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Mace Reid K-9 Mystery #1
The Finders
Jeffrey B. Burton's The Finders marks the beginning of a fast-paced new mystery series featuring a heroic golden retriever cadaver dog named Vira and her handler, Mason Reid.
Mason "Mace" Reid lives on the outskirts of Chicago and specializes in human remains detection. He trains dogs to hunt for the dead. Reid’s coming off a taxing year—mourning the death of a beloved springer spaniel as well as the dissolution of his marriage. He adopts a rescue dog with a mysterious past—a golden retriever named Vira. And when Reid begins training Vira as a cadaver dog, he comes to realize just how special the newest addition to his family truly is…
Suddenly, Reid and his prize pupil find themselves hurled into a taxing murder case, which will push them to their very limits. Paired with determined Chicago Police Officer Kippy Gimm, Mace must put all his trust in Vira's abilities to thwart a serial killer who has now set his sights on Mace himself.
281 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 30, 2020
About the author
Jeffrey B. Burton
20 books304 followersJeff's mystery/thriller, THE DEAD YEARS, came out on March 5, 2024 (Severn House).
Novels in Jeff's Mace Reid K-9 mystery series include THE FINDERS, THE KEEPERS, and THE LOST (St. Martin's Press, Minotaur).
Novels in Jeff's Agent Drew Cady mystery series include: THE CHESSMAN, THE LYNCHPIN, and THE EULOGIST. His short stories have appeared in dozens of magazines.
Born in Long Beach, California, Jeff grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, and received his BA in Journalism at the University of Minnesota. He is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and the Horror Writers Association. He lives in St. Paul with his wife, an irate Pomeranian named Lucy, and a goofball of a Beagle named Milo.
Novels in Jeff's Mace Reid K-9 mystery series include THE FINDERS, THE KEEPERS, and THE LOST (St. Martin's Press, Minotaur).
Novels in Jeff's Agent Drew Cady mystery series include: THE CHESSMAN, THE LYNCHPIN, and THE EULOGIST. His short stories have appeared in dozens of magazines.
Born in Long Beach, California, Jeff grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, and received his BA in Journalism at the University of Minnesota. He is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and the Horror Writers Association. He lives in St. Paul with his wife, an irate Pomeranian named Lucy, and a goofball of a Beagle named Milo.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 722 reviews
December 27, 2023
**3.5-stars**
The Finders is the first installment in the new Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series. It is an Investigatory Thriller following an unlikely hero and his four-legged companions.
Mason 'Mace' Reid, is a dog trainer who specializes in training cadaver dogs, which he uses to assist local law enforcement with body searches.
At the beginning of the story, Mace has the opportunity to adopt a Golden Retriever puppy who has had a very traumatic start to life.
Dog lover that he is, and having recently loss one of his pack, he welcomes the puppy with open arms and names her Vira. Not long after, her training begins.
Unbeknownst to Mace, Vira is soon to be working her first case, as a deadly killer is lurking very close to home.
When the serial killer sets his sights on Mace, all bets are off. It's up to Mace, his new friend, CPD Officer Kippy Gim and Vira, to stop the killer and stay alive.
This was a solid start to a series. Dealing with a fictional serial killer can definitely up the ante of a story and this is no exception.
It was intense, it was fast-paced, but there were some elements I wasn't crazy about.
For example, there was some cringey, insensitive humor, but also some fairly good humor where I laughed out loud. Yeah, so a mixed bag.
The occasions where I actually grimaced at badly worded jokes were fewer than things I liked about the story overall though, hence my 3.5-star rating.
I also had a hard time with some of the scenes involving the dogs. I will say, dogs in stories, is generally something I have a problem with; it's not specific to this. It causes my anxiety to rise and makes it hard for me to relax and connect.
With this being said, I am aware that this is 100% specific to me as a reader. If you are fine with reading stories with dogs, or even love them, you will most likely really enjoy this.
Mace is a really good dog owner. You can tell he loves his boy and girls and treats them like part of his family; as they are.
Overall, I think this is a solid start to a series. I would definitely consider picking up the next book, praying the whole way that all the dogs remain happy and healthy throughout.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Minotaur Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate having the opportunity to provide my opinion.
The Finders is the first installment in the new Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series. It is an Investigatory Thriller following an unlikely hero and his four-legged companions.
Mason 'Mace' Reid, is a dog trainer who specializes in training cadaver dogs, which he uses to assist local law enforcement with body searches.
At the beginning of the story, Mace has the opportunity to adopt a Golden Retriever puppy who has had a very traumatic start to life.
Dog lover that he is, and having recently loss one of his pack, he welcomes the puppy with open arms and names her Vira. Not long after, her training begins.
Unbeknownst to Mace, Vira is soon to be working her first case, as a deadly killer is lurking very close to home.
When the serial killer sets his sights on Mace, all bets are off. It's up to Mace, his new friend, CPD Officer Kippy Gim and Vira, to stop the killer and stay alive.
This was a solid start to a series. Dealing with a fictional serial killer can definitely up the ante of a story and this is no exception.
It was intense, it was fast-paced, but there were some elements I wasn't crazy about.
For example, there was some cringey, insensitive humor, but also some fairly good humor where I laughed out loud. Yeah, so a mixed bag.
The occasions where I actually grimaced at badly worded jokes were fewer than things I liked about the story overall though, hence my 3.5-star rating.
I also had a hard time with some of the scenes involving the dogs. I will say, dogs in stories, is generally something I have a problem with; it's not specific to this. It causes my anxiety to rise and makes it hard for me to relax and connect.
With this being said, I am aware that this is 100% specific to me as a reader. If you are fine with reading stories with dogs, or even love them, you will most likely really enjoy this.
Mace is a really good dog owner. You can tell he loves his boy and girls and treats them like part of his family; as they are.
Overall, I think this is a solid start to a series. I would definitely consider picking up the next book, praying the whole way that all the dogs remain happy and healthy throughout.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Minotaur Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate having the opportunity to provide my opinion.
February 24, 2020
THE FINDERS by Jeffrey B. Burton is the first book in the new Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series. It is also my first book by this author. Mason (Mace) Reid lives outside of Chicago and trains dogs with various end goals such as obedience and missing persons tracking, as well as searching for drugs and explosives. However, his specialty is training dogs in human remains detection (HRD). He recently acquired and began training a golden retriever named Vira. With a serial killer targeting young women, the Chicago police department asks for Mace’s help. What follows is a terrific mystery with lots of action, twists and turns, a little humor, and some fantastic moments with Mace’s family; his four HRD dogs.
The characters are compelling and well-developed for a first book in a series. They have clear goals with believable motivations and show appropriate emotions. The secondary characters are well-rounded and the characters seemed believable and not contrived. The prose was engaging, well-written, compelling, and compulsively reading. The plot was clever, intriguing, creative, intense, suspenseful, and riveting. The final twist caught me by surprise. This is one that I did not see coming even though there were enough hints that I conceivably could have deciphered it. Themes explored included serial killers, police procedures, HRD training, the relationships between dogs and people, and much more.
Overall, this was an entertaining novel and a great start to a new series. I look forward to the next book in the series. Additionally, I want to read this author’s FBI Special Agent Drew Cady mystery series starting with THE CHESSMAN.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Jeffrey B. Burton for an ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
The characters are compelling and well-developed for a first book in a series. They have clear goals with believable motivations and show appropriate emotions. The secondary characters are well-rounded and the characters seemed believable and not contrived. The prose was engaging, well-written, compelling, and compulsively reading. The plot was clever, intriguing, creative, intense, suspenseful, and riveting. The final twist caught me by surprise. This is one that I did not see coming even though there were enough hints that I conceivably could have deciphered it. Themes explored included serial killers, police procedures, HRD training, the relationships between dogs and people, and much more.
Overall, this was an entertaining novel and a great start to a new series. I look forward to the next book in the series. Additionally, I want to read this author’s FBI Special Agent Drew Cady mystery series starting with THE CHESSMAN.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Jeffrey B. Burton for an ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
May 17, 2020
There is much promise and potential in Jeffrey B Burton's first in the series featuring Mason 'Mace' Reid living in the outskirts of Chicago, Michigan and as we find out in the story in fascinating detail, trains dogs to find human remains. Mace has gone through some tough times, his marriage is over and he has endured the loss of a much loved dog. He has a real affinity, deep love and connection for his dogs, for him they are his 'kids', and he names them after songs, from the German Shepherd, Sue (Johnny Cash's A Boy named Sue) to the two collies, Maggie May and Delta Dawn. The author does a terrific job in creating different and distinct personalities for each of Mace's canine friends. Mace is to acquire another canine for his family, a gorgeous golden retriever, Elvira or Vira.
Vira was rescued from a horrific scenario, almost dying from carbon monoxide poisoning, and thankfully ends up being placed with Mace who trains and turns the retriever into a cadaver dog used by law enforcement agencies. Vira, though, is an exceptional dog with extraordinary abilities, ones that might be described as turning Vira into a super dog. Lansing police officer, Kimmy Gimm sees the possibility of Mace's dogs helping the police hunt down a serial killer targeting young women. Mace and Kimmy join forces to hunt a killer, and whilst Vira is phenomenal in this task, the attention of a truly sinister and psychopathic killer turns towards Mace, who finds himself in grave danger.
