Despite Melanie's domestic demands - a toddler and a house full of Standard Poodles - helping Edward March pen his life story is an opportunity she can't pass up. Of course Edward turns out to be a growly old man who wants his book - "Puppy Love"--To consist mainly of his amorous encounters with women from the dog show community. It's juicy gossip, but not dangerous ... until Andrew, Edward's son, pays Melanie an angry visit to stop her from working on the book. When Andrew suddenly turns up very dead, the victim of a seemingly intentional hit-and-run, the police are looking at Edward as Suspect No. 1. There was lots of bad blood between Andrew and his father, but Melanie is looking at the bigger picture. Would some of Edwards' ex-trysts have gone after Andrew to shut Edward up? How about all of those husbands and boyfriends with bones to pick? And who is that woman who everyone is avoiding at the funeral? Between getting caught up in the bafflingly dysfunctional March family, sorting out two generations of disgruntled ex lovers, and uncovering a shocking case of secret hoarding, Melanie's running into dead ends almost as fast as she's running out of time. The longer the killer stays unleashed, the sooner she may end up in the dog house for good.
Helping a legendary dog breeder pen his autobiography, Melanie is stunned when the man's son turns up dead and the breeder is the main suspect. Melanie resolves to investigate the death amidst ex-lovers, hoarding, and dead ends.
I've been a fan of this series since the first book came out years ago, and they're books I will occasionally re-read. I was certain the last book, [b:Doggie Day Care Murder|3199593|Doggie Day Care Murder (Melanie Travis Mysteries, #15)|Laurien Berenson|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1348444580s/3199593.jpg|3232807], was the last one, so I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the upcoming release of Gone With the Woof. I made sure to pre-order it and couldn't wait to revisit old friends.
For this long time fan, the story didn't disappoint. Melanie, Sam, Aunt Peg, Bertie - the gang is all here and are as likeable and delightful as ever. Aunt Peg is still bossy, Sam is still easy-going and Mel is still giving as good as she gets.
The plot is one involving the sins of a father and son and I thought it was well done. There was a pivotal moment in the book when I had the 'ah hah!' moment and knew who the killer was - but it happened towards the end of the book and nothing was really lost with the knowing. I found the climax a little bit odd as there was no way the killer wasn't going to be caught so I don't know what motivated that final scene. But I enjoyed it all the same.
I don't know whether to look forward to another book or not? I certainly will be pleased if there is, but with 5 years in between this and the last, and after 16 books, I'm afraid to get my hopes up too high.
Reading updates
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Started reading
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5 September, 2013:
Finished reading
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5 September, 2013:
Reviewed