Peg and Rose Deck the Halls by Laurien Berenson

Peg wasn't paying attention and now it's almost Christmas. That means it's time to put together the Christmas Bazaar and children's dog show. Except, while she was distracted, the kennel club gave the job to Jonabell. Even though Peg created the show and has been spearheading it for years. Years. Now, she's in charge of decorations. So what does that mean? She's going to drag Rose into it. 

But, almost before they start planning, Jonabell drops dead. At Peg's open house. And it's not natural causes. 

Because it was at Peg's house and Jonabell had taken Peg's place, rumors are floating that she is under suspicion for the death. But we don't actually hear that from the police. We don't see much of the police in this book but one of the reasons I like this series is that Peg and Rose let the police know when they find clues. Peg even directs someone straight to the police station when they have information she thinks the police may not know. 

I didn't really understand why everyone was so suspicious of Peg, especially since Jonabell wasn't well liked to begin with. I had a hard time reconciling the sudden turn against Peg just because something happened at her house. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out September 29, 2026

Senior Sleuths #4

Follows Peg and Rose Play the Ponies

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Peg and Rose Play the Ponies by Laurien Berenson

Peg and Rose are going on a road trip. Why? Dogs and horses. Peg is going to judge two dog shows and then attending a sale of a thoroughbred. Hers, as it turns out. She owns a few horses and the yearling of one is going to be sold. 

Once they get there, they encounter a manager who is just a jerk. Peg is busy judging and Rose is hanging out with Hope (Peg's oldest poodle). They discover that the jerk has been killed. A young woman from the farm asks them to tell the police that the argument she had with him the day before wasn't that serious. Instead, they decide to investigate. 

If you like the Senior Sleuths series, you will enjoy this book. I don't think you have to have read the other books in this series to understand the players in this one.

Three and a half stars

This book comes out June 25, 2024

Senior Sleuths #3

Follows Peg and Rose Stir Up Trouble

Followed by Peg and Rose Deck the Halls

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Peg and Rose Solve a Murder by Laurien Berenson

I assume that both Peg and Rose have appeared in Berenson's other series as there are references to both of them having helped solve other mysteries. But in this book, the two are working together, maybe for the first time in decades. Rose wasn't sure about Peg when she married Rose's brother and she made a scene that ensured the two wouldn't have a good relationship. Years later, her brother is dead and Rose is feeling penitent so she invites Peg to a bridge club. We get to meet all of the the other members along with Peg and Rose. It is one of their bridge club that gets murdered in this book. While the police (including a detective that Peg knows and trusts) are investigating, Peg is still going to poke her nose in. That leads to some danger for them both and Peg may not be able to stick around to take care of her prized poodles.

Four stars

This book came out August 20, 2022

Followed by Peg and Rose Stir up Trouble

Borrowed as hard copy from the library

Opinions are my own