#NetGalley Book Review: The Keepers by Jeffrey B. Burton

This is an engaging and easy reading mystery.

The Keepers
by Jeffrey B. Burton

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08FZB2D45
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Minotaur Books (June 29, 2021)
File size ‏ : ‎ 3382 KB
Genre: Amateur Sleuth, Cadaver Dog, Mystery
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Jeffrey B. Burton's The Keepers is the next installment of the Mace Reid K-9 series, featuring golden retriever cadaver dog Vira and her handler, Mason Reid.
Mason “Mace” Reid lives on the outskirts of Chicago and specializes in human remains detection―that is, he trains dogs to hunt for dead bodies. He calls his pack of cadaver dogs The Finders, and his prize pupil is a golden retriever named Vira.
When Mace Reid and Vira are called in to search Washington Park at three o'clock in the morning, what they find has them running for their very lives. The trail of murder and mayhem Mace and CPD Officer Kippy Gimm have been following leads them to uncover treachery and corruption at the highest level, and their discoveries do not bode well for them . . . nor for the Windy City itself.
The Keepers is an exciting, fast-paced mystery filled with courageous dogs you'll want to root for.

Review:
Mace is a dog trainer who has a special golden retriever, Vira. Vira not only sniffs out the dead bodies, she also picks up the scent of the villains who delivered the death blows. The first scene involves a music artist and Vira is silent at the gruesome crime scene and at the funeral. Mace begins to wonder if Vira didn’t get the killer’s scent until Mace and Vira join CPD Officer Kippy to interview another suspect.

Shortly after solving the first murder, Mace and Vira are called in to find a missing person when foul play is suspected. Vira quickly finds the body which has clearly suffered a brutal death. Before leaving the area, Vira alerts to two men who arrive on scene. Mace calms Vira and gets out of the way because she has just focused the crime on members of the authority.

Mace is soon threatened, and he is ready to move to Alaska. Kippy and her partner talk Mace into a plan to take their suspicions to another arm of authority. But they don’t realize the deadly determination of the criminals they are trying to gather evidence against.

The story moves quickly and has good action. I cringed when several characters suffered injuries. I enjoy the easy mode of the writing and I like the gentle, developing relationship between Mace and Kippy.

I liked book one, The Finders, and book two. I will be glad to read more in the future. I recommend the series to fans of easy mysteries, especially involving dogs.

Source: NetGalley 7/11/2021. (Seen at Inside of a Dog.) This qualifies for 2021NetGalley goal.

#NetGalley Book Review: Silent Bite: An Andy Carpenter Mystery (An Andy Carpenter Novel Book 22) by David Rosenfelt

This is another satisfying win and read in the Andy Carpenter Series.
Silent Bite: An Andy Carpenter Mystery (An Andy Carpenter Novel Book 22)
by David Rosenfelt

File Size : 2556 KB
Print Length : 299 pages
Publisher : Minotaur Books (October 13, 2020)
ASIN : B084M1ZNNJ
Genre: Crime, Detective, Mystery, Fav Series
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0.

Andy Carpenter and his golden retriever, Tara, are finding that all is not calm or bright in Silent Bite, the latest Christmas mystery in this heartwarming series from bestselling author David Rosenfelt.
Lawyer Andy Carpenter can finally take a breath; he’s back on dry land after a family Caribbean cruise forced on him by his wife, Laurie, to get into the Christmas spirit. Of course the family’s first stop is to the Tara Foundation, the dog rescue organization that has always been Andy’s true passion.
But when Andy arrives, his partner, Willie Miller, needs his help. Willie’s old cellmate, Tony Birch, has been arrested for murder. Andy doesn’t necessarily believe in Tony, but Willie does. And Andy believes in Willie, which is why Andy decides to take the case.
Once again David Rosenfelt puts readers in the Christmas spirit in a tale that is equal parts mystery and holiday cheer.

Review:
As an independently wealthy criminal attorney, Andy Carpenter still considers himself as a semiretired lawyer and he isn’t seeking new clients. Andy doesn’t rouse himself much unless it has to do with dogs. And Christmas is no exception as he leaves all the decorations and shopping to his wife, Laurie. Shortly before the holiday, Andy’s friend, Willie, a former client and his partner in their dog rescue foundation, asks Andy to do him a favor – represent Tony Birch, a former cellmate, recently accused of revenge murder.

Tony has a rough past, having served time after being wrongly accused of murder as a young man and leader in a gang. Another gang member who testified against Tony has turned up dead and the police were quick to charge Tony. Andy isn’t positive that Tony is innocent, and he isn’t sure Tony is telling him everything which is a major problem. Still, Andy doesn’t want to disappoint Willie and Tony has the unwavering support of his dog, Zoey.

