy, and new cozy readers will likely scoop up the rest of the series." --Publishers Weekly on Death of a Dog Whisperer

About the Author

Laurien Berenson is the bestselling author of the Melanie Travis Canine Mysteries and the Senior Sleuths Mystery Series. An Agatha and Macavity finalist, she's a four-time winner of the Maxwell Award, presented by the Dog Writers Association of America. She and her husband live on a farm in Kentucky surrounded by dogs and horses. Visit her online at LaurienBerenson.com.