Show Me The Bunny
A Melanie Travis Mystery Book #29
Laurien Berenson
5 Stars

Synopsis:

Melanie Travis is gifted at raising prize-winning Standard Poodles, not standing in as the Easter Bunny. But when March in Connecticut brings daffodils and dead bodies, she’ll need to hop into action—and fast . . .

Aunt Rose already has a strike against her for not being too fond of dogs—or Aunt Peg. But Melanie still agrees to organize Easter festivities at Gallagher House, the new women’s shelter opened by the stern former nun, even if it takes all the jellybeans in Greenwich to sweeten the arrangement. No sooner does Melanie arrive to dye multicolor eggs and stuff baskets, than she learns devasting news about Beatrice Gallagher, the respected benefactor of the estate. Beatrice has fallen to her death, and the circumstances are shocking . . .

No one can say why or how charitable Beatrice got pushed into an early grave. Yet for a supposedly warm and generous philanthropist, rumors have her pinned as an overbearing manipulator who used money to control the unfortunate few trapped in her inner circle. Facing an uncertain future as danger lurks around Gallagher House, Melanie and Aunt Rose must tolerate each other’s company long enough to discover the truth about Beatrice’s true nature and identify a vengeful killer—before another person’s idyllic spring break becomes a serious nightmare . . .(Amazon)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. It is Easter time and Melanie has agreed to organize the Easter activities for a women’s shelter, including an Easter egg hunt. Her Aunt Rose has opened the women’s shelter with her husband. The benefactor of the shelter is found dead and Melanie has to find out who the killer is. She has her work cut out for her.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and it took me on a fantastic journey. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. I was surprised who the culprit was.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I just love reading about Melanie and her family and all the dogs.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Melanie Travis is looking forward to spring break, where she can enjoy her family: her youngest son, Kevin, is waiting for the Easter bunny, and her husband Sam is training his Standard Poodle pup Plum for her first time in the show ring. She thinks everything is going well -- at least until her Aunt Peg arrives and tells her she needs to call her Aunt Rose.

It seems Aunt Rose, who is an ex-nun, and her husband Peter, an ex-priest, have returned from a sojourn in Honduras and have now taken residence in Gallagher House, a women's shelter that has recently opened. Rose, who isn't fond of dogs in the least, and hasn't warmed up to Melanie ever, needs Melanie to organize an Easter egg hunt for the three children in the home. Melanie, ever soft of heart herself, agrees to the task. But no sooner does that occur when she discovers that the home's benefactor, Beatrice Gallagher, has died from a fall in her own home.

It's a tangled web indeed. Gallagher House is the former home of Beatrice, and the children -- Charlie and Charise, want it back. Then there's the little case of Rose being a suspect -- which Melanie refuses to believe -- and it tumbles from there. When Rose asks for her help, Melanie can't refuse. But where does one start when one has no clue? And who would want the woman dead? Finding a killer might not be what Melanie planned to do on her break, but it's what she's doing -- and she needs to figure it out before the last egg is dyed, or Rose won't have a home to go to...

In this latest installment of the series, Melanie has her hands full with planning Easter egg hunts for both her own children and the children of battered women. It's keeping her busier than she expected, but Melanie has never backed down from someone wanting help.

Since I came late to the series, I've never met (nor heard of) Rose; and since Rose is Aunt Peg's sister-in-law, the sister of Rose's late husband Max, then it must be that Peg is an aunt by marriage. This I never knew. Otherwise, Rose wouldn't be Melanie's aunt at all. It confused me for only a moment, but it makes some things clearer. I do like Rose's no-nonsense attitude, but it would be nice to see her soften toward Melanie. The woman already has to deal with sensible Aunt Peg; she should get affection from one of them, at least!

But the story line was very good, and written very well. Melanie does what she does best; asking questions and putting clues together. Even if the local detective doesn't listen to what she says, (or already has the information), she plunges forward, vowing to find the truth of the matter. I like the fact that she doesn't run willy-nilly into a bad situation, and can think on her feet. It makes her likable indeed. I also enjoy the fact that she has a happy home life, with a loving husband who understands her and two growing boys who adore her. It makes it all pleasant reading.

