I do so enjoy these mysteries, set in Timber Creek Colorado, the venue beautifully described and compelling. More so, the human-canine relationship between Mattie and her highly trained and gorgeous, head-turning German shepherd Robo. Smart as a whip and intuitive, Robo and Mattie share a strong working and personal bond few professed dog lovers possess.

Also greatly appreciated are the tidbits of doggie handler wisdom shared by Mizushima woven in her well-plotted narratives so that you glean as much appreciation for "man's best friend" as the author obviously enjoys, including commands and (prey drive) triggers.

The start of the Book 5 begins somewhat hesitantly, with protagonist Deputy Mattie Cobb and her love interest Cole Walker (a veterinarian) at a dance. There is a short rehash of their history, including Mattie's damaged childhood. Then the phone call that interrupts their evening and begins the page-turning mystery that once again weaves powerfully between her and her K-9 partner.

The intriguing storyline has Mattie and Robo involved in a homicide at the scene of a burning van. As Robo tracks down bits of clues and Mattie works with the department on the investigation, several suspects turn up. Unfortunately, there might be more than two legs in the woods with deadly intent.

There are some serious twists in the plot you would not have guessed, and the well-developed characters set off for the high mountains and their target(s). It's a fast-pace to the satisfying conclusion.

I received this digital download from the publisher through NetGalley and greatly appreciated the opportunity to read and review. These can all be read as a standalone; they are independent stories. I'm looking forward to Mattie gaining greater independence from her past. Recommended for any who enjoy a page-turning K-9 mystery with engaging characters, both canine and human.

See my full review at https://rosepointpublishing.com/2019/10/22/tracking-game-a-timber-creek-k-9-mystery-book-5-by-margaret-mizushima-a-bookreview/

There's a lot of WoW in the BoW WoW here with Deputy Mattie Cobb and her renowned police canine, Robo.

Margaret Mizushima takes us once again to the mountains of Timber Creek in Colorado with the fifth installment of the Timber Creek K-9 series. Not to worry if you've just come upon this series. Tracking Game reads as a standalone with plenty of fill-ins by this author.

Mattie receives a call that there's a van on fire after a thundering explosion. The occupant, Nate Fletcher, was pulled from the vehicle but didn't survive. But it wasn't the fire that did him in. Nate was shot at close range with two bullet holes in his chest. Who would have murdered Nate? Nate was known as a local businessman and owner of Mustang Outfitters. He organized hunts, hikes, and trail rides in the outback.

Robo sets out on a search of the area and finds a Smith & Wession .38 Special nearby. Another unanswered question. Why drop the murder weapon so close to the van? Mattie must find out who had it in for Nate. No sooner does she begin her investigation when another body shows up in the area. Are they linked together or just a random hit?

Margaret Mizushima leans a bit in the direction of Mattie's secret backstory in this one. She and the local vet, Cole, are becoming an item, but Mattie just doesn't seem to want to commit. It's my hope that this newly found relationship doesn't overpower this series in the future. I'm tuned in for Mattie's keen investigative skills and her remarkable relationship with the amazing Robo. Just sayin'.

Tracking Game is filled with plenty of unexpected in's and out's while unpacking this worthy mystery. Mizushima always seems to deliver and keeps from revealing too much too soon. Good, good stuff.

I received a copy of Tracking Game through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Crooked Lane Publishers and to Margaret Mizushima for the opportunity.

K-9, law-enforcement, veterinarian, murder-investigation, relationship-issues, procedural

Predators on two feet or four are on notice when the sheriff's department K-9 is on the job with his human partner. The human has the more difficult task: interviewing everyone connected with the dead man and digging for the reason, viable suspects, and hard evidence. The characters are all interesting and the mystery is not easily solved, but it's certainly worth the read. The publisher's blurb is a good start and no spoilers here. I certainly enjoyed it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

Another thoroughly enjoyable Timber Creek K-9 Mystery. I enjoy following Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner track down criminals, solve mysteries and develop personally. A dead man, a burned up van and a dangerous predator! You'll enjoy solving this one.

** I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbaised review of this book.

Outfitter Nate Fletcher is found shot dead near his burning van by K-9 officer Mattie Cobb and veterinarian Cole Walker. Nate's widow Kasey and the Redman ranch family members are devastated by the murder. When traces of cocaine are found in the burnt-out truck, the police wonder if Nate was smuggling drugs instead of supposedly traveling to Nebraska to pick-up supplies. Then the police get an emergency call from a man who's been shot in the mountains. Mattie and her K-9 partner Robo rush to the scene and find real estate agent Wilson Nichol shot dead and mauled by a predator.

What is the link between the murders of Nate and Wilson? Mattie and her team travel into the mountains to track the unusual animal and a very human killer.

This was another thrilling read in the Timber Creek K-9 mystery series.

