Aunt Peg has inherited a Thoroughbred broodmare from a friend of her late husband and, having been hired to judge at a four day dog show cluster in Kentucky, she decides to become acquainted with her new horse during that week long trip. She also plans to reconnect with Ellie Gates Wanamaker, an old friend and former Standard Poodle breeder who is a member of an old Kentucky family. Since Bertie is newly pregnant with her second child and Melanie is on spring break from her job at Howard Academy, she is conscripted to come along on the trip as well. Within three days of their arrival, Miss Ellie has been found dead in the middle of the Lexington horse farm that has belonged to her family for generations. Though the police and the family believe the death to be an accident, Aunt Peg is sure they are wrong. While she is busy fulfilling her judging duties, it falls to Melanie to ferret out the reason for Miss Ellie's unexpected demise. Could it have been connected to the strange way that the former breeder was being treated by the other exhibitors at the dog show they attended together? Or was it due instead to a bitter family feud that has finally reached the boiling point? Melanie discovers that Miss Ellie was a woman of many secrets. And she must quickly determine which one was fatal before Melanie herself becomes the next target. "If you like dogs, you'll love Laurien Berenson's Melanie Travis mysteries!" -Joanne Fluke, New York Times bestselling author When her Aunt Peg lands a gig as judge at a Kentucky dog show, Melanie Travis welcomes the opportunity for a road trip. 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 . . .