Dog Eat Dog

Melanie Travis #3

by Laurien Berenson

Melanie Travis -- teacher, single parent, and proud owner of Faith, a rambunctious Standard Poodle pup -- just can't escape the chic show circuits of Fairfield County dog fanciers. Now, Laurien Berenson sends her irrepressible heroine on a third irresistible outing into the inner circles of an elite Connecticut kennel club, where shocking secrets gnaw at the best of the breed and competition has a sharp -- and deadly -- bite.

As if raising her son Davey, training her poodle pub for the show ring, and grooming fellow handler Sam Driver for romance aren't enough, Melanie's Aunt Peg is pushing her to join the exclusive Belle Haven Kennel Club. But the contentious group barely managed to disagree on this year's trophies when money turns up missing -- and one of the members turns up in the restaurant's parking lot -- dead. The only witnesses to the crime were the dead woman's startled pair of Beagles -- and they aren't talking. Unfortunately, neither is anyone else.

Melanie hadn't intended to do any serious snooping, what with coping with the unexpected arrival of her ex-husband out to get joint custody of the son he's never known. In need of some serious distraction, she's off at more than a dogtrot to sniff out dangerous secrets... only to discover that everyone at Belle Haven has something damning to hide.

As the truth about forged pedigrees and illegal show practices comes to light -- and her own domestic drama moves center stage -- Melanie finds herself moving closer to a dogged killer who's desperate enough to strike again.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Animals, Dogs, Audiobook

341 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Laurien Berenson is the award-winning author of the long running Melanie Travis canine mystery series and the new Senior Sleuths series starring Peg Turnbull and Rose Donovan as a pair of seventyish sisters-in-law who are learning to put aside old grudges as they work together to solve mysteries. DIE ANOTHER DANE (#31 in the Melanie Travis series) is out now.

Laurien's work has appeared numerous magazines and the New York Times. She and her husband live on a farm in Kentucky, surrounded by horses and dogs.

Reviews

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable cozy mystery, especially if you're also a dog lover. I learned a lot about dog shows and how the judging works. The mystery was well plotted.

[Katrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the series, and I will for sure read the next one. This one made my skin crawl in certain places. Her ex husband who left her alone with a baby 4 1/2 years ago shows up. He comes in expecting her to do his laundry AND SHE DOES. He has an opinion on who she is dating, and criticises her parenting, and she takes it. He shows up to her house and asks what is for dinner, and she tells him and then lets him stay. It just pissed me off to no end.

[Gary Sundell · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Melanie's ex shows up to get to know the son he bailed on over 4 years ago. There is A murder which kept me guessing. The family drama was like stuff I dealt with daily for 40 plus years as a family law/bankruptcy lawyer.

[Lis Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melanie Travis has survived the events of the past year, and is now the owner of ten-month-old poodle puppy Faith, as well as the mother of five-year-old son Davey, and teacher in the school Davey attends.

And Aunt Peg is pulling her ever deeper into the world of dog breeding and showing. Peg's most recent maneuver is to bring Melanie to meetings of the Bell Haven Kennel Club, as her guest. It's just an unfortunate coincidence that her first meeting starts with an announcement that the previous meeting's dinner checks have gone missing, and the evening then finishes with the club's corresponding secretary being murdered right after the end of the meeting, just out of sight of other members in the dark.

Peg, of course, bullies Melanie into investigating both problems. Melanie starts asking questions, while continuing to teach, care for her child, and compete in dog shows with Faith. If that weren't keeping her busy enough, no worries; her ex-husband, Bob, has got that covered.

Because yes, Bob has suddenly reappeared, after having departed from Melanie and Davey's lives when Davey was less than a year old. It seems Bob has grown up some in the last four years, is getting married, and thinks he wants joint custody of their son. Did I mention he's moved from Connecticut to Texas?

It's all a lot to juggle. It's not made easier by the fact that asking questions about the dead corresponding secretary, Monica, is turning up lots of evidence that there are too many people with potential motives to have her killed, rather than too few. Monica was in the habit of tucking in little notes to various members with the club newsletter, letting them know she knew about the secrets they would least want revealed. She'd written to most members of the club. Which one thought their secret was worth killing for?

