“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, including a bitter ex-wife, spurned mistress, and ambitious second-in-command. But she’s about to learn that being a watchdog can be dangerous—especially when every clue leads her one step closer to a murderer desperate enough to kill again…
 
“Berenson’s writing is as warm and fuzzy as the dogs.”—Publishers Weekly