4 stars

You can read all of my book reviews at https://www.NerdGirlLovesBooks.com.

I really enjoyed this book. It's a quick and easy read that kept me turning pages late into the night. This is the fifth book in this mystery series and the books are not getting stale. In addition to the new mystery, the author delves deeper into the relationship between the main character, K-9 Officer Mattie Cobb, and her veterinarian boyfriend Cole Walker. It's taken this long for the characters to acknowledge their deep feelings for each other, and while it's scary and there is a long way to go, at least they've finally made headway.

The mystery begins when an explosion draws the attention of Mattie and Cole during a town dance. As they approach the scene, they see a van engulfed in flames and two men on the ground. One man, Nate Fletcher, is dead from two gun shot wounds to the heart. The other man, a good friend of Cole's, was injured trying to rescue Nate.

As Mattie and the sheriff's department begin to investigate the murder, it leads to Nate Fletcher's in-laws' large family ranch. As they begin to investigate the family and its business, another murder rocks the county. Clearly there are a lot more secrets surrounding the family than first believed, and Mattie and her trusty K-9 Robo will need to use all of their skills to solve this mystery.

I really enjoy this series. The characters are fairly well developed and likable. The mystery is interesting and the author inserts enough false leads to keep the reader guessing. While there are murders and other violent crimes discussed in the book, the violence is not graphically depicted. There is also action and suspense, but again, there are no overly graphic scenes. While I don't purposely shy aware from graphic action and subjects, it's a nice change of pace to read something a little lighter.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Tracking Game
(Timber Creek K-9 Mystery #5)
by Margaret Mizushima

Kindle Edition
Published November 12th 2019 by Crooked Lane Books



Goodreads synopsis:
Two brutal murders, a menacing band of poachers, and a fearsome creature on the loose in the mountains plunge Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner Robo into a sinister vortex.

An explosion outside a community dance sends Mattie Cobb and Cole Walker reeling into the night, where they discover a burning van and beside it the body of outfitter Nate Fletcher. But the explosion didn't kill Nate--it was two gunshots to the heart.

The investigation leads them to the home of rancher Doyle Redman, whose daughter is Nate's widow, and the object of one of their suspect's affection. But before they can make an arrest, they receive an emergency call from a man who's been shot in the mountains. Mattie and Robo rush to the scene, only to be confronted by the ominous growl of a wild predator.

As new players emerge on the scene, Mattie begins to understand the true danger that's enveloping Timber Creek. They journey into the cold, misty mountains to track the animal--but discover something even more deadly in Tracking Game, the fifth installment in Margaret Mizushima's Timber Creek K-9 mysteries.


***

4.5 Stars

This is the fifth book in the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series by Margaret Mizuszhima.

This was probably the most surprising read of the year for me. I didn’t know what to expect with this book and I was pleasantly surprised by all the action and suspense that was packed into this book. I am not sure was prompted me to request this book but it was a happy accident for me. What a great read! I am hooked on this series now.

It was really hard to tell this was part of a series since it felt more like a standalone book. How refreshing is that? Any questions I had were all due to the drama of the story and not feeling left flailing in the wind about character backstory. Everything was so centered and fresh.

Mattie and her K-9 partner Robo find a man in a burned out van but the explosion wasn’t what killed him. It was the two bullet holes in his heart that accomplished that feat.

The romance between Cole and Mattie was odd to me. I wasn’t as familiar with all Mattie had been through romantically since this is my first time reading the series and it is already the fifth installment. I have missed a lot. This is the only area I felt a little questioning. I felt bad for Cole when he seemed to be doing all the right things and it was never enough for Mattie. The ending wrapping up their relationship seemed almost too quick. I didn’t believe the odd turn around in Mattie’s mindset.

The mystery is spot on and I loved the addition of Mattie’s dog, Robo! What a treat that was. I will definitely be reading more of this author and this series. Such a great way to spend my weekend.

