Each novel builds on the ones before it.. I highly recommend this series. Please read the series in order.

The perfect book to read on a cold day, murder, romance, mystery, a hike in the Colorado mountains, and of course my 2 favorite loveable characters.

Striking Range

by Margaret Mizushima

Striking Range is one of those books that can not be tidily put in a box with a label. It is a police procedural as the reader gets to see law enforcement, federal, state, and local, at work. It is a K-9 mystery, a who-dun-it where Deputy Mattie Cobb shares the limelight with K-9 officer Robo. He is her buddy and she is his handler; they look out for each other. Watching Robo’s skills is fascinating. This book has enough suspenseful action and danger that it is also a thriller.

The plot is quite involved as Mattie is reviving a thirty year old cold case of the murder of her biological father. Was he a dirty cop? There seems to be only one person alive who knows the truth. He is the same evil man who tried to kill Mattie, but in her determination to find justice for her father, she visits him in a Colorado state prison.

Another thread in the plot is the discovery of the body of a young girl. Only the day before, she was pregnant. What happened to the baby? Why would someone kill the baby? How does fentanyl keep tying into this mystery?

Cole, Mattie’s boyfriend, is a veterinarian and is active in the sheriff’s posse. He plays a prominent role in this story, and there are also a number of kids who figure strongly into the plot.

There are many suspects to sort through. Although I had guessed the motive from a number of reasonable possibilities, the identity of the murderer was a surprise. Complications to solving this crime keep adding up and weather conditions in the rural setting don’t help. Author Margaret Mizushima is a talented writer with descriptions that put you at the scene and let you experience the emotions of the characters. This series is my favorite K-9 series. I have happily read all of the published books in the series and am looking forward to the next one.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: 1. #6 in the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery Series. Although the characters continue from one book to the next, it would be excellent as a standalone as the author includes background information as needed.
2. It has a few instances of swearing, but no sex.

Publication: September 7, 2021—Crooked Lane Books

Memorable Lines:

Getting the kids ready for school each morning before he hurried off to work was like lining up horses at the gate before a race—everyone wanted to run off in a different direction, and sometimes someone balked at going anywhere.

Narcan reversed the effects of opiates such as fentanyl, one of the street drugs most dangerous to narcotics detection dogs. It saved the lives of dogs, their handlers, and even addicts after accidental exposure or overdose. Nowadays K-9 officers carried two doses, one for their dog and one for themselves.

Always a sporty dresser, he straightened his bow tie, which was lime green with yellow polka dots, a cheerful addition that conflicted with the lines of fatigue on his face.

Love this series featuring Mattie and her K-9 partner, Robo, in the mountains of Colorado with a perfect combo of action, procedures and darn good characters. She's teaming up with a detective from California to attempt getting answers about her real father's death from the man she unfortunately had believed to be her father. Highly recommended

I normally really enjoy this series, but I struggled with this one. The writing is good, the characters & plot are good. I just could not connect & engage with this one. It felt like the story was moving too slow for me or something. It happens, you cannot love all of them. If you like this series please read it because it is interesting.

Each book in the Timber Creek K-9 series centers on a self-contained mystery, but the background story of Mattie's search for her birth family underlies them all. In the latest outing, Mattie is hoping to speak with one of Cobb brothers who kidnapped her as a toddler to learn more about her father's murder, only to find John Cobb dead in his cell when she arrives at the prison.

Engaging read that keeps you routing for Mattie!

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for access to a digital ARC via NetGalley.

Deputy Mattie Cobb’s and Robo’s partnership continues to evolve.

I must confess; I wasn’t sure how the author would be able to add another interesting case of crime in a remote area of Colorado, but she did. As with the other stories in this series, I enjoyed the law officer’s relationship with her intelligent canine partner.

Besides following through with a good amount of suspense, Mattie, and the veterinarian, Cole Walker, continued with some sparks. The time they spent together was treasured. Their love for each other was solid; I enjoyed watching everything between this couple unfold.

Striking Range was action packed, compelling and well-written. I only wish I had #8 to read! I am looking forward to more mysteries from Ms. Mizushima.

