When I read that this book was about dogs I had to read it! I'm so glad that I did. I loved the dogs in this story. The author really pulls out their different personalities which makes it fun to read. There is a plenty of mystery and murder and it keeps you on edge. I liked "The Dog Man" and would like to continue reading this series as the books come available! Go Vira!!

I absolutely loved this book. I found the characters interesting, multidimensional, and...fun! Mason was a hoot, both knowing he was interested in Kippy, but also self aware of his faults. Vira - love that dog! As well as the rest of the pack.

The mystery was also well formulated - not too late or too early with the resolution.

It did take a minute to get into. The first chapter was a piece of the mystery. Second chapter intro to Vira and Kippy, and third chapter intro to Mason. So there was a bit of building.

Thoroughly enjoyed and think this is a great summer mystery read. Looking forward to more!

4.5 stars!

Fun fact: I’m not a huge fan of police procedurals, so when I got the invitation to review The Finders, I wasn’t sure I would enjoy this, even if there is a dog on the cover. Well, I was completely wrong! And so, I need to thank Minotaur Books for my finished copy! Because I loved this book and I can’t wait for the next in this series!
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I felt such a connection with the main character, Mason “Mace” Reid. Mace specialized in training cadaver dogs. When we meet him, he’s having a rough year. He is mourning the loss of his beloved dog and he’s also going through a painful divorce. He adopts a golden retriever named Vira, who comes to him as a rescue from a Chicago Police Officer, Kippy Gimm. Mace immediately connects with Vira and soon comes to realizes how special this newest addition to his family really is.
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Mace finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation to find a serial killer. The mystery of the case is exciting, and I loved learning about the training of cadaver dogs as I read this fast-paced story. Mace is a character to root for, plus he is profound dog lover, which made me love him even more. There is even a spark between him and Kippy, the police officer who found Vira and who Mace is paired with to solve the case before Mace becomes a victim himself.
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The Finders is available today! You have to treat yourself to this one if you love a thriller/mystery/police procedural with great characters. You’ll fall in love with Vira too! I’m ready for the next book!
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#TheFindersBook #JeffreyBBurton #StMartinsPress #MinotaurBooks

First time I've read anything by Jeffrey Burton, and I loved it! Mace is a special kind of person saving dogs from pounds and training them to search for the dead. He has great interactions with the dogs and with Officer Gimm. When the murderer was revealed I was shocked because I had no idea! Can't wait to see what else comes in this new series.

This review is based on an ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Mace is shocked and frightened when Vira, his cadaver dog in training, attacks a man at the site where they've just found a body. Vira's still a puppy and he had no idea she would do that. And then he starts to look for explanations- and discovers that Vira has a sort of super nose. She can smell not only the dead but also the person who killed them. This leads him, along with Vira and his dog Sue to find the serial killer who has been taking young women around Chicago and they discover so much more. Who is Everyman though? No spoilers but know that I was surprised by his identity as, obviously, Mace will be. Mace is a great character. He's young, he loves his dogs, and he's smart. Kippy (a possible love interest?) and the other police officers are terrific too. I liked the plot, liked the characters (especially, lets be honest, the dogs), and generally just very much enjoyed it. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. It's a fast read with some very good twists that will keep you guessing. I'm looking forward to the next one!

Spectacular mystery!

With serial killers running amok, this cadaver dog mystery presents a fictional analysis of canine-human relationships, with sleuthing as the environment in which said relationships are studied.

The writing is crisp and a true addition to the mystery genre. The feelings evoked are real.

Highly recommended for dog lovers who are seeking a no-fluff mystery.

This was a fun, fast-paced mystery with a super intelligent (and somewhat mystical) golden retriever as the sidekick! Vira is rescued by Officer Kippy Gimm as a puppy, but is adopted by Mason "Mace" Reid who trains her as a cadaver dog (also known as HRD, or human remains detection dog). It was hard to tell Mace's age for most of the story, but at the end he is revealed as being almost 30, so that may help you understand his character more on the front end. He's been recently divorced, and treats his dogs like his kids, and they were just as much important characters to the story as he was. I really liked Officer Gimm, too, and am rooting for a romance in the future between the two. With this book being the first in a new series, it was pretty intense that the killer was going after Mace. I hope that isn't often repeated, because that would get old pretty quickly. I also have never liked, and will never like, the trope of a killer having point-of-view chapters. That's part of why I gave this one four stars, as the killer didn't even have real motive for killing other than being a psychopath who enjoyed it.
Vira is awesome and super sweet, and Sue is an awesome dog, too!
I will definitely read more books in this series when they come out.

