Thank you to Minotaur Books and Jeffrey B. Burton for the [gifted] ARC of The Keepers!

The Keepers picks up after the events of The Finders. Mace and his crew of cadaver dogs have adopted a new bloodhound pup named Bill and are pining after Officer Kippy Gimm since she has firmly friend-zoned Mace. While wrapping up one case, Mace and his talented golden retriever, Vira, get dragged into a shocking case that will leave them running for their lives.

I loved The Finders and was super excited when I received my ARC of The Keepers. My one complaint is that Part One was slow and introduced a lot of secondary characters in the initial chapters. But by the time I got to Part Two, I was hooked and couldn’t put this one down. I flew through it in a day! I love how Mace and Kippy work together and treat his pack of pups like family. I’m looking forward to Mace, Kippy and the pups' next adventure!

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After reading The Finders, which is the first book in the series, I couldn't wait to read this one! Mason (Mace) Reid along with his pack of dogs dubbed The Finders are called when a need to locate a deceased body is needed. Mace has a new dog in training, Bill, a rambunctious puppy still in training who besides keeping Mace on his toes, also has the watchful eyes of the other dogs. Bill still finds a way to sneak off and roll in something nasty.

Mace gets brought in by Officer Kippy Gimm to a scene where a 911 call came in for a singer, Jonny Whiting. This time Mace is bringing Vira, his special dog, under the assumption it is to look for drugs since Jonny Whiting is already dead. Vira not only can sniff out a deceased body but a killer and because of her uniqueness with the inability to explain Vira's specialty, only a handful of people know about Vira.

Mace and Vira tag along with Kippy and her partner, Officer Dave (Wabs) Wabiszewski where one of the places Vira issues her warning alerting Mace to the killer. Mace is invited back to the station to observe the suspect being questioned when he is suddenly requested to bring Vira to a park.

Vira finds the body and also, her special senses kick in and when Vira gives Mace her warning growl, he realizes the situation is heavy-duty. Mace can only think of jetting out of Chicago with his dogs until Wabs suggests that Mace and his pack move in with him. Kippy comes up with a plan. They are going to need a better plan!

I enjoy this series so much! There are some shocking surprises that have kept me fearing for what would come next. Vira, the wonder dog, takes center stage keeping Mace on his toes where he has to do some quick thinking and of course, the pack watches each other's backs. Even though Mace isn't an officer, I like how Kippy and Wabs pull Mace into the fold knowing that he and his wonder dog can help solve tough cases. The end was bittersweet, but I did like Kippy getting even and the good news that she shares with Mace. Great read!

I requested and received an ARC from NetGalley via Minotaur Books and I have voluntarily reviewed this book.

The Keepers is the latest installment from Jeffrey B. Burton about Mason Reid and the dogs he trains. It's a toss up which I love more, Reid or his furbabies! The Keepers is a fast read, as it's difficult to put it down. I read it in less than a day. I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an early copy to review.

This is my second book that I’ve read by this author. If you’re looking for a cozy mystery this book hits the mark. I love reading books with dogs as a main character. The first half of the book was a little slow but it definitely picked up. I know customers that will enjoy this book. I look forward to hand selling this book.

'Sweet Home Chicago!'

I really enjoy this mystery series set in Chicago, featuring Mason Reid and his team of cadaver-sniffing dogs. This particular mystery delves into the corrupt Chicago Way which is designed to keep the worker bee populace subservient. Mace's most talented dog, Vira, unwittingly lands him smack in the middle of this corruption and the powers that be are none too happy. Mace finds himself threatened and his friends endangered. But when they go after his dogs--watch out!

This is not just a cutesy dog story--there is murder and creepy bad guys and evil doers galore! The action is so intense in some parts, I actually had to close the Kindle and walk away for a bit, lol. If you are a dog lover, you'll understand what I mean. Mace's dogs have as much personality as any of the human characters do, which is saying a lot. Such loyalty and bravery!

But I should also mention that there is a little touch of awkward romance which brings some lightness to the story. Can't wait to see what happens between Mace and Officer Kippy in future books.

