| In this specific book, Melanie decides to do something on her own without her pushy Aunt Peg by her side. Despite her Aunt's pushing to join an agility class like herself, Melanie is determined to step out from under Peg's dominating shadow and instead joins an obedience class. But as soon as Melanie enters into the group, it turns out to not be as fun as she had thought it would be.
While visiting a nursing home with her obedience class, an elderly woman is found dead in her bed after being seen alive not five minutes before. The obedience group, knowing that Melanie had a habit of solving crime, decide that she should be the one to find Mary's killer. While searching for a larger home, showing her Standard Poodle, Eve, battling a new neighbor's irksome cats, and trying to find time for her eight year old son and new husband, Melanie sets off to find the murderer with the help of Aunt Peg. Author Laurien Berenson's novels are always in a light tone with lots of information about dog shows and obedience training. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of story - very upbeat How difficult to spot villain? - Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues Time/era of story: What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 40% Kind of investigator Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Any non-mystery subplot? descript. of violence and chases - 10 % Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 % How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20 % Crime Thriller Yes Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes Main Character Gender - Female Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's Ethnicity/Race Main Adversary Identity: - Female Age: - 40's-50's Profession/status: How sensitive is this character? Intelligence - Average intelligence Setting United States Yes The US: - Northeast Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment Explicit sex in book? Yes What kind of sex: - vague references - descript of kissing Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
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