Burton writes a great mystery, a quick read with short chapters to keep the reader’s attention. The real stars of this new series are without doubt the canine characters, making this a real treat of a book for dog lovers. It is a light, absorbing and entertaining read, written with warmth and humour and does a good job in establishing the characters of Mace and KImmy, who do play second fiddle to our canine friends. There are some pacing issues, but this does not interfere greatly with the enjoyment of the beginning of what should be a wonderful series. Many thanks to St Martin’s Press for an ARC.
Vira was rescued from a horrific scenario, almost dying from carbon monoxide poisoning, and thankfully ends up being placed with Mace who trains and turns the retriever into a cadaver dog used by law enforcement agencies. Vira, though, is an exceptional dog with extraordinary abilities, ones that might be described as turning Vira into a super dog. Lansing police officer, Kimmy Gimm sees the possibility of Mace's dogs helping the police hunt down a serial killer targeting young women. Mace and Kimmy join forces to hunt a killer, and whilst Vira is phenomenal in this task, the attention of a truly sinister and psychopathic killer turns towards Mace, who finds himself in grave danger.
Burton writes a great mystery, a quick read with short chapters to keep the reader’s attention. The real stars of this new series are without doubt the canine characters, making this a real treat of a book for dog lovers. It is a light, absorbing and entertaining read, written with warmth and humour and does a good job in establishing the characters of Mace and KImmy, who do play second fiddle to our canine friends. There are some pacing issues, but this does not interfere greatly with the enjoyment of the beginning of what should be a wonderful series. Many thanks to St Martin’s Press for an ARC.
May 12, 2020
3.5 stars, rounded down
It didn’t take me long at all to connect with Mace Reid. Whenever a news clip comes in about pet abuse, my first comment is always “hang ‘em high”. So, when Mace states “In my book, cruelty to animals merits the death penalty. If I had my druthers, we’d hang the Grangers of the world in the village square like Christmas ornaments”, I knew we were kindred spirits.
Burton’s writing includes a fun sense of humor. “She took to finding smells not unlike my ex took to remarrying - with passion and speed.”
I always enjoy books that explain how dogs are trained to do specialized tasks. And this book does that. Burton also understands that dogs have unique personalities the same as humans and makes sure to point out their individual traits.
The book does require you to suspend belief. I had trouble giving Vira the super intelligence the author tried to impress you with. I also didn’t quite buy into the villian. That said, it was an entertaining, fast read. I appreciated both main characters, Mace and Kippy, and hope they continue to work together in future books.
I would recommend this for fans of David Rosenfelt even though it doesn’t rise to the ranks of an Andy Carpenter book.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
It didn’t take me long at all to connect with Mace Reid. Whenever a news clip comes in about pet abuse, my first comment is always “hang ‘em high”. So, when Mace states “In my book, cruelty to animals merits the death penalty. If I had my druthers, we’d hang the Grangers of the world in the village square like Christmas ornaments”, I knew we were kindred spirits.
Burton’s writing includes a fun sense of humor. “She took to finding smells not unlike my ex took to remarrying - with passion and speed.”
I always enjoy books that explain how dogs are trained to do specialized tasks. And this book does that. Burton also understands that dogs have unique personalities the same as humans and makes sure to point out their individual traits.
The book does require you to suspend belief. I had trouble giving Vira the super intelligence the author tried to impress you with. I also didn’t quite buy into the villian. That said, it was an entertaining, fast read. I appreciated both main characters, Mace and Kippy, and hope they continue to work together in future books.
I would recommend this for fans of David Rosenfelt even though it doesn’t rise to the ranks of an Andy Carpenter book.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
January 27, 2020
3.5 stars
What is it about a book with a dog on the cover? Seriously, I have no control.
Mason “Mace” Reid is an average guy who teaches obedience classes for people & their four legged children. But his real job is training cadaver dogs to find human remains for police departments in Lansing & Chicago. He’s still reeling from an unwanted divorce & the recent loss of one of his “kids” when he gets a phone call from a friend who runs a dog rescue. Seems he may have an addition for Mace’s team.
After he hears her story, Mace agrees to meet the golden retriever & it’s love at first sight. He promptly names her Elvira (Vira for short) & takes her home to meet the gang. Delta (Dawn), Maggie (May) & Sue (as in “A Boy Named..) Hmmm…I’m sensing a theme here. Her training begins & it’s soon clear there’s something different about her. Vira not only learns at warp speed, she has a spooky ability to make connections above her pay grade.
Kippy Gimm is a cop in Lansing who she rescued Vira after finding her at a crime scene. That she survived is a welcome bit of good news. She & partner Dave “Wabs” Wabiszewski are struggling with their search for a young woman who’s gone missing. And she’s not the first.
When Kippy checks up on Vira, she meets Mace & is intrigued by his dogs. She sees a way to speed up searching the areas she & Wabs need to cover & wonders if Mace might be interested. He is. But one search in particular leads to an event neither could have foreseen. It’s kind of a good news/bad news situation. They find what they’re looking for but the end result is a killer now has Mace in his sights. And so the hunter becomes the hunted.
In alternate chapters we meet a cold, intelligent sociopath who enjoys his “work”. So when some guy with a bunch of dogs screws up his plans…well, it really can’t be tolerated.
This is a quick, enjoyable book. There’s a bit of a slump in the middle but plenty of info on the science behind cadaver dogs & their training makes for an interesting read. Some creepy scenes & a steady rise in tension lead to an action packed finale.
When it comes to the two legged characters, Kippy is the best developed. She’s a smart, determined woman with a low tolerance for crap. As for Mace, he improves as the story progresses. It’s almost as if the author & his MC had to get to know each other & as events unfold, Mace’s personality & voice grew stronger. He’s a disarming & likeable guy whose world revolves around his furry crew & their strong bond is the heart of the story.
But the real stars are the puppers. Sue is the regal veteran who thinks of Mace as a barely adequate employee. Delta & Maggie have some sort of psychic connection & enjoy gaslighting their Dad. And Vira is always two steps ahead of everyone else. Now if she could just get those dense humans to pay attention! It’s a solid start to the series & I look forward to the gang’s next adventure. And yes, Sue…I’ll bring peanut butter.
What is it about a book with a dog on the cover? Seriously, I have no control.
Mason “Mace” Reid is an average guy who teaches obedience classes for people & their four legged children. But his real job is training cadaver dogs to find human remains for police departments in Lansing & Chicago. He’s still reeling from an unwanted divorce & the recent loss of one of his “kids” when he gets a phone call from a friend who runs a dog rescue. Seems he may have an addition for Mace’s team.
After he hears her story, Mace agrees to meet the golden retriever & it’s love at first sight. He promptly names her Elvira (Vira for short) & takes her home to meet the gang. Delta (Dawn), Maggie (May) & Sue (as in “A Boy Named..) Hmmm…I’m sensing a theme here. Her training begins & it’s soon clear there’s something different about her. Vira not only learns at warp speed, she has a spooky ability to make connections above her pay grade.
Kippy Gimm is a cop in Lansing who she rescued Vira after finding her at a crime scene. That she survived is a welcome bit of good news. She & partner Dave “Wabs” Wabiszewski are struggling with their search for a young woman who’s gone missing. And she’s not the first.
When Kippy checks up on Vira, she meets Mace & is intrigued by his dogs. She sees a way to speed up searching the areas she & Wabs need to cover & wonders if Mace might be interested. He is. But one search in particular leads to an event neither could have foreseen. It’s kind of a good news/bad news situation. They find what they’re looking for but the end result is a killer now has Mace in his sights. And so the hunter becomes the hunted.
In alternate chapters we meet a cold, intelligent sociopath who enjoys his “work”. So when some guy with a bunch of dogs screws up his plans…well, it really can’t be tolerated.
This is a quick, enjoyable book. There’s a bit of a slump in the middle but plenty of info on the science behind cadaver dogs & their training makes for an interesting read. Some creepy scenes & a steady rise in tension lead to an action packed finale.
When it comes to the two legged characters, Kippy is the best developed. She’s a smart, determined woman with a low tolerance for crap. As for Mace, he improves as the story progresses. It’s almost as if the author & his MC had to get to know each other & as events unfold, Mace’s personality & voice grew stronger. He’s a disarming & likeable guy whose world revolves around his furry crew & their strong bond is the heart of the story.
But the real stars are the puppers. Sue is the regal veteran who thinks of Mace as a barely adequate employee. Delta & Maggie have some sort of psychic connection & enjoy gaslighting their Dad. And Vira is always two steps ahead of everyone else. Now if she could just get those dense humans to pay attention! It’s a solid start to the series & I look forward to the gang’s next adventure. And yes, Sue…I’ll bring peanut butter.
May 24, 2020
I'm a sucker for novels featuring dogs and this one is pretty good. Recently divorced Mason (Mace) Reid teaches obedience classes as well as training cadaver dogs for work with the Chicago police. Along with his German shepherd and two collies, he's recently adopted and started training a new recruit, golden retriever puppy, Vira, rescued from a bad situation by policewoman Kippy Gimm. In Vira's first outing to find a cadaver of a young female kidnapping victim, she shows a remarkable skill that even Mace has difficulty believing.
The novel switches between Mace and his dogs and a serial killer who has been undetected in killing lone female travellers for quite a few years. Nicknamed 'Everyman' due to his unremarkable looks he is very good at what he does and I did not guess his real identity before it was revealed. The plot suffers from a drop in the pace after Vira's initial case while the next one is developing but builds up to a suspenseful ending. I really like Mace's engaging character as well as that of Kippy Gimm, who comes to visit Vira and the rest of the crew. All the dogs are lovable, individual characters and it's clear that Burton loves and knows dogs really well. An enjoyable read and a promising start to a new series. 3.5★
With many thanks to St Martin's Press and Netgalley for a copy to read.