When the murderer is revealed, it's a sad situation all around. Things come to a head in the most surprising way, and it all wraps up nicely. The book was easy to read, a nice cozy for a cold evening with a cup of tea or cocoa. Recommended.

The Melanie Travis series is one of my favorites and I always look forward to the release of a new book. We are introduced to a new character in Show Me the Bunny - Melanie's Aunt Rose. There is a note at the end of the book that says Rose and Aunt Peg will be featured in an upcoming book which should be interesting since the two women don't get along. This book provides a nice introduction to Rose, a former nun, and her husband.
The plot involves the suspicious death of a wealthy woman who donated her former home to be used as a women's shelter that Rose and her husband were running. Rose enlists Melanie's help when she becomes a suspect in the murder. Melanie does a good job locating and questioning alternative suspects and providing her findings to the detective officially investigating the case, even if he doesn't always want to hear it. 

The book has interactions between Melanie and her family and a few scenes with her and her dogs which are always enjoyable. However, the book is missing an actual dog show in this installment. There is a good set-up at the beginning of the book as the murder suspects are uncovered, and I quickly became engaged in the case. Unfortunately, things became really rushed then and before I knew it, things were being wrapped up and the book was over. Since I love the characters in this series and the story in this Easter-themed cozy mystery is interesting, I rated the book 4 stars. However, I was disappointed that it is so short and ends abruptly. Hopefully future books will have the details and depth I've grown to love from this series.

I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Kensington Books. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

Show Me the Bunny by Laurien Berenson has Melanie Travis steamrolled by her Aunt Rose into giving up her spring break to organize an Easter egg hunt for the children at the Gallagher House. Aunt Rose and her husband, Peter run Gallagher House which is a home for abused woman. They named the house after their patroness Beatrice Gallagher. Melanie is at Gallagher House the next day waiting to meet Beatrice. Instead of Beatrice, Detective Sturgill arrives. Beatrice was found dead in her home that morning from a fall. Detective Sturgill shares few details with Melanie, but she can tell that he believes the death was under suspicious circumstances. It appears that Rose is at the top of the suspect list thanks to the victim’s callous son. He gives Rose and Peter a month to move out of Gallagher House. Melanie needs to hop to it and learn all she can about the victim. She needs to keep degging for the wrong doer before Rose becomes the next fatality. Can Melanie get on the killer’s trail and lure him out before the Easter egg hunt? Show Me the Bunny by Laurien Berenson is the 28th A Melanie Travis Canine Mystery. While it can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading this entire series. It will allow you to get to know the people and their canines. I love visiting Melanie and her family. I am guaranteed to have a good time when I open one of Laurien Berenson’s books. The characters are realistic and developed. Melanie has a caring, patient husband and two great kids. Little Kevin is a precocious six-year-old. Melanie has had Aunt Peg to run roughshod over her for years and now Aunt Rose has moved nearby. It was so kind of Aunt Peg to volunteer Melanie to help with the Easter celebration at Gallagher House (instead of letting her have a relaxing spring break). The mystery was fun to follow. I admit that I was able to solve the whodunit early in the book, but I was not sure as to the why until later on. I enjoyed the investigation and Melanie’s interactions with Detective Sturgill. I laughed often while reading Show Me the Bunny. I just love the dogs and I enjoyed meeting the newest addition, Plum. You can count on Bud to create chaos as well as Kevin. I just love the interactions between Melanie and her favorite Standard Poodle, Faith. I am eager to read Peg and Rose Solve a Murder. Show Me the Bunny is an eggcelent tale with the rigid Aunt Rose, playful poodles, erecting a tree house, colorful egg creations, a fatal fall, a disobliging detective, and a curious Kevin.

I'm not a regular reader of this series, I've read a few here and there over the years. As a dog lover, it's always a pleasure to read a story with lots of well written doggie characters. This is a good, clean, cozy that I think dog lovers will appreciate.

