A girls-only trip to a seminar on dog
judging with her Aunt Peg and sister-in-law, Bertie, send our heroine into the thick
of mystery, death, and destruction, instead of the rather pleasant set of speeches, seminars, exhibitions, and meetings with
dog show judges that she had anticipated, and to which she had been sent by her husband, Sam, to help with her early-pregnancy jitters and mood swings.
There are rumours of at least one judge to be had for a price, who will perhaps be exposed. There are affairs, flagrant and otherwise, between participants, with wives and/or rivals heating up the scene. Aunt Peg has had a long-distance love affair going with a man from several states away. Not only will she become qualified in more breeds (for
judging them), thus enhancing her career, she will get to meet her boyfriend--and his very possessive
mother.
The keynote speaker gives a very poorly received speech calling for the end of selective breeding and the whole dog show culture, a view espoused by the animal rights activists. Who and what has turned his head, and shaped his opinions? When he is found dead, floating face-down and naked in the outdoor hot tub, has his speech so enraged someone that they've drowned him deliberately? When Aunt Peg's boyfriend's mother is found on the ground stricken down by who-knows-who, is it related, or a totally separate incident?
This book is a pageturner, the latest in the author's series of dogshow and dog-related mysteries. It's not only a good mystery, it's a great book to read, and a great heroine to become acquainted with, or visit with again.