Wagging through the Snow
Wagging through the Snow by Laurien Berenson Kensington Books Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date 26 Sep 2017
Review
If you love dogs and mysteries, you should take the time to read Laurien Berenson’s novels. She does a wonderful job portraying the unique personalities of dogs, in particular standard poodles. Wagging Through the Snow is a light mystery that s perfect for an evening relaxing with a cup of cocoa. The mystery isn't much of a puzzle, but that doesn't mean it isn't easy to enjoy. Melanie Travis and her family are fun to observe and easy to like. But if you are looking for a serious hard bitten mystery this will not be your cup of tea. This is simply a light holiday cozy.
When Melanie’s brother buys a dilapidated Christmas tree farm, it comes with an unexpected addition - a dead body accompanied by a small Maltese. At first it looks like the homeless man died accidentally while drunk. But a friend of his is adamant that he stopped drinking several months before. As Melanie and her Aunt Peg have plenty of experience investigating murders, it is no surprise that Melanie begins poking around, looking into the man’s past. His alcoholism left a trail of destruction in its path, and no one seems particularly unhappy that Pete is dead - but was something in his past enough to cause him to be murdered?
Wagging Through the Snow is an enjoyable mystery, perfect for de-stressing after a long day. If you are looking for a nice, family friendly holiday mystery, it’s a great choice.
4 / 5
I received a copy of Wagging Through the Snow from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
Description
“If you like dogs, you’ll love Laurien Berenson’s Melanie Travis mysteries!” —Joanne Fluke, New York Times bestselling author Melanie Travis needs a little peace from her busy life this Christmas. But the usual holiday hubbub is a joy compared to the killer surprise she finds tucked underneath the tree . . . With a demanding teaching job at Connecticut’s elite Howard Academy and five poodles scampering around the house, Melanie barely has energy for the upcoming Christmas rush. But she unwraps an unexpected challenge when her brother and ex-husband, elated by the recent success of their country café, make a spontaneous bid on a dilapidated pine tree farm. Although the ten-acre lot had been a popular seasonal destination while the original owner was still alive, it’ll take some sprucing up—and a small miracle or two—before the neglected place is in shape for December. Unfortunately, the impromptu business venture goes cold when the group discovers a purebred Maltese whimpering in the snow-covered grove—right beside a dead body. Pete, a squatter who camped out on the land, apparently met his end after a fallen fir tree branch knocked him on the head. But as Melanie and Aunt Peg investigate Pete’s history and the terrible habit that cost him everything, it’s clear his death was no accident. Now, Melanie must run through a flurry of likely suspects and muzzle a dogged murderer in time—or she’ll be next on someone’s deadly list.