The novel switches between Mace and his dogs and a serial killer who has been undetected in killing lone female travellers for quite a few years. Nicknamed 'Everyman' due to his unremarkable looks he is very good at what he does and I did not guess his real identity before it was revealed. The plot suffers from a drop in the pace after Vira's initial case while the next one is developing but builds up to a suspenseful ending. I really like Mace's engaging character as well as that of Kippy Gimm, who comes to visit Vira and the rest of the crew. All the dogs are lovable, individual characters and it's clear that Burton loves and knows dogs really well. An enjoyable read and a promising start to a new series. 3.5★
With many thanks to St Martin's Press and Netgalley for a copy to read.
June 30, 2020
3★
“Dogs, in general, live in a world of scent and hearing, and cadaver dogs are trained to detect human remains via the scent of compounds—unique odors—given off by decomposing bodies. Decomposing human remains release nearly five hundred different chemical compounds.”
Anyone who’s taken a dog for a walk knows what it’s like when their household pet suddenly stops on the spot to sniff the ground and then either freezes or starts looking around, searching. It can be hard to keep your balance if you’re not paying attention. And if it’s a big dog, and they decide to take off to chase some enticing scent, you may find yourself dragged in their wake.
Mace (Mason) has always had dogs. Loves them. His ex ’liked’ them, but that was not enough to keep her. In fact, it seems to be what turned her off and sent her to someone new. That’s about as much as we get of a back story.
Jack’s dogs are special, of course. He’s a dog trainer, and his own dogs are family. When he hears about a pup who’s been mistreated, he’s keen to find out more.
“While Paul brought me up to date on the golden retriever puppy I’d come to visit, I sat in his guest chair and steamed, like veggies in a pot. I didn’t give a damn about Granger’s childhood. In my book, cruelty to animals merits the death penalty. If I had my druthers, we’d hang the Grangers of this world in the village square like Christmas ornaments. And if this particular jackass hadn’t managed to punch his own ticket—had not Darwined himself out of existence—I’d have driven to Forest Glen and popped him in the mouth.”
Officer Kippy Gimm, who found her, thought she was a bit of a miracle. She also ‘loves’ dogs and has a special soft spot for this pup, who turns out to have unique skills, not only as a cadaver dog, but as a dog who can spot a criminal at 100 paces. (That might be an exaggeration, but not much.)
“Vira’s still a novice as a cadaver dog, and now she’s dealing with this other thing. It’s like she takes it all in, inhales it or something—disappears for a moment, inside herself or somewhere—and then comes back with some kind of . . . ‘insight.’”
The chapters are told from different points of view. Some are first-person for Mace, others are third-person about someone else – Kippy or the serial killer.
I’m afraid after the initial ‘event’, I began to lose interest and skimmed a lot of the rest to see where and how the story was going. It seems to have a lot of the elements of a good tale and is the introduction to a new series, but it didn’t catch my imagination.
The more I think about it, the more I think this might appeal to young readers, so I’m going to tag it as such. There are certainly some ‘adult themes’, as I think the saying goes, but nothing they haven’t been exposed to on most cop shows, I’m sure.
Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the preview copy from which I’ve quoted. I feel sure the series will continue just fine without me.
“Dogs, in general, live in a world of scent and hearing, and cadaver dogs are trained to detect human remains via the scent of compounds—unique odors—given off by decomposing bodies. Decomposing human remains release nearly five hundred different chemical compounds.”
Anyone who’s taken a dog for a walk knows what it’s like when their household pet suddenly stops on the spot to sniff the ground and then either freezes or starts looking around, searching. It can be hard to keep your balance if you’re not paying attention. And if it’s a big dog, and they decide to take off to chase some enticing scent, you may find yourself dragged in their wake.
Mace (Mason) has always had dogs. Loves them. His ex ’liked’ them, but that was not enough to keep her. In fact, it seems to be what turned her off and sent her to someone new. That’s about as much as we get of a back story.
Jack’s dogs are special, of course. He’s a dog trainer, and his own dogs are family. When he hears about a pup who’s been mistreated, he’s keen to find out more.
“While Paul brought me up to date on the golden retriever puppy I’d come to visit, I sat in his guest chair and steamed, like veggies in a pot. I didn’t give a damn about Granger’s childhood. In my book, cruelty to animals merits the death penalty. If I had my druthers, we’d hang the Grangers of this world in the village square like Christmas ornaments. And if this particular jackass hadn’t managed to punch his own ticket—had not Darwined himself out of existence—I’d have driven to Forest Glen and popped him in the mouth.”
Officer Kippy Gimm, who found her, thought she was a bit of a miracle. She also ‘loves’ dogs and has a special soft spot for this pup, who turns out to have unique skills, not only as a cadaver dog, but as a dog who can spot a criminal at 100 paces. (That might be an exaggeration, but not much.)
“Vira’s still a novice as a cadaver dog, and now she’s dealing with this other thing. It’s like she takes it all in, inhales it or something—disappears for a moment, inside herself or somewhere—and then comes back with some kind of . . . ‘insight.’”
The chapters are told from different points of view. Some are first-person for Mace, others are third-person about someone else – Kippy or the serial killer.
I’m afraid after the initial ‘event’, I began to lose interest and skimmed a lot of the rest to see where and how the story was going. It seems to have a lot of the elements of a good tale and is the introduction to a new series, but it didn’t catch my imagination.
The more I think about it, the more I think this might appeal to young readers, so I’m going to tag it as such. There are certainly some ‘adult themes’, as I think the saying goes, but nothing they haven’t been exposed to on most cop shows, I’m sure.
Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the preview copy from which I’ve quoted. I feel sure the series will continue just fine without me.
June 20, 2020
Mason Reid (Mace) trained his dogs as cadaver dogs and when he found Elvira, the golden retriever puppy had been close to death. Shortening her name to Vira, she joined Maggie Mae, Delta Dawn and Sue (male German Shephard) all named for the songs Mace had loved all his life. It wasn’t long before Mace realized he had a special dog in Vira; her intelligence and knowledge was astounding. Mace was seconded to the Chicago Police Department when they needed help searching for the dead, and police officer Kippy Gimm was particular enamoured by Vira. It wouldn’t be long before Vira’s talents would save Mace’s life…
The murder case had been particularly brutal, but it was the serial killer who was so elusive. But when it seemed the killer was after Mace and his dogs, Vira showed her true colours. What would be the outcome? Mace wasn’t a police officer; he didn’t carry a gun. Could the CPD along with Mace and his dogs solve this particular case?
The Finders is the 1st in the Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series by Jeffrey B. Burton and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The dogs were gorgeous – especially Vira. With a full-on pace, plenty of action and red herrings throughout, The Finders kept me reading well into the night - I'm looking forward to #2. An excellent crime/mystery novel which I highly recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
The murder case had been particularly brutal, but it was the serial killer who was so elusive. But when it seemed the killer was after Mace and his dogs, Vira showed her true colours. What would be the outcome? Mace wasn’t a police officer; he didn’t carry a gun. Could the CPD along with Mace and his dogs solve this particular case?
The Finders is the 1st in the Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series by Jeffrey B. Burton and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The dogs were gorgeous – especially Vira. With a full-on pace, plenty of action and red herrings throughout, The Finders kept me reading well into the night - I'm looking forward to #2. An excellent crime/mystery novel which I highly recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
June 29, 2020
4 strong stars
I was immensely impressed with The Finders and was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I was hesitant all those months ago to read it when I originally saw it on Netgalley because I thought it might be a little corny, but when it was offered to me again, I thought, what the heck? Let's give it a try. I'm so glad I did as it was an excellent mystery/thriller and had a unique aspect to it that set it apart from other series I've read and enjoyed.
Most everyone knows that I am a proud dog mom of two Goldens. I LOVE my dogs. As in, maybe sometimes treat them better than my husband?? Just kidding...sort of, lol. I grew up with German Shepherds, but Goldens are now my breed of choice so the fact that both breeds were involved in this story made it click even more. I loved the aspects regarding dogs and how they help with police work in various forms. I wouldn't have minded even more info if I'm being honest. I also had no idea this book would involve chasing a serial killer so that was another huge reason why I enjoyed this book. It was very creepy, the plot was well paced and even though I could see the twist coming at the end - it didn't take away from my enjoying the book. I was really impressed that this was the first in a series. I can't wait to read the next one!
There is only one criticism I had that lowered my rating from a 4.5 to a 4.0. The author was a little heavy handed with the metaphors and humor (which was fine), but about 75% through the book a character used the word 'retarded', which I found offensive and just plan silly and unnecessary. It was also very out of left field since the character never spoke this crudely before. I'm not sure why this was left in the book, but it really annoyed me and left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I'm hoping that it was an error in judgment and the next book will remove any kind of language or 'sense of humor' that includes vocabulary like this. I loved this book so much I'm willing to give the author another chance.
Thanks so much to Sara Beth Haring, Minotaur Books for the finished copy and Jeffrey B Burton for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review.
