A really good book, and a fine sequel to Terrier. I love Beka's rant regarding Silsbee in the beginning of the book. I don't know for sure since Mastif isn't out yet, but I think the problem in the next book will be something having to do with the rotten Rye. Another good book by Tamora Pierce, and a worthy sequel to Terrier. Though I find it kind of ironic that Sir Lionel of Trebond, Alanna's ancestor, is sort of an enemy to Beka, and yet sometime after Lioness Rampent, Alanna and George, who is Beka's decendant, get married. I also find sir Lionel's name ironic, because Alanna's symbol is a lioness rampant. ( )

Rebekah “Beka” Cooper is now a Dog, a fully qualified member of Provost’s Guard, which is basically the police force in Corus, the capital of Tortall. Beka is a natural at Dog work, she’s observant and persistent, but her magical traits set her apart from the rest, she has the ability to gain information from the spirits that attach themselves to pigeons and the dust and dirt that swirl on the ground called dust spinners. These skills along with the help from the company she keeps make Beka a skilled Dog.

Beka has been a Dog for five months at this point, and her fourth partner has just decided to leave her, which sends her back to her (amusing) training Dogs, Tunstall and Goodwin. One her first day back with Tunstall and Goodwin, they learn of counterfeit silver coins being used throughout Corus, which begins their investigation on the subject. On the second day, the merchants raise their prices in order to cover their losses, which cause a riot in the Lower City. During the riot, Tunstall is injured and in trying to get him to safety, they meet a group of men from a security caravan, who turn out to be quite useful to them.

After the riots, it’s found that the counterfeit coins are being brought in by gamblers from Port Caynn and the Port Caynn Dogs don’t seem to be doing anything about it. With Tunstall on bed rest, Cooper and Goodwin are sent undercover to Port Caynn to try and locate where these fake coins are coming from and who is sending them out into the mainstream. Beka and Goodwin must explore the deep world of gambling and find the root of the problem, in a strange city.

Along the way, Beka sees Dale Rowan, a bank courier that sometimes works on the caravan, whim she met in the riot. Dale becomes more than just someone to help the women learn about the gambling places, and the eating houses that could help aid them, he becomes someone Beka really begins to like. He is handsome, buys her fine gifts, and becomes a bedmate for her, all in a matter of days. There is just enough romance that you almost want to root for him, but personally I am still rooting for her and Rosto, the Rogue of Corus.

With the help of the adorable Achoo, Beka’s new scent hound, Slapper, a hilarious pigeon that carries the voices of the dead, and their new friends from the riots, they have just the in they need to get their investigation started. Things finally start falling into place when Goodwin goes to Corus to report what they have so far. Once Goodwin is gone, things come together rather quickly for young Beka, and it is up to her alone, to keep it all from blowing up before help arrives. And it is up to Achoo to teach Beka that there is more to finding a criminal than the chase, and sometimes you have to sniff them out of their hiding place.

I love this story! It’s told very well, everything you read is written through Beka’s journal and despite the length of the book, the entire story covers just under three weeks. I didn’t read Terrier, the first book in the trilogy, but Bloodhound seems to stand on its own, with only a slight temporary confusion. Some of the terminology is quite different, but there is a dictionary in the back, along with a few other things that are quite helpful when it comes to keeping things straight. The cast of characters are quite colorful, and very interesting, particularly when Dogs, mages, thieves, and the Rogue not only live in the same lodgings, but also dine frequently together and intertwine themselves in each others lives as they do. It’s easy to see that despite what they all do for a living, they all care and respect each other as friends.

