Unleashed

A Melanie Travis Mystery

By: Laurien Berenson

Narrated by: Jessica Almasy

Summer means two things to Melanie Travis: a break from her teaching duties at Connecticut's elite Howard Academy and a chance to plan the perfect wedding to her fiancé, Sam. She certainly doesn't need the unwelcome arrival of a dinner invitation "peace offering" from Sam's ex-wife, Sheila Vaughn. And dinner proves to be only the beginning of her problems. Sheila's new man turns out to be Brian Endicott, an old buddy-turned-enemy of Sam's. To make matters worse, Sheila announces her temporary stay in town is now permanent: She's accepted a job as co-publisher of Woof!, a new gossip rag for the dog show world. But before the first issue is even out, a hotter story breaks when Sheila is found dead, strangled with a leather dog leash. As far as Melanie's concerned, the woman should have been on a leash long ago. And it seems she isn't alone in her dislike of Sheila. Some of Woof's salacious stories threatened to expose the dirty paws of quite a few important exhibitors, and someone on Sheila's staff may have found her high-handed attitude worth silencing. Then there's the question of the life insurance policy Brian took out only days before Sheila's death. Even more troubling to Melanie is her faltering relationship with Sam, who's hiding secrets - secrets that put him more deeply under Sheila's spell in death than in life. Now, it will take the instincts of a bloodhound to sniff out a killer who's bent on putting an end to Melanie's amateur sleuthing.

With Unleashed, Laurien Berenson has delivered her most engaging, suspenseful novel yet, full of her signature, razor-sharp wit, and fast-paced plotting that's guaranteed to have mystery lovers sitting up and begging for more of Melanie Travis.

©2000 Laurien Berenson (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Entertainment for dog people

She knows her stuff and has a marvelous family to go with it. Love these stories that are more than murder.

Unleashed

A very good mystery! the characters were interesting and the next book sounded promising too!

good

I was disappointed in Sam. I felt he was spineless and was disappointed he chose to go off on his own and consider his life. what a bunch of dog do do.

Hard to keep going

The high pitched voice for the main character was too high pitched to make this comfortable to listen to.

Mixed feelings

The story is inventive with several plausible subthemes and a cast of series standard characters and interesting story-specific characters. The narrator is very good at maintaining tone and accent to distinguish each character. The one detriment is the main character, Melanie. She's portrayed with an irritating low self-esteem and a suspicious, often mean, nature. It's a means of moving the plot forward, not a bad thing in a mystery, but it is extremely irritating when the moaning andd castigating whines continue over-long. So, worth reading, but be willing to speed through some sections.

Fun and funny

I enjoyed this audiobook. I needed a story that's was light hearted and humorous. I'm a mom, dog owner, and love mysteries so this story fit the bill perfectly.

I do not usually react to books give them stars and next but i couldn’t stand the main charactor

I know this continues but so far this book is an F MINUS X FOREVER. Really.. Sam has lied and kept secrets and doesn’t even have the B-lls to tell her and she meeps thinking its going to change?? Even after the incident and he FINDS out he’s been lied and taken for a ride he takes her heart and stomps on it? Then she calls out I love you Sam as he drives away to relish in another woman’s memories? Oh on top of all that she lies to her son to keep Sam in good lighting with him…. Unreal puke puke puke

Five Stars

If I could give this book ten stars I would. Not only is there major development with Sam and Melanie but the mystery has lots of twists and turns. This is another great book in the series.

Fun Story & Characters

I have had so much fun with the series that I am dreaming of Poodles. Seriously, I'm looking for another dog and have fallen in love with Poodles. These stories have inspired me with their traits, quirks & intelligence. Fun plots & characters too

unleash UNLEASHED

good story except I am seriously disappointed about Sam and Melanie. time for good stuff