I received an arc of this new mystery from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.

The Keepers by Jeffrey B. Burton is the 2nd book in the Mace Reid K-9 series. I enjoyed the first in the series and and this one was just as enjoyable. There is something special between K-9 handlers and their dogs, and Mace trains his pack to be cadaver dogs, however Vira he discovered has an extra talent, to track murderers. In The Keepers she is front and center in helping Mace and Kippy with a murder investigation. What I truly love is not just the fast paced mystery, but how much personality is given to Mace's dogs -- all named from songs I know and love: Sue (from Boy named Sue), Delta Dawn, Maggie May, Elvira -- even his latest addition, a hilarious puppy, Billie Joe!
When Mace Reid and Vira are called in to search Washington Park at three o'clock in the morning, what they find has them running for their very lives. The trail of murder and mayhem Mace and CPD Officer Kippy Gimm have been following leads them to uncover treachery and corruption at the highest level, and their discoveries do not bode well for them . . . nor for the Windy City itself.
While this could be read as a stand alone I recommend reading the 1st book, to get know Mace and his pack The finders, and how he and Vira started out -- besides its an excellent read. Warning...there is some violence towards dogs for those who have issues. Thank you Netgalley and St, Martins Press for the chance to read an advance copy!

Cadaver dogs are trained to find bodies - those buried alive, those who have died in the most tragic accidents, and those who have decomposed from having sat too long. But some had other talents as well. Vira was that kind of dog. Vira could pick up the scents at crime scenes and hours or days later respond to that smell if it crossed her path again. The dogs were also defensive and wildly jealous when anyone wished to harm Mason Reid, owner of these amazing dogs. If you messed with Mason, the dogs would mess with you.

Jeffrey Burton has created an intense, well-written, story that continued to hold this reader’s attention from beginning to end. We get a glimpse of the dirty underbelly of Chicago’s politics and the few who are willing to protect the city from “the keepers” who did not want it to change for the better.

For the reader looking for a fast paced thriller, The Keepers might just fill the bill - it did for me. I give the book five-stars.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

Darn it all to heck, Jeffrey B. Burton for making me cry while reading The Keepers. And once you read it, you’ll know the part I’m talking about!

Another fantastic book in the Mace Reid K-9 Mysteries, although I did miss the unique personalities of the dogs. They were still in The Keepers, but seemed to be a bit more in The Finders, and this was one aspect of the book that I really enjoyed.

Burton kept the story going at a steady clip and masterfully intertwined the various plot lines. I was trying to piece together one murder with what was going on and Burton went in a different direction then what I was thinking, so that was fun.

Burton’s characters are very well written and he’s not afraid to get down and dirty with them, even going to a place some writers are hesitant to go. And after that moment, it instantly made me excited to see how it would progress in book three. Yea, vague, but no spoilers, and you should read The Finders before The Keepers, if you haven’t already to really get behind the bit I was surprised happened.
Besides writing excellent characters, Burton is able to make the city of Chicago into one of the characters too. The reader learns so much about the broad and intricate details of the Windy City, which adds another fascinating layer to the story.

If you’re looking for a quick read with lots of twists and turns and adorable dogs, definitely check out The Keepers… after you read The Finders. ;)

In short: Mace Reid and his dog Vira (a human remains detection dog) are back in a murder mystery (or actually 3 murders) that could leave the city of Chicago at risk.

My thoughts: This is the 2nd book in the series and I really enjoyed it, more so than the 1st book. It mixes a good murder mystery with police procedures and dogs. It was gritty, action packed, and engaging. Perfect for me in what appears to be a month of action reads.

What I liked:
The dogs! I love reading about the detection work and training they do and each one has a different personality, Plus you should always trust a dogs instinct, especially when they sense a bad guy,

The mystery of all 3 murders and how they eventually entwined. There was a lot of action, twists, turns and a big web of clues to solve.

Mace. I love this character, his relationship with the dogs, his sarcasm and humor.

