Love this series, love the dogs, love the protagonist. Love the author. That's a lot of love, but well deserved. Bravo!

It’s the opening day of hunting season in Vermont. Henry Jenkins, an autistic boy with a fondness for fantasy games and prime numbers, has escaped the housekeeper and run off into the forest in his Batman PJ’s, following a pattern of trails only he understands. While tracking a member of his father’s hunting party, he witnesses something so terrifying that he runs even deeper into the woods.

Mercy Carr and her bomb-sniffing dog Elvis are both retired from the military and attempting to recover from a shared trauma, the loss of Martinez, Mercy’s fiancé and Elvis’ handler. While Mercy is honing her archery skills, Elvis goes out to retrieve an arrow but doesn’t return. She finds him in the forest, and he alerts her to a female body, wounded on the ground with an arrow in her chest.

Troy Warner, the local game warden, and his K-9, Susie Bear, are out chasing poachers when he receives Mercy’s call. Although the local police detective takes over the case, Mercy and Troy continue to investigate from the sidelines. They use their dogs to help safeguard Henry while they extract information from the child, who doesn’t know how to communicate what he saw.

Then Henry disappears again, along with Elvis, and a search party is launched in the midst of a blizzard. Plus, another body is found in the woods.

There were a lot of characters to keep track of, including the hunting lodge full of privileged rich guests and their host, and it was exciting that they seemed to be getting killed off one by one.
I also like the fact that the plot was inspired by a true search-and-rescue case of an autistic boy who got lost in the Vermont wilderness.

Elvis and Susie Bear, Troy’s search and rescue dog, are both an integral part of the book. They know when they have a job to do, and they work eagerly. However, the “highly trained” Elvis seems to disobey Mercy any time something gets his attention. Plus, she feeds him a LOT of pizza, most of it with garlic. Isn’t garlic poisonous to dogs?

I loved prime-number-loving Henry, but I object to how he was treated by most of the adults tasked with taking care of him. His father seems completely irresponsible, leaving his with random adults who are too busy to watch him. Apparently, Mercy, who has no training with children, is better at understanding him than a psychologist who specialize in autism.

Those nit-picks didn’t keep me from enjoying this second book in Munier’s series featuring former Army MP Mercy and her bomb-sniffing dog, Elvis. The characters are well developed. Mercy is a no-nonsense woman with a strong sense of right and wrong. The writing flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. I liked it well enough that I’m going back to read the first book.

It took me a few tries to get into this book. I kept trying because the many interesting-to-me elements kept me going – a lovable and autistic child, smart and well-trained military dogs, a bit of romance, a mystery, people stranded in the deep snow.

Maybe I need to read the first book first! The writing is not bad, the dialogue sounds good. Some parts were really engrossing. Maybe there are too many characters. I still haven't figured out what is it about a book that does not grab me. I can usually tell within the first few pages whether I will be totally absorbed in a story.

My thoughts
Rating: 5
Would I recommend it ? Yes
Would I read more of the series? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes
Just like the first book it movies at a good, steady pace, and you get to see the characters come to live,and I loved the inter action between Patience & Lillian as well as Elvis and Susie Bear with Henry. And the author did a really good job handing her character of Henry, she really brought him to life. And the twists and turns this book takes will keep you awake until you finished it. Can't wait to read the next book when it comes out because I have to know what happens next to out beloved characters.

Blind Search – Paula Munier

I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an objective review.

It’s opening day of hunting season in Vermont. Henry Jenkins, an autistic boy with a fondness for prime numbers and fantasy games, has escaped the housekeeper and her runny eggs, and has run off into the forest in his Batman pajama’s, following trails and such in a pattern only he can understand. While covertly following a member of his father’s hunting party, whom he calls a ‘monster slayer’, he trips and falls – and then witnesses something so terrifying that he runs deep into the woods…

Mercy Carr and bomb-sniffing dog Elvis are both retired from the military and attempting to recover from a shared trauma, the loss of Martinez, her fiancé and Elvis’ handler. Mercy, a former MP, is working on her archery skills with her family. Elvis heads out to retrieve a wayward arrow but doesn’t return, prompting Mercy to go looking for him. As she finds him in the forest, he alerts to a female body lying nearby with an arrow sticking out of her chest.