Review Date: 06/28/20
Publication Date: 06/30/20
I was immensely impressed with The Finders and was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I was hesitant all those months ago to read it when I originally saw it on Netgalley because I thought it might be a little corny, but when it was offered to me again, I thought, what the heck? Let's give it a try. I'm so glad I did as it was an excellent mystery/thriller and had a unique aspect to it that set it apart from other series I've read and enjoyed.
Most everyone knows that I am a proud dog mom of two Goldens. I LOVE my dogs. As in, maybe sometimes treat them better than my husband?? Just kidding...sort of, lol. I grew up with German Shepherds, but Goldens are now my breed of choice so the fact that both breeds were involved in this story made it click even more. I loved the aspects regarding dogs and how they help with police work in various forms. I wouldn't have minded even more info if I'm being honest. I also had no idea this book would involve chasing a serial killer so that was another huge reason why I enjoyed this book. It was very creepy, the plot was well paced and even though I could see the twist coming at the end - it didn't take away from my enjoying the book. I was really impressed that this was the first in a series. I can't wait to read the next one!
There is only one criticism I had that lowered my rating from a 4.5 to a 4.0. The author was a little heavy handed with the metaphors and humor (which was fine), but about 75% through the book a character used the word 'retarded', which I found offensive and just plan silly and unnecessary. It was also very out of left field since the character never spoke this crudely before. I'm not sure why this was left in the book, but it really annoyed me and left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I'm hoping that it was an error in judgment and the next book will remove any kind of language or 'sense of humor' that includes vocabulary like this. I loved this book so much I'm willing to give the author another chance.
Thanks so much to Sara Beth Haring, Minotaur Books for the finished copy and Jeffrey B Burton for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review.
Review Date: 06/28/20
Publication Date: 06/30/20
April 3, 2020
Many thanks to NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press for the ARC of this intriguing book. The opening section describing the discovery of an unconscious golden retriever puppy overcome and almost dead from noxious fumes and its rescue. Its subsequent training as a cadaver dog was compelling and informative.
The puppy was rescued by policewoman, Kippy, who wished to keep her, but animal control decided on a placement with Mace Reid who specializes in training cadaver dogs. The goal is having the dog, now named Vira, work alongside her handler, Mace, as consultants to the police in finding dead bodies.
Vira turns out to be a prodigy in learning her main task, zeroing in on bodies using her innate and highly developed sense of smell. The dog also shows some mysterious special skills which lead to debates as to whether she is clairvoyant or whether her powerful, highly effective sense receptors enable her to make connections between crimes and their perpetrators.
Young girls are being kidnapped and eventually killed. Mace with Vira manages to identify the kidnapper. Mace finds the latest girl taken, chained in a shack by a lowlife criminal and his son. The rescue was exciting and suspenseful, but one of danger and bloodshed. Mace’s German Shepherd was seriously injured in the action. Mace himself seems prone to injuries during his work with the police and on his own.
The book for me lost its momentum and rapid pace during a second investigation into an elusive, cunning, and controlling serial killer. He is skillful in hiding his identity and changing jobs. Mace, Kippy, and Vira are working together, with the self-conscious, bumbling Mace hoping for a romantic connection with Kippy. Kippy has bonded with the dog, and Vira seems to recognize her as the policewoman who saved her life.
I look forward to reading further books in this series. I would like to see more emphasis on Vira’s training and highly developed skills related to her work as a cadaver dog. She also has assumed the role of an attack dog. I hope to see the main characters featured more in conjunction with the police force. There were glimpses of a sense of humour within this gripping story and hope to see more of that. Recommended for anyone who is interested in the training of police dogs and their work.
The puppy was rescued by policewoman, Kippy, who wished to keep her, but animal control decided on a placement with Mace Reid who specializes in training cadaver dogs. The goal is having the dog, now named Vira, work alongside her handler, Mace, as consultants to the police in finding dead bodies.
Vira turns out to be a prodigy in learning her main task, zeroing in on bodies using her innate and highly developed sense of smell. The dog also shows some mysterious special skills which lead to debates as to whether she is clairvoyant or whether her powerful, highly effective sense receptors enable her to make connections between crimes and their perpetrators.
Young girls are being kidnapped and eventually killed. Mace with Vira manages to identify the kidnapper. Mace finds the latest girl taken, chained in a shack by a lowlife criminal and his son. The rescue was exciting and suspenseful, but one of danger and bloodshed. Mace’s German Shepherd was seriously injured in the action. Mace himself seems prone to injuries during his work with the police and on his own.
The book for me lost its momentum and rapid pace during a second investigation into an elusive, cunning, and controlling serial killer. He is skillful in hiding his identity and changing jobs. Mace, Kippy, and Vira are working together, with the self-conscious, bumbling Mace hoping for a romantic connection with Kippy. Kippy has bonded with the dog, and Vira seems to recognize her as the policewoman who saved her life.
I look forward to reading further books in this series. I would like to see more emphasis on Vira’s training and highly developed skills related to her work as a cadaver dog. She also has assumed the role of an attack dog. I hope to see the main characters featured more in conjunction with the police force. There were glimpses of a sense of humour within this gripping story and hope to see more of that. Recommended for anyone who is interested in the training of police dogs and their work.
April 30, 2020
I read mysteries all the time but I do believe this was my first time reading one in which a dog played a big role in the story. I wouldn't necessarily say I'm a dog lover but I did find myself interested in the dog portions of the story. It's pretty amazing how they can play a vital role in police investigations due to their abilities. While I might not have enjoyed all aspects of the story, I am glad I picked this one up as it gave me the opportunity to learn a little bit about cadaver dogs.
Mason "Mace" Reid trains dogs to hunt for dead bodies. His marriage is over and he recently lost his beloved dog. But then Vira, a golden retriever, enters Mace's life, and after training her, he realizes she might be an extra special cadaver dog. The two of them will help the police in Chicago track down a serial killer.
I liked Mace as a lead character but I wish the book would have only focused on him rather than occasionally switching over to another character. After awhile I dreaded the chapters featuring the other character. It just ventured into bad territory and not in a so bad it is fun type of way. More like I am bored can we go back to Mace and the dog already type way. (I'm being vague on purpose because I do try to avoid mentioning anything that isn't covered in the publisher's synopsis when writing my reviews)
If you are a dog lover and are in the mood for a quick mystery this isn't a bad pick. I was pleasantly surprised there managed to be a little heart to the story. The love Mace had for his dogs certainly enhanced the story and made him a likable character.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review!
Mason "Mace" Reid trains dogs to hunt for dead bodies. His marriage is over and he recently lost his beloved dog. But then Vira, a golden retriever, enters Mace's life, and after training her, he realizes she might be an extra special cadaver dog. The two of them will help the police in Chicago track down a serial killer.
I liked Mace as a lead character but I wish the book would have only focused on him rather than occasionally switching over to another character. After awhile I dreaded the chapters featuring the other character. It just ventured into bad territory and not in a so bad it is fun type of way. More like I am bored can we go back to Mace and the dog already type way. (I'm being vague on purpose because I do try to avoid mentioning anything that isn't covered in the publisher's synopsis when writing my reviews)
If you are a dog lover and are in the mood for a quick mystery this isn't a bad pick. I was pleasantly surprised there managed to be a little heart to the story. The love Mace had for his dogs certainly enhanced the story and made him a likable character.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review!
July 26, 2021
Okay so obviously I read this because of the lovely golden retriever on the cover. There aren’t many mystery novels with dogs helping out to solve crimes so that concept in itself was what drew me to read this - plot aside.
Mason “Mace” Reid lives outside of Chicago and trains dogs to hunt human remains. He has recently gone through a divorce and lost his beloved dog. He adopts a golden retriever named Vira and trains her to become his new cadaver dog. She ends up being exceptionally amazing at her new job (what a good girl!!) and helps Mace with a serial killer case where a sociopath targets young women. In alternate chapters we meet the serial killer who is highly intelligent and enjoys what he does. The serial killer begins to turn his sights onto Mace and finds himself and Vira in danger.
This was a quick read and I enjoyed the short chapters. I thought some of the pacing was off where it would move fast and then back to very, very slow. Solid start to the series, I would read the next one if not only for Vira and the rest of the dogs. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for a copy of this book.
(I will admit I put off reading this in fear of a dog dying but they are only injured and all end up okay so yay)
Mason “Mace” Reid lives outside of Chicago and trains dogs to hunt human remains. He has recently gone through a divorce and lost his beloved dog. He adopts a golden retriever named Vira and trains her to become his new cadaver dog. She ends up being exceptionally amazing at her new job (what a good girl!!) and helps Mace with a serial killer case where a sociopath targets young women. In alternate chapters we meet the serial killer who is highly intelligent and enjoys what he does. The serial killer begins to turn his sights onto Mace and finds himself and Vira in danger.
This was a quick read and I enjoyed the short chapters. I thought some of the pacing was off where it would move fast and then back to very, very slow. Solid start to the series, I would read the next one if not only for Vira and the rest of the dogs. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for a copy of this book.
(I will admit I put off reading this in fear of a dog dying but they are only injured and all end up okay so yay)
May 16, 2022
Book 1 in the Mace Reid K9 series published 2020
3.5 stars for being a bit disappointing.
Between the books blurb, it’s cover and the fact that I’m a bit of a dog tragic I was really looking forward to this read but I’m sorry to say that it didn’t quite live up to my expectations.
What I was hoping for was a story, primarily, about a rescue dog that, against all the odds, would come good and save the day.
