Bernie Little takes a break from his work as a PI to visit a traveling circus with his son, Charlie, and his faithful dog, Chet. To Bernie's surprise and Charlie's disappointment, the elephant in the show, Peanut, has disappeared, along with her trainer, Uri DeLeath. Chet quickly picks up the elephant's unique scent, but the trail ends abruptly.

The police are called, but Popo the clown, who was in a relationship with DeLeath, doesn't think they are giving the case their full attention. So he hires Bernie and his "partner" Chet to do some looking around. The two soon discover that this particular circus is certainly not all fun and games; something more sinister is going on in the shadows away from the big top. Their investigation will lead them across the border into Mexico, and when they are separated, it's up to Chet to save Peanut while trying to find Bernie.

This third outing in a charming series is narrated as usual by Chet, who brings a distinctly doggie point of view to the proceedings. His observations of human behavior and his relationship with other animals are funny and often insightful, whether he realizes it or not; through him we also get a detailed portrait of his beloved Bernie, who is an interesting character in his own right. The narrative is amusing without becoming precious or cloying, and, in fact, the two detectives end up confronting some serious danger. I recommend this series to any mystery lover, no matter what your favorite animal is. I'm a devoted cat person, by the way, but I love spending time with Chet and Bernie.