The Keepers by Jeffrey B. Burton was an enjoyable read. I liked the idea of a dog trainer with a very talented, well-trained cadaver dog being the main character. That Mace Reid mostly trains cadaver dogs is a little something different for me. I'm more used to drug/bomb sniffing dogs or search and rescue dogs in stories. This book is the second book in author Jeffrey B. Burton's Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series. I liked the first book in the series. The Finders and this one continues the super series.

Mayhem in the windy city…

This is the second book in the Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series that can be read as a stand-alone. I hadn’t read the first book in the series and didn’t feel that I missed anything by not having done so.

Mason “Mace” Reid handles and trains dogs to find cadavers, they track the scent of death. One of his dogs, a golden retriever he rescued, named Elvira, Vira for short, is considered special, she scents more than just dead bodies. A dog with a touch of the paranormal, scenting traces of human DNA on bodies and reacting when she next runs across the source of that DNA is difficult to explain and Mace guards her canine talent religiously. As Mace often assists the police, Chicago Police Officer Kippy Gimm is entrusted with the knowledge of Vira’s abilities and she’s considered a friend if not more.

Mace is an interesting quick-witted character with a bit of a jaded sarcasm that belies his age. The dogs are more than his work partners, they are his kids with distinct personalities that come across and they have always had his back. Kippy and her partner, Dave, are good complements to Mace and his dogs.

With interesting mysteries, likable characters, and three murders to solve this book holds the reader's attention. Normally a cadaver dog handler would not be so involved in the detective work but Vira’s abilities make avoidance difficult when her reactions place Mace in the middle of dangerous situations. This was a well-written story, the plot was complex, filled with suspense and you have to love the dogs. Besides murder, there’s corruption reaching the highest levels of city government, betrayal, and the mafia to contend with. This was the first time reading this author and I was not disappointed. I look forward to more books in this series and will definitely pick up the first one.

An advanced reading copy was obtained from the publisher via NetGalley.

#2 in the Mace Reid K-9 series. Reid trains cadaver dogs and often helps out with the police, especially Officer Kippy Gimm who knows of the special talents of Reid's golden retriever Vira, who can sniff out who is the killer at a crime scene. Like the first in the series, this one is fast-paced and twisty, starting with the killing of a special prosecutor, and drawing in organized crime and corruption in high places, as well as targets on Mace, Kippy and the dogs' backs. The pages will fly by. The dogs are all characters in their own right. The seeming touch of the paranormal is unnecessary however; it seems perfectly reasonable that an ultra-smart dog could work out what happened at a crime scene. The main characters are continuing to develop realistically. I hope every book doesn't put their lives in extreme jeopardy like the first two; that can get a little old. I look forward to the next in the series.

I love this series! This is the second book following The Finders, and you'll find more of Mace and his band of 5 cadaver dogs. His newest recruit, Vira, seems to have a special sense and can sense DNA on the murderer of a victim, a very special talent! Two crimes are covered in this novel, and Kimmy is again involved with Mace in solving the cases. If you love dogs, and a good mystery, this series is meant for you! thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for my copy of The Keepers. I'm looking forward to spending more time with Mace and the crew.

The Keepers got off to a very slow start. There was a lot of fluff but not much story. It picked up when we got to ‘know’ the killer.

The story seemed to be a bit jerky, jumping from one character to the next. There were too many characters with many of them not adding much to the story. I didn’t really enjoy any of the characters except SuperDog, Vira.

Vira is a cadaver sniffing dog with a nose that takes sniffing to the next level. Next in line comes the rest of the dogs. Can you tell I’m a dog lover. For that reason, I don’t enjoy storylines that get dogs injured or killed. I don’t think it’s necessary and doesn’t add to my reading enjoyment at all.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Keepers.

Good sophomore effort in the new series about Mace Reid and the Finders, his troupe of cadaver dogs. Mace and his wunder-dog Vira are on the trail of criminals once again. Good solid story with enough light-hearted touches to keep the story moving. For example, in order to order to scope out one scene, Vira has to go "undercover" as a drug sniffing dog (since the body was much too fresh to need a cadaver detection dog!). Thanks to Minotaur Books for access to a digital ARC via NetGalley.

