Well, Jenn McKinlay’s Hat Shop mysteries have gone to the dogs. I mean it. The sixth book in the series, Buried to the Brim, is fun, one of Jenn’s best books. And, it’s set in the world of dog shows.

Scarlett Parker and her cousin, Viv Tremont, own a high class hat shop, Mim’s Whims, in Notting Hill. Viv designs the hats while Scarlett does the publicity and deals with the customers. Scarlett’s fiance, Harrison Wentworth, brings his beloved Aunt Betty to them as a customer. And, Betty brings her corgi, Freddy. Freddy has been runner-up three years in a row at a charity dog show. Now, if Betty and Freddy have matching hats, they just might take first place.

Scarlett falls in love with Betty and Freddy, and the night before the dog show competition is to start, they all attend a cocktail party with Betty and Freddy in their hats. Unfortunately, Betty confronts the major sponsor, blaming him for Freddy getting sick the previous year on his dog food.  The next day, Betty has another confrontation when she’s told her registration was lost and she and Freddy can’t participate in the dog show. Viv takes care of that. She registers Scarlett to handle Freddy in the dog show.

And, Freddy shows Scarlett how beautifully he handles agility, until he finds the body of the dog show sponsor. It isn’t long before the police hear about Betty’s argument with the man, and focus on her as a suspect. But, Scarlett isn’t going to let that nice woman be railroaded by a bunch of snarly dog show people.

Buried to the Brim was delightful. I loved the corgis in the book. Scarlett came through with flying colors, as an amateur sleuth and a dog handler (although Freddy really handled her). There’s an inside joke in which Jenn McKinlay’s husband makes a cameo as a dog handler, an American who is kind to Betty. The characters, the dogs, and the entire mystery is just a treat, deserving of a glass bowl trophy.

Jenn McKinlay has been writing more romantic comedies lately, well-written, enjoyable ones. But, she dedicates this book “for every reader who asked me to write another Hat Shop Mystery. Your devotion to the series inspired me to write just one more…for now.” Let’s hope Buried to the Brim really is just the last one “for now”.

Jenn McKinlay’s website is www.jennmckinlay.com

Buried to the Brim by Jenn McKinlay. Berkley Prime Crime, 2020. ISBN 9781984804723 (paperback), 290p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure – The publisher sent a copy of the book, hoping I would review it.