The Keepers is a sit on the edge of your seat and hold your breath mystery featuring Mace Reid and his K9 family.

I loved Book 1, The Finders, in this series and Book 2 I loved even more.

I will be first in line for Book 3.

I absolutely love all the dogs and their heart and determination.

Chicago is quite the city.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for I cant put this book down type of read.

Mason (Mace) Reid is back again with his team of Human Remains Detection (HRD) dogs. This time, Mace and his partner, Kippy Gimm must prove that there is police and government corruption at the highest level. But can they do it? They are being framed for several murders and are on the run.

One thing going for Mace and Kippy is Vira’s special ability to sniff out DNA and determine the culprits. At least Mace and Kippy know the “who” in the “whodunnit.” But now they must connect all the dots and prove beyond a reasonable doubt that government officials, the police department, and the mob are all in cahoots and that they are the real perpetrators in the ghastly murders

The Keepers is the second installment of the Mace Reid series and it did not disappoint. Although the plot didn’t really involve human remains detection, it was still an interesting read with some twists.

The characters are mostly carryovers from Burton’s first installment, The Finders. So in order to get the full flavor of the main actors, it is best that the reader start with the first novel in the series.

Although I liked the government corruption angle of the story, I would have preferred that the plot involve more of the dogs’ abilities and human remains detection to determine the perpetrators.

Overall, a pretty exciting novel but I didn’t find it as good as Burton’s first — The Finders. Four rousing stars.

I received a digital ARC from Minotaur Books through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

After loving the first book in this series, I was all the more excited to pick this one up and enjoy it even more.

Sadly, it fell short for me as I am not a huge fan of mysteries/thrillers that focus on police corruption. I also found that sometimes I didn't want to pick this one up, but I wanted to finish it out because I do love the characters.

I do think that this second book did capture the role of the Police in Chicago. I would not be surprised if there is something like this (police teaming up with the mob in the city) is still happening.

I also enjoyed that more of Mace's dogs played bigger roles in the plot. I love the inclusion of all of them besides Vira, plus we got a new pup! Hi, Bill!

I still recommend picking up this series and I'm hoping, fingers crossed, that there will be a third. This book (and series) is a great "cozy-ish" mystery to pick up. Not too much drama but enough to keep you interest.

Another well written and entertaining read with book 2 of the Mason Reid series. A twisty and suspenseful plot, part police procedural, some humour,  a wee bit of sexual tension and romance and of course the wonderful dogs.
The dogs are an integral part of Mace's character and are great characters in their own right. Although Vira's talent is a bit out there, dogs are amazing animals so who knows. I can't wait to see what Mace and his HRD dogs get tangled up in next.

Thank you Netgalley,  St Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for this ARC.

This is the second book of the Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series which I was so looking forward to reading it since I loved the first book so much!

As much as I would like to enjoy this book, unfortunately, this book fell short for me. The plot is intriguing but it seems to be all over the place which left me confused. I loved Reid character in the previous book, and was excited to see how his character will progress in this second book. However, I couldn't connect with his character this time.

I felt sad that this book did not work for me this time.

Pub. Date: June 29th, 2021

**Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this gifted copy to read and review.***

Jeffrey Burton wrote a good book in The Keepers. Mace Reid is a cadaver dog handler that works with the police to find the dead in an accident site. He is recently divorced so his life is his dogs which include Vira, one with special abilities, Bill, Delta, and Maggie May. He works a lot with Officer Kippy Gimm but both are on a friends only status.
Mace and Kippy get involved in a mess when Vira goes into her “fits” which shows she is smelling the DNA of the murderer but this murderer is well known in the city of Chicago which leads to many twists and turns to catch the bad guys.
The start of the book was confusing to me and had a hard time figuring out who was who but the story keeps you reading and turning the pages. Thank you NetGalley and Minatour Books for an ARC of The Keepers. I look forward to the Mace Reid K-9 Mystery # 3.
#Netgalley #MinatourBooks #TheKeepers

This is the second book featuring Mace Reid and his cadaver dogs. You do not have to read the first book, The Finders, before reading this one, but I would recommend it, if only to get more background on the characters and the dogs,

This is every bit as good a novel as the first one; likeable people, adorable dogs, a little murder/mystery, a little romance, cops, bad guys, and dogs. My only complaint would be this one is not as focused on the dogs as the first, and the violence is quite a bit more prevalent in this one compared to the first installment.