Troy Warner is the local game warden, and he and his K-9, Susie Bear are out chasing poachers when he receives the report of Mercy’s find. Arriving on the scene, they interview members of the hunting party while they await the local law enforcement to arrive. Unfortunately, Detective Kai Harrington has little use for Mercy or Troy, and orders them off of the scene.

Mercy & Tory continue to work the case from the sidelines in a race against time, as they and their dogs try to safeguard Henry, and extract information from the child who doesn’t understand how to communicate what he saw. Then Henry disappears again, with Elvis in tow, and another search is launched, with another body found in the woods...and a kidnapping attempt of Henry is narrowly averted. With a blizzard bearing down on the area, Mercy & Troy look for shelter as they question - were the murders committed by simple poachers? Or is something much more sinister at hand?

Being New England born and bred, I absolutely LOVED this book!! The geography, and the storyline are rich in detail, and the characters are complex, and relatable, as each deal with personal stressors as well. Henry’s character is particularly well written, and gives much insight into autism, from both his perceptions of the world, and how he is perceived. A wonderful read, with fantastic characters, both 2 and 4 legged, and will resonate with you long after the final page is turned. And – it’s a series!!

Just like that, I have a new favorite author!!

This is book 2 in the Mercy & Elvis series and can be read as a stand alone. I just got book 1, A borrowing of bones, to read because I enjoyed book 2 so much. Set in the Green Mountains of Vermont Mercy is out of the Army returning home with her retired bomb sniffing dog, Elvis. It's October and hunting season and a young autistic boy leads to the discovery of a young woman shot through the heart with an arrow. Working with game warden Tony and his search dog Suzie Bear they find the murderer isn't afraid to kill again. I loved the small town atmosphere and friendships. This story was based on the true story of a search for an autistic teen. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Blind Search
Mercy & Elvis Mystery, Book #2
Paula Munier
5+ Stars

Synopsis:

Former Army MP Mercy Carr and her retired bomb-sniffing dog Elvis are back in Blind Search, the sequel to the page-turning, critically acclaimed A Borrowing of Bones

It's October, hunting season in the Green Mountains--and the Vermont wilderness has never been more beautiful or more dangerous. Especially for nine-year-old Henry, who's lost in the woods. Again. Only this time he sees something terrible. When a young woman is found shot through the heart with a fatal arrow, Mercy thinks that something is murder. But Henry, a math genius whose autism often silences him when he should speak up most, is not talking.

Now there's a murderer hiding among the hunters in the forest--and Mercy and Elvis must team up with their crime-solving friends, game warden Troy Warner and search-and-rescue dog Susie Bear, to find the killer--before the killer finds Henry. When an early season blizzard hits the mountains, cutting them off from the rest of the world, the race is on to solve the crime, apprehend the murderer, and keep the boy safe until the snowplows get through.

Inspired by the true search-and-rescue case of an autistic boy who got lost in the Vermont wilderness, Paula Munier's mystery is a compelling roller coaster ride through the worst of winter--and human nature. (Goodreads)

Review:

Search and Rescue books are one of my favorite genres to read, and this book and series are as good as any that I have read. I have always been fascinated with this subject and I am always looking for good books revolving around this. I am happy to say that I found a great series in the Mercy and Elvis series.

The characters are well wounded and well developed. Mercy is a no-nonsense type of woman, she is tough as nails and she has a keen sense of right and wrong. But she also has a soft side, which we see when she is interacting with her grandmother, Patience, and Elvis. Then we see a caring loving Mercy.

Elvis and Susie Bear, Troy’s search and rescue dog, are such an integral part of the book. They know when they have a job to do, and they are eagerly looking forward to doing that job. But they also love to act like dogs, and they enjoy spending time with each other and any human they can find.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was right there watching all of the action taking place. The mystery was well plotted and had me riveted until I found out who the culprit was.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted mystery. I am so looking forward to the next book in this series.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Very enjoyable book. The characters and storyline kept me engaged and entertained. This is the second book in the series but I didn't feel like I missed anything by not having read the first book.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.

I have not read the first installment from the Mercy and Elvis Mysteries, but thoroughly enjoyed the second book Blink Search. I would love to go back to find out what happened previously. This one gets a four and a half stars from me.

Blind Search is the 2nd in this series starring former Army MP Mercy Carr and her bomb-sniffing dog Elvis. They are very close to game warden Troy Warner and his dog Susie Bear.

