When her Aunt Peg lands a gig as judge at a Kentucky dog
show, Melanie Travis welcomes the opportunity for a road
trip. Too bad a killer has planned a deadly detour . . .
For a dog lover like Melanie, the opportunity to attend the
Kentuckiana Dog Show Cluster is not to be missed.
Fortunately, the timing coincides with her spring break from
teaching, so she heads for central Kentucky with her
sister-in-law Bertie and Aunt Peg, who's accepted a
week-long judging assignment. Once there, Aunt Peg
reconnects with an old friend, Ellie Gates Wanamaker, a
former Standard Poodle exhibitor and a member of a
well-heeled Kentucky family. Miss Ellie has been out of the
dog show world for more than a decade, but when Melanie
invites her to spectate at the Louisville Kennel Club dog
show, she's eager to accompany her.
Miss Ellie's presence at the expo center, however, provokes
mixed reactions from exhibitors she hasn't seen in years,
including some outright animosity. The following day Melanie
learns that Miss Ellie has suffered a fatal accident while
exercising her dogs. Aunt Peg, however, suspects foul play.
Wishing to avoid any scandal, Miss Ellie's pedigreed family
prefers to let sleeping dogs lie, but as Melanie begins to
sniff around, she discovers Miss Ellie had many secrets,
both in the dog show world and amongst her Kentucky kin . . .