Dollycas's Thoughts
Racehorses and dogs come together as Melanie, Bertie and Peg head to the Kentuckiana Dog Show Cluster and to check out Peg's new inheritance. They aren't just horsing around either when one of Peg's old friends, Ellie Gates Wanamaker, is found dead. Accident or murder, Peg is like a dog with a bone to get answers.
I am so late to the Melanie Travis Mystery Party and I still don't understand how I have missed this series. But let me tell you, Laurien Berenson made me feel right at home. I jumped right into this story and enjoyed it immensely. She gave enough of a backstory that I never felt lost or that I was missing some important details. That is hard to do with a long standing series as this. I love these characters and want to go back up and read much more about them and find out how this wonderful group came together.
The only hesitation I had was understanding the horse breeding, selling, training processes but that is a very complicated thing unless you live in that world. It was totally on me not on the author's storytelling.
I so enjoyed learning about the wonderful poodles and the Jack Russell Terriers. As a parent to two Border Collie/Blue Heeler mixes, I understand clearly how each breed has their own tendencies, traits and idiosyncrasies. No matter what they are we love them and the author's love was shining from the beginning of this story until the end.
Laurien Berenson writes a heck of a mystery too. Right up until the end we were guessing about what happened and why and who was responsible. It went right down to the wire just like a great horse race.
I am excited to read more of these stories, catching up and going forward.
Thank you Ms. Berenson for a delightful story to curl up with.
Racehorses and dogs come together as Melanie, Bertie and Peg head to the Kentuckiana Dog Show Cluster and to check out Peg's new inheritance. They aren't just horsing around either when one of Peg's old friends, Ellie Gates Wanamaker, is found dead. Accident or murder, Peg is like a dog with a bone to get answers.
I am so late to the Melanie Travis Mystery Party and I still don't understand how I have missed this series. But let me tell you, Laurien Berenson made me feel right at home. I jumped right into this story and enjoyed it immensely. She gave enough of a backstory that I never felt lost or that I was missing some important details. That is hard to do with a long standing series as this. I love these characters and want to go back up and read much more about them and find out how this wonderful group came together.
The only hesitation I had was understanding the horse breeding, selling, training processes but that is a very complicated thing unless you live in that world. It was totally on me not on the author's storytelling.
I so enjoyed learning about the wonderful poodles and the Jack Russell Terriers. As a parent to two Border Collie/Blue Heeler mixes, I understand clearly how each breed has their own tendencies, traits and idiosyncrasies. No matter what they are we love them and the author's love was shining from the beginning of this story until the end.
Laurien Berenson writes a heck of a mystery too. Right up until the end we were guessing about what happened and why and who was responsible. It went right down to the wire just like a great horse race.
I am excited to read more of these stories, catching up and going forward.
Thank you Ms. Berenson for a delightful story to curl up with.
I have fallen in love with Standard Poodles since I have read this series. Unfortunately, I cannot have that big a dog in our condo. Sigh. This book, "Live and Let Growl", is another winner, even though the only poodle in this one is the inimitable Faith. She is enough. Melanie, Aunt Peg and Bertie are in Kentucky. Peg is judging a dog show there and working on knowing the horse business. A friend has left her a pregnant broodmare and she wants to find out what she can about thoroughbreds. Bertie is showing dogs and Melanie is along for the ride. Of course they run into murder. There are a number of twists and turns and I was surprised by the ending. It was a fun read and I highly recommend reading it, as well as the rest of the series.
Live and Let Growl by Laurien Berenson is the nineteenth Melanie Travis Mystery. Melanie Travis is looking forward to spring break. Then it is sprung on her by her family that she is going with Aunt Peg to Kentucky. Aunt Peg has just inherited a thoroughbred named Lucky Luna and wants to check it out. Aunt Peg (Margaret Turnbull) is also a judge of Standard Poodles in a dog show nearby. Before checking out the horse, they meet up with Ellie Gates Wanamaker. She is an old friend of Peg's (she used to raise Standard Poodles until a car accident). Ellie is bright, energetic and vibrant woman. Peg gets her to agree to come for a day at the dog show. The next day they hear that Ellie died in an accident on the family farm. Peg is not sure it is an accident and wants to investigate (actually, have Melanie look into it). Melanie agrees to explore the possibilities (talk to some people, look at the accident site). Who wanted Ellie dead? Can Melanie and Peg find the culprit before there is another "accident"?