I received an eARC from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

I'm a fan of this series and of Timber Creek Deputy Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner Robo. While I enjoyed this one, the fifth, I have to say not quite as much as the predecessors. That is, I think, because of heavier focus on Mattie's romantic life and all the baggage she brings into her budding relationship with local veterinarian Cole Walker - I prefer reading about her relationship with Robo. As for Cole, I do have to wonder when he actually practices his trade given that he's always helping Mattie and her department, taking care of his two daughters and/or trying to cope with his ex-wife, Olivia, who suffers from serious depression.

All that aside, though, the actual story is both intriguing and fast-paced. It begins as Mattie is called to the scene of a burning van. One man has been shot dead and another has been taken to the hospital. The dead man was well known - married to the daughter of an elderly landowner couple - but he was well liked and a motive isn't easy to nail down, at least at the outset. As the investigation progresses - helped along by Robo's considerable tracking skills, of course - a few suspects emerge. But just as one rises to the top, he, too, turns up dead. Clearly, these aren't your garden-variety killings; in fact, they have more to do with the vast forests that surround Colorado's Timber Creek region. And Mattie, Cole and Robo soon learn that there's an even bigger danger than they thought in them thar woods; will they all manage to escape unscathed?

Well, of course I'm not going to answer that - go read it for yourself. The ending also sets the stage for what I expect will be a theme of the next book - one that could alter the course of Mattie's life. Needless to say, I'll be in line to get a copy. Meantime, I enjoyed this one and thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

Great page turner...kept your attention throught. Interesting twists kept ut fresh. I will look forward to reading more from Margaret Mizushima.

In this fifth Timber Creek K-9 mystery, Mattie is worrying about her relationship with Cole. She has secrets from her past that she is afraid will change his view of her. But before she can share her secrets, she and Cole come upon a burning van and the body of a local outfitter. He died as a result of two gunshot wounds to the heart.

While Mattie and her K-9 Robo are tracking the shooter, Cole is busy with his friend who suffered a head injury while trying to rescue the outfitter from his burning van. Mattie and Robo find some clues but they also have an encounter with some kind of animal that seems to be hunting them. Mattie doesn't believe that it is one of the local cougars.

Mattie is busy investigating while Cole has to deal with his young daughters who had been spending time with his ex-wife who suffers from depression. They were supposed to be visiting for a week but their mother couldn't deal with the stress which means Cole has to find a way to get his daughters back home and comfort their distress.

Mattie's investigation leads to a ranch in danger of foreclosure, another murder, illegal trafficking in drugs and wildlife, and a tiger hunt in the high reaches of the Rockies. The story was packed with action and tension. I like that Mattie is learning to deal with the difficulties of her childhood and taking a chance on love. I love her relationship with her partner Robo. This series just keeps getting better and better.

3.5 stars, rounded down
Tracking Game is the fifth in the Mattie Cobb series. I’ve enjoyed the prior four books, as they focused on Mattie’s and her K-9 partner, Robo. This book seemed to focus more on Mattie’s romantic relationship with Cole Walker, the town vet. Now, while I’m not big on a lot of romance in my mysteries, Mizushima can take all the time she wants to talk about the relationship between Mattie and Robo. Whether working or not, it’s always the most fascinating part of the books.

This mystery involves a neighbor who had been shot dead and left in his van which is set ablaze. Then one of the chief suspects is also killed. And there’s a large predator cat on the loose in the mountains.

The book is a straightforward police procedural. It starts a little slower than others in the series, mainly because of all the time spent on the romance aspect. Once it ramps up, it maintains a very strong pace and is enjoyable. Mizushima does a good job of keeping you guessing right up until the end.

My thanks to netgalley and Crooked Lane Books forman advance copy of this book.

Thank You to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Mattie Cobb is one of my favourite characters in any series I have read! She is a strong woman in a career she loves dealing with her own insecurities and pain of the past. I love the relationship between her and Cole Walker and can't wait to see how it develops.
This book has everything from relatable characters to a suspenseful story. The characters show real emotion that connects you to them in all the highs and lows of their lives.
I've only read books 4 and 5 of this series but will definitely find time to read the first three to see how it all began.

TRACKING GAME by Margaret Mizushima is the most enjoyable police procedural that I have read lately. It is set in and around a small town in the mountains of Colorado.

While this is the fifth book in the series and there are references to events and people that were in previous ones, the novel still worked well as a standalone. In this one Deputy Mattie Cobb and her veterinarian boyfriend Cole Walker are at a community dance when they hear an explosion. Upon reaching the explosion site, they find a burning van, the body of outfitter Nate Fletcher.

Mattie and her K-9 partner Robo and the other members of the sheriff’s department begin an investigation that has a lot of twists and turns, some red herrings and a dangerous wild predator. The characters are appealing and the writing is compelling, engaging and entertaining. The plot is clever, intriguing and very realistic.