Andy begins to pull together his usual team when he learns that his second attorney is off in South Carolina getting married! The recommended replacement, Eddie, a big guy and retired football player who speaks in sports terms, is introduced to the team. Laurie and another retired cop, Corey (with wonder dog Simon) are the investigative team, Sam is the computer information hacker and Marcus, as always is the big, scary muscle.

When a second member of the gang is found dead the case gets stronger against Tony. But Andy is always ready to search out alternative suspects to create reasonable doubt. This time his search takes him to local crime gang boss, Luther, who was also the head of the group that oversaw Tony’s ‘boyz’ gang. Andy exercises his usual snark and twists in court, stepping on the edge of propriety and finding more clues than expected.

As normal, I enjoyed the characters and the mystery. The story is told by Andy in first person with his usual self-deprecation and dry wit. I often listen to this series on audio and I could hear Andy’s voice in Grover Gardner’s deep narration. My only disappointment with this episode was that, even with the dog on the cover, the dogs didn’t play that much of a role. This might be read as a standalone as each story has its own mystery to be solved. Still, I recommend reading at least the first couple stories of the series to get the character history. And they are fun reading too.

Source: 8/25/2020 Received from Publisher and NetGalley. This qualifies for my 2020NetGalley goal.

#NetGalley Book Review: The Finders (Mace Reid K-9 Mystery Book 1) by Jeffrey B. Burton

Vira, the golden retriever cadaver dog, is a star in this story!

The Finders
A Mystery (Mace Reid K-9 Mystery Book 1)
by Jeffrey B. Burton

File Size: 4502 KB
Print Length: 288 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books (June 30, 2020)
ASIN: B0818NVFT7
Genre: Amateur Sleuth, Canine, Mystery
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Jeffrey B. Burton's The Finders marks the beginning of a fast-paced new mystery series featuring a heroic golden retriever cadaver dog named Vira and her handler, Mason Reid.
Mason "Mace" Reid lives on the outskirts of Chicago and specializes in human remains detection. He trains dogs to hunt for the dead. Reid’s coming off a taxing year—mourning the death of a beloved springer spaniel as well as the dissolution of his marriage. He adopts a rescue dog with a mysterious past—a golden retriever named Vira. And when Reid begins training Vira as a cadaver dog, he comes to realize just how special the newest addition to his family truly is…
Suddenly, Reid and his prize pupil find themselves hurled into a taxing murder case, which will push them to their very limits. Paired with determined Chicago Police Officer Kippy Gimm, Mace must put all his trust in Vira's abilities to thwart a serial killer who has now set his sights on Mace himself.

Review:
Mason Reid is a dog trainer who contracts with the police for the use of his trained cadaver dogs. Mace has had a rough year and hopes to turn things around when he adopts a rescue golden retriever. Elvira, later dubbed Vira, picks up the training very quickly.

Mace brings Vira to her very first official job and discovers the dog has a unique sensitivity. After finding the body of a kidnapped, buried girl, suddenly Vira turns on a spectator in the gawking crowd. The dog is taken into custody due to the attack, but Mace is certain that the man is the truly guilty party. Mace sets out to investigate, taking one of his other dogs. They uncover a situation that the police hadn’t found. This seems a good result except that this time there is a man hiding in the shadows. Mace and Vira are the hunted instead of the hunters when they become the target of the real serial killer.

I was quickly pulled into the easy flow of the story. Vira is an easy dog to love and I liked Mace as her trainer/handler. I enjoyed the slow build of friendship between officer Kippy and Mace. The author adds interest by interspersing chapters from the view of Everyman, the very creepy killer. The story has a good blend of dog interest, humor, and danger.

I will look forward to reading more in this series. I recommend this to readers who like canine dogs and crime thrillers.

Source: NetGalley 2020. This qualifies for 2020NetGalley goal.

#NetGalley Book Review: Bark of Night by David Rosenfelt

I greatly enjoyed this fun mystery with Andy Carpenter and the team.
Bark of Night
by David Rosenfelt

File Size: 2596 KB
Print Length: 265 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books (July 16, 2019)
ASIN: B07J4VJL3C
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Traditional Detective
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.

“Bark of Night is a treat, especially for those who love thrillers and dogs.”
The next novel in David Rosenfelt’s witty, heartfelt mystery series featuring lawyer Andy Carpenter and his faithful golden retriever, Tara.
When defense lawyer Andy Carpenter’s veterinarian asks to speak to him privately at the checkup of his golden retriever, Tara, the last thing Andy expects is Truman. Tiny, healthy, French bulldog Truman was dropped off days ago with instructions to be euthanized by a man everyone thought was his owner. But now the owner is nowhere to be found.
Andy is furious. Who would want to euthanize a perfectly healthy dog with no explanation? He is willing to whisk Truman away to the Tara Foundation, the dog-rescue organization which is Andy’s true passion. They will find a home for Truman. But that’s not all the vet tells Andy. Thanks to Truman’s chip, it’s discovered that the man wasn’t Truman’s owner at all . . . Truman's real owner has been murdered.
It’s now up to Andy – with help from his loyal sidekick Tara, Truman and the rest of the gang – to solve this case. In the latest in the popular Andy Carpenter mystery series, David Rosenfelt’s charmingly clever wit and love of dogs are back and better than ever.