On top of everything else, there's the small matter of Melanie's relationship with Sam Driver. Bob isn't pleased. Sam isn't pleased. Melanie isn't pleased. Davey, though, is enjoying getting to know his father, as well as all the gifts Bob is giving him.

This is an enjoyable mystery, with characters who are interesting and decently developed. My personal complaint is that not enough time is spent on the dogs, but that's my dog-loving preference. Berenson keeps the focus on the mystery and the people who play a role in it, and handles the plot and the people well.

Recommended.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I found this book to be quite interesting. I liked how real it was and how it showed how hard Melanie's life could be at times. Like the others, I liked the proportion of romance and mystery to real-life and the worries that come along with it. I found it interesting to meet Bob, but like that he was involved. It's clear they are not good together, but I hope we see more of him, if only with Davie. I hope Bob keeps to his promises as I would to see Davie get hurt. I did feel that Melanie was too understanding of Bob as she did his laundry for him and cooked him dinner shortly after he arrived. Though I didn't agree with this and felt she should have stood up for herself more, I do understand that she thought she was making the best choices to protect her son and keep the peace.
I felt that Melanie was a bit unfair to Sam throughout the book and hope that she sees her mistakes and that their relationship can grow. Sam really does have the patience of a saint and Melanie is so lucky to have such a loving and patient man who accepts her and her son in her life.
I found the mystery intriguing and I was definitely gessing the whole way. I especially liked learning more about dogs and how tough the competition can be. The mystery in this book definitely pulled at my heart at times and I could definitely understand some of the characters' motives.
Overall, I found this book to be interesting and well-written and will be continuing with the series.

[Kiki Z · Rating 2 out of 5]

The mystery was fine, but the personal plot irritated me. No one has any respect for Melanie, least of all Melanie herself. Her ex-husband shows up after four years, takes over her life and their child he walked out on, and we're supposed to believe he grew up and changed and we're supposed to forgive him. I don't forgive him, and I don't think anyone else should have.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this third book in the enjoyable series, I loved how the author delved into the feelings Melanie had when her ex came, trying to get custody of Davey!

[Devi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its amazing how you are following a series and suddenly you stop thinking of them as characters in the story and more like a very close family member. During the follow of this series, I am becoming more and more attached to Melanie. Probably that is the reason why when Bob came, I was fuming with anger.
This book brought out a lot of emotions, more because of the backstory that was going on rather than the mystery. I think that was the intention Laurien had for this book. The actual murder was slightly milder than the other books but the family drama was intense.
The way of writing which takes the reader exactly along the path intended with an engaging story and subtle pushes here and there really is an amazing work.
Another brilliant story. I am waiting for my library to pop out the next book in the series so I can dive straight into the next book soon.

[Linda Smatzny · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book has a murder happening after a meeting of a kennel club that Melanie, the main character, attended with her Aunt Peg. Also Melanie's ex husband has returned to see their son whom he hasn't seen since the boy was 10 months old. Melanie starts asking questions about the murder and trying to cope with the ex. The book was a quick easy read.

[Heidi Burkhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is so entertaining to enjoy this series. I love all of the dog talk and dog shows!

[Rebecca · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this book abandoned on the sidewalk with other things destined for the garbage. Against my better judgment, I decided to take the book and read it.

It is bad and deserves to be in the garbage.

Dog Eats Dog features Mel, an aspiring dog breeder, who reluctantly joins a snitty dog breeding club meeting where a widely disliked member gets murdered. Mel proceeds to suspiciously interview all of the club members to find out who did it, all while struggling to navigate her ex-husband's reappearance in her and her son's life.

Everyone in this book aside from Mel's boyfriend Sam and her son Davey are awful people. Everyone is sarcastic, defensive, and snitty... nobody acts this mean in casual conversation in real life?! Mel, the protagonist, was by far the worst offender. She had to have been the most passive-aggressive protagonist I've ever suffered through reading. It was so tiring and cringey reading her snipe at everyone. Even her inner monologue was mean! Her boyfriend was so nice, too; what on earth did he see in her? It is really hard to read a book in the first-person narrated by a person with seemingly no redeeming qualities at all.

