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It's probably a safe assumption that the people who buy the tenth book in a series are mostly interested in seeing how their favorite characters are doing. This would explain why in BEST IN SHOW, the characters come first and the murder is almost an afterthought. Set at the foremost breed-specific dog show in the country, the book spends a great deal of time explaining poodle classes, poodle merchandise, and poodle owners -- but surprisingly little time is given to the poodles themselves. Dog fanciers should know that unlike other dog mysteries, none of the poodles sniffs out a clue, takes an active role, or even develops a personality. Here the dogs are all accessories, seen only in context of their owners or performance. Even the main character's dog spends most of her time being either combed or crated, and has no effect on the plot. All Melanie Travis wants to do is watch the show and root for her boyfriend's dog. (See the previous books in the series for the background on their relationship, which at this point is torrid enough to launch several non-described sex scenes but conflicted enough that she wears the engagement ring around her neck while she decides if she'll accept the proposal.) However, Aunt Peg has decided that Melanie will help the Boone sisters run the raffle table, and here the trouble lies. For Melanie, it is a distraction from the show. For the reader, the sisters are the least realistic part of the plot. Although important enough to the Poodle Club to have run a main money-making raffle for years, they are unimportant enough to the club members for anyone to know them very well. They make a fetish out of dressing and acting like each other, even though they are not twins. All this improbability goes to make it possible to spin a mystery around them when Betty Jean gets her brains bashed out by a fall in the parking lot, but it doesn't make them (or the plot) particularly believable. Other characters include the handler who is determined to win at any cost, including bribery and sabotage, the trophy wife who barely tolerates dogs, the pet psychic who may be getting the wrong messages, and the dog owner/handler who got everyone thrown out of the last venue. (This last bad boy is unsubtly named Damien.) About the only characters who are missing are the police. Detectives show up just long enough to take depositions, drop hints of foul play, and then disappear for the rest of the novel. If you can suspend your disbelief enough, BEST IN SHOW can be a lightweight amusement. But if you want a tightly plotted puzzle, take note that even Melanie spends more time thinking about the dog show and her love live than who killed Betty Jean.
Reviewed by Linnea Dodson, September 2004
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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