Killer Cupid by Laurien Berenson

Available December 27, 2022

Rating: 5 hearts

Davey and Kevin (with assistance from Aunt Peg) surprise Melanie and Sam with a romantic Valentine's weekend getaway at the White Birch Inn in the Berkshires. Though Melanie is a bit apprehensive about leaving Aunt Peg in charge of her children - both two- and four-legged - she and Sam haven't had a day to themselves in longer than they can remember and when they find out they'll be joined by Melanie's brother Frank and his wife, Melanie's BFF Bertie, they can't say no.

In typical Melanie fashion, she just happens to be in the right (wrong) place at the right (wrong) time to witness what appears to be a romantic tryst between a mysterious man and a young woman who turns up dead the following morning. The owner of the White Birch Inn finds out about Melanie's hobby of solving crime she immediately seeks her out for help getting to the bottom of what's going on.

I absolutely love it when the main characters in a series go on vacation. It's fun to see them inhabiting a new world, shedding the responsibilities of their ordinary lives and investigating new people in new places under unique circumstances. This book is particularly fun, a private inn in the mountains with spectacular views, fun activities, shopping, and lots of adult beverages to warm them up. Melanie and Sam also got to enjoy some alone time with just the two of them and Faith, Melanie's heart dog. While the kids are sweet and the other dogs are adorable (especially little Bud), this book was a fun change of pace. Melanie is one of my all-time favorite cozy characters and it's been fun watching her go from a lonely single woman raising her young son on her own to the woman she is now, married to a wonderful man and surrounded by family and friends and, of course, Poodles. This series is a definite must read!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.