Hot Dog

A mystery from the Agatha Award finalist: “Melanie’s poodles are as lovable and real as the story’s human characters.”—Publishers Weekly   In an effort to escape tail-chasing males—namely her ex-husband and her current boyfriend—Melanie Travis opts to track down the elusive owner of Dox, an adorable Dachshund who's about to be put on the block at a charity auction. But the more Melanie discovers about the pup’s background, the messier the case gets. It seems Dox is part of a divorced couple’s emotional tug of war. As if tiptoeing through the minefield of a broken marriage isn’t nerve-wracking enough, there’s also Melanie’s stalker—or stalkers—to deal with. The obvious pair is a pesky local TV crew who figure Melanie’s nose for trouble will lead them to the next big story. But what’s truly frightening is the presence of someone far more sinister. Someone who’s gotten into Melanie’s house at night, and stolen her wallet. Someone who’s dognapped Dox. With doggy abduction and her son’s safety on her mind, Melanie’s determination grows. Soon, it looks like her life may be the next thing up for auction…   “A rare breed of writer.”—The Plain Dealer