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Book #28 in the series. I don't tend to read these in order and have never felt that it was a problem. I enjoy the characters. This one doesn't have a dog show focus . I am fond of the ones that do take place around dog shows. The mystery kept me guessing.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Melanie Travis has a lively family of dogs and people, each highly individual and relying on her for very different things. She's a smart cookie, and this time a formidable aunt needs her support with Easter baskets -- but that quickly turns into a need for support in a murder investigation.

If things go wrong, her aunt's new sheltered for battered women might be dismantled, leaving her homeless. So the situation is higher stakes than the Easter egg hunt it starts out with.

Melanie is an admirable character and her family, including the dogs, are also interesting and fully developed. This is a very dog-centered series. The dogs don't talk, but if you don't like dogs this won't be the book for you.
It's well written and satisfyingly plotted, with lots of action and good dialogue.

Show Me the Bunny
Laurien Berenson
January 25, 2022

Show Me the Bunny is the latest in the Melanie Travis Mystery series. We find Melanie and her boys, Davey and Kevin on Easter break from school. She looked forward to spending time at home or taking the boys. Her Aunt Rose, Peg’s sister-in-law, has returned home with her husband, Peter. They have been doing missionary work in Honduras. Melanie had not spoken with her before they had left. Peg doesn’t communicate much with them but does try to keep track of their whereabouts. Their new project is running a shelter for Domestic Violence victims. The owner is Beatrice Gallagher. She and her husband lived in the home with their children. Once Howard died, she felt uncomfortable there. She moved but refused to sell hoping to find the right people to manage the shelter.
This mystery revolves around the murder of Bea and the prospect of the shelter being sold. Melanie had been put in charge of running the Easter celebration for the children prior to Bea’s violent death. Peg, Rose, and Melanie charge on to help the local police solve the crime. This is a usual poodle mystery written with humor and family life tied into the dilemma. It’s an easy and entertaining read as all of Berenson’s poodle series are. This is #29 in the lives of the Travis family, a great rainy day read. Show Me the Bunny will be published on January 25, 2022 by Kensington Books of New York. I appreciate their allowing me to read and review Laurien Berenson’s current publication. They are always a clever and pleasurable mystery to be solved. Enjoy!

As a sucker for anything dog, I'm pretty sure I've been reading this series from the beginning. True, I've maybe missed a book here and there but I remember Melanie/Mel back in her pre-dog days, which were also pre-Sam and the kids. One thing that hasn't changed, however, is Aunt Peg. She is a force. It's because she's never quite mastered the art of saying no to Aunt Peg that Melanie finds herself in charge of putting together an Easter celebration for the children at a new woman's shelter, Gallagher House under the equally watchful eye of her Aunt Rose. The Aunts are not fond of each other but Melanie discovers that, in actuality, they are very much alike, not to mention hard to say no to. Aunt Rose is a former nun, btw,who also isn't fond of dogs. Then, just to complicate things, we discover Rose's husband is ill and, oh, yes, there's a murder. The victim is the main financial supporter of the shelter.

That's the basic plot. It's interspersed with cute kids and dogs as well as Melania dealing with the fact her youngest is probably going to be celebrating his last Easter where he believes in the Easter Bunny. Mel loves her kids and is a wonderful mother but at times feels quite inadequate that questions from her youngest about the reality of the Easter Bunny seem to leave her flailing. Fortunately, not only is husband Sam around but her oldest son provides some adorable answers to his younger brother, ensuring Melanie one last Easter with a child who still believes in the Easter Bunny. Something tells me most mothers will relate well to this feeling. They are surrounded by dogs during all this, of course, the pedigreed poodles so beloved by her Aunt Peg and now Mel's family. The adopted stray of unknown pedigree, Bud, also provides some humorous moments as he darts about and indulges in his not quite "civilized" self with glee.

