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tinmanreads's review against another edition
I found the main character to be annoying
bink_64's review against another edition
3.0
Second in a series about Elvira the human remains detection golden retriever and her trainer Mace Reid. This one was all about the crime and corruption in the upper levels of Chicago's government offices. The story is fast paced, short chapters and easy reading. There is a lot of new characters introduced and it does get a little confusing but comes together quickly. For a person like me, who can not watch suspenseful movies this works well, I can read a quick chapter and close the book when it gets too much! As with The Finders, I am reading this strictly because of the golden retriever :) Vira is amazing and as a golden retriever owner of 30 years I love seeing them cast in this hard working role! Will definitely follow her adventures in the next book The Losers.
kle105's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed the first book in this series. With Vira the human remains detection dog and her handler Mace helped Officer Kippy catch a serial killer. In this story there is a string of murders and Vira is picking up a scent. They find themselves on the run when the murderer points the clues in their direction.
While they are on the run they are chasing clues. Learning just how far the corruption goes.
The beginning of this story was very confusing and a lot of characters were introduced that I lost focused many times. The second half of the book does pick up and the ending was intense and I loved it. While it didn't wow me as much as the first book it was still an intense ride.
I received an ARC for review, all opinions are my own and given freely.
While they are on the run they are chasing clues. Learning just how far the corruption goes.
The beginning of this story was very confusing and a lot of characters were introduced that I lost focused many times. The second half of the book does pick up and the ending was intense and I loved it. While it didn't wow me as much as the first book it was still an intense ride.
I received an ARC for review, all opinions are my own and given freely.
lynguy1's review against another edition
5.0
The Keepers by Jeffrey B. Burton is the second book in the Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series. Sometimes second books in a series can be a let-down, but that is not the case here. Burton has increased the potency in this novel and managed to seamlessly combine an amateur sleuth mystery with a police procedural that also highlights relationships between dogs and people.
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 or cadaver dogs). He is often called in to help the Chicago Police Department and local sheriff’s departments. Little did he know that when he and his golden retriever, Vira, are called in to search Washington Park that their lives are about to change. Vira seems to have an uncanny ability that borders on the paranormal in her ability to locate not just the dead bodies, but also their murderers.
Mace is a compelling and well-developed character with flaws that have led to a divorce and a job change. It was great to see some of the secondary characters show up again in this book and gain some depth. Additionally, the canines have been well-developed and their personalities came through as the story progress. They aren’t just an afterthought, but play important roles in the series. It was also great to see the relationship between Mace and Kippy develop.
The writing style is engaging, but also has an intensity to it that kept me turning the pages. At the same time, there were moments of humor that elevated the book and made Mace and his dogs come to life for me.
This story is complicated and has multiple subplots, but it’s never confusing. The overall plot was clever and kept me engrossed in the tale. Its twists and turns led to a dramatic conclusion. Like in book one, the bonds between Mace and his five dogs are the highlights of the book. Themes include murder, corruption, trust, and relationships between dogs and people as well as between people.
Overall, this was an entertaining novel and a great addition to the series. I look forward to the next book and I want to read this author’s FBI Special Agent Drew Cady mystery series starting with The Chessman. If you enjoy books where special animals play a role in a mixed genre novel, then this may be the next series for you.
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. Publication date is currently set for June 29, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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 or cadaver dogs). He is often called in to help the Chicago Police Department and local sheriff’s departments. Little did he know that when he and his golden retriever, Vira, are called in to search Washington Park that their lives are about to change. Vira seems to have an uncanny ability that borders on the paranormal in her ability to locate not just the dead bodies, but also their murderers.
Mace is a compelling and well-developed character with flaws that have led to a divorce and a job change. It was great to see some of the secondary characters show up again in this book and gain some depth. Additionally, the canines have been well-developed and their personalities came through as the story progress. They aren’t just an afterthought, but play important roles in the series. It was also great to see the relationship between Mace and Kippy develop.
The writing style is engaging, but also has an intensity to it that kept me turning the pages. At the same time, there were moments of humor that elevated the book and made Mace and his dogs come to life for me.
This story is complicated and has multiple subplots, but it’s never confusing. The overall plot was clever and kept me engrossed in the tale. Its twists and turns led to a dramatic conclusion. Like in book one, the bonds between Mace and his five dogs are the highlights of the book. Themes include murder, corruption, trust, and relationships between dogs and people as well as between people.
Overall, this was an entertaining novel and a great addition to the series. I look forward to the next book and I want to read this author’s FBI Special Agent Drew Cady mystery series starting with The Chessman. If you enjoy books where special animals play a role in a mixed genre novel, then this may be the next series for you.
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. Publication date is currently set for June 29, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
dkpalmer13's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
jillhennig's review against another edition
dark
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
debojean's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
It took me quite a while to get into this book. There’s Lots of bumbling internal dialogue(by Mace) that I just couldn’t relate too. But he grows on you. And the dogs are awesome.
malreynolds111's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book more than I did the first in the series. There was still some I've go the hots for Kippy but it didn't take over the story as much as it did the first book. There is some harming of animals, so if that is a trigger for you, this may not be your book.