But what I got was a predictable psycho thriller that was 90% about Mace, the dogs handler, and Kippy an attractive female police office that the Mace couldn’t stop thinking about and 10% about the dog.
To be fair, as psycho thrillers go, it wasn’t that bad but just not enough dogged encounters, pun intended.
So what we have is a psychotic killer who thinks, by way of change, that he’s smarter that the average cop. He must be as the bodies have been mounting up for a number of years without anybody knowing that there’s a killer at large. But that’s all about to change when the killer meets Vira the Golden Retriever, who is definitely smarter than the average cop.
The problem is, is that the cops are too stupid to understand that they are out classed by a dog.
So, the only thing standing between the killer and his next victim is Vira, the dog, Mace, the handler and Kippy the attractive female police officer.
As I said earlier this is not a bad read it’s just not what I was hoping for.
3.5 stars for being a bit disappointing.
Between the books blurb, it’s cover and the fact that I’m a bit of a dog tragic I was really looking forward to this read but I’m sorry to say that it didn’t quite live up to my expectations.
What I was hoping for was a story, primarily, about a rescue dog that, against all the odds, would come good and save the day.
But what I got was a predictable psycho thriller that was 90% about Mace, the dogs handler, and Kippy an attractive female police office that the Mace couldn’t stop thinking about and 10% about the dog.
To be fair, as psycho thrillers go, it wasn’t that bad but just not enough dogged encounters, pun intended.
So what we have is a psychotic killer who thinks, by way of change, that he’s smarter that the average cop. He must be as the bodies have been mounting up for a number of years without anybody knowing that there’s a killer at large. But that’s all about to change when the killer meets Vira the Golden Retriever, who is definitely smarter than the average cop.
The problem is, is that the cops are too stupid to understand that they are out classed by a dog.
So, the only thing standing between the killer and his next victim is Vira, the dog, Mace, the handler and Kippy the attractive female police officer.
As I said earlier this is not a bad read it’s just not what I was hoping for.
May 14, 2020
Exciting, intense, suspenseful! These are just some of the adjectives that can be used to describe this novel.
The Finders is the first novel in a planned series involving Mason (Mace) Reid, and his band of Human Remains Detection (HRD) dogs -- with the star being a golden retriever named Elvira or Vira for short. Eventually, Mace teams up with Kippy Gimm, a Chicago police officer to track down a serial killer by locating human remains and extracting any clues.
Suddenly, the tables get turned as the serial killer begins to stalk Mace and Vira. But why? Who is this serial killer? You'll find out in the surprising climax.
Five stars! Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
The Finders is the first novel in a planned series involving Mason (Mace) Reid, and his band of Human Remains Detection (HRD) dogs -- with the star being a golden retriever named Elvira or Vira for short. Eventually, Mace teams up with Kippy Gimm, a Chicago police officer to track down a serial killer by locating human remains and extracting any clues.
Suddenly, the tables get turned as the serial killer begins to stalk Mace and Vira. But why? Who is this serial killer? You'll find out in the surprising climax.
Five stars! Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
December 1, 2021
Kippy Gimm is a young Chicago Police Officer performing a wellness check when she stumbles upon a golden retriever puppy stuck in a garage with a running car. Miraculously, Kippy is able to save the puppy and turn it over to a rescue center to be rehabilitated.
Mace Reid specializes in detecting human remains and has several pups trained as cadaver dogs. When his friend at the rescue center contacts him about the miraculous survival of a golden retriever puppy, Mace is eager to add the puppy to his crew.
Mace and Elvira (Vira for short), form an immediate bond and Mace quickly realizes there is something special about Vira and her abilities. When Mace is called to a scene to find human remains, he brings along Vira for training purposes. Vira finds the remains in an instant and also sets sights on a looky-lou in the crowd. The normally gentle and people friendly Vira is suddenly in attack mode and ends up gravely injuring the bystander and going so far as to rip out one of his eyes.
Mace is immediately ordered to put Vira down. Distraught over possibly losing his dog and at her sudden outburst, he knows he needs to find a way to save her and to get to the bottom of her uncharacteristic behavior. Looking into Vira's victim more closely, Mace comes to believe that he is the feared Velvet Choker Killer who has been attacking innocent people throughout and around Chicago. It seems as though Vira may have smelled something on him that triggered her attack.
Without more than a hunch to go on, Mace decides to pursue the potential killer himself, breaking into the man's home and ultimately finding his latest victim. But also present is the killer's son - a feral child born from incest - who also has a murderous streak. Barely making it out alive, Mace is able to rescue the victim and ultimately end the son's life.
Kippy Gimm learns of the attack and becomes involved in the case. Her bond with Vira remains strong, even after being apart. She was completely unable to reconcile the image of a survivor puppy with a vicious attack dog so when she learns that Vira detected the killer, she isn't surprised at all. She instinctively believes that there is something special about Vira and that they need to follow the dog's intuition.
When Vira's alarm bells go off in the middle night, it becomes apparent that catching the Velvet Choker Killer and killing his son isn't the end of the story. Suddenly, Mace and Vira appear to be the crossfire of another killer, and it will take the uncanny abilities of the cadaver dog, the CPD, and the stellar Mace and Kippy duo to solve the case... and hopefully get out alive.
This was a quick and fun read. I found the premise of cadaver dogs extremely interesting and it was easy to feel a connection with Mace's crew. I really enjoyed the chemistry between Kippy and Mace and love that it left me wanting more from the future books in the series. If you love dogs and enjoy Dean Koontz-esque thrillers, this book is definitely for you!
Thank you to St. Martin's press for a finished copy of this novel and to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.
Mace Reid specializes in detecting human remains and has several pups trained as cadaver dogs. When his friend at the rescue center contacts him about the miraculous survival of a golden retriever puppy, Mace is eager to add the puppy to his crew.
Mace and Elvira (Vira for short), form an immediate bond and Mace quickly realizes there is something special about Vira and her abilities. When Mace is called to a scene to find human remains, he brings along Vira for training purposes. Vira finds the remains in an instant and also sets sights on a looky-lou in the crowd. The normally gentle and people friendly Vira is suddenly in attack mode and ends up gravely injuring the bystander and going so far as to rip out one of his eyes.
Mace is immediately ordered to put Vira down. Distraught over possibly losing his dog and at her sudden outburst, he knows he needs to find a way to save her and to get to the bottom of her uncharacteristic behavior. Looking into Vira's victim more closely, Mace comes to believe that he is the feared Velvet Choker Killer who has been attacking innocent people throughout and around Chicago. It seems as though Vira may have smelled something on him that triggered her attack.
Without more than a hunch to go on, Mace decides to pursue the potential killer himself, breaking into the man's home and ultimately finding his latest victim. But also present is the killer's son - a feral child born from incest - who also has a murderous streak. Barely making it out alive, Mace is able to rescue the victim and ultimately end the son's life.
Kippy Gimm learns of the attack and becomes involved in the case. Her bond with Vira remains strong, even after being apart. She was completely unable to reconcile the image of a survivor puppy with a vicious attack dog so when she learns that Vira detected the killer, she isn't surprised at all. She instinctively believes that there is something special about Vira and that they need to follow the dog's intuition.
When Vira's alarm bells go off in the middle night, it becomes apparent that catching the Velvet Choker Killer and killing his son isn't the end of the story. Suddenly, Mace and Vira appear to be the crossfire of another killer, and it will take the uncanny abilities of the cadaver dog, the CPD, and the stellar Mace and Kippy duo to solve the case... and hopefully get out alive.
This was a quick and fun read. I found the premise of cadaver dogs extremely interesting and it was easy to feel a connection with Mace's crew. I really enjoyed the chemistry between Kippy and Mace and love that it left me wanting more from the future books in the series. If you love dogs and enjoy Dean Koontz-esque thrillers, this book is definitely for you!
Thank you to St. Martin's press for a finished copy of this novel and to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.
January 13, 2020
The Finders is the first book in a new series by author Jeffrey B. Burton.
Before reviewing it, I have a new confession to make: I love police dogs. When I’m on my couch, switching channels on the telly, and stumble on a police or customs documentary, I remain on it in hope to see police dogs into action. They’re the overlooked heroes of law enforcement.
Hence, when I read the description for The Finders, I knew I had to read this book. And, I haven’t been disappointed.
Mason Reid is a dog trainer who also specializes in training and handling human remains detection dogs for the Chicago police. He adopts a new dog, a golden retriever named Elvira, who almost died from carbon monoxide poisoning as a puppy. Maybe because of the effect this incident had on the development of her senses, « Vira » becomes the most efficient of his pack in record time.
Early in the book, Vira solves her first major case, helping catch the Velvet Choker serial killer. Unfortunately, in doing so, Vira and Mason Reid also caught the unwanted attention of another, more cunning, vicious, and prolific serial killer. Then, the hunters become the hunted.
Even if we don’t get the direct point of view of the dogs, Vira and Reid’s other dogs are omnipresent in the book. Mason Reid doesn’t like dogs. He loves dogs. He empathizes with them. He constantly notices what his dogs are up to and are thinking, and hence let the reader know about it. It is obvious the author put a lot of research into dogs in general, and police dogs specifically. It’s to be noted, as well, that each of Reid’s dogs has its distinct and coherent personality.