Review:
Andy Carpenter is a wealthy criminal lawyer who would rather enjoy time with his golden retriever, Tara, than working on a case. Especially, he doesn’t like getting dragged into a murder case where his skills stand between the accused and jail. On the other hand, he isn’t one to stand by and let an innocent young man be framed for murder.

Andy learns about the murder and the accused young man when his vet calls him in to introduce him to Truman, a tiny, French Bulldog. Truman was brought in by a man who paid to have him euthanized. However, the vet says Truman is perfectly healthy and they have learned the dog belonged to a recent murder victim, not the man who brought the dog in.

Andy, with the encouragement and support of his wife, Laurie, a former police cop and investigator, agrees to take on the defense of the accused young man. Andy’s team steps up to help, including Sam, the whiz accountant and computer hacker, and Marcus, the (mostly) silent, intimidating bodyguard. Even former client Willie, who now helps run Andy’s Tara Foundation, a dog rescue organization, joins Marcus on the streets for stakeouts.

The investigation is layered and twisting, starting with Truman and his murdered human, and moving to a dead mobster hitman and his wife. Somehow a local gang leader and a murdered homeless man are involved too. Andy and his crew have to race against the trial clock to connect all of the dots. I loved the twisty mystery plot and the wry, self-deprecating humor.

The author, David Rosenfelt, puts in enough detail to introduce each regular character without bogging down the story. This allows the story to be read as a stand-alone although I do recommend enjoying the series from the beginning! I have enjoyed reading or listening through Book 10. This book 19 revealed that I have missed events in between, including the adoption of a son, Ricky. I also enjoyed the fact that, having listened to many of the books narrated by Glover Gardner, I could hear the characters in my head as I read. It makes me want to get the next book on audio.

You don’t have to be a fan of dogs to enjoy this series, but it adds to the enjoyment. I recommend this to fans of cozy mysteries and detective mysteries.

Source: 2019 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2019NetGalley goal.

#NetGalley Book Review: Fade to Black by David Rosenfelt

This is a good crime suspense with a detective whose wry humor is similar to the Andy Carpenter series.

Fade to Black: A Doug Brock Thriller
by David Rosenfelt

File Size: 4415 KB
Print Length: 280 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books (March 13, 2018)
ASIN: B074ZNMSJP
Genre: Crime Thriller, Police Procedures
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

In Fade to Black, the thrilling sequel to Blackout from David Rosenfelt, policeman Doug Brock helps a fellow victim of amnesia untangle a murder case and discovers he may not be as distant as he thinks.
After getting shot in the line of duty, New Jersey state police officer Doug Brock has been busy rebuilding his life. He’s reunited with his fiancé and started to get some of his memories back. He hopes he can continue to recover with the help of an amnesia support group and that the damage from his past isn’t permanent.
It isn’t until fellow group member Sean Conner approaches him after a meeting that Doug realizes the trouble is just beginning. Sean has discovered in his attic what can only be called a scrapbook of a murder victim, but he has no recollection of the girl’s identity or why he might have gathered this information. Doug agrees to help and convinces his captain to open what had been a cold case. When he discovers that he had a personal connection to this case, suddenly he’s questioning everything he thought he knew about the case, about Sean, and about his own past.
In the next page-turning thriller by David Rosenfelt, Doug Brock is back to delight readers and keep them guessing until the end.

Review:
NJ police officer Doug Brock suffered an injury that stole years of his memory. He is just getting back on duty with his partner, Nate. His fiancé. Jessie, works in the investigative unit so they get to spend time at work and at home.

Doug is attending a group with other victims of memory loss. One of them asks to meet privately and then asks Doug to check the circumstances of an old murder. Doug begins to look at the old case but it takes on even more new interest when the group member turns up murdered.

One step of the investigation leads to another until Doug suspects there is a larger problem. Soon they are on a race to uncover a killer and or the mystery before a threatened event occurs.

I liked the mystery and suspense that built. There was a surprise twist that made it even more interesting, along with the race at the end to prevent the terrorist act.

I enjoyed the dry banter and wit which are a Rosenfelt staple. I am accustomed to reading or listening to the Andy Carpenter series and could hear (in my head) the same type of character traits in this story. The romantic relationship is very similar to Andy and his love too. That isn’t a bad thing since I enjoy those books too.

I enjoy Rosenfelt’s style of intense mystery with characters who have real personalities and snark. I hadn’t read the first book in the series but this one read acceptably as a stand alone. I recommend this book and this author to those who enjoy police thriller mystery stories.

Source: NetGalley; Title released March 13, 2018. This qualifies for my NetGalley, 2018TBR and Alphabet Challenges.