I have found my new series and my new author. The voice is so familiar. Like a combination of others I love. A little Spencer Quinn. A little Jeff Lindsay. A little Jonathan Maberry. The sarcasm! The dogs!

OK, I will admit it, I was ready to quit in the opening. The puppy! I can't deal with it. On the heals of us having to put our 15 year old dog to sleep last week, one we raised form a tiny pup, left me unable to deal.. And then she moved! I was hooked.

Even that wouldn't have sustained me until Mace walked in. A person who raises and trains dogs. He doesn't have the greatest job in the world, nom matter how it sounds. He trains cadaver dogs. And the little puppy proves to be a star at it. So much so that she finds her first body quickly. And then zeros in on a man in the crowd. To save her, Mace goes a little farther than he should. And that gets him all kind of trouble.

Reading that this was the first of a series leaves me so hopeful for my future reading. I want to know what happens to Elvira, a boy dog named Sue, Maggie May, Delta Dawn, Mace, Kippy, Paul, all of them.

Excellent, hard to put down, who done it mystery.
Do not let the cover of the book fool you, as it is not about a sweet good natured golden puppy. This dog has special qualities that you don’t want to cross. Murderers beware as she will sniff you out.

I really liked this book. I didn't know who the killer was. Sue is my favorite dog.

I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review.

Jeffrey Burton has created a main character with a wonderful voice. Mace Reid had me in the palm of his hand throughout the book, whether he was explaining why his marriage ended in divorce (there's a huge gap between his wife "liking" dogs and Mace's "loving" dogs) or when he was describing a waste-of-space employee named Tommy B.

The mystery in The Finders is a strong one with a fast pace that doesn't let up. CPD officer Kippy Gimm (I hope the next book explains her strange name) insists that Elvira the dog is touched by the supernatural because of something that happened when she was a puppy, but that can be easily overlooked by readers who dislike woo-woo and understand how incredibly tuned to their people dogs can be. One thing is certain, however. Vira isn't your usual dog-in-a-mystery. She does something in the opening chapters that stunned and even made me a bit queasy. (Someone calls her "a tornado that bites".) But that's the only (brief) scene that tender-hearted readers need to worry about.

Burton has created a strong trio in Mace, Vira and Kippy, and I'm certainly looking forward to their next assignment.

I am HOOKED on Burton's new series.  The Finders centers around Mace Reid, a cadaver dog handler in the greater Chicago area.  Reid's newest addition to his pack, Vira, is a miracle puppy who has a special talent for detecting human remains.  When Mace and Vira get pulled into a case, Mace finds himself being hunted by a killer.  With the help of his beloved pack and Chicago PD officer Kippy Gimm, Mace has to escape the wrath of a killer and solve a series of serial murders.  

If you're a dog lover with a penchant for murder mysteries, then this is a good one to pick up.  The main characters are well developed for the first book in a series and Mace Reid, Kippy Gimm and dogs make for lovable main characters. Burton's writing and storyline are compulsively readable and I look forward to the next installment in the series.

I loved Jeffrey B. Burton’s The Finders. Mason Reid and his team of cadaver dogs, led by a golden retriever named Vira, is just what I needed in my life. I love the witty dialogue between Mace and Chicago Police Officer Kippy Gimm, and I’m so excited that this is book one of a new series, because I definitely want to see what develops between the two of them.

Admittedly, I have a soft spot for Vira. Burton’s descriptions of her remind me so much of my Emi, who also had a bit of a rough start and found our family when she was almost six months old. Like Vira, she has the sweetest, sunniest personality, but look out if you try to mess with her people or her canine brothers. The human-canine bond shines through in The Finders, and I for one am fully onboard for whatever Mace and his crew are up to next