As the story opens, a 9-year-old genius on the autistic spectrum witnesses a murder, as a woman is shot with an arrow in the woods.

Can Mercy coax out what the child has seen, with the help of Elvis, Troy and Susie Bear? Of course we know that she will but there are many trials and tribulations along the way. An engrossing read!

A strong mystery combines with strong characters in Paula Munier's second Mercy & Elvis mystery set in the Vermont wilderness. Speaking of that wilderness, it comes to life under Munier's pen. I can feel the snowflakes on my face, smell the trees, and hear the crunch of the snow under my boots as I follow the characters along on their search for a killer.

For those of you who may worry about a child being endangered in Blind Search, I want you to know that I was wondering about that myself. Without giving too much away, I'll just say that you shouldn't worry too much about that. Munier has it covered, and covered well-- and she still keeps the story exciting.

She also has her characters covered well. Henry took center stage for me, and I really liked how both Mercy and the two dogs related to the young boy. Elvis and Susie Bear are stars, which should please dog lovers everywhere. Troy and Mercy have their own baggage to deal with which makes a relationship between them somewhat prickly, and if there's anything that didn't sit well with me in Blind Search, it's the appearance of a character from Troy's past. It's something that's been done so often that it's tired and worn out.

If you're in the mood for a fast-paced, exciting story with strong, likable characters and two marvelous dogs, it sounds to me like you should pick up a copy of Blind Search. As for me, I'm looking forward to my next visit to Vermont to see Mercy and Elvis.

I'm not sure how I stumbled upon this book, but I am really glad that I did. Based on a real-life search for an autistic boy lost in the wilderness, *Blind Search* by Paula Munier took the reader on quite a ride. The dynamics between Mercy and Elvis seemed authentic and well-researched. The action was compelling and I loved the canine aspect of the mystery/thriller. I will definitely be going back to catch book 1 for the collection!

Some books are a hit or miss for me. Unfortunately, this one was a miss. While I enjoyed Mercy and Elvis, I found myself skimming pages just to make the book go faster. The premise of the book is great but it just drug too much for me to really enjoy.

I loved the first book in this series, A Borrowing of Bones and couldn't wait to read Blind Search. It was worth the wait. Marcy and Elvis make a wonderful team and when paired with Troy, a game warden and his dog Susie Bear, they are simply awesome. First off, Blind Search can be read as a stand alone but, to get the most out of Mercy's story treat yourself to reading them in order. That way you get the full depth of the bond these two have. If you love dogs, don't miss reading this series.
Mercy has a very very rich neighbor who is hosting a hunting party on his land. One of his guests is killed with a bow and arrow. Soon they discover that there is a possible witness - Henry, a nine year old autistic boy. If the killer isn't caught soon, Henry and others may suffer the same deadly fate. Henry is lucky to have good people working to catch the killer and keep him safe.
Add to an excellently crafted mystery is the Vermont location. I felt like I was right there with Mercy and the others. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing to the very end. Honestly, this series has everything I look for in a great mystery. I have the series on my list of favorites and I'm eager to read the next mystery with Mercy and Elvis, and Troy and Susie Bear.

Blind Search is the second book in Paula Munier’s Mercy Carr Mystery series. Retired Army MP Mercy Carr is drawn in to a murder investigation after following her Belgian Malinois Elvis, also retired Army, into the woods as he chases a lost arrow. What Elvis finds instead is the body of a beautifully dressed archer. Mercy cordons off the area and calls in the local authorities. Mercy’s billionaire neighbor Daniel Feinberg and his hunting party appear and identify the woman as a late comer to their hunting trip. Next arrival is Game Warden Troy Warner, then ME Dr. Darling to begin the investigation.

When state police detective Kai Harrington arrives on the scene, Mercy and Troy are banished from the area. In searching the area for what is believed to be a wounded bear, Mercy and Troy find a torn square from Batman pajamas. Following search and rescue dog and sidekick to Troy, Susie Bear, they find a small boy some distance from the crime scene. It’s possible that he was a witness to the murder. The trouble is that Henry, in spite of his high intellect, isn’t very verbal.

In this mystery, Mercy and Troy face blizzards, gun runners, and poachers. Will they also face their growing feelings for one another? This is a well written mystery that explores multiple topics. It addresses the world of the very wealthy, how long held secrets can come back to haunt you, and the lengths a mother will go to for her child. It also gives very real insight into children with Asperger syndrome.

I have very much enjoyed the books in this series. They are well written with strong characters and a wonderland setting. While I do encourage everyone to read the entire series, the book could stand alone. I do recommend this book!

Blind search is a fantastic suspense. The plot is very entertaining and well written. Believable characters. I look forward to reading more books by this author. My thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

Love this series - the people and the dogs

I just finished re-reading the first book in this series A BORROWING OF BONES and I'm glad I had this book ready to dive into next. I really encourage people to read the first book before this one. You will miss a lot of background and a great book if you don't.

Retired military MP Mercy Carr and her bomb searching dog Elvis are back along with Vermont Fish and Game Warden Troy Warner and his search and rescue dog Susie Bear.

They end up getting involved in a billionaire's hunting party (it's now Autumn and hunting season in Vermont), murder, a lost autistic boy, poaching, and a whole different cast of characters.

I loved the dogs, as always. I wish our dogs were half as smart. I loved Henry's story. He is autistic and he's never lost - people just can't find him.

This was a mystery that kept me guessing and I liked that. It ended on a bit of a cliffhanger so at least I know the author plans more books in this excellent series. I just hope we don't have to wait too long to read it.

I highly recommend this book to mystery lovers and dog lovers and anyone that enjoys a well-written book.

I received this book from Minotaur Books through Edelweiss and Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

After the success of A Borrowing of Bones, USA Today bestselling author Paula Munier returns with her second book in the Mercy and Elvis Mystery series, BLIND SEARCH—which happens to be inspired by a true story.

Henry’s a nine-year-old boy with autism, and he wanders into the woods of Vermont during hunting season, only to witness a crime. Now Mercy Carr and her sniffer dog Elvis, along with game warden Troy Warner and his search-and-rescue dog Susie Bear, must solve the case before the killer gets a hold of Henry.

Read full article in the link.

Mercy and her valiant k-9 Elvis find themselves deeply involved in the hunt for a killer when a hunting party on her wealthy neighbor Daniel's estate goes badly wrong and one of the guests is shot and killed by an arrow. Mercy and Elvis, along with game warden Troy and his dog Susie Bear then find 9 year old Henry, an autistic boy who has seen something- what they aren't sure about but they know it was something. All of the guests for the weekend, who were there to make decisions about a ski resort, are under the microscope and then another guest is killed. And then Mercy, Daniel, and others comes under attack. Old secrets play an important role here - and the answer came as a surprise to me. Munier takes good advantage of her Vermont setting. The main characters are delightful but if I have a quibble, it's that I had a hard time keeping track of who was who on the suspect list. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. A good read that's fine as a standalone. I'm looking forward to the next one.

This review was originally posted on <a href="http://booksofmyheart.net/2019/10/29/blind-search-by-paula-munier/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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</i>Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i>
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I LOVED <strong>Borrowing of Bones</strong> which was the first book in the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/229122-mercy-elvis-mysteries" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em><strong>Mercy & Elvis Mysteries</strong></em></a> series.  I was thrilled to see a new installment was coming out soon and to be able to read it.   I love the mysteries and also the working dogs in the story. Mercy has left the military and lost her fiance who was Elvis' partner in K9 work.  They are both dealing with their grief and making a new life.  Mercy was an MP and is a key to investigations in the series.

<strong>Blind Search</strong> was somewhat different than <strong>Borrowing of Bones</strong>.  Mercy worked more on her own than with the game warden, Troy, and the dogs were also less in the plot.  Troy and the dogs were still involved but not as much.  The romance also was brought up by other characters but they spent almost no time together and it didn't progress.  Mercy works for Daniel, again really,  and the whole have vs. have-not is on display quite a bit.

I enjoyed the continued world building and character development.  I love the townspeople and Henry and hope we continue to see them in future books. There were some exciting new additions to the local community. Some of the bad guys, and Harrington, seem to be just black, with no shades of gray. I'd prefer them more complex when they are in multiple books.

I hope the rich vs. ordinary thing is just part of Mercy's settling between her parent's/ Daniel's world and the regular folks, being able to include both aspects in her life.  She may not be able to change the way her parents want to control her but find a compromise where she doesn't have to shut them out of her life. Then again, they may not be salvageable.

I look forward to more. I hope the dogs will be even more involved, actually working. Of course, the people development is also important. But I love the dogs!