by Sandra Murphy

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of Ruff Justice, and a link to purchase it from Amazon, and an indie bookstore where a portion of the sale goes to help support KRL.

It’s springtime in Connecticut and that means dog shows. Melanie Travis, husband Sam, sons Davey and Kev, and Aunt Peg are regulars on the circuit as Davey tries for the last points needed to finish Augie’s championship. Standard Poodles require a lot of intensive grooming for the show ring, right down to the pompom on their tails. Davey is an even better groomer than Melanie.

Aunt Peg’s reputation as a Poodle breeder and show judge intimidates most people. She’s got a new puppy, Coral, who is ready for her debut. Dog shows tend to attract the same people, no matter the venue, as each is chasing the elusive points. Vendors abound selling dog beds, leashes, brushes, jewelry, and of course, food.

Although they had hopes that Davey and Augie would get their four-point major, that was awarded to another dog. A bigger upset is that a vendor is found dead at the show, strangled with a leash—and Aunt Peg found the body. Ordinarily, it wouldn’t involve Melanie, but Amanda, Peg’s dog sitter, disappeared at the same time. Searching for answers to the disappearance, Melanie also finds clues to the murder.

What I love about these books is that Melanie and Sam have a rich home life, a great relationship and more patience than anyone I know. With a four-year-old kid Kev, five Standard Poodles, and a little mixed breed dog whose curiosity knows no bounds (and who knows no manners), she’s got her hands full. Add in that Melanie tutors rich kids at school and there’s bound to be excitement on all fronts, all the time. Aunt Peg is used to getting her way and isn’t apologetic about it.

Although Melanie is searching for Amanda, she manages to find out a lot of behind the scenes information about other show people. While it may look like one big, happy family on the surface, a closer look reveals most people have secrets they don’t want exposed. In the end, it all comes together to solve the case.

This is the twenty-second book in the series. Readers who love dogs, wonder what it’s really like to be in the show ring, and of course, who love Poodles, will want to read them all. Jump in anywhere. Melanie will welcome you like a long-time friend. Be sure to have plenty of dog treats in your pocket.

To enter to win a copy of Ruff Justice, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “ruff,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen July 21, 2018. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address (so if you win we can get the book sent right out to you), and if via comment please include your email address. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

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Use this link to purchase the book & a portion goes to help support KRL & indie bookstore Mysterious Galaxy:

Ruff Justice

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Sandra Murphy lives in the shadow of the Arch in St. Louis Missouri. She writes about eco-friendly topics, pets and wildlife for magazines and reviews mysteries and thrillers for KRL. A collection of her short stories, published by Untreed Reads, From Hay to Eternity: Ten Tales of Crime and Deception can be found at all the usual outlets. Each one is a little weird and all have a twist you won’t see coming.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases using those links. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.