Burning Ridge

Mattie Cobb and her partner, K-9 officer Robo, are part of the police force in Timber Creek, CO. When the local vet and his daughters discover partial human remains while horseback riding on a nearby ridge, Mattie responds to the scene with Robo. Finding charred remains of a body in a burn pit, Mattie is soon on the trail of a brutal killer. The case becomes quite complex, revealing secrets about Mattie's own life that she has tried to hide.

Wow! This book totally sucked me right into the story from the very start. Burning Ridge is the 4th book in the Timber Creek K-9 series, but I was easily able to jump right in and enjoy the story, the setting and the characters. I'm definitely back-tracking to the start of this series though. I show more enjoyed this book so much I need to read them all!

Mattie is a strong character and her bond with Robo is awesome, but realistic. The supporting characters (like the local vet love interest, his daughters, a new teenager in town, her foster mom) are all well-developed and give the story weight and atmosphere. I liked how the author wove the murder case in with Mattie's own horrible childhood experiences. It gave the plot a nice complexity. The story moved along at a fast pace, building suspense throughout with twists and multiple suspects. The ending was well done. I didn't want this story to end -- but, I have three prior books in the series to enjoy now!

I will definitely continue reading this series. Can't wait for the next book!!

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

Margaret Mizushima's Burning Ridge is the fourth book in her Timber Creek K-9 mystery series, a series which relies on good strong mysteries (most of which take place in the glorious Colorado outdoors), the relationships between the characters, and exciting scenes that put readers right in the middle of the action. A theme throughout the series has been Mattie coming to terms with her difficult past, and Burning Ridge brings this theme to fruition. Not only does Mattie have to deal with her past, she also has to come to the realization that she now has people around her who truly care about her, people whom she can trust. It's how Mattie deals with these emotional questions that adds so much to this book (and the entire series).

After show more the last book, Hunting Hour, I was hopeful that Mizushima would steer clear of any further child jeopardy, and I'm happy to report that she did. She still delivers a tightly woven, exciting mystery that takes place in the mountains of Colorado. Every time Mattie had to saddle up a horse to head up to remote Redstone Ridge, I was reminded of some of my own trail rides. Mizushima can pull you right out into the great outdoors, which is something I enjoy. In many respects, I'm reminded of Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon series, so if you're missing Anna as much as I am, I'd like to recommend the Timber Creek K-9 series. Good characters, good setting, good mysteries. Good stuff! show less

4.5 stars.Burning Ridge by Margaret Mizushima is an intriguing and poignant mystery. Although this newest release is the fourth installment in the phenomenal Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series, it can be read as a standalone. However, I highly recommend the entire series.

Veterinarian Cole Walker and his daughters, Angela and Sophie, are enjoying a pleasant outing in Redstone Ridge when they make a grisly discovery: charred human remains. Deputy Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner Robo join the search effort to locate the primary crime scene and the remainder of the body. Mattie also notices an anomaly in a meadow which in turn leads to the skeletonized remains of three other victims. The MO in both cases is eerily similar but the two crimes show more have taken place over twenty years apart. Is it possible the same perpetrator is responsible for both crimes?

Mattie has slowly but surely been working to overcome her troubled past. When she was six years old, her father went to prison and she was abandoned by her mother. She has few recollections of her life with them but after recently reconnecting with her older brother, Willie, some of her repressed memories have surfaced. With her relationship with Willie improving, she has become more open to the two of them meeting. So when Matt's girlfriend, Tamara, calls to let her know that Willie is missing, Mattie is concerned. He is a recovering addict and initially, she is worried he has relapsed. But upon further discussion Tamara, Mattie has reason to believe that there might be a more ominous reason for his disappearance.

Mattie joins Detective Stella LoSasso as she questions possible suspects but the murder investigation remains slow going due to a lack of evidence. Once they have identified the newest victim, the case takes a shocking turn. Mattie is shaken but determined to help solve the murder, but the situation becomes incredibly dangerous as the perpetrator grows more desperate.

Burning Ridge is a fast-paced and engrossing police procedural. Mattie remains an absolutely fascinating protagonist who has grown and changed over the course of the series. Her relationship with Robo is exceptionally heartwarming and she is making progress with her slow-moving romance with Cole. The storyline is very clever and the identity of the perpetrator is truly surprising. With descriptive prose, Margaret Mizushima brings the setting vibrantly to life. Although the mystery is completely wrapped up by the novel's action-packed conclusion, stunning revelations will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment in the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series. show less

I read this book in the Timber Creek K-9 series in 2018, but I had not read all the earlier books in the series. With a new book coming out in November 2019, I decided it was the perfect time to backtrack and read the books in order from the beginning. I'm so glad I did! I loved this book the first time, but enjoyed it even more the second time!

I listened to the audio book version this time. Narrated by Nancy Wu, the audio is just short of 10 hours long. Wu gives a wonderful performance, reading at a nice pace and bringing the characters to life. I have enjoyed Wu's narration in all the books in this series. I'm definitely going to look for other books she has recorded. She always gives a top notch performance.

I love this series! The show more characters are realistic. I like the setting and the suspenseful plots. Now that I've listened to all the prior books, I can now jump into my review copy of the next book, Tracking Game!

Although a reader could read this series out of order like I did originally, I did enjoy this fourth book in the series even more after learning more about the characters, their established relationships and their past cases. show less

Burning Ride is the second book I've read in the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series. And, I just have to face the fact that this series isn't for me. And, it all boils down to the fact that I'm just the wrong reader. It's a bit frustrating when a book has everything I usually like, a small town with a main character with a traumatic past. And, of course, a dog. Who doesn't like dogs? Yet, I feel no connection with the story nor the characters. It's so bland. And, that's just my opinion. I'm sure others love this series and I get it. I wish I did. Instead, I feel during the progress of this book that it just lulls along at a slow pace and that I'm not truly engaged in the story.

Now, this all sounds pretty negative. However, this is just me. show more If you like crime stories, set in small towns and if you are a dog lover. Then, I don't see why this series won't work for you. It's not all bad, you know. I did want to know the ending of the book and it was an interesting ending.

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review! show less

This is the fourth Timber Creek K-9 Mystery. The writing is stilted and the story is improbable. I finished it but did not care for it much. The author telegraphs a lot so there isn't much that surprises.

I received a review copy of "Burning Ridge: A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery" by Margaret Mizushima (Crooked Lane Books) through NetGalley.com.

Wow! This book had some edge of the seat moments and some words that bring the visuals to a little too much clarity. This series is amazing. It gives a real read of relationships between those you work with, those you love and those that have fur and love you. Another great book by Margaret Mizushima. This series is not one to be missed.