There are some aspects of the story that could become a little much for younger readers and I think I should state that Beka may only be 16 or 17, but in her time, that is classified as an adult. She deals in adult situations, there is crime, gambling, adult relationships, and violence, but nothing is told in explicit detail or anything like that. This is a story that I could totally recommend for almost anyone, male or female, teenager or adult. Either way, it is a good story and I for one, am waiting for the next book, Mastiff. ( )

'Bloodhound' is the second book from ‘The Legend of Beka Cooper’ series by Tamora Pierce. The first book, 'Terrier', describes Beka’s introduction as a "Puppy" into the police force of Tortall known as the Provost's Guard and her adventures with her senior Dogs, Tunstall and Goodwin. This book documents her first year as a true Dog and the action and adventure that goes with it. There has been a number of counterfeit coins being passed through the city of Corus and as a Dog, Beka must get to the bottom of it. The search takes her and Goodwin to the town of Port Caynn, where they come across many new characters such as Pearl, the Rogue of Port Caynn and Dale, a handsome bank courrier who has a hand in the gambling rings.

I have been a fan of Tamora Pierce’s work for years and I really enjoy the journal style of writing that she uses in this series. The action in the story is paced well and the characters are as entertaining as always (with the notable exclusion of a certain constellation). Though I am a fan of Pierce’s stories, I did not like this one as much as I like her others. Some of the dialogue, especially the “Cesspool cant”, I found irritating and the conclusion of the counterfeiting plot seemed weak. The conclusion of the story itself seemed very abrupt and I felt that there were more loose ends that needed to be tied up. That being said, the story itself is good and if you enjoyed 'Terrier' or even the 'Daughter of the Lioness' series, you’ll enjoy 'Bloodhound'. ( )

The further adventures of the young Beka Cooper and her companions. The book opens with her difficulties in finding a partner that she can work well with. She quickly loses her currently assigned partner and acquires the scent-hound Achoo as another of her animals. Beka ends up on an investigation in the port city of Caynn along with Senior Dog Goodwin where she has a number of new lessons to learn about being a Dog and about being a woman. Recommended for Pierce's older fans.

I like this book even more than the first in this series. And I really did not like Melting Stones. All good till the end, when I think she could have done more with the Dale thing, but overall, excellent read for teenage girls. ( )

Hurrah, another story at last. Beka's a full Dog now, and has accidentally become a scent hound handler. Beka and Goodwin and hound Achoo head off to Port Caynn to investigate a flood of counterfeit silver coins. This wasn't as gripping a take as the first volume of Beka's adventures, but it was fun to visit the characters and locations. I hope it won't be as long a wait for the next volume! ( )

Merideth says: Finally! Pierce comes out with another Beka Cooper book. I loved this one just as much as the first, and it was interesting to see Beka in unfamilar territory. Pierce always writes top notch fiction featuring strong, uncompromising young women, and this book was no exception.

Kearsten says: I really enjoyed this - this is one of those books that I can't put down til I've finished it! Pierce's books are almost *always* like this - Beka's a fantastic character, the story is exciting and suspenseful, and god, how I wish I could be like Beka!

She's smart, determined, talented and tough - after reading about her, I always want to go out and learn kickboxing or combat training.

Beka's also surrounded by strong, well-developed characters, and the plot (while not as exciting and good as the 1st in the series) is intricate and suspenseful. ( )

This was an excellent book (though not as good as the first of this series) from the Tortall collection. Tamora Pierce has once again presented readers was a remarkable female heroine who is stronger than anything she must face (though she is certainly not without her faults). Filled with action, adventure, relationships both romantic and platonic, this novel is a great read for any young adult! ( )

Fantastic sequel. I loved the characters in the first book, but it was interesting to see Beka outside of her city. I can't wait for the next book! ( )

Wonderful book and sequel to Terrier. In this one Beka heads off to investigate who is doing counterfeiting. She is sent off with her partner Goodwin as well as her new partner, Achoo - a scent hound. Recommend the audio. ( )

I really enjoyed this - this is one of those books that I can't put down til I've finished it! Pierce's books are almost *always* like this - Beka's a fantastic character, the story is exciting and suspenseful, and god, how I wish I could be like Beka!

