The Finders

The Finders by Jeffrey B. Burton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The Finders is a the first book in a new series by Jeffrey Burton. Mace Reid, the dog whisperer, is a dog trainer who maintains a group of cadaver dogs with song-inspired names. He adopts a golden retriever puppy who proves to be exceptionally talented at sniffing out bad guys. In a story with twists and turns, Mace and Vira (the retriever) get mixed up with a serial killer or two, while Mace tries to figure out how to romance the attractive police officer who initially rescued Vira (or, Honey Bear as she calls her). Great start to what I hope is an ongoing series. Recommended for fans of Paula Munier and Margaret Mizushima.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for access to a digital ARC.

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The Secrets of Bones

The Secrets of Bones by Kylie Logan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The Secrets of Bones is book two in the Jazz Ramsey series. Though Jazz moonlights as a cadaver (or HRD) dog trainer and a dog is featured prominently on the cover, this book isn’t really about the dog (unlike the K-9 mysteries by Paula Munier, Margaret Mizushima, and Susan Furlong). Jazz and Wally, her HRD dog in training, are last minute substitutes on career day at the Catholic girls school where Jazz works, and of course they uncover some remains! Jazz is a change of pace as a protagonist, neither embittered nor on a mission, and I enjoyed reading about her exploits. I was able to figure out the key to mystery a few chapters from the end, so there aren’t any big surprises in store, but it is an enjoyable read. Though it was the second in a series, I had no difficulty getting into the story. I plan to pick up the first book, and don’t think there will be any letdown in reading the books out of order.

I received a digital ARC via NetGalley.



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The K Team

The K Team by David Rosenfelt

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I admit that I was drawn to this book because of the cover and my recent infatuation with K-9 mysteries (Paula Munier’s Mercy Carr, Margaret Mizushima’s Timber Creek series, Susan Furlong’s Bone Gap Travelers series). While Simon Garfunkel, the shepherd on the cover, is a key part of the K Team, this book isn’t really about the dog. This book is a spin-off of Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter series and focuses on a small group of private investigators that includes Andy’s wife Laurie, a retired cop, and Corey Douglas and his dog Simon, also retired cops.

Corey is the main narrator of the book (which occasionally switches over to a third person narrator when it’s necessary to give the reader additional information) that begins when the K Team is hired to figure out who’s blackmailing a judge. A far-ranging conspiracy is investigated and the story provides enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. Good read with engaging characters.

I received a digital ARC via NetGalley.

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