Holly Winter and Alaskan malamute Rowdy are at Waggin' Tail dog camp in Maine, supposedly so that Holly can enjoy a bit of rest and relaxation while she covers the camp festivities for Dog's Life. The moment they arrive, however, things swiftly begin to go wrong. Holly and several other guests receive chillingly anonymous cards offering condolences on the deaths of their pets. Equipment is sabotaged. Advertisements for canine coffins and articles about deadly diseases and potentially fatal hazards in the home appear in handbags and scattered about the meeting rooms.Suspicion naturally falls on one particularly cranky and unpleasant guest, whom everyone would love to blame. But then mischief turns to murder, and someone is trying very hard to put Holly off the scent.The highly competitive world of purebred dogdom arouses strong passions, and none more powerful than the fear of banishment or loss of face. But how far might a breeder of Labrador retrievers go to save her reputation? Would an American Kennel Club judge risk "conduct unbecoming" - or worse?Holly almost loses her life while trying to find the answers. And, not surprisingly, the dogs in this engagingly suspenseful tale often prove to be more well-bred than their human companions.Infused with intriguing bits of gossip and information about the insiders' world of dogs, Black Ribbon proves that Holly Winter - and Susan Conant - are once again in championship form!