All in all, a great little beach read for the summer.

The Keepers by Jeffrey B. Burton is the 2nd book in his Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series. Mason (Mace) Reid, our hero, trains dogs that can hunt for dead bodies. He works with the police, and in the last book, he trained Vira, a golden retriever that also had unique abilities to sense things besides dead bodies, such as a slight paranormal element of sensing the murderer. Vira lives with Mace, and the other three trained dogs, Sue, Maggie and Delta as well as a newbie dog, Bill, who loves to roll in the mud. Vira is an amazing dog, with special skills, as well as a terrific bodyguard.

Kippy Gimm, our heroine and detective, who worked with Mace in the previous book, and asks him for help on a murder case that she and her partner are in the middle of. Kippy and Mace have feelings for each other, though Kippy is gun shy from a previous relationship, so now they are just friends. When another murder happens, this being a federal prosecutor, Kippy, Mace and Wabs (her partner) suspect a corrupt and powerful person in a top position for the police, as well has his enforcer driver (who they feel is the killer).

What follows is a wild adventure, as things escalate when Mace and Kippy bring their opinions to a high up official, who turns the table on them, and they have to flee for their lives. They both, with the dogs, go into hiding, as the news media (fed false information) has them being wanted and dangerous. There were so many tense parts that held my breath if they can escape. Will they survive?

What follows is a wonderful exciting, tense thriller, with non-stop action, edge of your seat suspense, and a few twists along the way. To tell too much more would be spoilers, and this is the kind of book you need to read to enjoy. I will say I loved the scenes with the dogs, as they were fun and even humorous. Mace was a wonderful hero, and I really liked Kippy, as she was strong and tough; I really hope they up their romance. Despite two great characters, Vira remains the star of this series, being an amazing dog.

The Keepers by Jeffrey B. Burton was another great addition to this series, as the story was exciting, suspenseful, intriguing and very well written. If you enjoy murder mystery thrillers, with great characters and wonderful specialized cadaver dogs, you need to read this book.

Mace Reid is back with his “kids,” a pack of human remains detection dogs. They live outside of Chicago in this second book in the series. Mace Reid and special pup Vira find themselves in a dangerous situation once again and their lives are on the line.

Jeffrey B. Burton has written a good follow up to The Finders. The action is faster and the story has more twists. I am looking forward to more books about Mace, Vira, and the rest of the pack.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a terrific mystery novel, but softened by the beautiful dogs that Mason Reid has trained as cadaver dogs. They are great at their job, but still remain loyal, loving, playful pups.
Mace is recruited by local police to assist in various investigations that usually require the search for the dead. His dogs are very good at what they do, particularly Vira, who appears to have the ability to take it a step further. He has teamed up with police officers Kippy and Wabs, and they utilize his services frequently.
This story follows an ongoing era of corruption in Chicago and it seems like there are many officials that have been tainted. It’s a tense, frightening tale of suspense, violence and dangerous people.
Jeffrey B Burton is a skilled story teller, with interesting, well developed characters. It’s a real page turner that kept me reading well after my bedtime.
I really enjoyed this book, and I really can’t turn away from a good dog story.
My thanks to NetGalley, Jeffrey Burton and St Martin’s Press for the ARC. I’d love to see this made into a movie or series!

Dog handler Mace Reid's adventures continue with "The Finders"; a solid action packed police procedural. Mace, his dogs, Kippy the police woman he crushes on and her partner, Wabs have gotten on the wrong side of the police superintendent, the Mayor and shady investors and there's going to be hell to pay.

Great dialogue and fast paced action. Terrific beach read. I just enjoy Mr. Burton's work and only ask - can we get a beagle in here; they are the rock stars of the smelling world.