Mace Reid K-9 Mystery book#2

This series features golden retriever cadaver dog Vira and her handler, Mason Reid. In this second installment the duo are called in to search Washington Park in the wee hours of the day, what they find has them running for their lives.....

I haven’t read book one and in no ways was it a challenge to start at this point although I admit that book #1 is on my radar. The story stands perfectly well by itself. This is a solid, hard action mystery that grabs from the start. It is also a nice combination of an amateur sleuth mystery with a good dose of police procedural. What stands out is the relationship (love) between the handler and his dogs, this shines all through the book. The “Keepers” is very engaging and the author cleverly keeps the intensity to a high level in order to keep us flipping pages. Indeed it kept me engrossed with the many twists and turns that led to a dramatic ending.

We have two major criminal cases: one, the murder of a rock star battered to death with his guitar and second the brutal murder of the head of Special Prosecutor Bureau. These cases bring out panoply of shady characters: the head of the Chicago mob, his psychopathic son, crooked politicians and businessmen, police superintendent and multiple other bad guys....but to save the day after a savage confrontation is Mace with his sidekick Kippy and the dogs. Yep.. I rooted for the dogs...:) One plot which was put to bed fairly easily and the second simmered into an explosive boil.....very captivating.

The main characters and the support characters including the canine variety are well developed. Mace is not a superman: he drinks some, swears too much and vomits when scared but loves his dogs and his friend, CPD office Kippy Gimm is the perfect ally. I loved that the dogs weren’t just background players. They had a job to do and their training is explored...well-done.

This is the second book in the series featuring Mason Reid, a dog trainer and Human Remains Detection Dog handler. In the first book Reid acquires a Golden Retriever, Vira, who is a prodigy in searching and possibly magical. This second book Reid is called to a crime scene not as a HRD handler, but to search for drugs. Though Vira doesn't know how to search for drugs, she can sniff out who the killer is by using her special skill. Later Reid, his friend and police officer Kippy Gimm and her partner go to a concert in Milwaukee. At a break Reid gets Vira out of the car and they go talk to the suspect. When Vira confirms who the killer is, Reid, Gimm and her partner encourage him to confess.
Soon after Reid is called to look for the body of Special Prosecutor Peter Feist. After finding the body Vira once again indicates who the killer is. Reid is not happy to find out it's an important person in the Chicago "machine."
It's a bit less of a mystery and leans more toward the thriller genre. Character development is good and the characters are likable, but I doubt I'll read anymore in the series. In the first book Reid's German Shepherd is injured while rescuing a victim of a serial killer. In this book, two of his other dogs, Dawn and Maggie end up seriously injured and one loses a front leg. Killing off dog characters is a big no-no in dog books, but excessive violence is just as bad in my opinion. Injuries to the the dogs weren't necessary, nor was it enjoyable to read.
#TheKeepers #NetGalley

Give me a book with a dog, and I’m in. Give me a book with a dog with exceptional talents and I’m SO in.⁣⁣
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I really enjoyed The Finders last year. Vira was introduced to me as the cadaver dog that had extra skills to even sniff out the murderers so I was excited when I saw book two was available! Her handler Reid also has FOUR other dogs, so I may be a little biased in how much I love him... he trains all of his dogs to be search and rescue dogs. They are all incredibly talented and he treats them like children and I adore him for it.⁣⁣
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This book was very stressful for me. From the beginning, Vira sniffs out remains of a few different men violently murdered. We follow the story, only to find multiple men dead, a Chicago mob boss involved, loads of drug cartel, racketeering, and corruption going on. Who can you trust? Reid, Vira and police officer Kippy’s lives are threatened over and over for getting too close to what’s happening and you’re on the edge of your seat hoping that nothing happens to Vira, Maggie and Delta- the other sniffer dogs...⁣⁣
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Obviously I wanted Reid and Kippy to be okay too... but I cannot deal when dogs are harmed. So literally nail biting, foot tapping, sitting on the edge of my couch up until the end.⁣⁣
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If you like crime stories and dogs- go grab this!⁣⁣
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Thank you @minotaurbooks and @netgalley for an ARC for my honest review.⁣⁣
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#bookstagram #books #bookcommunity #crime #goldenretriever #cadaverdog #minotaurbooks #netgalley #thekeepers