Thank you to Net Galley, Crooked Lane Books and Margaret Mizushima for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Deputy Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner, Robo are a great team. In this, the 7th of the series, Mattie has hope of getting some answers to her past when she joins San Diego cold case detective Jim Hauck to interview John Cobb in prison. Det. Hauck was investigating the murder of Mattie's father 30 years ago as a cold case. That looks like it will be tied up as soon as they get answers from Cobb, the man who kidnapped Mattie, her mother and her brother and killed her father. Just as they are planning how they will interrogate him, the prison goes into lock down - Cobb has been found dead in his cell from a fentanyl overdose. When they search his cell a map is found which sends Mattie, Robo and Hauck into the Colorado mountains to find what hides beneath the X's on the map.
As they search, Mattie is diverted from the search when the body of a young woman is found at a camp ground and Mattie recognizes her. She knows that she is a new mother and her newborn is missing. Another intense search begins as they race to find the baby before the weather puts an end to any further searching.
There are many threads running through this well-crafted police procedural. Previous missing women with newborns, the fentanyl connection, connections to Matties past all converge in a 'can't put it down' read. Add the thread of the growing relationship between Mattie and her veterinarian boyfriend, Cole and this mystery covers all the bases for this reader.
My thanks to the publisher, Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

A series of seemingly unrelated cases strains the law enforcement staff in a small Colorado town. Mattie and her K-9 friend Robo are pulled off one investigation to work a homicide case. But When Mattie finds that two different victims were killed by overdosing with fentanyl, the coincidence raises her suspicions. But if the cases are linked, the unavoidable ties are all cops. Perhaps one of them is dirty—an idea that triples the complexities involved.
An engaging, fast-paced read.

4 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

This is another good book in this K-9 Mystery series. Just when Deputy Mattie is poised to question the man she thinks murdered her father, he's discovered dead in his jail cell. Mattie finds a map of Timber Creek in his cell marked with Xs in several spots on the mountains. She and San Diego cold case detective Jim Hauck head back to Timber Creek to investigate.

Before they can finish their search, Mattie and her K-9 Robo are called away to investigate the death of a young pregnant girl. The girl had recently given birth, but the baby is nowhere to be found. As the search intensifies, a big winter storm sets in, making a desperate search more difficult.

As typical in most mysteries, things get way worse before they get better, but Mattie and Robo keep plugging away, following the evidence until answers are found. I really enjoy this mystery series. Even 7 books in, I still enjoy reading about Mattie and her partner Robo. Mattie's character is finally starting to let people into her life and although she faced incredible hardship early in life, she hasn't allowed it to turn her bitter or cruel. She still believes most people are inherently good and is confidant enough in her and her partner's abilities to trust her judgment and instincts. While she's nobodies fool, Mattie still allows her humanity to guide her.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. All opinions are my own.

A thrill from beginning to end as Deputy Mattie Cobb continues to try to find the man who murdered her father. When she is scheduled to talk with prisoner John Cobb, he is found dead in his cell of a possible fentanyl overdose. Mattie and her K9 Robo are called to the scene of a pregnant woman who has been killed. The baby is missing and it is believed that the woman died of fentanyl poisoning. While searching for the missing baby they learn that in the past, two other young mothers have gone missing along with their babies. When Mattie realizes that veterinarian Cole Walker, who is assisting as a member of the sheriff’s posse, might be in danger, she and Robo race to find him…will they be in time? The author weaves the story as Mattie and her team continue to piece together evidence that will expand the case well beyond the limits of Timber Creek. Both Mattie and Cole acknowledge the danger of her career, but is it time for them to take that next step towards their commitment to each other? I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

Deputy Mattie Cobb and San Diego cold case detective Jim Hauck meet at the Colorado state prison to interview John Cobb who killed Mattie's brother & tried to kill her last year. But Cobb is found dead in his cell of fentanyl overdose, the only clue they find is a marked map. Mattie and her K-9 partner Robo start searching the Redstone Ridge area but are called in to help investigate the death of a young woman found in a campground filled with elk hunters. Mattie had met the very pregnant Tonya at veterinarian Cole Walker's clinic the day before. Tonya has recently given birth and there is no sign of the baby. As an ice storm strikes the mountains, Mattie and the sheriff's department are in a frantic race to find the baby. Evidence emerges of other young pregnant women going missing with their newborns. Are these cases connected? Were they victims of an illegal baby smuggling scheme? Mattie is horrified to learn that Cole is unwittingly alone in Redstone Ridge with the mastermind behind the murders. Now Mattie, Robo and other team members race to find and rescue Cole from a deadly fate.

This another thrilling read in the Timber Creek K-9 mystery series.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

Deputy Mattie Cole and her K9 partner Robo find themselves struggling in a blizzard to find an infant taken from its murdered mother in this fast paced procedural which also seeing Mattie trying to resolve her understanding of her personal history. Her love interest Cole, a vet, is dealing with the puppies Robo fathered as well as, well, no spoilers from me. The topical issue of opioids, especially the danger of fentanyl, is part of the plot. While all of the events might be a bit far fetched, that doesn't mean I didn't find myself turning the pages. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. I'm a fan of Mattie, Cole, and especially Robo but know that this will be fine as a standalone.