The writing itself was also ... not great. It was kind of like watching a livestream of someone's average boring day, replete with descriptions of what people were wearing, the food they ate, and copious back-and-forth dialogue about nothing important. The average page did nothing to move the plot forward, and if I had to summarize the plot anyway, it was something formulaic like:
1. Mel invites herself to Person A's house uninvited and aggressively accuses them of a crime, but that person didn't do it
2. Mel goes home and is a nasty person to her ex / boyfriend / aunt
3. The next day, Mel invites herself to Person B's house the next day and does the same thing
4. Mel goes home and snipes at her ex
5. ...
100. ...

Maybe everyone in the book is so mean to each other because the book lacked any other kind of suspenseful drama to move it forward?

There are countless characters in this book, all hard to keep track of, and in the end, a character who was barely featured was the killer. What mystery and intrigue! Then the book abruptly ends.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series and seem to have been following and collecting for twenty years.
Melanie Travis -- teacher, single parent, and proud owner of Faith, a rambunctious Standard Poodle pup -- just can't escape the chic show circuits of Fairfield County dog fanciers. Now, Laurien Berenson sends her irrepressible heroine on a third irresistible outing into the inner circles of an elite Connecticut kennel club, where shocking secrets gnaw at the best of the breed and competition has a sharp -- and deadly -- bite.

As if raising her son Davey, training her poodle pub for the show ring, and grooming fellow handler Sam Driver for romance aren't enough, Melanie's Aunt Peg is pushing her to join the exclusive Belle Haven Kennel Club. But the contentious group barely managed to disagree on this year's trophies when money turns up missing -- and one of the members turns up in the restaurant's parking lot -- dead. The only witnesses to the crime were the dead woman's startled pair of Beagles -- and they aren't talking. Unfortunately, neither is anyone else.

Melanie hadn't intended to do any serious snooping, what with coping with the unexpected arrival of her ex-husband out to get joint custody of the son he's never known. In need of some serious distraction, she's off at more than a dogtrot to sniff out dangerous secrets... only to discover that everyone at Belle Haven has something damning to hide.

As the truth about forged pedigrees and illegal show practices comes to light -- and her own domestic drama moves center stage -- Melanie finds herself moving closer to a dogged killer who's desperate enough to strike again.

[Daelith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than the last one but I don't think I'll pursue any more of the series.

[L.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every book in this series I'm enjoying more. This was reminiscent of "And Then There Were None" but not to the point of boring imitation. I'm definitely in this one for the long haul!

[Jessica Buzzard · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Dyana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a light, entertaining read where you learn a lot about the background of breeding and showing of standard poodles - just enough to be informative but not enough to be boring. It's also a cozy mystery where it's not easy to figure out who did it. This is the best one in the series so far.

Melanie Travis of Stamford, Connecticut is still a special education teacher, a single mom raising five year old Davey and a 10 month old poodle puppy named Faith, she's beginning to learn about breeding and the showing of standard poodles, and likes playing at being an amateur sleuth. Her formidable Aunt Peg has invited her to a meeting of the Bell Haven Kennel Club even though Melanie is not a member. Aunt Peg is "grooming" her to join and socialize with other breeders and where she can participate in a variety of functions. The club is a diverse and contentious group and nearly all have different breeds. Two significant things happen at the meeting: 1) Lydia, the chairman, announces that the dinner checks turned in at the previous meeting have gone missing and 2) Monica Freeman, who is the club's corresponding secretary, is found murdered in the parking lot of the restaurant where they are meeting. The only witnesses are her two beagles who are featured on the cover of the book.

Aunt Peg and Melanie decide to question each member and see if they can determine who the murderer is. They discover Monica was devious and had gathered up a treasure trove of secrets about various members and then sending out notes to them included with their newsletters letting them know that she knew their dirty little secrets. Cy had stood to lose money; Lydia, her reputation because of forged pedigrees, Joanne had a position on the Board at stake; Louis, possibly his livelihood as a future judge; Bertie involved in illegal show practices; Penny, a lush who has a desire she is willing to do anything to obtain, etc. Lots of motives for murder. Does this sound like a club you would want to join? It all comes to a climax at a reception held at the club president's house to honor a past member.