If you put a dog on the cover of a mystery, you will certainly get my attention. If it's a Golden, well that seals it for me. I will want to investigate further. I'm so glad I requested this mystery. I'll be upfront here - I refuse to read a book in which animals are gratuitously put into danger. They must come out of it okay. I also don't like Noir and serial killers. Trust me when I say, the animals are awesome in this mystery and they are very much loved and respected and the danger at the beginning of the book was necessary to the mystery. It's okay, really.
Mace (Mason) Reid has the deepest love and respect for animals and for his four furrbabies in particular. He's a dog whisperer and trains cadaver dogs. As soon as we meet Mace and he lets us know the names of his pups, well, I was certain that this would be a series I needed on my must read list. Their names are Sue (a boy), Maggie May, Delta Dawn and Elvira, the Golden and youngest member of his family. See what I mean? His sense of humor is pitch perfect. His only shortcoming is that, while he is in tune with dogs, he tends to be a bit out of sync with humans, may I even say a bit clueless? But, honestly, it's sort of a nice shortcoming. He's 30 something, single, loves dogs, is an awesome trainer and prefers jeans, hiking boots, t-shirts and finger combs his hair...and sometimes forgets to shave.
He works closely with the Chicago police department and partners up with police officer Kippy Gimm. She and Mace find themselves up against a serial killer who wants to add Mace to the list of kills. The puzzle is well crafted, the writing style flows and I was halfway through it before I was aware of the passage of time. I hope this becomes a long running series.
My thanks to the publisher, Minotaur and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Finders is the 1st of a promising new series featuring Chicago area cadaver dog trainer Mace Reid and his Golden Retriever Vira. Teamed up with an up and coming female Chicago police officer, Kippy Gimm, he gets thrown into the hunt for a serial killer. I enjoyed Mace ...he's an excellent dog trainer, and some of the best parts of the book are his interactions with his dogs, but he's a little clueless sometimes with interpersonal interactions. All part of his charm. And there's a real "Wow, I didn't see that coming!" moment when the killer is revealed.
I had not read Jeffrey B. Burton before, but because I love K9 books I took the chance and I'm very happy I did! I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series. If you like Alex Kava's Ryder Creed series you may enjoy this book..
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Mystery and dogs - what could possibly be a better combination?! I admit to having my heart in my throat a few times, however, when the dogs were in danger. If an animal in a book is killed or tortured, it's enough to make me stop reading immediately (spoiler here - - the dogs are fine)

The story is a nice, complex mystery with a blossoming friendship/probable romance thrown in. Mace, the main character, is a likable guy and his dogs are wonderful. Kippy, the 'female lead' is a strong woman who seems perfect for Mace. The narrative was a nice mix of Mace's story with the dogs and the mystery. There was a slow build as the book progressed and then picked up speed the last 1/3. I gasped out loud at one of the revelations near the end of the book.

I look forward to the next book in this series!

Mace Reid trains cadaver dogs and is called by the police as a consultant when help is needed. Mace and his golden retriever Vira are on the scent of a serial killer Everyman.
Great detecting. We are treated to the POV of Mace and of Everyman. I was stunned to find out who Everyman is. I'm eager to read more by the author Burton.
Thanks to the publisher St. Martin's and NetGalley for this read.

A series about trained K9 cadaver dogs? I can't resist!
When Mace Reid adopts a golden retriever dog, Vira, and begins training her as a cadaver dog, he discovers she has unique abilities to find scent and even alert on suspects. Vira will soon become the star of the series and your heart.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Title: The Finders
Author: Jeffrey B. Burton
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 4.2 out of 5

Mason "Mace" Reid lives on the outskirts of Chicago and specializes in human remains detection. He trains dogs to hunt for the dead. Reid’s coming off a taxing year—mourning the death of a beloved springer spaniel as well as the dissolution of his marriage. He adopts a rescue dog with a mysterious past—a golden retriever named Vira. And when Reid begins training Vira as a cadaver dog, he comes to realize just how special the newest addition to his family truly is…

Suddenly, Reid and his prize pupil find themselves hurled into a taxing murder case, which will push them to their very limits. Paired with determined Chicago Police Officer Kippy Gimm, Mace must put all his trust in Vira's abilities to thwart a serial killer who has now set his sights on Mace himself.

I definitely enjoyed reading this! Mace is kind of bumbling through his personal interactions, but I found it very endearing. I enjoy reading mysteries and trying to figure out who the culprit is, but the author did a great job of playing things close to his vest and not giving anything away here.

Vira is her own special character, and I loved her from the beginning, when she was a depressed and scared puppy. Seeing how she developed was fascinating, and I’m looking forward to reading more of her adventures.

Jeffrey B. Burton lives in Minnesota. The Finders is his newest novel, the first in the Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This was an awesome book! This is my first book by this author but I hope he continues a series with Delta, Maggie, and Vira. The plot of the book and the characterization of the people and the dogs was fabulous. I never even suspected who the criminal was until the last chapter of so. I definitely recommend this book!! Enjoy! 📚