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Melanie Travis has made a welcome return in Laurien Berenson's entertaining series featuring the divorced mother of now seven-year-old, Davey, teacher and poodle owner. Melanie's personal life has become somewhat complicated. Her former fiancé, Sam, has returned after taking a hiatus from their relationship. He expects them to take up where they had left off, but Melanie's trust in him has been badly eroded. Also on hand is her ex-husband Bob, Davey's father, who has decided that perhaps he does want to be a husband and father now that he's more mature than he was when he walked out years ago because he couldn't take the responsibilities. But Melanie's complicated romantic life goes on the back burner. Her Aunt Rose, an ex-nun and her laicized-priest husband have accepted a pedigree Dachshund to be auctioned off at a charity event. Aunt Peg, the dog expert and Melanie's mentor in the world of dog shows, is appalled. Besides, she and her sister-in-law have never gotten along in all the decades they have known one another. So Melanie is now foster mother to the Dachshund which doesn't seem to upset her own two poodles that much. However the little dog is going to cause more problems as it has become a pawn in a very bitter divorce. The soon to be ex-husband received custody of the potentially money making dog and donated it to the auction only to hurt his spouse. Meanwhile an ambitious young television news reporter, Jill, and her camera man are following Melanie everywhere she goes. The reporter is certain that Melanie will soon discover yet another murder victim. Jill is determined that trailing after the "body magnet" will be her exclusive and give her a job on one of the networks. Melanie tries to convince her otherwise, but to no avail. But more sinister things are happening. Someone has been in Melanie's house. Could it be the reporter or is someone else stalking her as well. She is also somewhat concerned that Davey has become too taken with a new woman in Bob's life. This woman raises ponies and horses which few youngsters could resist. When the Dachshund is stolen, the list of suspects mounts and Melanie, while worried about her own safety, is much more concerned about Davey. HOT DOG is an entertaining story with engaging characters. As in all good series, the reader becomes involved in the lives of the characters and wants to find out more about them. This installment does not disappoint. Recommended for all readers of the amateur sleuth as well as dog lovers. I must admit, however, that reading Berenson and Susan Conant, I watch dog shows on Animal Planet just waiting for a handler or owner to be murdered. These shows are dangerous places in their wonderful books.
Reviewed by Doris Ann Norris, October 2002
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