It's Christmas again, and Melanie Travis barely has time to pencil in some holiday festivities. Especially once she finds herself making a list of murder suspects--and checking it twice. . . This year, all Melanie wants for Christmas is a dull moment. Between her son Davey, her teaching job, and showing her Standard Poodle puppy, Eve, there just aren't enough hours in the day. But when Davey's usual bus driver, Henry Pruitt, disappears and is replaced by a surly, pierced, twentysomething, Melanie is concerned. The elderly, amiable Henry was a friend to all in the neighborhood, so she decides to check on him. . .only to find that he died two days earlier, under suspicious circumstances. As if that weren't bad enough, Henry's two Golden Retrievers are now bereft of both master and home. Melanie can't just abandon them, so she brings them to her Aunt Peg, the most stubborn woman on the planet, who's now determined to find out the truth about Henry's death, no matter what it takes. Soon, the indomitable Aunt Peg has Melanie leashed to another murder investigation. And unless she sniffs out this Scrooge of a killer fast, a lump of coal in her stocking may not be the worst thing Melanie gets this Christmas. . .

A mystery from the Agatha Award finalist: “Melanie’s poodles are as lovable and real as the story’s human characters.”—Publishers Weekly In an effort to escape tail-chasing males—namely her ex-husband and her current boyfriend—Melanie Travis opts to track down the elusive owner of Dox, an adorable Dachshund who's about to be put on the block at a charity auction. But the more Melanie discovers about the pup’s background, the messier the case gets. It seems Dox is part of a divorced couple’s emotional tug of war. As if tiptoeing through the minefield of a broken marriage isn’t nerve-wracking enough, there’s also Melanie’s stalker—or stalkers—to deal with. The obvious pair is a pesky local TV crew who figure Melanie’s nose for trouble will lead them to the next big story. But what’s truly frightening is the presence of someone far more sinister. Someone who’s gotten into Melanie’s house at night, and stolen her wallet. Someone who’s dognapped Dox. With doggy abduction and her son’s safety on her mind, Melanie’s determination grows. Soon, it looks like her life may be the next thing up for auction… “A rare breed of writer.”—The Plain Dealer

"Fresh, lively writing, a tough mystery, light humor, and insight into the peculiarities of human and canine behavior." —Booklist It's autumn in Connecticut. Melanie Travis has just started a new job, and with the added excitement of showing her Standard Poodle, Faith, in the fall shows, the last thing she wants is to become embroiled in yet another of her brother Frank's moneymaking schemes. His current brainstorm—remaking an old store in stylish suburban Fairfield County into a trendy coffee bar—already has the neighbors snarling. Worse, wealthy Marcus Rattigan, who's bankrolling the project, is found murdered on the premises, and the police think Frank did it. Always the family watchdog, and faced with Frank's imminent arrest, Melanie has no choice but to take on the investigation. Drawing on her connections in the dog world, Melanie is soon successfully unmuzzling the dead man's nearest and dearest. But Melanie is about to learn that being a watchdog can sometimes be dangerous—especially when every clue she uncovers leads her one step closer to a murderer who is desperate enough to kill again . . .

A special novella that looks back on Christmas past, as a young Melanie Travis teams up with her aunt to solve a family mystery… Ever wonder what Melanie and Aunt Peg were up to before solving murders? Let’s step back in time, when college-aged Melanie and her indomitable Aunt Peg were little more than strangers… It’s Christmas in Connecticut, and Peg Turnbull can’t wait to spend her favorite holiday cozying up to husband Max and their clan of pedigree Poodles in Greenwich. But Peg’s spirits drop when the family of Max’s estranged brother Michael invites the pair over for Christmas dinner. Could her in-laws want to settle the long-standing feud over Nana’s will? Peg isn’t expecting any miracles, but it’s been ages since Peg last saw her niece and nephew. Little Melanie must be out of pigtails by now… When they arrive at the Turnbulls’, Peg is not just surprised by how much Melanie has grown up. The family has spared no expense in preparing for the festivities—unusual, considering Michael blew his inheritance after years of financial troubles. Peg suspects there’s an awful secret tucked beneath her brother-in-law’s ostentatious good cheer, and she’s determined to get to the bottom of it. Once she does, someone’s ending up in the doghouse… “If you like dogs, you'll love Laurien Berenson's Melanie Travis mysteries!”—Joanne Fluke, New York Times bestselling author

It's Christmas time, and the puppy dog pals are determined to make sure the holidays are pup-tastic!

A mom goes undercover to locate a purloined poodle—and a killer—in this series debut with “a solution that packs a surprising amount of surprise” (Kirkus Reviews). The apparent heart attack that killed kennel owner Max Turnbull has left seven pups in mourning, and his wife Peg suspecting foul play. But the only evidence is their missing prize pooch—a pedigreed poodle named Beau. Enter Melanie Travis. With her young son happily ensconced in day camp, the thirty-something teacher and single mother is talked into investigating her uncle’s death—unofficially, of course. Posing as a poodle breeder in search of the perfect stud, Melanie hounds Connecticut’s elite canine competitions, and finds an ally in fellow breeder Sam Driver. But her affection cools when she's put on the scent of Sam’s questionable past…and hot on the trail of a poodle-hating neighbor and one elusive murderer who isn't ready to come to heel. For, as Melanie soon discovers, in a championship dog-eat-dog world, the instinct for survival, and winning, can prove fatal. “Naturally flowing prose, extended suspense, and an infectiously upbeat single mother as protagonist make this a special treat.”—Library Journal “A bonanza for ardent dog fanciers and for others, a likable heroine in a smoothly paced romantic mystery.”—Publishers Weekly

Finalists in a contest to become the "spokesdog" for a new dog food, Melanie Travis and her standard poodle Faith watch in horror as the competition turns deadly when the handler of a Yorkshire terrier is murdered. Reprint.

An illustrated version of the famous Christmas song.

"Antiques dealer Weezie Foley and her best friend BeBe Loudermilk are feeling a little overwhelmed as the December holidays approach in Savannah. Weezie is trying to prepare for her Christmas wedding to Daniel Stipanek while he's off in New York City working as a guest chef for the beautiful Carlotta Carlucci. The very pregnant BeBe is set to deliver at any minute, although she refuses to marry the baby's father, even though she's in love with him."--Library Journal.