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Laurien Berenson is best known for her Melanie Travis Mystery series, which blends amateur sleuthing with the world of dog shows. The series begins with A Pedigree to Die For (1995) and is best read in publication order to follow Melanie’s personal journey, her family life, and her canine companions. Below you’ll find the complete reading order, series lists, and FAQs.
Publication Order — Melanie Travis Mysteries
Laurien Berenson’s longest-running and most beloved work is the Melanie Travis Mystery series. Each book combines mystery with detailed knowledge of the dog show world.
| # | Title | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Pedigree to Die For | 1995 |
| 2 | Underdog | 1996 |
| 3 | Dog Eat Dog | 1997 |
| 4 | Hair of the Dog | 1998 |
| 5 | Watchdog | 1999 |
| 6 | Guard Dog | 2000 |
| 7 | Raining Cats and Dogs | 2002 |
| 8 | Jingle Bell Bark | 2003 |
| 9 | Hot Dog | 2005 |
| 10 | Best in Show | 2007 |
| 11 | Doggie Day Care Murder | 2008 |
| 12 | Gone with the Woof | 2013 |
| 13 | Death of a Dog Whisperer | 2014 |
| 14 | The Bark Before Christmas | 2015 |
| 15 | Live and Let Growl | 2016 |
| 16 | Gone with the Whisker | 2017 |
| 17 | Murder at the Puppy Fest | 2017 |
| 18 | Ruff Justice | 2018 |
| 19 | Game of Dog Bones | 2020 |
| 20 | Howloween Murder | 2020 |
| 21 | Pup Fiction | 2021 |
| 22 | Show Me the Bunny | 2022 |
| 23 | A Furry Little Christmas | 2022 |
| 24 | Chow Down | 2023 |
| 25 | Doggie Dilemma | 2024 |
Melanie, a teacher and single mom, often finds herself entangled in murder cases that intersect with the competitive dog show scene, where her beloved poodles play a central role.
Chronological Order
For Laurien Berenson’s mysteries, the chronological order is the same as publication order. Each book progresses naturally through Melanie’s life, with her family, her son, and her dogs growing and evolving over time.
Reading in order ensures you won’t miss key personal milestones that build across the series.
Recommended Reading Order
The recommended reading order for Laurien Berenson’s books is publication order. While every novel features a self-contained mystery, the ongoing family dynamics, Melanie’s teaching career, and her experiences in the dog show circuit are best understood sequentially.
For example, the relationships in Gone with the Woof and The Bark Before Christmas carry emotional weight that depends on earlier books.
Complete Book Series List
Laurien Berenson has written more than just the Melanie Travis Mysteries. Here’s a complete checklist of her works:
- Melanie Travis Mysteries (1995–2024)
- A Pedigree to Die For (1995)
- Underdog (1996)
- Dog Eat Dog (1997)
- Hair of the Dog (1998)
- Watchdog (1999)
- Guard Dog (2000)
- Raining Cats and Dogs (2002)
- Jingle Bell Bark (2003)
- Hot Dog (2005)
- Best in Show (2007)
- Doggie Day Care Murder (2008)
- Gone with the Woof (2013)
- Death of a Dog Whisperer (2014)
- The Bark Before Christmas (2015)
- Live and Let Growl (2016)
- Gone with the Whisker (2017)
- Murder at the Puppy Fest (2017)
- Ruff Justice (2018)
- Game of Dog Bones (2020)
- Howloween Murder (2020)
- Pup Fiction (2021)
- Show Me the Bunny (2022)
- A Furry Little Christmas (2022)
- Chow Down (2023)
- Doggie Dilemma (2024)
- Standalone Novels (early career, romantic suspense):
- Sweet Temptation (1983)
- A Rare Breed of Love (1985)
- The Chocolate Box (1987)
- Double Exposure (1988)
- After Dark (1989)
- A Love to Die For (1990)
Her early novels leaned more toward romance, but the Melanie Travis series established her as a leading voice in cozy mysteries.
Upcoming / Latest Release
The most recent release is Doggie Dilemma (2024). At this time, no future titles have been announced, but given the consistency of yearly releases, another Melanie Travis book is likely in 2025.
FAQs
Here are some common questions and answers about Laurien Berenson’s books in order.
How many books are in the Melanie Travis Mystery series?
There are 25 books in the series as of 2024.
Is the Melanie Travis series finished?
No, the series is ongoing, with new books released almost every year.
What order should I read Laurien Berenson’s books in?
The best order is publication order, starting with A Pedigree to Die For.
Do Laurien Berenson’s books need to be read in order?
Each book can be read alone, but the character development and family storylines are richer when read sequentially.
What genre does Laurien Berenson write?
She writes cozy mysteries with a focus on amateur sleuthing, family life, and the competitive dog show world.
Related Series
If you enjoy Laurien Berenson’s dog-themed mysteries, you may also like:
- Sheila Connolly Books in Order — cozy mysteries with charming small-town settings.
- Denise Swanson Books in Order — popular for the Scumble River Mysteries.
- Catherine Bruns Books in Order — culinary cozy mysteries filled with humor and suspense.
These authors share a cozy, character-driven style that appeals to fans of Berenson’s mysteries.