A subplot involves Melanie's ex-husband Bob who calls up late one night from Texas and announces that he is coming for a visit and wants to get to know his son whom he abandoned when Davey was 19 months old. When he gets there, he decides he wants joint custody; but Melanie is apprehensive about Davey traveling back and forth from Texas to Connecticut. Bob also announces he is getting married to a young girl who is practically a kid herself. Melanie sees that Bob has matured in many ways since she last saw him, and he reveals the real reason he left her so suddenly. This conundrum is solved to everyone's satisfaction by the intervention of Melanie's brother Frank and her Aunt Rose and Uncle Pete and the fact that kids are a lot of work to raise.

Returning characters are brother Frank who has a new job at the restaurant where Monica was murdered; Aunt Rose, a former nun and her husband Pete, a former priest; formidable and opinionated Aunt Peg who bulldozes her way through life; Crawford Langley, a professional dog handler; and, of course, Sam Driver who is Melanie's love interest and also breeds and shows standard poodles. One funny scene involves Bob and Sam meeting unexpectedly at Melanie's house for dinner.

A flaw, it seems for me, is that the police are only mentioned peripherally in the plot. Non member Melanie visits the members and asks her questions and they answer them. Albeit, she is Aunt Peg's niece, but still...she's virtually a stranger to all of them. An engaging read which picks up speed toward the end.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another series that I put off starting for quite some time, and I am (slowly) trying to catch up. The author is still adding to the series (not that I’m complaining!), so that will take some time.

I like Melanie, the MC, and the way these books show what life is like for a single mom with a young child. Melanie works full-time, has sole responsibility for her five-year-old son, *and is learning how to train Faith, her Standard Poodle puppy, for the dog show circuit. Any one of those would be enough to exhaust most people, so the thought of dealing with all three makes me shudder. I do wish she would learn to say no and stick to it, but then we wouldn’t have these books to read 😊

Most of the recurring characters are people I’d like to spend time with, although Aunt Peg’s single-mindedness would drive me over the edge. I was really annoyed with Melanie’s ex, the way he just showed up out of the blue, his expectations – and the ways he went about trying to get his way. It was fun reading how Melanie made him understand that parenting a young child full-time is hard work more often than it is fun and games.

Many reviewers complain that there’s too much talk about dog shows and breeding in these books, but to me, that’s no different than the culinary cozies that spell out how a character bakes a cake, how a knitter follows a pattern, or any of the other diverse interests showing up in cozy mysteries these days. I’ve learned a lot about dog shows from these books, although I’m still confused about points and some other aspects, but I suspect that’s my fault for not paying close attention. Having watched various dog shows on television from time to time, most of the breeds mentioned in these books are familiar, and it’s kind of fun to get a backstage look at how they prepare for shows.

The mystery in this book was good, with lots of possible suspects, each with a motive that’s a variation on a theme. My mental list seemed like a carousel at times, but I had a strong suspicion as to the identity of the killer before it was revealed in the book, and for a change, I was right.

I look forward to returning to Connecticut to see what Melanie, Peg, Sam and the rest are up to next.

[Georgette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently started to read this series and I am totally in love with the characters and the depth of the plots that are created by Laurien Berenson. The main protagonist, Melanie Travers is a single mom of 5 yo Davey, her Aunt Peg is quite a character and has bestowed upon Melanie and Davey their very own Poodle, Hope who has a personality to beat the band. I did not read Underdog so I missed a few developments in Book 2, Underdog(how did that happen). Anyway, since last reading A Pedigree to Die For, things have moved along on the romance side with Sam and Aunt Peg invites Melanie to attend a meeting/dinner of the Belle Haven Dog Club which serves as the spring board for this 3rd book and events thrust Melanie and her Aunt Peg to catch the scent of whodunit. Meanwhile, Melanie's former husband and father of Davey who skipped out on the two of them after Davey's birth and neglected to send alimony/support checks for Melanie and Davey leaving them to survive in a tony part of North Stamford, CT contacts Melanie to say he would like to (5 years later) meet his son and catch them up on his plans for the future throwing Melanie into a bit of a spin since her life was starting to be in order. Mishaps and Mayhem ensue, and Melanie finds out more than she cares to know about the members of the dog club. I really enjoyed this book(just ask my cats). So I encourage you to pick up a copy either in print or e-copy..it is a real roller coaster of lessons in everyone's life including Melanie's as well.