The writing style leaves nothing to be desired. No lengthy exposition, just enough for the reader to be involved into the story. The victims are not faceless. Jeffrey B. Burton always gives us enough information about them for us to be horrified by their fates. Even if a serial killer story doesn’t leave a lot of space for comedy, there are bits of humor here and there, sometimes dry and unexpected, often involving the dogs, which caused me to giggle quite a few times.
As for the twist required from all good mysteries, the revelation of the killer’s identity was quite shocking. Even if, in hindsight, all the clues were there. But, Burton nevertheless managed to surprise the seasoned mystery reader I am.
I don’t know when the next installment in this new series will be released, but it’s going to be a long wait. Dog thrillers ? Is that a new literary genre ? As far as I know, it might. And it’s one that seems to have been specially tailored to my needs.
Thanks to St Martin Press and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for this unbiased review.
Before reviewing it, I have a new confession to make: I love police dogs. When I’m on my couch, switching channels on the telly, and stumble on a police or customs documentary, I remain on it in hope to see police dogs into action. They’re the overlooked heroes of law enforcement.
Hence, when I read the description for The Finders, I knew I had to read this book. And, I haven’t been disappointed.
Mason Reid is a dog trainer who also specializes in training and handling human remains detection dogs for the Chicago police. He adopts a new dog, a golden retriever named Elvira, who almost died from carbon monoxide poisoning as a puppy. Maybe because of the effect this incident had on the development of her senses, « Vira » becomes the most efficient of his pack in record time.
Early in the book, Vira solves her first major case, helping catch the Velvet Choker serial killer. Unfortunately, in doing so, Vira and Mason Reid also caught the unwanted attention of another, more cunning, vicious, and prolific serial killer. Then, the hunters become the hunted.
Even if we don’t get the direct point of view of the dogs, Vira and Reid’s other dogs are omnipresent in the book. Mason Reid doesn’t like dogs. He loves dogs. He empathizes with them. He constantly notices what his dogs are up to and are thinking, and hence let the reader know about it. It is obvious the author put a lot of research into dogs in general, and police dogs specifically. It’s to be noted, as well, that each of Reid’s dogs has its distinct and coherent personality.
The writing style leaves nothing to be desired. No lengthy exposition, just enough for the reader to be involved into the story. The victims are not faceless. Jeffrey B. Burton always gives us enough information about them for us to be horrified by their fates. Even if a serial killer story doesn’t leave a lot of space for comedy, there are bits of humor here and there, sometimes dry and unexpected, often involving the dogs, which caused me to giggle quite a few times.
As for the twist required from all good mysteries, the revelation of the killer’s identity was quite shocking. Even if, in hindsight, all the clues were there. But, Burton nevertheless managed to surprise the seasoned mystery reader I am.
I don’t know when the next installment in this new series will be released, but it’s going to be a long wait. Dog thrillers ? Is that a new literary genre ? As far as I know, it might. And it’s one that seems to have been specially tailored to my needs.
Thanks to St Martin Press and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for this unbiased review.
June 6, 2020
Mason "Mace" Reid trains dogs to hunt for dead bodies to become cadaver dogs. He adopts a rescue, a golden retriever named Vira. Reid soon realizes that Vira is special with special instincts on not only finding dead bodies but also identifying the killers. Mace takes on an assignment with Kippy Gimm from the Chicago Police Department to close in on a serial killer case.
Burton’s writing on this police procedural was exciting, fast paced, and thrilling. I loved surprise twists and smart killers that had me guessing until the end. With the addition of a very gifted and loyal K9, my heart was doing some tumbles as Vira on multiple occasions save Mace from a brutal serial killer. This was a real fun read I enjoyed very much!
Thank you @minotaur_books for providing me a free ebook copy and all opinions are my own.
Burton’s writing on this police procedural was exciting, fast paced, and thrilling. I loved surprise twists and smart killers that had me guessing until the end. With the addition of a very gifted and loyal K9, my heart was doing some tumbles as Vira on multiple occasions save Mace from a brutal serial killer. This was a real fun read I enjoyed very much!
Thank you @minotaur_books for providing me a free ebook copy and all opinions are my own.
June 20, 2020
A cracking start to a new crime/thriller series that is bound to have wide appeal.
Dog trainer/handler Mason Reid has had a tough year. His beloved springer spaniel has died and the divorce from his high school sweetheart has become final. Both of these things have left him with too much time to spend inside his own head, and he's become withdrawn, maybe drinking a little too much. So when his friend at Chicago Animal Care and Control calls him in to see a newly rescued golden retriever pup as a potential new human remains detection dog, Mace is cautiously hopeful that things might be about to turn around for him. The pup shows a lot of promise, so he takes her and begins her training.
Ten months later Elvira - Vira for short - is ready for her first HRD job and she does exceptionally well. So well in fact that Mace begins to wonder if perhaps she might have some special skill. The body she found is believed to be a victim of the Velvet Choker Killer who has been terrorising Chicago, and before they know it, Mace and his small pack of cadaver dogs are in the thick of the hunt for the serial killer.
I enjoyed every minute of reading this book. Mace is a great character, who has such a caring and symbiotic relationship with his dogs. That he sometimes thinks his dogs might be gaslighting him is very appealing (and amusing), and shows the depth of the relationship. But this is not 'a book about dogs' - it is first and foremost a fast-paced, clever thriller, that delivers lots of twists and turns before we begin to fully comprehend who's behind the rising bodycount. In fact, I actually wouldn't have minded a bit more dog action, as they were such interesting characters in their own right. I'll be looking forward to catching up with Mace and Vira again in the future.
With thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an uncorrected proof to read and review.
Dog trainer/handler Mason Reid has had a tough year. His beloved springer spaniel has died and the divorce from his high school sweetheart has become final. Both of these things have left him with too much time to spend inside his own head, and he's become withdrawn, maybe drinking a little too much. So when his friend at Chicago Animal Care and Control calls him in to see a newly rescued golden retriever pup as a potential new human remains detection dog, Mace is cautiously hopeful that things might be about to turn around for him. The pup shows a lot of promise, so he takes her and begins her training.
Ten months later Elvira - Vira for short - is ready for her first HRD job and she does exceptionally well. So well in fact that Mace begins to wonder if perhaps she might have some special skill. The body she found is believed to be a victim of the Velvet Choker Killer who has been terrorising Chicago, and before they know it, Mace and his small pack of cadaver dogs are in the thick of the hunt for the serial killer.
I enjoyed every minute of reading this book. Mace is a great character, who has such a caring and symbiotic relationship with his dogs. That he sometimes thinks his dogs might be gaslighting him is very appealing (and amusing), and shows the depth of the relationship. But this is not 'a book about dogs' - it is first and foremost a fast-paced, clever thriller, that delivers lots of twists and turns before we begin to fully comprehend who's behind the rising bodycount. In fact, I actually wouldn't have minded a bit more dog action, as they were such interesting characters in their own right. I'll be looking forward to catching up with Mace and Vira again in the future.
With thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an uncorrected proof to read and review.
May 8, 2022
Ok, you had me with the golden retriever on the cover!! I love dogs and my favorite genre is detective mystery series, so combine the two and you have my reading heart!! In all seriousness, this book will really grab you and is a fantastic start to the Mace Reid K-9 series. The characters are well developed and likeable. Burton writes with a witty, dry sense of humor that will have you cracking up. I loved the story, I truly enjoyed learning about human cadaver dogs and am very excited to see where this series goes. This is one to check out folks!! A solid read!
My thanks to Jeffrey Burton, St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Publishing and netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
My thanks to Jeffrey Burton, St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Publishing and netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 24, 2020
The Finders, by Jeffrey B. Burton, is the 1st book in a new fast-paced mystery series (Mace Reid K-9 Mystery) featuring dog handler Mace Reid and golden retriever cadaver dog Vira.
Mace and Vira assist the police in capturing a serial killer of young women. It is soon discovered that the killing hasn't stopped and there may be an accomplice.
I enjoyed that there was a lot of focus on the work being done by the dog. How interesting!
A well-written and unique plot has me looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Mace and Vira assist the police in capturing a serial killer of young women. It is soon discovered that the killing hasn't stopped and there may be an accomplice.
I enjoyed that there was a lot of focus on the work being done by the dog. How interesting!
A well-written and unique plot has me looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
March 3, 2020
Mason Reid’s divorced, lives in the Chicago area, and trains dogs. He gets a special golden retriever puppy that was almost asphyxiated, and finds that she has remarkable, almost psychic abilities. This book is pretty gritty and intense, as the police hunt for a serial killer of young women, and eventually for his accomplice, who has Mason in his sights. I was bothered about a few things: how could a dog trainer break into a home he suspects is inhabited by a serial killer without informing the police, and there be no repercussions? I also found it hard to believe that a well- trained working dog (in this case a cadaver dog) would viciously attack a person, even if they were a murderer. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2020
Rating: 4 great start stars
What a brisk opening salvo for a new series by author Jeffrey B. Burton. His book, “The Finders” is the first book in the new “Mace Reid K-9 Mystery” series. It starts with a great big bark, and the pace doesn’t let up until the final page. For some reason, I was expecting a cozy mystery. However, to my surprise and delight, this was an action packed thriller. It kept me up late one night furiously turning the book’s pages.
