Book Review: Unleashed

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Unleashed     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Laurien Berenson
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Dogs   Cozy   Woman Main Character   Amateur Sleuth
Series: Melanie Travis # 7
Kensington, Sep 2000, $20.00, 297 pp.

Melanie Druss teaches at the elite Howard Academy in Connecticut, but her soul lies with showing and breeding her standard French Poodle, Faith. Her fiancé Sam, also a breeder and shower, loves Melanie’s son Davey as if eh is his own child. The only problem interfering with their idyll existence is Sam’s ex-wife Sheila Vaughn who just moved in the area and is someone that Melanie did not previously knew existed. To prove to herself that she is not jealous, Melanie accepts an invitation accompanied by Sam for dinner at Sheila’s house. However, Melanie is unprepared to Sam’s jealous reaction to Melanie’s houseguest Brian Endicott, her former lover and his former best friend.

Before Melanie can voice her concerns about Sam’s former wife, Shelia is killed. Sam seems to withdraw from everyone, but asks Melanie to investigate since she has had success in solving homicides in the past. Melanie worries about Sam’s appeal for her assistance because he always hated her involvement due to the danger to her. Deciding to make inquiries as a means to reach Sam, Melanie begins sleuthing, only to find someone will kill to keep the truth undiscovered.

Melanie shows she is a complete human being as she feels some guilt over Shelia’s death yet also some relief that her rival (real or imaginative) is no longer a contender. To relive her shame and to attain a more favorable position with Sam motivates Melanie to investigate the murder. Though readers know the perpetrator early on in UNLEASHED, Laurien Berenson’s amateur sleuth tale works because of Melanie’ so human actions and reactions.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner