You don’t have to be a dog-lover to thoroughly enjoy this new series by Jeffrey B. Barton, but it helps! Vira has survived what most pets didn’t, a house fire. Rescued by a compassionate policewoman, Kippy Gimm, Vira is given a second chance at life. She ends up with a dog trainer, Mace Reid, who specializes in training cadaver dogs.
Mace by himself would make this a fun and enjoyable read, but with Vira by his side, they’re a heartwarming pair. Mace has trouble staying within the lines of his duties. If he sees something, he jumps. So does Vira, which causes some turmoil and threatens Vira’s life, yet again. And again, Kippy helps her survive.
Mason and Kippy soon realize there’s something keen and special about Vira. Her instinct to “read” the thoughts and history of others around her prove helpful in solving cases but extremely dangerous for both Mace and Kippy.
This is a fast-paced mystery thriller with a cute man and his cuter dog. What could be more fun to read when you want a break from the constant bad news of today’s world? I’m anxiously awaiting the second book of this fun series!
(I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for making it available.)

I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I would like to thank the author, publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Overall this was a very enjoyable book, a nice animal story and a gripping read.

I thought I would give this book a go as I enjoyed Spencer Quinn’s Chet & Bernie Mystery series and expected this to be in similar style. While The Finders is a great start to an entertaining detective series, it is not quite as charming as I’d hoped. It is most definitely creepier than I expected. I was a big fan of remarkably instinctive Vira, the golden retriever cadaver dog and appreciated the author’s insight into the tough training of this working animal trained to sniff out human remains. A satisfying ending and I look forward to reading the next book in this series a. I am curious to know how the author came up with the unusual name of police officer Kippy Gimm!


*will add link to online reviews closer to publication date

I was so excited to jump into this book and start a new mystery series that would remind me of a David Rosenfelt book, “The Finders” by Jeffrey B. Burton did not disappoint! Finding dead people is what Vira does best, but she seems capable of so much more. A fast paced well written book that kept me turning pages anxious to see how it ends. I can’t wait for the next book in this new series.

I really enjoyed reading this book! Good mystery, great introduction of the characters, and LOVED the kids...um dogs. I'm looking forward to reading more of Jeffrey Burton and am looking forward to hand selling The Finders.

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Sara Beth Haring for an advanced release copy of The Finders in exchange for my honest review.

From the publisher "The Finders is the first in Jeffrey Burton's new series, Mace Reid K-9 Mystery. It starts at the beginning of Mace's relationship with Vira, when she is abandoned at nine weeks and scheduled to be euthanized. There's something about her that makes Mace save her and train to be a cadaver dog, in support of Mace's growing business in the assistance of the Chicago PD and their Canine Training Center. From the beginning, it's clear Vira is indeed special."

Mason Reid doesn’t like dogs. He loves dogs. He empathizes with them. He constantly notices what his dogs are up to and are thinking, and hence let the reader know about it. So, we don't get the direct view point of the dog, but we do get a pretty good understanding of what she is thinking and feeling.

This narrative is very compelling and pulls you in from the start. Don't rule out the end though.
Like any good mystery, it has it twists.
It is an entertaining and enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books and St. Martin Press for the ARC of this ebook, in exchange with my honest review.

Mystery case and a dog in a novel, I’d say it’s going to be an interesting book. Also, I learned more about cadaver dogs, how a the main character maintained his relationship with his dog, and how the dog had such a special ability to capture the bad guy from this book.
A lot of humor too, specially coming from the main character Mason “Mace” Reid, I am able to dive-in into Mace because of his sense of humor were so real and honest.

However, I couldn’t enjoyed the feelings of the other characters, some chapters are just loosing in between conversation, even I hardly can find the motive of the killer for “why he dunn-it”. For example, I had to read about this character many times until I get into his feelings, his motives and his background.

Overall, I liked the book. If you’re a dog lover and like to read a light mystery story, you might grab this one and get into an interesting, fast-paced journey with Mace and Vira,

The Finders by Jeffrey B. Burton is the first book in the Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series. Dog handler Mason Reid trains dogs, cadaver dogs to be exact, that help out the police department when needed. When a golden retriever is rescued from a house fire, she is adopted by Mason, and named Elvira, Vira for short. As Mason goes about training his dogs, young Vira is catching on very quick. There seems to be something very special with Vira, she has these abilities no one has ever seen before.

When Mason and Vira find themselves thrust into a case involving a serial murderer on the loose, but they become the hunted. With the help of Police Officer Killy Gimm, they begin to unravel a mystery that leads to a suspect no one ever suspects. And might find themselves falling into a relationship in the meantime.

I really liked this book. It was a quick read, well written, and the characters were really likable. Although the books main theme was about a serial killer and human remains detection dogs, it was enjoyable and not too intense. There were many twists and turns, and I admit being surprised by the killer, but it all wrapped up nicely. I look forward to the other books in this series.

I would like to thank Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press-Minotaur Books and Jeffrey B. burton for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Finders is a police procedural thriller with touches of humor mixed in. It got my attention from the get-go and kept it throughout. I couldn’t put it down and had to read straight through to find out how things are ultimately resolved. [As an unexpected bonus, having grown up in Chicago, I enjoyed reading about familiar places.]

Jeffrey B. Burton has penned a well-developed cast of characters, from the main protagonists (Mace, Officer Kippy Gimm and her partner Wabs, and Detective Hanson) to the unknown serial killer Everyman, to the supporting cast. It also includes four dogs, each with its own unique personality, especially Vira. Kippy is the one who rescues the puppy Vira while responding to a possible suicide but Mace, a trainer of cadaver dogs, is the one who picks up the dog from the shelter and starts teaching her how to identify human remains. Little does he realize, when Mace starts to train Vira, what a special dog she is. Not only does Vira help him find and thwart two serial killers but she is very protective of Mace's life as well.

This is an exciting beginning to a new series. I look forward to reading more about Mace, Kippy, and most especially, Vira.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for making this title available to me in exchange for my honest review. The Finders is the first book in a new series by Jeffrey Burton. Readers are quickly introduced to Mason (Mace) Reid, a dog trainer who lives just outside of Chicago. Mace trains various breeds of dogs for many purposes but his specialty is the detection of human remains. While Mace is not a police officer, he frequently assists the authorities with various criminal investigations. Mace is a good character because quite simply, he's a good man. He loves dogs, I mean really loves dogs, and treats them as family members. At the start of the book we find Mace hurting from a recent divorce as well as the untimely death of one of his dogs.

A female police officer, Kippy, comes upon a nasty scene to discover a small golden retriever puppy who appears to have been killed by carbon monoxide poisoning. Miraculously, the puppy survives, and it is the dog who steals the show in this book. When Mace becomes aware of the pup, he quickly goes to meet her and they develop an instantaneous bond. Mace names the puppy Elvira (aka Vira) and takes her home to meet his other "kids." The canine leader of the pack is a German Shepard named Sue. Sue is my favorite character in the book. His imperious attitude along with his unflinching bravery won my heart!

It quickly becomes apparent that Vira's brush with death has left her with some pretty amazing capabilities. While not supernatural necessarily, she does have some extrasensory talents for sure. Vira is unbelievably adept at locating not only the remains of murder victims but also the perpetrator(s) of the crime. Although this may seem unrealistic, I would encourage the reader to suspend their disbelief and just enjoy the ride. With multiple serial killers on the loose, Mace, Vira, and the rest of the canine squad quickly become embroiled in the hunt for these monsters. Kippy is also involved in the murder mystery and she and Mace develop a lovely friendship while bonding over their mutual love of dogs.

Although the book has some light moments involving the antics of the dogs and what is sure to be a budding romance between Mace and Kippy, there are some very dark scenes as well. Mace is injured so many times, that he is basically the walking wounded throughout the latter half of the book. Readers should be aware that there are multiple murders as well as several instances where the dogs, particularly Sue, are injured or are in jeopardy. Thankfully, no dogs die in this book, so I didn't have to stop reading. That's my line in the sand, if the dog dies, I'm out.

Overall this is a promising series. I found the dogs to be particularly captivating and I will definitely check out the next book in the series so that I can reconnect with Sue, Vira and the gang. If you enjoy a good mystery and love dogs, give The Finders a try.

Mace Reid is a K-9 human remains detector handler. He adopts a dog that has extra ordinary detection power. What she is able to do helps them track down killers. He and his dog are asked to help with a serial killer that is targeting young women. The clues are twisty, fast paced and kept the pages turning. I look forward to the next installment in this series.

I am honestly torn on my thoughts on this book. Let me preface this by saying I do not love dogs, which is something Mace would be very upset with me for saying. I am writing this review as my cat (aka fur child aka best friend in the world) is on my lap.

I loved the serial killer plot of the book and the subsequent investigation. I also enjoyed Mace and Kippy. I thought they were likable and intriguing protagonists. Overall, the pacing and the writing was very good as well.

However, the "supernatural dog" plot was a bit much for me. Perhaps it's because I am biased against dogs, but I found myself skimming these parts to get back to the investigation parts. I understand the market is flooded with serial killer mysteries and this was a way to stand out, but it just didn't do it for me. Maybe it's because I am not a dog person.

I know this is a series, and I may try out the second one to see if it grows on me. By no means is this a bad book, and if you like dogs, I am sure you will appreciate it more. I will say I did enjoy how each dog had their own personality.