She's smart, determined, talented and tough - after reading about her, I always want to go out and learn kickboxing or combat training.

Beka's also surrounded by strong, well-developed characters, and the plot (while not as exciting and good as the 1st in the series) is intricate and suspenseful.

Recommended! ( )

The second book in the Beka Cooper series, tells of her first adventure as a fully fledged Dog. The tale follows her and the various partners she is assigned, until mounting circumstances lead her and Goodwin to Port Caynn to investigate a problem with counterfeit silver. The novel details her first proper 'hunt' and the trouble she finds herself in along the way with both suspense and some predictability. The second book also sees an introduction of a new cast of characters, while also keeping the characters from the first book in the background action.

Bloodhound is a briliant follow up to Terrier, although it lacks the charm and wonder that Pierce managed to convey in he tales about Alanna, and definately lacks the suspense and build up held in The Trickster series which only contained two books.

I'm hoping that if there's a third book in the making for this series, it will again have Rosto appearing as the main man in Beka's life again, and I'm more interested to see how Pierce will play out the Corus situation, in particular with The Dancing Dove and the small pieces that tie into all the other Tortall books. I'm holding out for Beka to finally give into Rosto, and then it will almost be a mirrored story of Alanna, but we shall have to wait and see...

Beka, a full Dog only five months, has gone through four partners. She's reassigned to her former mentors, and also acquires a scent hound. When it becomes apparent that the emerging problem of counterfeit silver coins is coming from Port Caynn, she and Goodwin are sent to investigate.
I love Beka almost as much as Kel (they're pretty similar) and so I really enjoyed this. One of the things I like about this series is that it really gets down into the detail of the ordinary people in Tortall (albeit several hundred years before the other books). Also interesting was the somewhat brief, yet accepted mention of not only a gay couple but a transgender character. I didn't like the lack of Rosto as it appears I'm a Beka/Rosto shipper... Also the use of (intentionally, apparently) mispronounced Indonesian as the language of the Copper Isles irritated me, although I know they were based on Indonesia.

Beka is now a full Dog. When her latest partner dumps her, she is back with Goodwin and Tunstall once again. She has also acquired a scent-hound, Achoo. Counterfeit coins are being found in increasing numbers, so Beka and Goodwin are sent to Port Caynn to track them back. Trouble ensues.

Pierce's novels keep getting better and better. ( )

Along with several others here, I have recently finished Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce. This substantial book (534 pages sans appendices) is a sequel to Terrier and continues the story of Beka Cooper, a policewoman (they are called Dogs rather than cops) in Tortall 200 years earlier than the Tortall described in Pierce's later series, The Song of the Lioness, The Immortals, Protector of the Small, and the Trickster series (14 books in all). While Terrier was the story of Beka's apprenticeship, she has just become a full-fledged Dog in this book, and is sent to a neighboring city to investigate her first major case with a senior partner.

These books have a different tenor from the others, in part because we are dealing with an earlier time, but mostly because of the first person reporting by Beka. In general, although I am not a great fan of first person, it is handled well and believably through her journal. Some of the factors of major influence in the first book, the social structure of her friends and the cat Pounce, are seen relatively little in this book, while other key components (her ability to gain information from dust eddies and pigeons) have key parts but are not as prevalent. The police procedural and the character of the new city and its inhabitants are well handled. We see Beka mature, and I am looking forward to the third book, due out in 2010. ( )

As much as Kel (Protector of the Small) is still my favorite Pierce heroine, it is my opinion that Bloodhound is the best book so far in the Tortall series, if not the best Pierce has ever written. I wasn't overly thrilled with the first book in the series, Terrier, but this book more than made up for it. Bloodhound is well-written and the characters are believable and interesting. The plot strong and intriguing, magic is used occasionally and not as a constant crutch, and Pierce is not afraid to put characters in real, even deadly danger as fits the plot and setting.

