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theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
Murder at the Puppy Fest by Laurien Berenson is the twentieth book in A Melanie Travis Canine Mystery series. Melanie Travis is driving her oldest son, Davey home from soccer practice when they see a car toss a puppy out. The pair stop and rescue the poor pooch who gets named Bud by the time they reach home (this little pup has a new home). The next day Melanie is off to help Claire Travis at the Third Annual Puppy Fest sponsored by millionaire Leo Brody. The money from the benefit goes help Puppy Posse, a dog rescue foundation (a very worthy cause). Melanie agreed to help wrangle the pups, but she did not count on finding Leo Brody on the floor in his study. Melanie immediately calls 911, but it is too late to save Leo Brody. The suspect list includes Leo's nine children and several of his grandchildren. The person who killed Brody knew his routine and about his nut allergy. Melanie had decided to not get involved in the investigation, until she speaks with Libby (thanks to Aunt Peg’s meddling). Libby Rothko, one of Leo Brody’s daughters, is confident that her father was murdered. Someone deliberately left him cookies spiked with nuts. Melanie agrees when she hears that Leo’s EpiPen was gone from his desk. Libby arranges for Melanie to talk to her siblings to help gather clues and find the culprit. Unfortunately, this does not help to narrow down the suspect list. Every single one of them had a motive to harm Leo. The killer, though, does not wish to be caught. What will the murderer due to avoid capture?
Murder at the Puppy Fest is well-written and has a good pace which makes for an easy to read (and engaging) cozy mystery. I thought the characters well-developed, relatable and entertaining. The only person I am not fond of is Aunt Peg (nosy, controlling busy body). Though, she does provide some humor. I like Melanie, Sam and her two kids. It is a nice change to have a married main character (instead of someone who is dating). While Murder at the Puppy Fest is the twentieth book in the series, it can be read alone (you might find it helpful to read A Pedigree to Die For). Readers are provided the necessary background details on Melanie and her family. I give Murder at the Puppy Fest 4.5 out of 5 stars. The mystery is slightly complicated, but avid cozy mystery readers should be able to resolve it before the reveal. Other readers will be surprised when the solution is revealed. The author provides good clues to help readers solve the whodunit. It is interesting to get an inside look at dog shows. I had no idea so much went into preparing the dog and the judging criteria. I look forward to reading Wagging through the Snow when it comes out.
Murder at the Puppy Fest is well-written and has a good pace which makes for an easy to read (and engaging) cozy mystery. I thought the characters well-developed, relatable and entertaining. The only person I am not fond of is Aunt Peg (nosy, controlling busy body). Though, she does provide some humor. I like Melanie, Sam and her two kids. It is a nice change to have a married main character (instead of someone who is dating). While Murder at the Puppy Fest is the twentieth book in the series, it can be read alone (you might find it helpful to read A Pedigree to Die For). Readers are provided the necessary background details on Melanie and her family. I give Murder at the Puppy Fest 4.5 out of 5 stars. The mystery is slightly complicated, but avid cozy mystery readers should be able to resolve it before the reveal. Other readers will be surprised when the solution is revealed. The author provides good clues to help readers solve the whodunit. It is interesting to get an inside look at dog shows. I had no idea so much went into preparing the dog and the judging criteria. I look forward to reading Wagging through the Snow when it comes out.
cwinter8916's review against another edition
Couldn’t get into it. I thought it was drawn out and boring.
inmyhumbleopinion's review against another edition
5.0
How could I not have known about this series? I saw the cover and read the blurb and never realized it was part of a series. And you know what? It didn’t matter. I read this cozy mystery and enjoyed every page. The author knows and is comfortable with her characters and you will be too. The mystery kept me guessing and the characters kept me laughing. I learned a whole lot about poodles and you can be sure I will be checking out the previous books.
reginasharinette_71's review against another edition
3.0
I always love this series but this is the second book in the series when the killer was reviled but was not brought to justice. So I really enjoyed the book but I didn't like the ending.
morticia32's review against another edition
3.0
Book 20 in the series.
I'm not a regular reader of the series, so I can honestly say that you don't have to have read the rest of the books to follow along on this one.
Like all the Melanie Travis books I have read, this is a fun one. The story was fast-paced and a quick read, and of course, there are puppies! I love Melanie and her family, especially the Poodles, (though it still perplexes me why Poodle is capitalized....) and even Aunt Peg.
My only minor complaint is the sort of wishy-washy resolution to the murder mystery. I can't say much else without it being spoiler-y. Suffice it to say, I prefer a more definitive ending.
*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley.*
I'm not a regular reader of the series, so I can honestly say that you don't have to have read the rest of the books to follow along on this one.
Like all the Melanie Travis books I have read, this is a fun one. The story was fast-paced and a quick read, and of course, there are puppies! I love Melanie and her family, especially the Poodles, (though it still perplexes me why Poodle is capitalized....) and even Aunt Peg.
My only minor complaint is the sort of wishy-washy resolution to the murder mystery. I can't say much else without it being spoiler-y. Suffice it to say, I prefer a more definitive ending.
*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley.*
lunifur's review against another edition
4.0
**I voluntarily read this ARC**
I definitely have mixed feelings about this one. Overall it was interesting, and I loved Kevin and the dogs. The mystery was really good until it got to the motive. I also really didn't like Aunt Peg's attitude towards mutts, but I liked that pound puppies were a big part of the book.