Mason ‘Mace’ Reid is first, and foremost a dog lover. He lives on the outskirts of Chicago with his four dogs. He makes a living by teaching dog obedience classes, and by contracting with police agencies to use his specially trained dogs to sniff out human remains. He’s had a tough year what with a divorce he didn’t see coming, and the loss of his beloved springer spaniel. But things are looking up. He recently adopted a golden retriever he named Elvira, and then quickly nicknames her Vira. She catches on quickly when being trained to find and alert when she detects human remains. If fact, she seems to have a sixth sense about identifying the crime perpetrators.
The police call Mace in to help find the latest remains of a local serial killer. Vira finds the remains, and more. The story rockets off from there. I am not going to say much more about the plot as its great, and I do not want to give anything away.
I’m looking forward to reading the next installment of this series. I want to see if the budding romance between Mace and Police Officer Kippy Gimm starts to bloom. I am wondering what new twists await Mace and his dog pack as things start to settle down after this roller-coaster ride.
I would recommend this to mystery enthusiasts. This hero is smart and irreverent. In addition, he loves dogs. The dogs are a part of the story, not just props. Well done!
‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books; and the author, Jeffrey B. Burton, for providing a free e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What a brisk opening salvo for a new series by author Jeffrey B. Burton. His book, “The Finders” is the first book in the new “Mace Reid K-9 Mystery” series. It starts with a great big bark, and the pace doesn’t let up until the final page. For some reason, I was expecting a cozy mystery. However, to my surprise and delight, this was an action packed thriller. It kept me up late one night furiously turning the book’s pages.
Mason ‘Mace’ Reid is first, and foremost a dog lover. He lives on the outskirts of Chicago with his four dogs. He makes a living by teaching dog obedience classes, and by contracting with police agencies to use his specially trained dogs to sniff out human remains. He’s had a tough year what with a divorce he didn’t see coming, and the loss of his beloved springer spaniel. But things are looking up. He recently adopted a golden retriever he named Elvira, and then quickly nicknames her Vira. She catches on quickly when being trained to find and alert when she detects human remains. If fact, she seems to have a sixth sense about identifying the crime perpetrators.
The police call Mace in to help find the latest remains of a local serial killer. Vira finds the remains, and more. The story rockets off from there. I am not going to say much more about the plot as its great, and I do not want to give anything away.
I’m looking forward to reading the next installment of this series. I want to see if the budding romance between Mace and Police Officer Kippy Gimm starts to bloom. I am wondering what new twists await Mace and his dog pack as things start to settle down after this roller-coaster ride.
I would recommend this to mystery enthusiasts. This hero is smart and irreverent. In addition, he loves dogs. The dogs are a part of the story, not just props. Well done!
‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books; and the author, Jeffrey B. Burton, for providing a free e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2020
The Finders is the first in a planned series about Chicago Dog Trainer Mason Reid, and his super-smart Cadaver Recovery Specialist, Golden Retriever Vira.
Now, I’m a cat person, obviously. I don’t mind dogs, many of them are beautiful, and the whole unconditional loyalty and fierce protectiveness thing is very appealing, but in reality I’m not good with all the slobbering, jumping, needing-to-be-walked smelliness that they entail. Which is probably why I LOVE fictional dogs. This has a gorgeous happy looking retriever on the cover, so I had no hesitation in requesting it, and overall I enjoyed it, with some reservations, hence three stars.
Amiable divorcee Mace lives in a trailer with his four specially trained dogs. When new recruit Elvira, named for a country song, finds the body of the latest victim of a serial killer, then promptly attacks a bystander, Mace is sure her super-senses have identified the murderer, so breaks into his house to find the evidence that will stop her from being put down, and only the intervention of his German Shepherd Named Sue saves him from a crazed attacker. This puts Mace in the sights of a far more dangerous predator who wants revenge. Can Mace, helpful equally dog-loving police officer Kippy and his four fearless four-legged friends stop a determined killer?
This was a fast easy read, had two likeable if two-dimensional main characters, great dogs, an uncomplicated plot and unsurprising ending that leaves things nicely open for a sequel. It’s told from Mace’s first person and the killer’s, perspectives. I personally don’t enjoy spending too much of a thriller in the baddie’s head. This one, dubbed Everyman, was a bit generic, and while we do get some background, his motivation is never explained.
My biggest problem with this was the structure of the narration - constantly interrupting the action with bits of backstory or random observations. Mace would be reporting dialogue and oh look a squirrel drop in irrelevant details about his coffee or relevant but out of place facts about dogs. Everyman does the same thing. It might not have bothered me but once I noticed it, I just found it annoyingly distracting and it slowed the pace right down.
Despite this, I’d be happy to read more of Vira and Mace’s adventures.
Trigger warning/minor spoiler/reassurance - dogs are injured but not killed, and apart from the beginning where Vira’s atttempted murder and subsequent rescue kicks off the story, and don’t worry - the perpetrator gets what he deserves - there is no sadistic animal cruelty described.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC which allowed me to give an honest review. The Finders is published on June 30th.
Now, I’m a cat person, obviously. I don’t mind dogs, many of them are beautiful, and the whole unconditional loyalty and fierce protectiveness thing is very appealing, but in reality I’m not good with all the slobbering, jumping, needing-to-be-walked smelliness that they entail. Which is probably why I LOVE fictional dogs. This has a gorgeous happy looking retriever on the cover, so I had no hesitation in requesting it, and overall I enjoyed it, with some reservations, hence three stars.
Amiable divorcee Mace lives in a trailer with his four specially trained dogs. When new recruit Elvira, named for a country song, finds the body of the latest victim of a serial killer, then promptly attacks a bystander, Mace is sure her super-senses have identified the murderer, so breaks into his house to find the evidence that will stop her from being put down, and only the intervention of his German Shepherd Named Sue saves him from a crazed attacker. This puts Mace in the sights of a far more dangerous predator who wants revenge. Can Mace, helpful equally dog-loving police officer Kippy and his four fearless four-legged friends stop a determined killer?
This was a fast easy read, had two likeable if two-dimensional main characters, great dogs, an uncomplicated plot and unsurprising ending that leaves things nicely open for a sequel. It’s told from Mace’s first person and the killer’s, perspectives. I personally don’t enjoy spending too much of a thriller in the baddie’s head. This one, dubbed Everyman, was a bit generic, and while we do get some background, his motivation is never explained.
My biggest problem with this was the structure of the narration - constantly interrupting the action with bits of backstory or random observations. Mace would be reporting dialogue and oh look a squirrel drop in irrelevant details about his coffee or relevant but out of place facts about dogs. Everyman does the same thing. It might not have bothered me but once I noticed it, I just found it annoyingly distracting and it slowed the pace right down.
Despite this, I’d be happy to read more of Vira and Mace’s adventures.
Trigger warning/minor spoiler/reassurance - dogs are injured but not killed, and apart from the beginning where Vira’s atttempted murder and subsequent rescue kicks off the story, and don’t worry - the perpetrator gets what he deserves - there is no sadistic animal cruelty described.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC which allowed me to give an honest review. The Finders is published on June 30th.
June 7, 2020
I have a soft spot in my heart for mystery novels with K-9 units in them. When I saw this first book in a new series, I jumped right on reading a review copy. I'm glad I did. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I can't wait for more of this series!
Mace Reid trains cadaver dogs. He's had a rough year. He lost a dog and got divorced. He adopts a new dog, Vira, and starts training her. Just as he is getting to know his newest dog, a serial killer begins targeting women in the area, and Reid finds himself, and his dogs, on the trail of a gruesome, cruel killer.
This book is well written and kept my attention from start to finish. I love how close Mace Reid gets to his dogs. The other characters are well developed and interesting. The mystery itself was paced perfectly, with suspense and surprises to keep readers engaged. I can tell this is going to be a standout series!
I can't wait to find out what's in store for Mace Reid and his dogs next! This is the first book by Jeffrey Burton that I have read. I will definitely be reading more!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
Mace Reid trains cadaver dogs. He's had a rough year. He lost a dog and got divorced. He adopts a new dog, Vira, and starts training her. Just as he is getting to know his newest dog, a serial killer begins targeting women in the area, and Reid finds himself, and his dogs, on the trail of a gruesome, cruel killer.
This book is well written and kept my attention from start to finish. I love how close Mace Reid gets to his dogs. The other characters are well developed and interesting. The mystery itself was paced perfectly, with suspense and surprises to keep readers engaged. I can tell this is going to be a standout series!
I can't wait to find out what's in store for Mace Reid and his dogs next! This is the first book by Jeffrey Burton that I have read. I will definitely be reading more!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
July 6, 2020
The Finders is the first book in Jeffrey B. Burton’s Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series. This new series features dog handler, Mace Reid, and his golden retriever cadaver dog, Vira.
There’s a killer loose in the areas surrounding Chicago. Mason “Mace” Reid, dog trainer/handler, and his golden retriever cadaver dog, Vira, whom he acquired under strange circumstances, are drawn into the investigation and they, along with Mace’s other cadaver dogs and Chicago Police Officer Kippy Gimm, become objects of the killer’s murderous rage.
The Finders is a great read. The characters are well-developed and believable with complete backstories. The dogs are a compelling element in the story. The premise and plot are unique and very interesting. Mr. Burton successfully injects humor into the dialogue and character’s introspection. I absolutely enjoyed this novel and rate it an easy 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend it to everyone, especially those who enjoy a good mystery.
My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
There’s a killer loose in the areas surrounding Chicago. Mason “Mace” Reid, dog trainer/handler, and his golden retriever cadaver dog, Vira, whom he acquired under strange circumstances, are drawn into the investigation and they, along with Mace’s other cadaver dogs and Chicago Police Officer Kippy Gimm, become objects of the killer’s murderous rage.
