Professional dog walker Ellie Engleman is surprised to learn that Rob Chesney, one of her favorite clients, is a drag queen with top billing at Club Guess Who. Ellie finds this out when she and Sam, her hunky detective boyfriend, along with her BFF Viv, and Viv's date, go to the club on a night out. Macho Sam is perfectly miserable until screams are heard coming from back stage. Sam responds quickly, with Ellie right behind him. The first thing they see is Rob leaning over a body, holding a pair of blood covered scissors. Things do not look good for "Bobbi Doll." As a handcuffed Rob is being led away by the police he sees Ellie and begs her to take Bitsy home with her. Bitsy is his four pound Poodle/Chihuahua mix baby that he had brought to the theater this evening.

Ellie communicates with dogs, literally has conversations with them and hopes that Bitsy can shed some light on what happened in Rob's dressing room. However, the little sweetheart is so traumatized that she isn't talking to anyone, including Ellie's little man, Rudy. Ellie takes Bitsy to a dog psychologist, who seems to share Ellie's gift of gab with canines. Meanwhile Ellie keeps returning to the scene of the crime against Sam's explicit orders to stay out of his investigation! Does she listen to him? No, and almost gets herself killed for her efforts.

Judi McCoy is one of the very best authors of "canine cozy mysteries" in today's market. Her two-legged characters are also great, and Ms. McCoy's plots and sub-plots are always interesting and entertaining. BEGGING FOR TROUBLE is a fun read and the identity of the killer will keep you guessing until the end.