It’s the most wonderful time of the year in Connecticut, but Melanie Travis finds surviving this December may take a real Christmas miracle when a yuletide murderer comes to town . . . As Melanie attempts to deck the halls in a house overrun by pampered Poodles, her event planner friend, Claire, is busy playing Santa—beard and belly not included—for the wealthiest clientele on Connecticut’s … wealthiest clientele on Connecticut’s Gold Coast. A personal shopper gig in the affluent town of New Canaan seems like business as usual. Except Claire’s stylish stint comes at a higher price than she bargains for when she stumbles over her newest customer’s dead body on the job. Named a prime suspect for murder, she begs for Melanie’s help, then vanishes like cookies and milk on Christmas Eve . . .
Determined to track down Claire, Melanie and her nosy Aunt Peg dash into a dizzying investigation that leads to even more questions. Why was homicide victim Lila Moran, a secretive woman with an untraceable past, permitted to live on a well-known socialite-turned-recluse’s private estate, and is Claire keeping her own incriminating secrets under wraps? Now, with a grinchy New Canaan detective on their case and disturbing clues piling up like presents beneath the tree, the crime-solving duo must rein in a sinister Kris Kringle before they’re the next ones on someone’s deadly wish list . . .
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Laurien Berenson has done it again! A great cozy just in time for the holidays! If you love mysteries with fur babies, you’ll enjoy Here Comes Santa Paws.
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
Melanie Travis, Book #24
Laurien Berenson
5 Stars
Synopsis:
It’s the most wonderful time of the year in Connecticut, but Melanie Travis finds surviving this December may take a real Christmas miracle when a yuletide murderer comes to town . . .
As Melanie attempts to deck the halls in a house overrun by pampered Poodles, her event planner friend, Claire, is busy playing Santa—beard and belly not included—for the wealthiest clientele on Connecticut’s Gold Coast. A personal shopper gig in the affluent town of New Canaan seems like business as usual. Except Claire’s stylish stint comes at a higher price than she bargains for when she stumbles over her newest customer’s dead body on the job. Named a prime suspect for murder, she begs for Melanie’s help, then vanishes like cookies and milk on Christmas Eve . . .
Determined to track down Claire, Melanie and her nosy Aunt Peg dash into a dizzying investigation that leads to even more questions. Why was homicide victim Lila Moran, a secretive woman with an untraceable past, permitted to live on a well-known socialite-turned-recluse’s private estate, and is Claire keeping her own incriminating secrets under wraps? Now, with a grinchy New Canaan detective on their case and disturbing clues piling up like presents beneath the tree, the crime-solving duo must rein in a sinister Kris Kringle before they’re the next ones on someone’s deadly wish list . . .
(Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well developed, well rounded and three dimensional. They all seem very realistic to me, like they could be your next-door neighbor. Melanie is a great wife, mom, friend and crime solver. I really like the fact that Melanie has a family, that makes her seem more down-to-earth to me. And all of the dogs are adorable just like the one on the cover.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The descriptions pulled me into the story right from the very beginning and pulled me along at a nice pace. The mystery was well plotted and not easily solved. Melanie figured out the culprit before I did, which is not unusual.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am already looking forward to the next book in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Christmas in Connecticut this year comes with a case of murder for Melanie Travis and she is wrapped right into it because her friend Claire finds the body and becomes the prime suspect. Claire trying to expand her event planning business has become a private shopper for the well-to-do residents of New Canaan including Lila Moran. She had just stopped by to drop off some presents when she found her client murdered. She panics but calls the police and then calls Melanie.
Melanie with her school on holiday break has plenty of time to snoop, and of course, Aunt Peg includes herself in the amateur investigation. At first, they have more questions than answers and the detective on the case wants them out of his case, but before Santa can come down the chimney he may be wishing he paid more attention to Melanie because she always seems to be one step ahead of him.
Also, Aunt Peg finds something very special in her stocking!
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I love visiting the Travis family, they are always up to something!
It’s holiday season so no dog shows to attend or for Peg to judge but that doesn’t mean drama won’t find these sleuths. Claire is married to Melanie’s first husband but they have become friends. That is part of the reason I love this series, Melanie has a huge open heart and an amazing amount of energy. She is always willing to help friends, family, neighbors, fellow dog owners, actually, anybody, even when it may put her in danger.
A husband, 2 sons, 5 Standard Poodles, 1 spotted mutt, and the formidable Aunt Peg, really keeps Melanie on her toes and that is before you add friends, work, dog shows, everyday life, and a murder. Ms. Berenson has created a fantastic protagonist and surrounded her with a marvelous supporting cast. They are credible and real. I could see myself dropping by Melanie’s house for a cup of coffee while enjoying not only her company but plenty of canine love.