Read the cover for synopsis,it covers the basics. This is the second in a series but can easily be read as a stand-alone. You'll want to read the first one to get a better feel for all the characters. The characters come to life and the dogs are just wonderful. I wish I had a Mace to train mine! The story is fast paced and will keep your interest all the way to the nail biting end! It is full of twists and turns. It is gut wrenching when the dogs get hurt, but thankfully they all recover. Loved the book, looking forward to the next one!
I was provided an advanced reader copy but was under no obligation to provide a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

Mace and Vira Find Themselves In Great Danger

Vira is a cadaver dog. She sniffs out and finds people who are missing and presumed dead. This case is a little different, Mace and Vira are called to a murder scene with the hope Vira can capture the scent of the serial murderer amid all the carnage. A week went by without a lead before another body turned up. While Mace and Vira waited at the murder scene, suddenly Vira went berserk. Unknown to them at the time, her action put them at the top of the murderer’s hit list.

A great follow-up to The Finders, this book delves deeply into the characters, showing their strength and fears in depth. The killer is diabolical and ruthless, enjoying his role as eliminator of problem people. I found myself completely immersed in the book as, one after another, events sent the story in an unexpected direction. Definitely a great read for all murder/suspense lovers.

Thank you, NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and author Jeffrey B. Burton for an advance review copy for my enjoyment. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I tend not to read many books that involve animals but I read the first book because I’m interested in these highly trained K-9 dogs. The first book was a good start of the series. The second one did not grab my attention immediately because of it been partially repeating some of the feelings that Mace has for his dogs that we encountered in book one. I can say that somewhere between 10 and 15 percent into the story it got me hooked so much that I kept on reading. We have many plot twist and a lots of action. Some will make you sad others will make you smile. All by all I feel this is a solid four star and hope the series will continue.

I could not finish this book. Actually I only got to 25%. The story just wasn't happening. It jumped all over the place. The chapters are short and each one was about some other person or event. I couldn't get a feel for the story. I found it very aggravating. This style of writing makes me work too hard.

Mason (Mace) Reid is divorced and lives in trailer near Chicago, along with his pack of dogs he is training to be human cadaver dogs. There is Sue, a handsome German Shepherd, recovering from wounds he received in the first book; Maggie Mae and Delta Dawn, two Border Collies; Elvira, a Golden Retriever with a special ability, and Bill, a Bloodhound puppy who is almost too much trouble to train. Mace and Vira are called out to search a torched warehouse and they uncover a corpse that sends them down a trail of murder and mayhem than can only happen in Chicago. Mace, his friends Kippy and Wabs, two police officers and the pack are squarely in the kill zone of a murderous Mafia don. The newly elected mayor of Chicago has run on a law and order platform, but he does not realize he is actually a puppet of The Outfit, who has run Chicago for decades. Corruption and murder are front and center. Mace and his pack have to save themselves and Mace's friends. There was too much exposition and some repetitive descriptors, but I really like the dogs and Mace's connection to them, so I will continue reading the series.

Mace, the main character, is a bit of a bumbling goof who gets himself into life or death situations because of his job being a cadaver dog leader. His dogs, thank goodness, are much more adept than he is and always help him out. This was a light read, except for near the end - any sort of dog injury makes me cringe. Overall, a good book, and I look forward to the author hopefully continuing this series.

Mace Reid and his Golden Retreiver canine partner Vira go to search a park which starts a chain reaction of violence and suspcious deaths. I like the fact the main character Reid is flawed in many ways so not a typical navy seal investigator as most canine related characters have been in this type of story. The story contains many instances of training and care for the dogs which makes it more believable. There is more violence and death so I wouldn't really call it a cozy mystery but there is some character growth as the story progresses with the growing realization that integrity isn't always where you think it is going to be so when you do find it you should honor it. I haven't read the first book in the series so this could be a stand alone book.

