Welcome! Murder in the First Edition by Lauren Elliott releases on September 24 along with New Beginning at Christmas Lodge by Charlotte Hubbard. Valleys, Vehicles and Victims by Tonya Kappes is out on September 27. It is the latest A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery. The MacInnes Affair by Blair McDowell is available on September 30.
Here Comes Santa Paws by Laurien Berenson takes us back to North Stamford, Connecticut in December. Melanie Travis is at Aunt Peg’s playing with
three puppies that were left in a decorative stocking at the end the driveway
when she gets a call from Claire Travis. Claire, an event planner and personal
shopper, was dropping off packages for a client and found her dead in the
living room. Melanie rushes over at Claire’s
request and is there when she is questioned by Detective Hronis. Claire’s client, Lila Moran lived in the gatehouse
on a vast estate with a reclusive owner.
It seems that Lila was tight-lipped about her private life and her past is
elusive. With Claire at the top of the
suspect list, Melanie and Aunt Peg turn in their Santa hats for deerstalker
caps. Will they be able to clear Claire’s
name before Christmas or will she end up with a jailhouse stocking full of coal?
Here Comes Santa Paws by Laurien Berenson is the 24th A Melanie Travis Mystery. I always look forward each year to the latest
Melanie Travis Christmas story. They are
always cute and humorous. Here Comes Santa
Paws did not disappoint. I picked up
this book around 8 p.m. and did not put it down until I finished it. It is a well-written and features Laurien
Berenson’s engaging writing. It starts
with Aunt Peg calling Melanie to announce she found three puppies in a
decorative stocking at the end of her driveway (the poor little things). Whoever left them at Aunt Peg’s, though, knew
they she would take good care of them. I had to laugh at the names Aunt Peg bestowed
on these cuties (No, I am not going to tell you and spoil it for you). When Melanie gets a frantic call from Claire
Travis (married to Melanie’s ex-husband), she reluctantly stops playing with
the puppies. Claire has ventured into
personal shopping and she stumbled upon her dead client while dropping off
packages. Aunt Peg is eager to delve
into the mystery and she happens to know the reclusive owner of the estate
where the victim lived in the gatekeeper’s cottage. Melanie Travis has little time for
investigating with Christmas approaching, but she is not going to let down
Claire. I like that Melanie is a
realistic character. Melanie is a
special needs teacher, wife, mother of two active boys, and owns six dogs (five
poodles and Bud). Sam is the perfect
husband for Melanie. I thought it was funny
when Sam asked if he should gather bail money when Melanie departed the house
on a dubious mission. Aunt Peg is her indomitable self as well as intelligent
with good connections. Melanie and Aunt
Peg are perfect sleuthing partners. I
enjoy how Melanie converses with Faith and Faith’s responses to her
queries. The mystery suited the length
of the book. There are a couple of
suspects with good clues to aid readers in solving the whodunit before the reveal. You do not want to miss out on Melanie’s
latest adventure in Here Comes Santa Paws.
I am not sure how Melanie will get everything accomplished before
Christmas—she should engage Claire’s services.
Here Comes Santa Paws is a delightful Christmas cozy mystery with
precious puppies, pushy Aunt Peg, a concerned Claire, saintly Sam, a motivated
Melanie and Christmas cheer.
Here Comes Santa Paws will be out on September 24 and is available at Amazon (Amazon UK) and other major booksellers. You can find the complete list of A Melanie Travis Mystery novels here. Thank you for joining me today. I will return tomorrow to showcase Christmas at Pennington's by Rachel Brimble. It is the third book in the Pennington's series. May you have a jolly day. Take care and Happy Reading!
Kris
The Avid Reader
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