How does Melanie Travis do it? She works as a special education teacher, has a small child, an ex-husband, a boy friend, an Aunt that is demanding, another Aunt and Uncle that make suggestions, a brother that sticks his foot in his mouth, a dog, attends dog shows, goes to meetings and most of all, solves murder mysteries. You will find out how she does all this when you read Dog Eat Dog.

This is the third book in Berenson's murder mystery series that features Melanie Travis, and she devotes more time in this book to Melanie's personal life with her five-year-old son, Davy.

From the last book to this book Melanie's personal life with Sam Driver is drastically different. The book opens with them together in bed in the early morning. Of course, Sam leaves before Davy is awake and Melanie is very concerned about the relationship and how it might affect her son's life.

Then, suddenly her ex-husband Bob pops back into their lives. He now has an oil well and money, and a fianc?©e half his age in Texas. He announces that he wants joint custody of his son, and wants Davy with him for a three-week father and son summer vacation.

How does Melanie handle this situation? How does she allow her ex-husband to become re-acquainted with their son? Her family has a few suggestions to make.

A mystery unfolds when Melanie agrees to go with Aunt Peg to the Belle Haven Kennel Club meeting, where board members have gathered to discuss upcoming dog shows and events. They are also concerned about missing money and checks that were written by club members to cover the cost of the meeting room and food at the previous month's meeting.

Melanie is working to solve the case of the missing money, when the club's corresponding secretary is murdered. Melanie soon discovers that everyone is a suspect in Monica's murder. Apparently, Monica was emotionally blackmailing every single club member, including Aunt Peg. Monica had made each one of them painfully aware of secrets that she knew about them.

Is there a connection between the stolen money and checks and Monica's murder? What dirty, dark secrets had Monica uncovered? Which secret was black enough to motivate murder? These are questions the reader must ask in this 'who done it.'

I hope every one of you enjoys this book, too. I look forward to reading more about Melanie Travis in her next adventure.

Contact DEBRA MAXWELL at amaxdog@aol.com or visit www.petclub.com