In this installment, Melanie does her best but hits a wall while investigating the victim. Aunt Peg just may have a way to help her out. A few suspects in addition to Claire finally come to light and I enjoyed following step by step along with Melanie right up to a very exciting ending. Wow, the edge of my seat, check!
This holiday story was a quick read and as with the previous books in this series, held my attention was beginning to end. The characters are engaging, the mystery is well-plotted and the story leaves me excitedly waiting for the next one.
Reading Here Comes Santa Paws is a great way to kick off your holiday season and would make a great gift for the dog lovers on your list. Ms. Berenson writes each story to stand on its own so don’t be put off by it being number 24 in the series. I do predict that after reading this one you are going to want to read more about Melanie Travis and her wonderful family though. Woof!
A fun holiday cozy! I love Melanie and her family of poodles. These books are always such a delight to read. In this book, Melanie’s ex-husband’s wife, Claire, who has become a good friend of Melanie’s, stumbles across a dead body. Claire is an event planner and has decided to add personal shopper to her job description to earn a little extra at the holidays. The woman she finds dead was a client and Claire calls Melanie for help. The woman that died was Lila Moran and was referred to Claire by a woman that Claire had planned several events for. Lila was an employee at the company where the woman’s husband worked, so Melanie chats with this woman and another who had worked with Lila. She also chats with a man whom Lila was supposedly dating. Claire informs Melanie that she had run a background check on Lila and discovered that Lila apparently didn’t exist until 5 years before. Despite the red flag, she took on Lila as a client. This was an intriguing book as we try to figure out who Lila actually was, why she was living on the Mannerly estate, and who would have wanted to kill her. Aunt Peg gets a surprise of 3 puppies left at her doorstep and Melanie’s son Kevin is all ready to get Christmas going. I really enjoyed seeing Melanie and Claire work together in this book and the poodles are always a delight. Can’t wait to read more of this fantastic series!
A charmingly good story that intermixes holiday activities with solving a mystery. Characters are bright, interesting, and play interesting roles in the mystery’s outcome. The dogs in the story provide a certain comfort and understanding as only puppers can. Very good Christmasy read.
When Melanie’s friend calls her for help after finding a body, she just can’t resist trying to solve the mystery herself.
A light, cozy mystery with interesting characters and storyline….and pets, of course. I enjoyed it.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias.
A fun fast moving christmas themed cozy murder mystery! this is the 24th book in the Melanie Travis series and it is another great story! Poor Melanie is trying to help her friend Claire out over the holiday season when a dead body is found. Claire goes missing, someone drops puppies in a stocking off where her Aunt Peg finds them, dealing with a detective that is a bit of a pain and all while tring to keep her christmas cheer. Loved it. Started reading it early evening and ended up until late finishing it.
Series: A Melanie Travis Canine Mystery – Book 24
Author: Laurien Berenson
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Holiday/Pet
Publisher: Kensington Books
Page Count: 208
A spirt lifting holiday cozy from Kensington Books comes the newest addition to the “A Melanie Travis Canine Mystery” series, Here Comes Santa Paws. The cozies in this series are worth sinking your canines into!
Melanie is having a very odd holiday season. She is extremely busy even though she is off from work. When her friend and almost sister, Claire calls and needs her help, Melanie doesn’t hesitate to run to her aid. But when she finds out someone has been murdered, and Claire is acting strange, she begins to worry and decides to find answers quickly. Cozies with characters like Melanie will always keep readers turning the page and looking forward to the next installment in a series.
All cozies should have an ex (spouse, lover, friend) like Melanie. Claire is her ex-husband’s wife and her best friend. Melanie would do anything to help her friend, including placing herself in danger if it means keeping Claire out of it. Aunt Peg is also trying to help, even if it does seem more like she is just butting in. It doesn’t take too many questions for Melanie to find out that the victim was not who she seemed. Or that there are a few people who may have had a motive to kill her. Add in a famous recluse who hasn’t been seen in public for forty years, and she has a real mystery on her hands. Before long she finds herself in the middle of a police investigation and in the crosshairs of a killer who thinks that Melanie knows more than she should.
This is a very well written book. Ms. Berenson writes delightful cozies that make readers happy. The descriptions of her home, family, friends, and of course, her pets all combine to give you a sense of home, comfort, and joy. Here Comes Santa Paws will keep readers smiling and filled with the pleasure of the holiday season to come even while the heat of summer is still hanging around. I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one in this series.