As for the murder, although it wasn't too hard to figure out, there was always doubt as the red herrings pop up. Could there be a reason that isn't a Standard Poodle on the cover? Did someone in the family kill Beatrice? Could a family member actually kill their own mother? How about the jilted boyfriend? Why is the son so adamant about selling the woman's shelter house and forcing everyone out? Could it be the daughter's former "love of her life"? And, why is he hanging out with her brother? Will the dogs play a role in this investigation? After all, they have protected Mel in the past. Also, while I'm talking about dogs, will puppy Plum ever learn to quit gawking around and pay attention to the training sessions? I mean, one has to admit that rowdy Bud is a bit of a distraction. Will Aunt Rose and Peg ever slow down their walking pace to match Mel's shorter legged one?

So many questions, some vital, some not. Which is which? Not telling. You're going to have to read this fun, relatively quick read to find out. If you like dogs, interesting, true-to-life characters that could be neighbors or family, and watching Melanie navigate it all on what she thought was going to be a relaxing holiday break, this is the book for you.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for giving me the opportunity to enjoy the company of Mel and her family.... and the dogs .... again. I love this series.

This is the first book I’ve read in the Melanie Travis series. But it was interesting and entertaining enough that I will go back and read previous books. The characters are well developed and I loved their interactions. This had a great mystery as the premise. Melanie and the dogs make for an enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corporation for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Melanie's aunts Rose and Peg have never really liked each other but Peg still prods Melanie into helping out at the women's shelter Rose and her husband have established. Should be easy to do an Easter Party, right? Not when Bea, the philanthropist who has provided funding, is murdered and Rose is a suspect. Well, Melanie, Peg, and the Poodles are on the case. You know Bea isn't the sweet person she'd want you to believe she is. I have always enjoyed this series for the family scenes (especially Melanie, her husband and kids) the Poodles and Peg's dry commentary. This is no exception but it's less dog forward than most in the series. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Don't worry if you haven't read the earlier books - it's a good cozy read that should be fine as a standalone.

I enjoyed this book. I liked the characters & it was a fast read. The mystery is interesting. #ShowMetheBunny #NetGalley

Laurien Berenson has become one of my favorite cozy authors after discovering two of her titles at a local book sale. I love mysteries and dogs so, as with many book buyers unfamiliar with a new author, the covers had attracted me at first.

Berenson's books will appeal to anyone who wants to know more about the world of dog shows. Her initial books in the series introduce the reader to most aspects of showing with the focus being on standard poodles, the choice of breed of the author's protagonists. But beyond the show details, it has been fun getting to know the characters of the Melanie Travis mystery series.

Melanie is the crime solver, mother of two young boys, and currently married to Sam, another standard poodle breeder and exhibiter. Melanie's incorrigible Aunt Peg is well-known in the world of dog shows, having championed numerous winners across the country. Dogs fear her. People fear her more. But her bark is usually a lot worse than her bite, and she brings with her many opportunities for humorous scenes with Melanie.

Show Me the Bunny is book # 29 in the series, which is hard to believe. Berenson has kept the series fresh and interesting throughout. This time it's Melanie's Aunt Rose, former nun, and now a married woman, who enlists Melanie's help with an Easter celebration at Gallagher House, a shelter for battered women.

After the shelter's benefactor, Beatrice Gallagher is found dead at the bottom of the stairs, Aunt Rose and Melanie have their suspicions that it wasn't an accidental fall and begin investigating her death.

No dog shows in this book, just a lot of good sleuthing on Melanie's part. It seems that Beatrice, despite her charitable works, had a different side to her. Readers will enjoy solving the crime as things come to light about each potential suspect.

Thank you to Kensington Books and Net Galley for providing an ARC of this book.

Show Me the Bunny by Laurien Berenson is the 29th in the Melanie Travis mystery series and I still look forward to each and every release. This installment does not disappoint. Melanie’s Aunt Rose, a former nun, and her husband, a former priest, have opened a shelter for women experiencing domestic violence. When the benefactor supporting the shelter is murdered, not only is the shelter put at risk but Aunt Rose as well.