The Finders is a great read. The characters are well-developed and believable with complete backstories. The dogs are a compelling element in the story. The premise and plot are unique and very interesting. Mr. Burton successfully injects humor into the dialogue and character’s introspection. I absolutely enjoyed this novel and rate it an easy 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend it to everyone, especially those who enjoy a good mystery.
My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
August 11, 2024
This was a delightful surprise. I did not expect such an excellent thriller with a cover like this. I loved the cadaver dogs and the bit of a paranormal element.
The different cases were actually good reads, and the pacing was great!
Mace and Kippy are both awkward but enjoyable dog-loving characters trying to solve crime.
Lots of love about this one.
Solid 4-4.5 Stars
The different cases were actually good reads, and the pacing was great!
Mace and Kippy are both awkward but enjoyable dog-loving characters trying to solve crime.
Lots of love about this one.
Solid 4-4.5 Stars
June 22, 2020
It’s always a good day when I come across a novel that is factual, entertaining, and relates a story while never venturing outside the realm of reality. “The Finders” is one of those novels.
Mason Reid – Mace to his friends and his canine kids – conducts obedience classes for dogs though his specialty is training dogs in human remains detection. Essentially, they are cadaver dogs, able to detect the scent of death. His most recent work with the Chicago Police Department brings him in contact with Kippy Gimm, who has a connection with Mace’s newest dog. Both become entangled in the web of a practiced killer, and Mace is number one on the killer’s hit list.
Author Jeffrey B. Burton injects the suspense element right from the beginning, but instead of a slow buildup to the climax, he ratchets our emotions up and down while expertly guiding the plot to match. Mr. Burton tells the story through multiple characters, including the killer. The storyline is realistic, and the author deftly keeps us on the edge of our seats. I recommend you carve some time out of your day, because it is difficult to stop reading this book.
I think the scariest element of this book is the methods the killer employs to lure and kill his victims and then hide the bodies and not get caught. One could work in the same company with this person and never suspect the danger. Highly recommend this suspense thriller. Five stars.
My thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for a complimentary electronic copy of this title.
Mason Reid – Mace to his friends and his canine kids – conducts obedience classes for dogs though his specialty is training dogs in human remains detection. Essentially, they are cadaver dogs, able to detect the scent of death. His most recent work with the Chicago Police Department brings him in contact with Kippy Gimm, who has a connection with Mace’s newest dog. Both become entangled in the web of a practiced killer, and Mace is number one on the killer’s hit list.
Author Jeffrey B. Burton injects the suspense element right from the beginning, but instead of a slow buildup to the climax, he ratchets our emotions up and down while expertly guiding the plot to match. Mr. Burton tells the story through multiple characters, including the killer. The storyline is realistic, and the author deftly keeps us on the edge of our seats. I recommend you carve some time out of your day, because it is difficult to stop reading this book.
I think the scariest element of this book is the methods the killer employs to lure and kill his victims and then hide the bodies and not get caught. One could work in the same company with this person and never suspect the danger. Highly recommend this suspense thriller. Five stars.
My thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for a complimentary electronic copy of this title.
July 10, 2020
4.5★s
The Finders is the first book in the Mace Reid K-9 Mysteries series by American author, Jeffrey B. Burton. Mason Reid is a dog trainer, specialising in training for Human Remains Detection. His newest dog, Vira, a young golden retriever rescued from almost certain death, is an incredibly quick study, but on her first proper case locating human remains, she follows up by fiercely attacking a bystander. That, sadly, seals her fate: despite her excellent detection skills, she will have to be put down.
But Mace is convinced there was a good reason for her behaviour, and follows up on the bystander in an attempt to save his dog. Both Mace and another of his dogs are injured, but a life is saved. However, the incident brings him to the (very much unwelcome) attention of a cold-blooded serial killer who refers to himself as Everyman.
The Chicago PD officer who rescued Vira from asphyxiation, Officer Kippy Gimm is soon convinced that this dog is special, especially when she sees her react, not to the man accused of a brutal murder, but an apparently innocent family member. So when it becomes clear that Mace is being targeted, she (and her less enthusiastic but still willing) partner, Dave Wabiszewski start investigating in their own time.
This series debut novel is well-plotted with suitably scary villains and a nail-biting climax. The characters are credible and of course the canines have equal billing when it comes to personality and appeal. This is a novel that will delight not just dog lovers and includes a wealth of fascinating information about cadaver dogs, how they are trained and used. More of Mace, Kippy and the dogs will be most welcome. An enjoyable read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and St Martin’s Press
The Finders is the first book in the Mace Reid K-9 Mysteries series by American author, Jeffrey B. Burton. Mason Reid is a dog trainer, specialising in training for Human Remains Detection. His newest dog, Vira, a young golden retriever rescued from almost certain death, is an incredibly quick study, but on her first proper case locating human remains, she follows up by fiercely attacking a bystander. That, sadly, seals her fate: despite her excellent detection skills, she will have to be put down.
But Mace is convinced there was a good reason for her behaviour, and follows up on the bystander in an attempt to save his dog. Both Mace and another of his dogs are injured, but a life is saved. However, the incident brings him to the (very much unwelcome) attention of a cold-blooded serial killer who refers to himself as Everyman.
The Chicago PD officer who rescued Vira from asphyxiation, Officer Kippy Gimm is soon convinced that this dog is special, especially when she sees her react, not to the man accused of a brutal murder, but an apparently innocent family member. So when it becomes clear that Mace is being targeted, she (and her less enthusiastic but still willing) partner, Dave Wabiszewski start investigating in their own time.
This series debut novel is well-plotted with suitably scary villains and a nail-biting climax. The characters are credible and of course the canines have equal billing when it comes to personality and appeal. This is a novel that will delight not just dog lovers and includes a wealth of fascinating information about cadaver dogs, how they are trained and used. More of Mace, Kippy and the dogs will be most welcome. An enjoyable read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and St Martin’s Press
June 5, 2020
You don’t have to be a dog-lover to thoroughly enjoy this new series by Jeffrey B. Barton, but it helps! Vira has survived what most pets didn’t, a house fire. Rescued by a compassionate policewoman, Kippy Gimm, Vira is given a second chance at life. She ends up with a dog trainer, Mace Reid, who specializes in training cadaver dogs.
Mace by himself would make this a fun and enjoyable read, but with Vira by his side, they’re a heartwarming pair. Mace has trouble staying within the lines of his duties. If he sees something, he jumps. So does Vira, which causes some turmoil and threatens Vira’s life, yet again. And again, Kippy helps her survive.
Mason and Kippy soon realize there’s something keen and special about Vira. Her instinct to “read” the thoughts and history of others around her prove helpful in solving cases but extremely dangerous for both Mace and Kippy.
This is a fast-paced mystery thriller with a cute man and his cuter dog. What could be more fun to read when you want a break from the constant bad news of today’s world? I’m anxiously awaiting the second book of this fun series!
(I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for making it available.)
Mace by himself would make this a fun and enjoyable read, but with Vira by his side, they’re a heartwarming pair. Mace has trouble staying within the lines of his duties. If he sees something, he jumps. So does Vira, which causes some turmoil and threatens Vira’s life, yet again. And again, Kippy helps her survive.
Mason and Kippy soon realize there’s something keen and special about Vira. Her instinct to “read” the thoughts and history of others around her prove helpful in solving cases but extremely dangerous for both Mace and Kippy.
This is a fast-paced mystery thriller with a cute man and his cuter dog. What could be more fun to read when you want a break from the constant bad news of today’s world? I’m anxiously awaiting the second book of this fun series!
(I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for making it available.)
June 30, 2020
THE FINDERS marks the beginning of a new series featuring Vira (Elvira), a brilliant Golden Retriever cadaver dog and her handler, Mason Reid.
Mace specializes in human remains detection. He also gives instructions in dog training. Coming across Vira at a bad time in his life, he's come to realize just how special the newest addition to his family truly is.
When Chicago Police Officer Kippy Gimm, calls for a cadaver dog in her latest investigation, neither of them see the danger coming their way in the form of a serial killer called the Velvet Choker Killer ... and he's targeting Mace.
I loved this book! Vira, of course, takes center stage, playing an integral role in the story, but it's also the laid-back, sometimes humorous character of Mace that everyone will fall in love with. There's a lot of action to keep the reader engaged, with a few twists and turns along the way that will have you scratching your head. As this is book 1, I really look forward to following the further adventures of Mace and Vira.
Many thanks to the author / St Martin's Press / Minotaur Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this Cozy Animal Mystery. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Mace specializes in human remains detection. He also gives instructions in dog training. Coming across Vira at a bad time in his life, he's come to realize just how special the newest addition to his family truly is.
When Chicago Police Officer Kippy Gimm, calls for a cadaver dog in her latest investigation, neither of them see the danger coming their way in the form of a serial killer called the Velvet Choker Killer ... and he's targeting Mace.
I loved this book! Vira, of course, takes center stage, playing an integral role in the story, but it's also the laid-back, sometimes humorous character of Mace that everyone will fall in love with. There's a lot of action to keep the reader engaged, with a few twists and turns along the way that will have you scratching your head. As this is book 1, I really look forward to following the further adventures of Mace and Vira.
Many thanks to the author / St Martin's Press / Minotaur Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this Cozy Animal Mystery. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
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