Margaret Mizushima

This latest installment of Margaret Mizushima's Timber Creek K-9 series is a nail-biter. Putting Mattie, Robo, and Cole in the unfamiliar territory of Washington's Olympic Peninsula certainly ratchets the suspense. The mystery is a strong one, too, so strong that I misidentified the bad guy, which doesn't happen often.

But as good as the setting and mystery are, it's the characters that I always come back for in this series, and Gathering Mist is no exception. Of course, there are the show more wedding and family dynamics to deal with because there just has to be at least one person opposed to Mattie and Cole's wedding, but there's always more.

Mattie and Cole's relationship and the relationships between Mattie and Cole's daughters and their indispensable housekeeper are very important, but I'm always drawn first to Mattie's relationship with Robo. Mizushima does such an excellent job of showing readers what goes into the training of search and rescue dogs and their handlers. Over and over again, this author shows me how indescribably valuable and wonderful these dogs are. But what touches me even more is how the closer Mattie gets to Robo, the harder it is to let him do his job. They get into so many dangerous situations that Mattie is afraid of losing Robo-- and readers certainly can't blame her.

If you enjoy atmospheric, compelling mysteries chockful of wonderful two- and four-legged characters, the Timber Creek K-9 series is one you should read. Due to character development, I would recommend that you begin with the first book, Killing Trail.

(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley) show less

campground, Colorado, thriller, suspense, cooperation, procedural, K-9, relationships, family, family-dynamics, friendship, law-enforcement, murder-investigation, murder, attempted-murder, mysteries, veterinarian, poisons, abduction, intense*****

I am addicted to this series.
Deputy Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner Robo find themselves in a mystery that is very personal. Her fiancé is a veterinarian and gets called out to a campground to tend a pair of suddenly sickened horses only to find show more that they have been poisoned with selenium which can only have been acquired from the horse troughs nearby. Then Mattie and Robo are called out to a stand of dead trees where they discover a dead man tied to a dead tree. That man is the husband of her missing mother (the history of the relationships is defined within the story). Then some valuable puppies are found to have been made ill, possibly also by selenium. Later the dead man is found to have also been poisoned slowly by selenium. Then another K-9 deputy handler is shot and seriously injured. But the next issue is even worse; Mattie's sister has been kidnapped in California and a note is left threatening Mattie. The tension just keeps ratcheting up and law enforcement is stretched beyond their limit.
This is a tense and suspenseful procedural. A really good read!
I requested and received a free EARC from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thanks! show less

Stalking Ground by Margaret Mizushima is another perplexing mystery in the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series starring Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner, Robo.

In this second installment in the series, Mattie and Robo are tasked with the unenviable job of trying to locate Chief Deputy Ken Brody's missing girlfriend, massage therapist Adrienne Howard. Although Adrienne has not be gone for very long, Brody is certain she is the victim of foul play but Mattie cannot help but wonder if she has just show more left. When the missing woman's car is found, Mattie and Robo try to track her but when Robo cannot find a trace of Adrienne, Mattie fears the worst. After receiving an anonymous tip, Mattie, Robo and Brody are faced with the grim task of searching for Adrienne's body in a remote mountainous area. When they uncover her remains, Mattie sends Brody to bring in the rest of the investigative team while she and Robo guard the burial site and gather evidence. When an early snowstorm hits, local veterinarian Cole Walker, who is also a member of the volunteer mounted patrol, brings them much needed supplies to endure the storm. The next day, Mattie and Robo once again team up with Detective Stella LoSasso as the investigation into Adrienne's murder begins.

While Mattie still relates better to her canine partner than people, she is making progress with her co-workers and friends. She enjoys spending time with Cole and his daughters, fifteen year old Angela and eight year old Sophie, but she is little uneasy about some of the feelings she has for Cole. She has a casual friendship with her co-worker, Rainbow but Mattie still remains close to her former foster mother Teresa "Mama T" Lovato. Mattie is estranged from her brother Willie but in recent months, he has been tentatively reaching out to her through Mama T. When he finally works up the courage to call her, she is at first happy to hear from him, but an unexpected revelation brings up unsettling pieces of memories Mattie would rather leave buried.

Mattie's professional relationship with Brody is much less contentious but he remains skeptical of Robo's skills and although she thinks he is too close to the case, she agrees to work with him. In the aftermath of their gruesome discovery, Brody goes back to regular patrol duties while Mattie and Stella spearhead the investigation. They discover some puzzling information about Adrienne's past but with few leads, they are not making much progress in locating a suspect or uncovering a motive for her murder.

Cole has a professional connection to Adrienne but unfortunately, he is not much help during the investigation. He has a lot going on both professionally and personally so his interactions with Mattie are somewhat limited. She does offer some useful advice for his ongoing issues with his oldest daughter Angela, who is still having troubling adjusting to her mom's abandonment and her parents' divorce. In the midst of the upheaval at home, Cole is spending quite a bit of time on the road as he travels to an isolated ranch to treat an extremely ill horse. Growing concerned over the lack of progress and some very puzzling symptoms and test results, Cole is stunned when he finally learns the truth about the cause of horse's illness.

Stalking Ground by Margaret Mizushima is a gripping addition to the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series. The characters are immensely appealing and they continue to grow and evolve as they work on their individual issues. The mystery surrounding Adrienne's murder is quite intriguing and while it is fairly easy to guess who the killer is, the perpetrator's motive remains elusive until the novel's rather dramatic conclusion. A well-written and engaging whodunit that old and new fans of this refreshingly unique series are going to enjoy. show less

This series is one of my favorites. I have a very soft spot in my reader's heart for stories that involve K-9 units. Margaret Mizushima always delivers an exciting, interesting, and often dangerous case for Mattie and Robo to investigate.

Tracking Game is the 5th book in the Timber Creek K-9 series. I enjoyed this newest adventure. The action started immediately and didn't let up until the very end. There are all different types of predators, both man and beast. This time, Mattie and Robo show more will face down both.

A reader could jump into this series at this new book and still enjoy the characters and the mystery. There is enough background given to understand basic relationships, past cases and all of the characters. But to get the full effect of the characters, prior relationships, some issues with Mattie's past, the town, etc., it might be best to start with book one and read the entire series.

I enjoyed the mystery this time. The case was interesting and had some sneaky twists here and there to spice it up. All in all, another great story in this series! I do have to say that I am getting a bit weary of the relationship problems between Mattie and Cole and the ongoing issues between Cole and his ex-wife. I think Mattie stressing about her past and its possible effect on her relationship, her parents, etc just needs to be wrapped up.... it's just dragging on too long. Either get together or don't..... And while Olivia is important because of Cole and the kids, that side plot is getting old (for me anyway) and needs to be worked out so the plots can move forward and the characters develop past this point. But....I'm not a reader who reads a series for the romantic angle. I'm there for the investigation. Maybe someone who enjoys romantic stories would feel differently.

Very enjoyable addition to this series! I am eagerly awaiting the next book!

**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from Crooked Lane via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** show less