If you love romantic suspense with more suspense than romance, then this is for you! Another writer to add to my must read list!

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

Title: Tracking Game
Author: Margaret Mizushima
Genre: Mystery/thriller
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Mattie Cobb is a K-9 officer in Timber Creek, Cole Walker is the town veterinarian. Their romance may be blossoming, but secrets still threaten to keep them apart. When an explosion outside a community dance send them racing outside, they find a burning van and the dead body of Nate Fletcher, a local outfitter. But it wasn’t the explosion that killed Nate, it was two gunshots to the head.

When their only suspect winds up dead and Mattie searches for his body, she hears the growl of a predator—but not one of the cougars native to the area. Soon she realizes that they know nothing of what Nate Fletcher was truly up to—and what they’re up against.

Tracking Game wasn’t a bad read. I was interested enough to keep reading, but some of the details of Robo (Mattie’s K-9), instead of being worked seamlessly into the story, were highlighted to the reader, as if the author were pointing out her knowledge. I’m not really a fan of author intrusion, so that was a detractor for me. This is the first book I’ve read in this series, and Mattie’s reactions to things felt a little…unrealistic to me as well.

Margaret Mizushima is an award-winning author. Tracking Game is her newest novel, Number five in the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series.

(Galley courtesy of Crooked Lane Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

As I'm a huge German Shepherd lover, I couldn't resist this crime novel. I wish Robo was real, so I could give him some cuddles and treats.

Alright, jokes aside, I really liked this novel, not only because of Robo and the other animals. The plot has several twists and turns in addition to a nice pace which made it more interesting. I also liked several of the characters, such as Mattie and Cole, which were well developed and the setting of a smallish town in Colorado.

Additional stuff that made the book interesting was the topics of wildlife trafficking, child abuse and trauma.

In general I want to read more books in this series.

Tracking Game is book five in Margaret Mizushima’s Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series. The novel works as a standalone but additional backstory would have added clarity to some scenes. I suggest reading the series in order, but this novel is still enjoyable as a standalone.

Mattie Cobb is a deputy and K-9 handler with the Timber Creek County Sheriff’s Department. Cole Walker is Mattie’s boyfriend and a highly respected and in-demand veterinarian. Cole consistently verbalizes to Mattie that he loves her but she’s unable to return the sentiment, though she loves him too. Mattie and Cole are not publicly announcing their relationship, but attend the Celebration of Summer dance as a couple. They are enjoying the dance along with everyone else when an explosion disrupts the night. Mattie and Cole are working on their relationship, but at least for the short term, they are more involved in the efforts to solve the ever-evolving crime, that began with the explosion.

If Tracking Game is any indication, this is a great series. The rough, mountainous terrain is smartly utilized as a silent background character. The live characters are well-developed, relatable and likable, for the most part. The plot is exciting and unpredictable. The ending is satisfying and leaves you ready for the next book in the series. I fully enjoyed this novel and give it 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend Tracking Game to all readers of mystery, especially if you like a little romance with your mystery.

My thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

Timber Creek, a small town in the Colorado mountains is the scene of a brutal crime. Nate Fletcher the son-in-law of a well-known and respected rancher is found murdered next to his burning car. A little further away his best friend is laying severely injured.

Why would anyone want to murder Nate? And what, if anything, has his best friend Garrett to do with it?

And that’s what Deputy Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner Robo have to find out. Their investigation leads them straight back to the ranch of Nate’s in-laws Doyle and Lillian Redman. However it’s hard to believe they have something to do with the death of their daughter Kasey’s husband. And soon the attention of the K-9 unit shifts to another suspect; Wilson Nichol. He has had his eye on Kasey since high school and conveniently shows up at her house right after Nate’s murder.

Just as Mattie and the rest of the team are about to make their move on Wilson a 911 call comes in. A man has been shot in the mountains and needs help immediately. A rescue mission into the mountains ensues with Robo taking the lead in finding the injured man. Will they get to him on time or will they have another death on their hands?