ARC given from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This was a very entertaining book. I have never before read a book about dogs, so this was a good start. The story is about Mason "Mace" who lives close to Chicago, his area of expertise, human remains detection. He has trained dogs to hunt for the dead. Another interesting character is Reid, his year has been very difficult, ever since his springer spaniel passed away, his marriage suffered too. In his attempt to get better, he adopts Vira, a rescue dog with an enigmatic puzzle. However, Reid is hurled into a taxing murder case, he will have to everything possible to solve it. This book is full of action and interesting dialogues. I loved Vita, it's an awesome dog. The author was able to describe the scenes so well that I could clearly imagine them all. I thank St Martin's Press, Minotaour Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed it a lot!

I was asked to review this book based on my fondness for David Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter series.

I thought it was well written and had good characters. It was a bit more graphic than I would have liked. I gave up reading Cornwell and Patterson as the crimes just became more of what horrible things man could do to man. I don’t need to have it explicitly described for me to understand.

I did like learning how cadaver dogs are trained.

I recommend this book if you are a fan of Cornwell or Patterson.

I love mysteries and dog mysteries, so was excited to read this. At first, I felt the story was bouncing all over the place and I couldn't see connections or where this was headed. Luckily, I stuck with it and as I got deeper into the book, the story began to flow. I was truly surprised by the ending. I recommend this book to readers of Spencer Quinn and David Rosenfelt. A serious mystery, not a cozy.

Mason "Mace" Reid trains dogs that specialize in the detection of human remains. When he adopts Vira, a golden retriever with a mysterious and troubled past, it soon becomes clear that this is one special dog.

But Mace doesn't have time to wonder about Vira, because they become entangled in a taxing murder case--and both dog and man will have to stay one step of the serial killer hunting Mace himself.

This was a so-so read for me. It was entertaining, and I liked the characters--including the dogs (coming from someone whose least favorite animal is the golden retriever, this speaks volumes about Burton's writing), but it lacked something that I just can't quite put my finger on. In the time I received and started this arc, I flew through nine other books, which each piqued my curiosity more quickly than The Finders did. I kept trying to pick it up and would read a few pages at a time, but it just didn't have that special something that kept me turning the pages. In the end, I liked it, just not enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for providing this copy to review.

Mason Reid works as a dog trainer specializing in human remains detection. His dogs' expertise secures Reid a contracted position with the Chicago PD to aid in homicide investigations. His newest dog, Vira, is a golden retriever that learns quickly - but she's got some odd mannerisms. Mason and his dogs are suddenly involved in a complicated murder investigation whose perpetrator has set his sights on the dog trainer himself. Together, Mason, Vira, and Officer Kippy Gimm are determined to find out just who this serial killer is.

The dog tells you everything you need to know - I mean, just look at the cover of the novel! This was a fun (because murder is just so fun, right? SMH) read and was pretty much action-packed through most of it. I was afraid the dog's "supernatural" ability would be too outlandish and a little ridiculous, but it was very much lowkey which made for a more captivating story.

Mason's character is likable and truly funny. I actually giggled a couple of times while reading, which rarely, if ever, happens. However, I did not like the somewhat childish flirtation and insecurity that occurred between Kippy and Mason, though. It read too much like teenage romance and these are two adults.

I really, really, liked the character of Everyman as well. He was an ominous presence - both diabolical and intelligent, which you never want your serial killers to be. He definitely kept the story interesting and I was surprised by the multitude of ways he evaded police investigation. The book has a surprising climax, as I assumed I would be able to guess most of the ending (I was).

The dogs are really the characters that steal the show. Sue, Mason's oldest dog, is the one that calls the shots around the house - he's just waiting on a crown to show his power. Delta & Maggie, the two twin collies, have an inseparable, suspicious bond that causes Mason to constantly worry about his safety, lest they know something he doesn't. And Vira is a smart and loyal pup to her new dad, Mason.

There were two sentences, however, that bothered the ever-living daylights out of me because they seemed so forced.
"F***ing Millenials"
"WTF...as in what the f***?"
First of all, why would Mason Reid, a Millenial, say "f***ing Millenials"??
And we know what WTF means. Just say one or the other - otherwise, it sounds like an old man trying to fit in with the cool kids.

All in all, it's a good start for a series and I'll be looking forward to seeing what life-threatening shenanigans Mason and his dogs get into in the future novels.

I know you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover but I did with this one. The dog on the cover is what caught my eye. When I realized it was a mystery with dogs in it, I was even more excited. I love books with service dogs (police, search and rescue, etc.)

This book has just enough humor in it so it isn't one of those too serious and boring books. I found myself giggling a lot. My first book by this author and I will definitely be looking into more and hoping there more in this series.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy.

The cover got me interested in reading this book. I was intrigued by the dog training aspect. I would have liked more of the dog training than the detective story line. Overall I liked this book and would read another one by this author.

This was a quick & enjoyable read. The dogs are the stars of this story, and I think this will be an interesting series. I was surprised at who the villain was, which is always a plus.