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Married life is good for Melanie Travis and husband Sam. The part about sharing a small house with Davey and five Standard Poodles is OK, but househunting is a weekly family event. So is Melanie's newest dog class. She and Faith, one of the poodles, are taking an obedience class; Melanie would really like to do something dog-oriented that isn't directly connected to her well-known, well-connected (in the dog world) and very controlling Aunt Peg, who is doing Agility. Obedience class is the usual motley assortment of dogs and their owners. The Akita needs a stronger hand, the Papillon has an owner who baby-talks, the Doberman and his owner are well-suited both in looks and temperament. Anyone who has ever taken a dog training class knows how these things shake out. Paul Lennox has a sable Cardigan Welsh Corgi, and it is at Paul's suggestion that the group visit a local retirement community. Paul's Great Aunt Mary is a resident and misses her dogs. So the group has been going en masse on Sunday afternoons. Melanie and Faith agree to go. On their very first visit, Great Aunt Mary is killed. Paul has heard of Melanie's exploits and asks her to do some investigating. Melanie is reluctant; Sam has never been enthusiastic about these kinds of thing, and the glow is still on the marriage vows. Aunt Peg, however, prods her and Sam refuses to put his foot down. So Melanie begins to ask questions. Sometimes she gets answers and sometimes not. Adding to her stress level is the new next-door neighbor, a comely young thing with the bad habit of wandering around in a nightie and peignoir. She does have a husband, who seems to be primarily absent. She also has seven cats, at least two of whom think the dogs next door are fair game for teasing and tormenting. Amber is not inclined to rein in her felines. Fans of Berenson will be delighted with RAINING CATS & DOGS; it lives up to her previous works. Berenson is particularly good at conveying relationships without belaboring a point. It is quite easy to visualize the newly-married bliss of Melanie and Sam without getting an overdose of sweetness and light. The changing relationships between Bob the ex-husband and Melanie is pleasant -- it's great to see people who can actually get along after a divorce, although there is no sense that all concerned aren't aware of the reasons for the break-up. Realism without brutality. While it isn't necessary to have read the back-list in order to enjoy RAINING CATS & DOGS, there are nuances which readers of the series will appreciate. Anyone reading Berenson for the first time will have the treat of knowing there are plenty more to read. I look forward to more in the series.
Reviewed by P. J. Coldren, November 2005
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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