What they find is not what they expected. The growl of a wild predator startles Mattie and Robo and halts them in their tracks. While the mountains are riddled with mountain lions this sure didn’t sound like one. But what is it? And how did it get there?

Their tracking game leads them deep into the mountains to find this mysterious animal, but they might find more than they bargained for. Because something, or someone, much more deadly might be out there too.

All in all Margaret Mizushima created a good paced detective story with a general ‘there’s a murder, who done it’ plot with a few twists.

Furthermore, considering this is book 5 out of a series, this is perfectly readable as a stand-alone book. There are a few throwbacks to previous books but nothing that would throw a new reader off reading this one.

I found this book to be easy to read and I really enjoyed the twists when it came to the animal hiding in the mountains. It also –to some extend– draws attention to the illegal wildlife trade, poaching and even canned hunting. Something that really struck a chord with me on a personal level because the environment and animal welfare are so close to my heart.

So if you’re looking for a good detective story with likeable characters (and some adorable animals, like Robo) this book might be for you.

Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2019/11/12/tracking-game-by-margaret-mizushima/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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I found this <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/166057-timber-creek-k-9-mystery" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em><strong>Timber Creek K-9</strong></em></a> series when I was looking at K9 series for the Series on Saturday meme.  I started by reading the first book and liked it so much I went right on reading and then requested <strong>Tracking Game</strong>.

Mattie is part of a law enforcement team in a smallish town in Colorado. Robo, her K9 partner, is trained in scent tracking and detection, so he can handle tracking the lost in search and rescue, as well as hunting the bad guy.   They also do sweeps for drugs, explosives and other contraband.  I really enjoy the actual working with the K9 parts of the story.

There is murder to solve and the evidence is either lacking or doesn't make sense. But Stella and Mattie, along with Brody and the rest of the team, keep working for information. Mattie and Robo were in a few tight spots out in the wild.  I love a good mystery and eventually it is solved.

There are also the personal aspects of Mattie's life and the relationship she is building with Cole, the veterinarian.  His daughters and sister, and parents are more pieces in the picture. It's great to see Mattie's progress in having a real relationship and the wonderful parenting Cole does.

I would read this series in order because of the world-building and relationships, and Mattie's self development.  The books are so enjoyable; it won't be difficult. I'm ready for more.

I received an ARC of this book for my own review.
Great book !! I was drawn in from the first page and then the adventure begins. Fast paced, great characters and I didn't figure it out till the reveal. Love that in a book. I found it to be very realistic, I felt like I was in the mountains hunting for the killer. Riveting

Tracking Game is the fifth police procedural book in the Timber Creek Series by Margaret Mizushima. Though Timber Creek is a small town/community it has more than its fair share of criminal investigation for the heroine to solve. While I have not read all the books in the series but I have read some, I can say that each book stands on its own with each one revealing a little more about the main character as they go along.

The writing is smart with several areas of suspense with a murder mystery at the center. It is a fast pace believable story-line. Nothing is revealed too soon so the reader solves the crime right along with Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner Robo. While there are several supporting characters the book concerns mainly Mattie and Cole Walker who have a budding romance relationship. However, it is her relationship with her K-9 partner that really lights up the pages. I always look forward to seeing how Robo will help n solving the case. He never disappoints.

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Margaret Mizushima's Timber Creek K-9 mysteries set in the high mountains of Colorado continue to impress me with their strong mysteries and charismatic main characters. She certainly knows how to set her stage: the tracking scenes in the high country had me on red alert, listening for the deep-pitched, rumbling growl of something that wanted me for dinner as I turned the pages.

The two main characters, Deputy Mattie Cobb and veterinarian Cole Walker continue to grow and change. Mattie lived through some traumatic incidents in her childhood and she's still working through the aftermath. In Tracking Game, Cole's two daughters are learning more than they want to know about the confusing and often devastating illness of depression. The secondary characters are solid, and I like the way the entire community reaches out to help others.