I do have two minor technical issues with the book. The first is that, as with Terrier, Bloodhound was supposedly written as a "journal", but, again like Terrier, it reads like a first-person novel. I've read journal-style books that are good reads but also are believably journals, and this is not believably a journal. However, it doesn't detract much from the book and is amusing at times.

The second issue is that it's never explained how the coles (counterfeit coins) are being made. One can't simply melt silver and pour it over brass disks to coat them. And what kind of 'silver paint' would match so perfectly with real silver as to fool suspicious people? But as I said, this is a technical issue and it wouldn't have come up if I hadn't studied metalworking, or if I hadn't been so impressed with how she'd dealt with metalworking in the Circle series.

But those are small issues, and those two small issues aside, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who likes a fun fantasy read with a bit of crime drama mixed in (although you should probably read Terrier first as there are some things that will be pretty confusing otherwise). ( )

Love this book. It's just as rich as Terrier. I was amused by the excuse the author invented to make Beka start writing her journal again after a gap - sergeant's order to get her reports back to the quality they used to have when she was a Puppy! I was fascinated by the different reactions to the false coins. It was interesting seeing how a different city handled Dogs and Rogues - it would have been more interesting if both weren't so clearly dysfunctional. The Rogue reminded me of the one who tried to take over from George in the Alanna books - but watching her being handled more-or-less by Dogs was great. And Beka still jumps first and thinks later - fetch, Puppy!
The thing I like best about Pierce's books is the total immersion her writing allows. It feels like I'm really there, or at least hearing the story from someone who was there. Complete suspension of disbelief. All of hers are like that, but I find Beka Cooper even stronger - possibly because I can admire knights and warriors and mages, but I can imagine being a cop. Even one with magic to help.
Pierce says in her afterword that she was worried counterfeiting wouldn't be a strong enough crime. Admittedly, the first book had kidnapping and multiple murders as the primary crimes - but the counterfeiting is not a gentle, hands-off crime either. And much more than the first book, it leads to others compounding the crime - passing back false coin, hiding it, charging 'fines' to those who try to pay with false coin...There are also discussions of the long-term effects of counterfeiting, especially the way this one's being done. They seriously consider whether it might be enemy agents trying to disrupt the kingdom to weaken it for an attack. No, I don't think counterfeiting is a minor matter...
Excellent book. I hope the next one doesn't take as long as this to come out (I believe there's a next one!). Beka's got an interesting career ahead of her. And I want to see Goodwin in her new spot, and lots more. ( )

Title: Blood Hound

Author: Tamora Pierce

Series: Tortall Lengend / Provest's Dog

Summary: Our terrier Beka Cooper takes on a new role. This time as a Bloodhound on a hunt. She follows the scent of colemonging (counterfeiting) to a new city (Port Caynn), with a new partner, new allies and new friends. She also has a new Rogue to contend with, one who is a lot less hospitable than her own.

Thoughts: The diary style in this is fabulous, there are even paw prints (from Pounce) to make it look more realistic (although I don't like the cross-outs then spell-rights). Bloodhound is also excellent for details. Slang, political structure, and all other logistics are planned and detailed (with a super-handy reference guide in the back). Pierce has created an entire world, and throwing the reader into it, explains it beautifully. We can know Tortall as well as our own country. Beka is also the idea protagonist; smart, strong, shy. Taken away from the usual cast of characters for most of the book, the new characters take an interesting turn. Beka keeps her stern-but-kind mentor however nearly everyone else mainly featured is new (even a new pet!). A charming new "friend" and a new cast of rogue drag Beka away from her usual routine as facets of her we hadn't seen before come out. However for devoted fans the usual whip back in for a very satisfying ending.

Cover: I really like the illustration but they've stuck the blue bands across the top and bottom (under the lettering), I would have preferred it treated like the first 0ne (they cut out the pigeons). Nice colour though, and Beka lacks the demon eyes this time. I also really like the metallic sheen to the covers.