Live and Let Growl was well-written and contained good characters. I felt Aunt Peg was little overbearing and Melanie easily pushed or manipulated. The story got bogged down, though, with all the details about dog shows and thoroughbred horses (it was very confusing). The pace of the book did pick up during the last ten percent of the book. The mystery was no puzzle despite the writer's attempts at misdirection and to lead the reader down a different path. I kept hoping for a good twist (I ended up inventing my own). Live and Let Growl can be read as a stand-alone book. The author does a good job of updating the reader on the characters, habits, and past adventures. I give Live and Let Growl 3.5 out of 5 stars. The books focus was just not on the mystery which was disappointing. Will I read the next book in the series? Yes. I believe I might like the book more without all the dog show judging details (the judging is extremely perplexing) combined with the horse information (it was a little too much information for one novel). I am glad that I did read this book because it introduced me to a new series and author.
I received a complimentary copy of Live and Let Growl from NetGalley in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel.
Live and Let Growl was well-written and contained good characters. I felt Aunt Peg was little overbearing and Melanie easily pushed or manipulated. The story got bogged down, though, with all the details about dog shows and thoroughbred horses (it was very confusing). The pace of the book did pick up during the last ten percent of the book. The mystery was no puzzle despite the writer's attempts at misdirection and to lead the reader down a different path. I kept hoping for a good twist (I ended up inventing my own). Live and Let Growl can be read as a stand-alone book. The author does a good job of updating the reader on the characters, habits, and past adventures. I give Live and Let Growl 3.5 out of 5 stars. The books focus was just not on the mystery which was disappointing. Will I read the next book in the series? Yes. I believe I might like the book more without all the dog show judging details (the judging is extremely perplexing) combined with the horse information (it was a little too much information for one novel). I am glad that I did read this book because it introduced me to a new series and author.
I received a complimentary copy of Live and Let Growl from NetGalley in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel.
Regina C. (flyinggems) reviewed Live and Let Growl (Melanie Travis, Bk 19) on + 436 more book reviews
This is book 19 in the Melanie Travis series
Aunt Peg decides that Melanie should accompany her on a trip to Kentucky where she is a judge at a Kentucky dog show and she wants to check out her inheritance. While in Kentucky Aunt Peg visits a poodle competitor from the past. When tragedy strikes Aunt Peg cannot leave Kentucky without figuring out what happened.
I did not really care for this book. The mystery was lacking. Aunt Peg was more annoying in this book than others.
Melanie Travis
1. A Pedigree to Die For (1995)
2. Underdog (1996)
3. Dog Eat Dog (1996)
4. Hair of the Dog (1997)
5. Watchdog (1998)
6. Hush Puppy (1999)
7. Unleashed (2000)
8. Once Bitten (2001)
9. Hot Dog (2002)
10. Best in Show (2003)
11. Jingle Bell Bark (2004)
12. Raining Cats and Dogs (2005)
13. Chow Down (2006)
14. Hounded To Death (2007)
15. Doggie Day Care Murder (2008)
16. Gone With the Woof (2013)
17. Death of a Dog Whisperer (2014)
18. The Bark Before Christmas (2015)
19. Live and Let Growl (2016)
20. Murder at the Puppy Fest (2017)
21. Wagging through the Snow (2017)
22. Ruff Justice (2018)
Aunt Peg decides that Melanie should accompany her on a trip to Kentucky where she is a judge at a Kentucky dog show and she wants to check out her inheritance. While in Kentucky Aunt Peg visits a poodle competitor from the past. When tragedy strikes Aunt Peg cannot leave Kentucky without figuring out what happened.
I did not really care for this book. The mystery was lacking. Aunt Peg was more annoying in this book than others.
Melanie Travis
1. A Pedigree to Die For (1995)
2. Underdog (1996)
3. Dog Eat Dog (1996)
4. Hair of the Dog (1997)
5. Watchdog (1998)
6. Hush Puppy (1999)
7. Unleashed (2000)
8. Once Bitten (2001)
9. Hot Dog (2002)
10. Best in Show (2003)
11. Jingle Bell Bark (2004)
12. Raining Cats and Dogs (2005)
13. Chow Down (2006)
14. Hounded To Death (2007)
15. Doggie Day Care Murder (2008)
16. Gone With the Woof (2013)
17. Death of a Dog Whisperer (2014)
18. The Bark Before Christmas (2015)
19. Live and Let Growl (2016)
20. Murder at the Puppy Fest (2017)
21. Wagging through the Snow (2017)
22. Ruff Justice (2018)