There are some excellent twists and turns in the plot of Tracking Game, so if you're in the mood for a strong mystery with three intelligent, likable lead characters (Mattie, Cole, and Robo) who live and work in a vivid high country setting, pick up a copy of Mizushima's latest Timber Creek K-9 novel.

Tracking Game by Margaret Mizushima
Timber Creek K-9 Mystery #5

Note to self: Do not request books in a series when you have not read the earlier books. Sure, I was able to read and understand and enjoy the story for the police procedural elements and root for finding the bad guy(s) but I didn’t have the connection to Deputy Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner Robo that I would have had if I had begun with book one and read all four books that came before this one. I would have been there for the relationship development between Mattie and Veterinarian Cole Walker and that would have made this book no doubt even better as they move closer to one another. I would know more about the people she works with, too. I found myself skimming to find things out and moving ahead perhaps because I didn’t have the backstory I needed. I guess what I am saying is that I enjoyed this book but would have enjoyed it more if I had read the first books in the series...first.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Probably not unless I can read books 1-4 first

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

The fifth book in the Timber Creek K-9 mystery series by Margaret Mizushima. Mattie is a police officer in a small Colorado town. Her partner is police dog Robo. In this book, Mattie and Robo investigate two murders.

The novel starts with a bang when an explosion leads to a burning van containing the body of a local outfitter. The police are led to the deceased man's wife and her family, who are local ranchers. When another local man is killed, the list of suspects grows. In addition to the dead bodies, there is a dangerous wild animal on the loose.

This book is part of a series, but it can be read as a standalone. I've read one other book in this series, but plan on going back and reading the others. The books I've read have been solid mysteries with engaging characters.

An exciting mystery with a little adventure and romance. Good for fans of crime fiction and books featuring dogs as characters.

I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve consistently enjoyed this series and most of the prior books have received a 5-star rating from me. Watching Robo and Mattie track down the bad guy is always exciting and the location of the mountain wilderness of Colorado adds to the fun. I did find myself a little irritated with the continued relationship insecurities that Maddie struggles with and am hoping that the next installment brings some closure to that. And surprisingly, I didn’t feel the end lived up to earlier books - it was a little anti-climactic. I'm giving this one 3.5 stars (rounding up) will definitely continue the series.

This series is one of my favorites. I have a very soft spot in my reader's heart for stories that involve K-9 units. Margaret Mizushima always delivers an exciting, interesting, and often dangerous case for Mattie and Robo to investigate.

Tracking Game is the 5th book in the Timber Creek K-9 series. I enjoyed this newest adventure. The action started immediately and didn't let up until the very end. There are all different types of predators, both man and beast. This time, Mattie and Robo will face down both.

A reader could jump into this series at this new book and still enjoy the characters and the mystery. There is enough background given to understand basic relationships, past cases and all of the characters. But to get the full effect of the characters, prior relationships, some issues with Mattie's past, the town, etc., it might be best to start with book one and read the entire series.

I enjoyed the mystery this time. The case was interesting and had some sneaky twists here and there to spice it up. All in all, another great story in this series! I do have to say that I am getting a bit weary of the relationship problems between Mattie and Cole and the ongoing issues between Cole and his ex-wife. I think Mattie stressing about her past and its possible effect on her relationship, her parents, etc just needs to be wrapped up.... it's just dragging on too long. Either get together or don't..... And while Olivia is important because of Cole and the kids, that side plot is getting old (for me anyway) and needs to be worked out so the plots can move forward and the characters develop past this point. But....I'm not a reader who reads a series for the romantic angle. I'm there for the investigation. Maybe someone who enjoys romantic stories would feel differently.

Very enjoyable addition to this series! I am eagerly awaiting the next book!