Rating: 5 stars

PS: Stop by randombuzzers.com to see Tammy answer fan questions! ( )

Tonight on CSI-Tortall: Beka has finally achieved Dog status, but she still has a lot to learn. Her rough style has her unable to keep a partner, and she ends up back with her trainers. A counterfeiting scheme leads to rioting in the streets. Will the Dogs discover the source of the false coin before the entire kingdom is at risk? And pheromones are flying, but Beka's new man might be at the very centre of the crime ring.

My review: I have been waiting forever for this book. Book one came out in 2007. And it still managed to live up to my expectations.

For those unfamiliar with the series, Beka Cooper is a Dog in the kingdom of Tortall. Basically, she's a medieval cop. And she kicks butt. I love a heroine who can take care of herself. Don't get me wrong, she's not some iron maiden. She's painfully shy, she is constantly followed by a menagerie of stray animals, and she comes across very believably. I really enjoy the character.

This book is written in the form of Beka's journal that she's writing to help keep events fresh for her reports. I think writing a book like this one in a diary format would be tricky, but Pierce manages it well. This being her personal diary, Beka uses a lot of slang you might not understand, so I'll just let you know there's a helpful glossary and a listing of characters at the back. { Side note: Why do they put things like that at the back where you only find it after you've finished the book and you don't need the glossary anymore? }

Like just about every book, there were a few flaws in this one. I felt like the real story took a long time (around pg. 100) to actually get started. The beginning part of the book was interesting and enjoyable, but I thought the groundwork could have been laid a little faster. However, once the action gets going, the story flows very well. The other thing that bugged me, most of this book takes place away from the city of Corus, so we hardly see any of the characters from the last book. Rosto, Pounce, Kora and Ersken all have to settle for bit parts. There's lots of great new characters, but I guess I just got attached to the old ones.

My final word: 4 out of 5. Not as good as the first one, but Pierce's unorthodox take on the police procedural is extremely readable, with broad appeal. I would suggest reading Book One first, but this book actually stands on its own pretty well, especially with the help of the character listing at the back. ( )

Summary: The second book in the Beka Cooper series. This time Beka has graduated from being a trainee police officer (a “Puppy”) into a full fledged “Dog.” New ranks mean new responsibilities, and soon Beka and her fellow Dogs face a counterfeiting ring that requires them to go undercover.

Review: I am hugely fond of Pierce’s Beka Cooper series. I like all her books but the Beka Cooper series has a special place in my affections because it’s not about magic or grandeur or aristocracy. It’s about a girl on the gritty streets, a girl who uses her fists, who uses her brains, and who gets dirty. The tight intrigue in Pierce’s latest works (I’m thinking of this series and the Trickster series) appeals to me. As usual, Beka is a great narrator, endearing me to her even through diary format, which is a format I’m not normally crazy about. I’m still not sure if the diary format is the best one for this book, but it didn’t bother me and it got the job done.

It was fun to see Beka leave Corus and go undercover. It forced Beka out of her comfort zone and introduced new characters and romantic interests. Her fling with Dale, while it didn’t thrill me because I never liked Dale that much, was a good stepping stone nonetheless. It was a little disappointing that we got to see so little of Corus characters like Rosto and Tunstall and Ahuda, but that’s what the next book is for. Also, there is a new animal character in this book: Achoo the scent hound. I liked Achoo but I can’t help but wonder if the animal companion thing is getting a little ridiculous. Then again I’m not an animal person, so maybe I’m just biased.

But the best part has to be when I realized that one of the major characters is gay and is lovers with a transvestite. Only in a Tamora Pierce novel. I love it, I love it, I love it, because Pierce always manages to bring genuine diversity to her cast, which is why her books keep me salivating even seven years after I first picked one up.

Conclusion: Another rollicking ride with Pierce’s trademark strengths. A little heavy on the animals and some characters don’t appear as often as I would like, but if it has a transvestite I’m satisfied. ( )