Pup Fiction

Agatha and Macavity nominee Laurien Berenson's latest escapade in her long-running Melanie Travis Canine Mystery series finds a killer showing up in summer camp.

With a new litter of Standard Poodles on the way, it's shaping up to be a vibrant July in Greenwich, Connecticut, for Melanie Travis. Too bad there's a killer in town who would love to drain the life out of her summer . . .

While usually protective, Melanie feels comfortable sending her sons to the Graceland School's summer camp for two reasons: the institution is well-regarded and proprietor Emily Grace is a trusted friend. But Emily has been acting strange since three rambunctious Dalmatian puppies suddenly appeared on her doorstep. The unusual arrival marks the first of several mysterious happenings at camp, each more intense than the last. It's a rough streak that takes a frightening turn with a discovery in the nearby woods-the body of Emily's estranged ex-husband.

Proving that Emily didn't murder her biggest mistake will be about as easy as raising prize-winning show dogs. But Melanie dives into an investigation on the victim's whereabouts leading up to his demise. With a few spotty clues and Aunt Peg's growing curiosity about the Dalmatian pups' origins, Melanie must name the culprit before good intentions come back to bite!