**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from Crooked Lane via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

The Timber Creek series is tradition mystery in it's best form. Margaret Mizushima has developed a whole community and filled it with true to life characters. She has spent considerable effort to grow the characters in each of the series' books, making the cast seem very familiar to us. BUT, the mystery itself is the focus and quickly pulled this reader into the story. The interaction between Robo and his human add a humorous touch while the mystery builds and tension mounts. With both a human and animal predator on the loose, the story held my interest right to the end. This is definitely one series that should be in everyone's TBR pile.

Another wonderful installment in the Timber Creek series featuring Deputy Mattie and her K-9 partner, Robo. This time they aren't even certain what they are actually investigating as the clues don't seem to match. More and more I am enjoying how Ms. Mizushima writes! Several times I had to stop and reread and chuckle at comments regarding Robo. My favorites: "he sniffed the inside panel and then whiffed it again as if checking his work," and "free sniff whenever he walked past a car." I love how these infuse Robo with a rich character and make him a more central part of the story. As has been the case, Mattie's personal storyline has remained a bit lower key than the mystery presented in the book. I hope it steps up a bit in future books, but I did appreciate that Cole has stepped back from his overly possessive nature. Looking forward to the next book!

Mattie's on a rare evening out with her romantic interest Cole when there's an explosion and local outfitter Nate is killed. Killed not by the explosion but by two gun shots. Wow. Mattie and her trusty k-9 partner Robo go out looking for evidence and he finds a weapon, raising lots of questions. There's something amiss in Timber Creek. Readers of this genre know that there was more to Nate than met the eye and that the second murder (no spoilers) will provide additional clues. The best part of these novels is the relationship between Mattie and Robo and the opportunity to learn, with each addition to the series, more about how k-9s work with law enforcement. Mattie's got some issues which have prevented her from opening up to Cole (who's the local vet by the way) but that relationship has bloomed more in this installment. Don't worry if you haven't read the earlier ones; Mizushima gives you enough back story to make this a fine standalone. Thanks to net galley for the ARC. A procedural with a great setting and a cool investigation team.

K-9 Deputy Mattie Cobb and veterinarian Cole Walker are attending the Celebration of Summer dance at the local community center in Timber Creek and have just stepped outside for a breath of fresh air when the emergency siren goes off. Then BOOM! There is an explosion to the west of them. Mattie calls in to the sheriff's station where the night dispatcher explains there is a burning vehicle that was called in. Upon arrival at the scene they see three people in the ditch alongside the road. One is lying near the burning van and Mattie heads to check out that person while Cole goes to check out the other two people. Turns out Mattie went right to what she discovers is a murder scene. Seems the dead man has two bullet holes to the chest. The town of Timber Creek has a muderer on the loose. It just so happens there is much more to this murder and events swiftly escalate. Mattie and her German Shepard partner Robo are on the job though so the town has their heroes working to solve the mystery.

Tracking Game by Margaret Mizushima is the fifth book in her Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series. This author once again has written a tense, suspenseful mystery story that will keep the reader turning the pages until the very end. The storyline flows well and the pace is just right. I loved reading about the progress of Mattie and Cole's relationship. From previous books in the series it is obvious that Mattie has some issues to deal with from her childhood. I believe Cole will be just what she needs in her life. I loved this story and look forward to the next book in the series.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this amazing book

a k9 unit in the mountains...whats not to like, we are back with mattie and her dog and cole the vet and his two girls

a burnt out wreck...
a dead body and an unconcious man

when the k9 unit investigate the scene drug trace is found in the door frame....plus the dead man was shot before the fire got to him

as mattie and her unit start to investigate another body turns up....

a race through the mountains to bring the killers or killer to justice but there is something siniser in them there woods....

brilliant story, could not put this one down...love a good k9 storyline

As usual an enjoyable and exciting adventure with Mattie and Robo. Cole and his family add heart and romance. Nice to see Mattie's character grow. Interesting possibility at the end.