I was immediately drawn into the investigation and the lives of Mattie, Robo, Cole and many of the other residents of Timber Creek, Colorado. I felt I had found some new friends. Additionally, I learned a lot about a police K-9 unit and how they are trained and operate. It seemed very realistic and believable. I also believe the fact that the author and her husband run a veterinary clinic and live on a small ranch in Colorado helped with the visualization of the area.

This is a new author for me and I can’t wait to read other books in this series. If you are a dog lover or just enjoy an engaging and suspenseful mystery, I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.

Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books, Margaret Mizushima and Net Galley for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

An enthusiastic four stars for this book mainly because the author slipped in a twist that I could have tried to guess forever and never would have gotten. Impressive.

This is book five in the Timber Creek K-9 mystery series but readers new to the series will most likely feel right at home beginning here. There are many references to previous cases and characters spoken of in previous books, but they don't act as a deterrent to enjoying this book. There are a lot of family and personal relationship dynamics in this story and that is not a focus I normally enjoy in a mystery novel. However, what keeps me coming back to this series are the details I get regarding the different things Robo (a German shepherd police dog) has been trained to do. The details of searches written into these books are very full and well described. I feel almost as if I'm on that trail in the mountains right along with Timber Creek County, Colorado, Sheriff Deputy Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner.

Recommended for readers who enjoy stories which highlight the abilities of working dogs and, in this case, K-9 dogs in particular. Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an e-galley of this novel.

Great new author, really enjoyable thrilling plot and I would highly recommend it to others. Have a read everyone its great.

Everyone is at a dance in Timber Creek, when an explosion rocks the night. Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner, Robo, go the scene to find a dead man and a burning panel van. Mattie and Robb find evidence pointing to a gang, which is compounded when Robo finds cocaine traces in the van. When another man is murdered and Mattie and Robo hear a large predator growling in the forest, Mattie knows something is wrong in Timber Creek, especially when the widow of the first murdered man becomes very evasive about her dead husband's business. I really enjoy this series, especially for the place setting and Mattie's relationships with everyone in her life. Her childhood was horrible and she is trying to navigate her way into a more secure place. Robo helps as much as he can, but Robo's veterinarian, Cole Walker, is also doing all he can to help Mattie. Recommended for anyone who likes visiting Colorado between the pages of a book.

This series is extremely different from the other K-9 mysteries that I have read and it's because when I read it I don't feel as if the characters are 2-D. They seem very real, including the dog which I'm impressed with. Normally I feel as if the author doesn't know anything about dogs, but Margaret Mizushima does an excellent job of making me believe the plot line. As always we follow Mattie and Robo on another case that leaves you on the edge of your seat. I love that the book is set in my home sate, Colorado and that I can really immerse myself in the surrounding area. I would definitely recommend this book to fellow campy mystery loves, and the rest of the series as well.

Was kind of a complicated book. There were just too many characters to get to know therefore some of the excitement was missing. It was a good storyline but just couldn’t keep everyone straight

I did not realize this was part of a series and I simply can't bring myself to read series out of order. So I read the first in the series and I really enjoyed it. I can think of a handful of patrons off the top of my head who will love this series and I went ahead and ordered them all for the library. Thanks for giving the opportunity to bring a new series into my library and into the hands of my patrons!

Enjoyable read! Enjoyable series. Good mystery - I had figured out what was going on about half-way through but was still guessing as to who the guilty party was when it was revealed. Nice job.

Looking forward to the next in the series to see what happens now that Mattie received some exciting news at the end of this book.

Thank you #netgalley and #crookedlanebooks for the eARC.

I love books with K-9 in them and this Blurb thrilled me. The story had a local man shot, with his van set on fire. Deputy Matte Cobb and team started investigating. Her K-9 Robo found the clues which led to a shocking reveal about the murderer.

My first book by this author, I loved the bond between Mattie and Robo. This was my first book with these characters, yet I was entranced with it. The book had murder, investigation, a predator on the prowl, romance, a cohesive team which my thriller heart sing with joy.

It kept to its steady pace and was overall a good read.

Officer Mattie Cob and her K-9 partner Robo are back investigating the murder of Nate Fletcher. Everyone knows everyone in the small town of Timber Creek, Colorado…why would anyone want to shoot Nate who runs an outfitter business taking clients on fishing trips? Mattie is still coming to terms with her childhood trauma and her feelings for Cole Walker, divorced father of two girls and town veterinarian. When another body is found, shot with the same caliber and attacked by an unknown large animal, the hunt is on for the killer and the animal. Mattie will have to rely on Robo and her knowledge of the mountains to catch the killer. Was Nate’s business more than just about fishing? Was his need for money causing him to take risks that got him killed? Another suspenseful adventure with Mattie and her team taking on a killer and the rugged terrain before another life is lost. I have read and enjoyed the entire Mattie Cobb series and eagerly look forward to the next one. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)