Tracking Game

September 16, 2019
At the start of Mizushima’s middling fifth mystery set in Timber Creek, Colo. (after 2018’s Burning Ridge), an explosion rocks the community building where Deputy Mattie Cobb and her boyfriend, veterinarian Cole Walker, are attending the Celebration of Summer dance. When Cole and Mattie investigate, they discover a burning van and a gunshot victim who turns out to be Nate Fletcher, the son-in-law of prominent ranchers. Mattie’s German shepherd K-9 partner, Robo, detects traces of cocaine during a sweep of the van, leading Mattie to suspect drug running. When another man is shot and attacked by an animal in the mountains, Mattie fears something more sinister is afoot. Meanwhile, Cole adjusts to single fatherhood, while Mattie struggles to open up to him about her painful past. Mizushima’s take on small-town policing feels authentic and series fans will be thrilled to see Cole and Mattie getting closer, but the case, with the exception of a tense horseback search for an exotic animal, lacks excitement. Hopefully, Mizushima will return to form next time. Agent: Terrie Wolf, AKA Literary Management.

September 15, 2019
The case of a murdered outfitter brings a K-9 cop a little closer to nature. Although it's been a long time since Deputy Mattie Cobb has felt close to anyone, she makes a determined effort when she attends Timber Creek's Celebration of Summer dance with Cole Walker. Mattie likes Cole a lot, and the two share a love for work involving animals, Cole as the town's vet and Mattie as a police officer with a special bond with Robo, her K-9 partner. In spite of her interest in Cole, or maybe because of it, Mattie's been keeping him at arm's length. She isn't ready for him to know about her childhood experiences of neglect and abuse even though the latest case she worked on (Burning Ridge, 2018) involved the death of her only known sibling. Given all this baggage, Mattie's almost relieved when the two are distracted from the dance by a car fire. But things change dramatically when they discover Cole's friend Garrett Hartman hurt by the fire and local outfitter Nate Fletcher dead at the scene. While Mattie uses the opportunity to dig into the investigation into the death of Nate, whose gunshot wound naturally suggests murder, and push Cole away, Cole must confront his own family problems when he gets a call from his young daughters telling him their visit with their mother, Olivia, isn't going as planned and demanding to come home. As Mattie's case heats up, the investigation puts her in danger when she and Robo connect Nate's killer to a mysterious growling in the woods. Part family drama, part animal-infused mystery, part ongoing exploration of the troubled heroine's psyche.

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October 1, 2019

Mizushima's fifth "Timber Creek K-9" mystery (after Burning Ridge) begins with Deputy Mattie Cobb at a dance with her beau, Cole, the local veterinarian. An explosion at the edge of town draws them to a burning van belonging to a local outfitter. His body is pulled from the wreck, but it's discovered that he died from gunshot wounds. Mattie and her German shepherd partner, Robo, search the scene and find a glove and the murder weapon. The victim is the son-in-law of a prominent ranching family, and no one has anything bad to say about him. Then a second body is found just outside of Timber Creek. While searching the area, Mattie and Robo have an encounter with an unseen big cat. On the personal front, Mattie is trying to deal with her growing feelings for Cole and memories from her difficult past. She and Robo must work quickly to discover the connection between the two victims as well as the mysterious cage found in the burnt-out van. VERDICT This is compelling and twisty mystery in a well-described location. Fans of Western mysteries as well as those featuring dogs will enjoy this latest entry in the series.--Dan Forrest, Western Kentucky Univ. Libs., Bowling Green

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2019
Whether one likes stories about conflict or relationships, there's something for everybody in Mizushima's fine novel. Colorado deputy Mattie Cobb and her boyfriend, Cole Walker, witness a spectacular crime: explosion, fire, murder. Mattie goes to work, but not until the two have anguished over the validity of their love. Both have brutal backgrounds, and "their bond still felt fragile.'' Suddenly we're in a lengthy and gripping sequence as Mattie and Robo, her amazing K-9 colleague, lead a horseback search party into the mountains. The author balances stunning nature descriptions with slowly building tension, climaxing in the appearance of something gorgeous and lethal. Finally, the case solved, the narrative flips back to the relationship story. The one thing Mattie wanted was to feel his arms around her. A bonus is the fascinating account of the dog at work. Watch Robo as he wears his narcotics detection collar and quarters the area, displaying his passive method of indication. He deserves a novel of his own.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)