While the poodles are still primary characters, the cast and location has expanded beyond the dog show circuit. I really enjoy the multigenerational aspects of this series and the portrayal of the more senior members of the cast as strong and capable. Also realistic are the challenges that Melanie faces juggling a career and family, especially one with a teen. The mystery was compelling and the characters well-executed, with plenty of realistic suspects. I can say that this mystery held my interest and kept me engaged with trying to fit all of the puzzle pieces together to solve the murder. (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.). This was a very enjoyable read.

2 stars
Show Me the Bunny
by Laurien Berenson

The writing is decent, the story is passable, and I would not mind so much if this was not part of a series that at one time was so good.
The bad:
I really miss the dog shows. They were by far one of the best parts of this series, the inside look of dog shows. The inclusion of one practice session with two puppies is not a dog show. I missed the inclusion of her sister in law, brother and all of the dog show participants.
Far too often, It often seems the longer a series goes (I believe this is book 27!) the more the author moves away from what made the series so good to begin with and Berenson has definitely done that. The overall book is just rather disappointing. I wanted more of Aunt Peg too. It was obvious who the killer was very early on.
The good:
The book is good enough. Show Me The Bunny held my attention and was clean cozy mystery.

I do think I am done with this series.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley.

family, family-dynamics, charity, amateur-sleuth, friction, cozy-mystery, verbal-humor, situational-humor, Connecticut*****

If you love dog shows and breed specific (standard poodles in this case) cozies, you'll love this one! I've enjoyed others in the series and will testify that the series is proof that, unlike TV, each one just keeps getting better!
The publisher's blurb is a good hook and no need for recap or spoilers, so get something to hydrate and enjoy the read. I did!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

Melanie's Aunt Rose has returned to town with her husband, Peter, and they've opened a refuge for women who are the victims of domestic violence. When Aunt Rose asks Melanie to help out with an Easter Egg hunt during her spring break from school, Melanie agrees. After all, what could go wrong?

When Rose's friend and benefactor, Bea Gallagher, falls down the stairs and dies, Rose knows something is wrong and Melanie agrees to help investigate. In typical Melanie fashion, she's hopping the entire book. She goes to lots of interesting places and talks to suspicious people, all while surrounded by beautiful, loveable Poodles.

This is one of my favorite series, I love Melanie and her children and Sam is the perfect partner for her. Though I'm a dog lover I really didn't know anything about standard Poodles before I read this series but I fell in love with the breed by the end of book 1.

Anyone who's a fan of the series will definitely want to check this book out, it's a quick, fun read. Anyone who hasn't read this series yet needs to get started!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Melanie Travis is arrange Easter at the women’s shelter with her Aunt Rose, who doesn’t like Melanie’s pups. When the woman who funds the shelter is murdered, Aunt Rose is the top suspect. Even if she doesn’t like dogs, Melanie has to clear her Aunt’s name. Just because Aunt Rose doesn’t like dogs, doesn’t mean she’s a killer. But did Melanie bite off more than she can chew, or will the dead woman’s true nature come back to bite one last time?

This is the first book I have read in this series and I am hooked! HOW have I not seen the series or heard of the author before? I mean this is book 29 in the series after all. But that’s OK because that means there are 28 books I can binge on! WOOHOO!

I've been a huge fan of Melanie and Aunt Peg for years, and each book just continues to get better and better.
When Aunt Peg "offers" her sister in law Melanie's assistance during Spring break, we find Melanie caught up in another murder investigation.
I enjoyed this story line very much, and adding Aunt Rose into the story really added a fun family twist.
I recommend this book to all mystery fans, and I'm looking forward to reading more by the talented Laurien Berenson.
#ShowMetheBunny #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

I have been reading this series from the beginning book. I always enjoy returning to this series. If you love dogs and a good sleuth this is a wonderful series to explore. You can read each book as a stand alone as the author introduces the charcters in each book. The winning formula here is dogs, great complex mysteries and wonderful likable charcters. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galey for this opportunity. My review opinions are my own.

Melanie signs up to organize an Easter event at a women’s shelter. When a major contributor is murdered Melanie and her Aunt Peg are on the case. The addition of a new Aunt as the prime suspect was fun as she is less then enamoured with dogs. A enjoyable addition to this long running cozy series.