jfr_wi's review
4.0
It has a K-9, what more needs to be said! I will read more in this series. Although somewhat predictable, and a bit cliche at times, it was still rather enjoyable and the pace kept moving.
babsleo's review
3.0
Very anticlimactic and the ending was easily predicted. I liked the plot and the characters.
tayparks's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
bookwoman37's review
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-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
4.0
This Mystery kept me up way passed my bedtime. I really loved the relationship between Mattie and Robo, the K9. They have a real relationship and Mattie really knows how to trust her dog. The mystery involves the murder of a young girl and the increased drug traffic in small town Timber Creek, Colorado. There are plenty of suspects and they keep the mystery interesting. This mostly Matte's story but it is also Cole's story. Cole is the newly divorced local vet trying to raise two girls, one who was friends with the dead girl. There are lots of other dogs in this story too. I did figure out the who did it and the solution made sense. This is a good solid first book in the series and I am waiting patiently for the new one. Enjoy
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
With Killing Trail, Margaret Mizushima's Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series is off to strong beginning. Starring an intrepid and appealing crime fighting duo, this debut police procedural is a suspense-laden murder mystery that I highly recommend to fans of the genre.
Deputy Mattie Cobb's first case with her new K-9 partner, Robo, is particularly heart wrenching. The teenage victim, Grace Hartman, is well-liked and has never been in trouble, leaving everyone mystified as to why anyone would want to kill her. While she has just completed twelve weeks of training as a K-9 handler, Mattie is a veteran of the small town police department and she is determined to bring Grace's killer to justice.
Mattie is an excellent police officer who is more comfortable with murder than her emotions. She is bit prickly and although she is immensely likable, she tends to be a loner. In her early thirties, Mattie relates well to children but she is reluctant to form friendships and she shies away from romantic entanglements. Growing up in a series of foster homes, she went through a rebellious period as a teen but she managed to turn her life before getting into too much trouble. No matter how far she has come from her troubled childhood, Mattie still carries residual guilt for her role in the events that tore her family apart.
The first stop on Mattie's investigation is local veterinarian Cole Walker. Grace's dog, Belle, was discovered alongside her body and the canine is in need of treatment for a bullet wound in her leg. While caring for her, Cole makes a startling discovery about Belle that points the investigation in a very unexpected direction. This information coupled with a vital clue from Cole's oldest daughter, Angela, leads Mattie to search for Mike Chadron, a local dog breeder who has been missing since Grace's body was discovered. What, if anything, does Mike have to do with Grace's murder? Wanting the answer to this question, Mattie's search for the missing man leads to yet another dead body. The investigation takes a few more unexpected twists as she follows the evidence and her suspicions turn to someone much closer to home.
Killing Trail is a spellbinding police procedural with a marvelous cast of eclectic yet engaging characters. The novel is fast-paced with a unique and intriguing mystery. The investigation is quite interesting and Margaret Mizushima skillfully keeps readers guessing whodunit through a series of misdirects and a very clever red herring. An excellent debut that will leave fans impatiently awaiting the next installment of the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series.
With Killing Trail, Margaret Mizushima's Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series is off to strong beginning. Starring an intrepid and appealing crime fighting duo, this debut police procedural is a suspense-laden murder mystery that I highly recommend to fans of the genre.
Deputy Mattie Cobb's first case with her new K-9 partner, Robo, is particularly heart wrenching. The teenage victim, Grace Hartman, is well-liked and has never been in trouble, leaving everyone mystified as to why anyone would want to kill her. While she has just completed twelve weeks of training as a K-9 handler, Mattie is a veteran of the small town police department and she is determined to bring Grace's killer to justice.
Mattie is an excellent police officer who is more comfortable with murder than her emotions. She is bit prickly and although she is immensely likable, she tends to be a loner. In her early thirties, Mattie relates well to children but she is reluctant to form friendships and she shies away from romantic entanglements. Growing up in a series of foster homes, she went through a rebellious period as a teen but she managed to turn her life before getting into too much trouble. No matter how far she has come from her troubled childhood, Mattie still carries residual guilt for her role in the events that tore her family apart.
The first stop on Mattie's investigation is local veterinarian Cole Walker. Grace's dog, Belle, was discovered alongside her body and the canine is in need of treatment for a bullet wound in her leg. While caring for her, Cole makes a startling discovery about Belle that points the investigation in a very unexpected direction. This information coupled with a vital clue from Cole's oldest daughter, Angela, leads Mattie to search for Mike Chadron, a local dog breeder who has been missing since Grace's body was discovered. What, if anything, does Mike have to do with Grace's murder? Wanting the answer to this question, Mattie's search for the missing man leads to yet another dead body. The investigation takes a few more unexpected twists as she follows the evidence and her suspicions turn to someone much closer to home.
Killing Trail is a spellbinding police procedural with a marvelous cast of eclectic yet engaging characters. The novel is fast-paced with a unique and intriguing mystery. The investigation is quite interesting and Margaret Mizushima skillfully keeps readers guessing whodunit through a series of misdirects and a very clever red herring. An excellent debut that will leave fans impatiently awaiting the next installment of the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series.
ianmcnamara's review
5.0
This was a fantastic read, really enjoyed the book, this is one author I will be a fan of for a long time. Not going to say any more in this review as don't want to give the story away.
redheadtreefrog's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
immobilization's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Spoiler
what a pointless romance. It affected nothing. </Spoiler> Otherwise the book was fine
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
bookhawk's review
3.0
Killing Trail was a fair to decent mystery. I picked the book up because of the mystery and dog elements. The writing involving the dog was the highlight of the book. The mystery was adequate and the technical writing quality was good. This was a low three star book for me and probably scored lower for me because it felt a little sappy like a Hallmark or Lifetime channel script. This was not gritty like a Michael Connelly book or particularly strong in the character dialogue like a John Sandford mystery. I predict this book scores higher ratings with those who like softer and less violence descriptions. It is a book that might prompt me to read the second book in the series.
nortonmerlyn's review
5.0
I never realized how many books I read multiple times until I started documenting it. I have read this series several times through.
It has a great lead character, an awesome dog and intrigue. You can’t ask for better!
It has a great lead character, an awesome dog and intrigue. You can’t ask for better!