I definitely have mixed feelings about this one. Overall it was interesting, and I loved Kevin and the dogs. The mystery was really good until it got to the motive. I also really didn't like Aunt Peg's attitude towards mutts, but I liked that pound puppies were a big part of the book.
aspygirlsmom_1995's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
dollycas's review
5.0
Dollycas’s Thoughts
A Puppy Fest sounds like a great fundraiser and a lot of fun, until the the millionaire hosting the gala is found dead and Melanie is the one that finds him with his mistress right next to his body. He appears to have had a severe allergic reaction to nuts in some cookies. (Same allergy I have.) The man, Leo Brody not only had millions, he had 3 ex-wives and 9 children and several grandchildren too. All of who will be inheriting his millions. One of his offspring believes his death was no accident and she wants Melanie to find out who did him in.
A subplot involving a dog rescue also brings a new four legged friend to Melanie’s house too.
I get a huge smile on my face when I start reading these stories. Melanie, husband Sam, sons Davey and Kevin, along with their Standard Poodles, Faith, Tar, Augie, Eve and Raven, make a pretty full household but they seem to have everything down to a science. Melanie and Sam are very organized because they have to be. They are pretty easy going and most of the time the boys a very well behaved. Melanie’s Aunt Peg stops by almost daily. She is a little pushy for my tastes but her heart is in the right place.
In this installment, Melanie has been recruited to help wrangle puppies as they get ready for the puppy bowl, part of the Puppy Fest raising money for a local dog rescue. She doesn’t get off on the right foot with the rescue owner and is set on various errands were she meets most of the Brody family. They are quite a bunch. When their father/grandfather ends up dead she is forced to meet with each of them again. Yes, they are all suspects but she finds herself stumped as to who actually would have killed the man. The author has created very unique characters. Their tumultuous upbringing has effecting each of them in a different way.
The story moves right along because Melanie and her family have a very busy life with work, soccer camp, dog shows and preparation, and general family things. Add trying to solve whether Joe Brody death was accidental or murder isn’t really her first concern, especially when she really has no skin in the game. She is not a suspect and no one she loves is a suspect, but she does love to try to solve this mysteries. But her investigation can put her and the people she loves in danger.
Again Laurien Berenson’s characters and their situations keep us engaged from the very first page. The subplot I mentioned above starts the whole story and while I really enjoyed the mystery, this was my favorite part of the book. Davey wrapped himself right around my heart and when the story ended I wanted to reach right into the pages and give him a huge hug.
Cozy lovers and dog lovers this book should be on your summer reading list. Whether you are a fan of the series or it is brand new to you the story can be read on its own. Warning – After that you may want to read the whole series 🙂
A Puppy Fest sounds like a great fundraiser and a lot of fun, until the the millionaire hosting the gala is found dead and Melanie is the one that finds him with his mistress right next to his body. He appears to have had a severe allergic reaction to nuts in some cookies. (Same allergy I have.) The man, Leo Brody not only had millions, he had 3 ex-wives and 9 children and several grandchildren too. All of who will be inheriting his millions. One of his offspring believes his death was no accident and she wants Melanie to find out who did him in.
A subplot involving a dog rescue also brings a new four legged friend to Melanie’s house too.
I get a huge smile on my face when I start reading these stories. Melanie, husband Sam, sons Davey and Kevin, along with their Standard Poodles, Faith, Tar, Augie, Eve and Raven, make a pretty full household but they seem to have everything down to a science. Melanie and Sam are very organized because they have to be. They are pretty easy going and most of the time the boys a very well behaved. Melanie’s Aunt Peg stops by almost daily. She is a little pushy for my tastes but her heart is in the right place.
In this installment, Melanie has been recruited to help wrangle puppies as they get ready for the puppy bowl, part of the Puppy Fest raising money for a local dog rescue. She doesn’t get off on the right foot with the rescue owner and is set on various errands were she meets most of the Brody family. They are quite a bunch. When their father/grandfather ends up dead she is forced to meet with each of them again. Yes, they are all suspects but she finds herself stumped as to who actually would have killed the man. The author has created very unique characters. Their tumultuous upbringing has effecting each of them in a different way.
The story moves right along because Melanie and her family have a very busy life with work, soccer camp, dog shows and preparation, and general family things. Add trying to solve whether Joe Brody death was accidental or murder isn’t really her first concern, especially when she really has no skin in the game. She is not a suspect and no one she loves is a suspect, but she does love to try to solve this mysteries. But her investigation can put her and the people she loves in danger.
Again Laurien Berenson’s characters and their situations keep us engaged from the very first page. The subplot I mentioned above starts the whole story and while I really enjoyed the mystery, this was my favorite part of the book. Davey wrapped himself right around my heart and when the story ended I wanted to reach right into the pages and give him a huge hug.
Cozy lovers and dog lovers this book should be on your summer reading list. Whether you are a fan of the series or it is brand new to you the story can be read on its own. Warning – After that you may want to read the whole series 🙂
staceyjade92's review against another edition
3.0
I will admit, I only picked up this book because it had dogs on the cover. Turns out it was #20 in a series, but that didn't matter when it came to understanding the basis of the story.
While it was a quick read and I enjoyed the many canine characters, the murder mystery at the heart of the plot didn't grab me. More than halfway through, I still couldn't work out why Melanie Travis felt it was any of her business to be interviewing suspects or why the Brody siblings seemed happy to speak to her. When it did reach its conclusion, the ending felt rushed and lacking closure.
Safe to say I won't be going out of my way to read another of these books but it wasn't terrible for a bit of light reading.
While it was a quick read and I enjoyed the many canine characters, the murder mystery at the heart of the plot didn't grab me. More than halfway through, I still couldn't work out why Melanie Travis felt it was any of her business to be interviewing suspects or why the Brody siblings seemed happy to speak to her. When it did reach its conclusion, the ending felt rushed and lacking closure.
Safe to say I won't be going out of my way to read another of these books but it wasn't terrible for a bit of light reading.
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