Hi, my name is Laurie Buchanan, and I'm addicted to dogs. I was nicknamed "Dr. Doolittle" at seven, and the moniker has stuck. Why? Because I have a way with all animals, but dogs in particular. I've been owned by dogs (not the other way around) since elementary school—from Irish wolfhounds to Scottish Terriers and everything in between—Poodles, Collies, Dalmatians, and mixed breeds. Not only do I enjoy reading books that feature K9 characters, but I also write them—The Sean McPherson crime thriller series. I do my best plotting during my daily six-mile walk with my four-legged companion, Henry, a not-so-standard Standard Poodle.
Sean McPherson was injured by a sniper on duty. Now an ex-cop, he works at a writing retreat, Pines & Quill, where he’s trying to heal and put his life back together with the help of the retreat’s mascot, Hemingway, an Irish wolfhound.
Sniper, Jason Hughes, blames McPherson for losing more than ten million dollars worth of heroin and wants revenge. In the guise of a New York City limo driver working on a sizzling tell-all memoir, Hughes arrives at Pines & Quill along with three other writers in residence. With conflicting agendas, uncertain loyalties, and romantic entanglements, Hughes finds it difficult to get McPherson in his sights. Gradually, he forms a different plan, one that threatens the lives of everyone at the retreat.
Burton has the finely tuned skill of pulling the reader into the story. I could practically taste, feel, see, smell, and hear the surroundings.
I love dogs and know them well. The author does too. In this installment, Jerry McNeal’s K9 companion, Gunter, a German Shepherd, enjoys a Halloween exploit. But it’s not all fun and games. From humor to white-knuckle tension, Burton weaves in authentic German Shepherd traits—loyalty, confidence, courage, dependability, intelligence, and agility—that kept me turning the pages to discover what came next.
For anyone who loves dogs, the paranormal, and a good mystery, this book’s for you.
While Marine veteran Jerry McNeal and his ghostly K-9 companion Gunter are no strangers to foul weather, they face their biggest challenge to date when they find themselves knee deep in freshly fallen snow while they make their way across country to deliver a special present for Max’s thirteenth birthday.
They soon find themselves snowbound on the interstate with dozens of other holiday travelers – including a pregnant woman worried about her husband, who left in search of help when his cell phone couldn’t get a signal.
Will Jerry be able to get the woman help before her child is…
The motley crew of dogs—Harlow, Noodle, Buster, Sky, and Thor—steal the show. And while they’re all terrific in their own ways, Noodle, with all of his drool, is my favorite. He reminds me of a wonderful bib-laden Newfoundland companion I had the joy of sharing life with for many years.
I was captivated by the suspense and well-developed characters. Laced with humor, Playing Dead is a well-plotted perfectly-paced mystery that, with carefully laid breadcrumbs that don’t give anything away, saves the big reveal for the very end. It's well worth the wait!
Molly Madison is back to solve another doggone difficult murder in her California community in this mystery from the author of A Deadly Bone to Pick.
Molly Madison has barely had a moment to catch her breath after moving to the sleepy beach town she now calls home. But as a former PI, she can’t help but notice the odd chemistry between members of Playtime Academy on the first day she and her loyal Saint Bernadoodle, Noodle, and golden retriever, Harlow, visit. When a trainer’s body is found on-site, Molly knows it’s her duty to put her ex-police skills to…
If, like me, you enjoy police procedurals that involve working dogs, you’ll love the Timber Creek K-9 Mysteries.
The author’s research and personal experience shine through as Mizushima offers spot-on explanations of search techniques and veterinary practices—she assists in her husband’s veterinary practice—bringing an authentic edge to the compelling storyline.
Thrilling ingredients like murder, cryptic notes, and kidnapping create an engaging read that leads to an exciting conclusion. And while it’s unnecessary to read the series in order, there’s a lovely character development arc, so I recommend starting at the beginning.
From critically acclaimed, master thriller author Margaret Mizushima, comes the eighth installment of the award-winning Timber Creek K-9 mysteries.
“Tense and satisfying,” (JA Jance) Standing Dead is the perfect read for fans of CJ Box and Longmire.
Deputy Mattie Cobb and her sister, Julia, travel to Mexico to visit their mother, but when they arrive, they discover that she and her husband have vanished without a trace. Back in Timber Creek, Mattie finds a chilling note on her front door telling her to look for “him” among the standing dead up in the high country.
I love a good storyline, but even more so when it’s well-supported.
The author, D.L. Keur, offers captivating information about search and rescue, hostage rescue, pack interactions, human-K9 communication, and human psychology. I love the dogs—yes, plural—and the relationships with their human companions.
Speaking of which, the human characters are realistic. Just like people in real life, they’re flawed, which to my way of thinking, makes a story even more believable and relatable.
I’ve hiked, camped, and even stayed on dude ranches in Colorado. So this series, set in ruggedly beautiful territory, speaks to my heart.
Chock-full of breathtaking action, a colorful cast of believable characters, mystery, thrills, and suspense—with a bit of humor and romance thrown in for good measure—the elements make for a well-rounded read.
Echoes Fade is a new release. So when it hit the shelves on June 12, 2023, I snatched it up and devoured it. Trust me when I say it’s a delicious read!
Palmer Lind, recovering from the sudden death of her husband, embarks on a bird-watching trek to the Gulf Coast of Florida. One hot day on Leffis Key, she comes upon—not the life bird she was hoping for—but a floating corpse. The handsome beach bum who appears on the scene at the same time seems to have even more secrets than the dead man.
His story begins to unravel as the pair search for answers to a growing pile of dead bodies. Spies, radical environmentalists, and wealthy businessmen circle around each other in a complex dance. Which one is lying? What do a seemingly random group of individuals have in common other than being targeted by a crossbow?
Palmer Lind, recovering from the sudden death of her husband, embarks on a bird-watching trek to the Gulf Coast of Florida. One hot day on Leffis Key she comes upon-not the life bird she was hoping for-but a floating corpse. The handsome beach bum who appears on the scene seems to have even more secrets than the dead man. His story begins to unravel as the pair search for answers to a growing pile of dead bodies. Spies, radical environmentalists, and wealthy businessmen circle around each other in a complex dance. Which one is lying? What do a seemingly random…
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