Death at the Dog Show

Ribbons, Medals… and Murder at the Dog Show

All Eve Holdsworth wants is a pleasant day at the local country fair—browsing craft stalls, picking up gifts, and watching the cat and dog competitions. But when the owner of a champion terrier is found murdered inside the dog tent, the cheerful atmosphere quickly turns dark.

As one of the last people near the scene, Eve becomes a key witness. With suspicion falling on local thieves and tensions rising among competitors, she begins to piece together clues others have overlooked—like a brand-new collar used as the murder weapon and a dog that never barked. With the help of her friends, including a police officer, Eve follows a trail of secrets, jealousy, and motive that leads closer to home than anyone expected.

Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries, Death at the Dog Show blends small-town charm, clever twists, and a cast of engaging characters—including one newly orphaned terrier in need of a home.

Step into the fairgrounds and uncover the truth—get your copy today.

Excerpt from the book

“You won’t get away with this.” A diminutive blonde snarled at a woman whose very straight back seemed vaguely familiar. So did her voice, as she said, “Nobody is bribing judges, and I’d appreciate it if you could keep your wild accusations to yourself.”

Eve Holdsworth chuckled to herself. The blonde had picked the wrong opponent. Sergeant Claire Murphy had her flaws, like accusing Eve of meddling in affairs that were none of her business, but she was scrupulously honest.

“Good riddance,” she muttered as the other woman flounced off, high heels kicking up some dust.

“Nicely put,” Eve said as the sergeant turned her way. She pointed towards the blonde. “Did I get something wrong? She looks as if she’s dressed for Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot, instead of a country affair.”

“Which only shows you’ve got a lot to learn.” Claire scanned the food stalls at one end of the large field, where straw bales offered prickly seating, once all the picnic tables had filled up. Crafters and artisans offered their wares, and one corner had been fenced off to hold a small petting zoo.

The main attraction took up the rest of the showgrounds. Dogs, cats, rabbits, and horses waited to be paraded, graded, and rewarded with coveted ribbons. “Some people would kill for a medal at these shows.”

“Don’t look at me,” Eve said. “I wouldn’t dream of putting Flynn through all this.” She beamed at the thought of her spaniel. He’d passed all his puppy classes with flying colours and made friends wherever they went. He didn’t need any awards to prove he was a champion, she thought with a little smugness.

Her gaze fell upon a blue ribbon in Claire’s hand, and she backtracked. “Which doesn’t mean that these shows aren’t wonderful, and the animals are amazing.”

Claire chuckled. “I’ll let my nephew know that you approve. The poor kid had his heart set on showing his rabbits, only to catch a stomach bug. As a good auntie, I’ve been filling in.”

“Was that what your argument was about?”

“Let’s not talk about it.” Claire grimaced. “Hazel and Fiver won fair and square, and that’s all that matters.”

They strolled towards the low barn that held the rabbits and the horses. Two smaller red brick buildings set further back housed the dogs and the cats. Two trees offered shade, and a squirrel ran over a log and jumped onto one of the trees.

It was all very picturesque and bucolic. It was also loud and crowded.

The announcer had been calling out the different categories in regular intervals, since before noon. The sun had decided to put in her best performance of the month and Eve congratulated herself on carrying a tube of sunscreen which she proffered to Claire Murphy before the sergeant’s nose got burnt.

Claire gratefully accepted the offer and slathered on a thick layer of lotion. “Where’s your partner in crime?” she asked Eve, only to stop her with a gesture before Eve could answer.