The Keepers by Jeffrey B. Burton is the second book in the Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series. Sometimes second books in a series can be a let-down, but that is not the case here. Burton has increased the potency in this novel and managed to seamlessly combine an amateur sleuth mystery with a police procedural that also highlights relationships between dogs and people.

Mason (Mace) Reid lives outside of Chicago and trains dogs with various end goals such as obedience and missing persons tracking, as well as searching for drugs and explosives. However, his specialty is training dogs in human remains detection (HRD or cadaver dogs). He is often called in to help the Chicago Police Department and local sheriff’s departments. Little did he know that when he and his golden retriever, Vira, are called in to search Washington Park that their lives are about to change. Vira seems to have an uncanny ability that borders on the paranormal in her ability to locate not just the dead bodies, but also their murderers.

Mace is a compelling and well-developed character with flaws that have led to a divorce and a job change. It was great to see some of the secondary characters show up again in this book and gain some depth. Additionally, the canines have been well-developed and their personalities came through as the story progress. They aren’t just an afterthought, but play important roles in the series. It was also great to see the relationship between Mace and Kippy develop.

The writing style is engaging, but also has an intensity to it that kept me turning the pages. At the same time, there were moments of humor that elevated the book and made Mace and his dogs come to life for me.
This story is complicated and has multiple subplots, but it’s never confusing. The overall plot was clever and kept me engrossed in the tale. Its twists and turns led to a dramatic conclusion. Like in book one, the bonds between Mace and his five dogs are the highlights of the book. Themes include murder, corruption, trust, and relationships between dogs and people as well as between people.

Overall, this was an entertaining novel and a great addition to the series. I look forward to the next book and I want to read this author’s FBI Special Agent Drew Cady mystery series starting with The Chessman. If you enjoy books where special animals play a role in a mixed genre novel, then this may be the next series for you.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Jeffrey B. Burton for an ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for June 29, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

I have not yet read the first book in this series (I will be!) but that did not detract from my enjoyment of this one. Mason “Mace” Reid. Mace and his trained cadaver dogs work on demand for the Chicago police department to find dead bodies. His golden retriever, Vira, has an additional special gift that not many people know about: she can detect the "scent of the killer" and identify them later. In on the secret are CPD Officers Kippy Gimm and Dave "Wabs" Wabiszewski. In the main plot line, Mace and Vira are called out to find a missing prosecutor who turns up dead. The whole team ends up in danger as they try to gather the evidence they need to bring the perpetrators to justice. The book is well written and flows smoothly despite jumping between different viewpoints, and there were times when I was "on the edge of my seat" waiting to see what happened next. I found the characters to be engaging, particularly Mace, who is a bit self-depreciating, sarcastic and witty, and loves his dogs like family (calls them his kids). Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur/St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

I loved the first book in this series and I love this one too! I love Mace’s dedication to training his dogs to sniff out human remains. This is a good mystery and police procedural.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A dog trainer, Mason Reid or "Mace" as he is known, has five dogs he keeps and trains. Each one has a unique talent. They are search and rescue or cadaver recovery dogs. All of them are special to Mace. His golden retriever "Vira" seems to have an even greater ability, She can smell the killer of a homicide and when she encounters them she lets Mace know. Not many know of this special ability and many would scoff but quickly after a walk through of the murder scene she picks up the scent, Vira is called upon to search for the Special Prosecutor who has gone missing, he heads a unit to weed out just about every kind of crime and corruption, and she finds his body quickly. The problem is she finds the killer just as fast, as he and his chauffeur arrive to oversee the investigation. Everything is now a problem and where to turn for help is the big question. This is Chicago where crime is in every occupation including the law, Working closely with Kippy, a police officer girlfriend or is it non-girlfriend now, and her partner they try to figure out what to do. When their plan goes very bad Mace and Kippy with three of the dogs are now on the run for their lives. I would recommend this book to everyone, it's edgy and entertaining at the same time. Its got murder, disturbing psychopathy, action and even humor with romantic possibilities in it. Thank you Jeffrey B, Burton and NetGalley also Minatour Books NY St. Martins Press for this advanced digital copy. This is, as usual, my honest opinion.