[Sabrina Sterle · Rating 2 out of 5]

What on earth. This was a half-price books buy, because it seemed like a cute cozy murder mystery, but the main character was so judgmental and unlikable. Consistent mentions of her restrictive eating and saying a girl wearing brown leggings looked like her legs were sausages? Excuse me?

An elderly couple had numerous dogs, and a side character reported them for animal neglect. When the animals were taken away, the main character had the audacity to be mad at the woman for reporting?? Because "How could she do this to this cute old couple?" Ridiculous.

Her ex husband shows up after 5 years to be in his son's life, and she just gives him a key? She does his laundry? I'm sorry?? Her husband gives the most self-serving apology for why he left his wife and 10-month-old baby and she forgives him easy peasy? No thanks.

I had two books in this series and I will not be reading the other one. I needed more groveling from him and less body-shaming from her. Absolutely insane.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dog mystery. The local kennel club is full of intrigue as the club secretary sends out blackmail notes along with the newsletter. No one is broken hearted when she is found dead, but who has enough to loose to kill over it. Melanie sorts through too many clues and suspects while her long gone ex shows up wanting a relationship with their son. Giving time with their son cures her ex of any illusions of parenting always being fun and games, while Melanie has time for dog shows and sleuthing. + dog characters + puppy birthing + realistic kid character always hungry and wanting to play unless overtired

[Khanson919 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can not decide how I feel about this book. The mystery itself was good. It had a lot of different suspects and the solution was not predictable. My bigger problem was how I felt about the main character Melanie Travis. I can not stand when a character lets themselves get pushed around, even when it is done with the best intentions. And Melanie gets pushed around by her aunt, and her ex-husband. I am not sure why so many authors who write in the cozy genre want to make their characters such pushovers, or people who get forced into situations that they do not want anything to do with. I just feel that you can have a sweet and kind lead character without making them a wimp.

[Rudolfssan Hammarberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of the books in this series! They are great fun with lots of humerous situations. I specially like the detailes of everything dog-breeding and dog-show related! Laurien Berenson really knows how it is to live this life with dogs, children (yes in that order) ;) and all people that are involved to make the wheeles spin around. I rate her book with 5 stars just because of her ability to give us an interesting and funny story with the dog-world knowledge.

[Tonya Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ex husband thrown in

Melanie is getting better at understanding standard poodles and what to look for in show dogs but when she went with her aunt one night ti a meeting some in their club dies. And if course aunt peg appointed her to find out who. On top of that she doesnt know what to do with her unexpected ex husband.

[Virna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really disappointed in this book. I didn't like the main characters, she criticizes everyone and is a hypocrite, one minute she complain about the amount of read meat her Aunt eat and the next she is making meatloaf for dinner and I did care about the dogs in the book plus the plot lack in the end, I felt rush.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good cozy murder mystery book. I originally picked it out because of the cover and the plot about beagles. If you enjoy cozy murder mysteries and/or fiction about dog shows, you will enjoy it.

Things I liked;
- Quick read
- I love that it is about dogs, especially beagles
- Interesting plot- I wasn't able to predict the ending on this one

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was charming to go back and read an early Melanie story. Dave’s is 5 and Faith is just a puppy!! Aunt Peg is the same. Melanie’s relationship with Sam is pretty new. Bob, Davey’s father, and Melanie’s ex is in town after almost 5 years and is thinking about joint custody. Not to mention a murder to solve!!

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

What cute reads this series is! It's a great title to pick up between much more complex reads.

I read to be entertained, and Berenson does just that! I enjoy reading more about Melanie Travis, and having her ex show up added more humor to the story.

[Mary Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light Read

The Melanie Travis books are a fun, light read for someone who likes books that feature dogs. Nothing deep or intricate here, and not many surprises, but it's enjoyable to relax with.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book a long time ago and now when I got around to it, I wondered why. It has way too much about dogs in it for my interest now, and is a cozy mystery, so two strikes against it for my current reading taste. I only read a little and stopped. You might enjoy it if you love dogs.