WOW! Loved it!! This book is full of action, suspense, danger and will keep you on the edge of your seat. I highly recommend this book and the entire Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series.
I received a complimentary copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2021/09/02/striking-range-by-margaret-mizushima/" 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>

I love continuing with <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/166057-timber-creek-k-9-mystery" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em><strong>Timber Creek K-9</strong></em></a> series which is really one of the best for actually including a K9 and its duties in the story.  The author also does well with the police investigations in this remote area.  I also enjoy all the personal relationships which have grown throughout the series.  I would read this series in order because of the growth in both Mattie's personal and professional life.

In <strong>Striking Range</strong>, Mattie moves forward with investigating her past.  Her biological father was murdered and she is trying to solve the case.  She goes to interview someone in prison who knew him at that time, along with a cold case detective, Hauck.  The prisoner is dead when they arrive.  Hauck comes back to town with her to search the prisoner's marked places they find in a map in his cell.

Cole is busy with Sassy having puppies, fathered by Robo.  A new client, Tonya,  comes in with her aunt and her border collie.  So he doesn't go into the mountain for the search and only lends his horses.  The search finds drugs but a storm comes up before they can complete all the searching.  Then Tonya, who was 9 moths pregnant,  turns up dead and no longer pregnant.

With multiple cases and searches happening, things are fast and suspenseful. They are also exhausting for Mattie and the others in law enforcement and for Cole with his work. Robo's trainer comes to town with a team of dogs / handlers trained in different types of work and they are very busy. There are dogs for cadaver work, narcotics, gunpowder and explosives who all have successful searches.  I guessed at the main bad guy very early but not the extent of his evil.  Mattie and Cole both face close calls.

I appreciate all the details about the dog searches and work, as well as the police investigative interviews, data searches and evidence evaluations.   The addition of the personal relationships gives another layer.  Angie has her first crush / boyfriend.  Mattie has her Mama T, her sister and her grandmother. I really enjoy everything about these books and look forward to more!

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Time can certainly fly when you're reading an exciting series filled with characters that you've grown to love. It's hard for me to believe that this Timber Creek K-9 series is already on book seven. Readers have been following Mattie Cobb's professional life as a police officer and K-9 handler as well as her training of Robo and her dealing with the emotional baggage of her personal life. We've also had much the same journey with veterinarian Cole Walker as he's dealt with divorce, raising two young daughters, and his busy practice.

Mizushima does an excellent job of showing readers just what is involved in being a K-9 handler and keeping working dogs like Robo in top form. The relationship between Mattie and Robo is one of the reasons why I enjoy this series. I'm not one to care for much romance in my mysteries, but somehow this author manages to continue to develop a relationship between Mattie and Cole that brings real depth to both characters (and doesn't make me want to roll my eyes). Actually, it's been known to make me smile.

Even though I found the bad guy to be rather easily guessed, I still enjoyed the journey to this person's unmasking. I like watching the Timber Creek sheriff's department work together to get things done, and Striking Range wouldn't be another strong story in this series without an exciting chase/search/rescue high in the mountains.

If you're a reader who enjoys reading strong mysteries involving working dogs, the great outdoors, and an intelligent cast, you need to read Margaret Mizushima's Timber Creek K-9 series. You can read Striking Range as a standalone, but if you love character development, I'd advise you to start with the first book, Killing Trail-- and I won't be at all surprised if you then join me in my annual visit to the Colorado Rockies.

Striking Range is a page turner that will keep you guessing and then second guess as the clues keep popping up. The characters will enchant you.

Timber Creek K-9 Deputy Mattie Cobb is on her way to the prison holding the criminal who almost killed her to interrogate the man about what he knows about the death of her father thirty years ago. Accompanying her is the cold case detective from California who is working on Mattie's father's case. Upon arrival they discover the man is dead. I was hooked on this book from this opening chapter. Yet this is just the beginning of the death and danger. Striking Range by Margaret Mizushima is the seventh book in her Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series. I've come to know the characters in this series and really like them, especially Mattie and veterinarian Cole Walker. I liked reading about how Mattie K-9 partner is a dad to 8 puppies! A fun addition to the storyline! This book is an excellent addition to Ms. Mizushima's series!

I received an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

I always love getting a new Margaret Mizushima book. This is book 7 in the wonderful Timber Creek K-9 mystery series and each book has been delightful.

In previous books Deputy Mattie Cobb from the Timber Creek police department learned that Harold Cobb was not her real father. She and her mother and brother had been kidnapped by Harold and John Cobb and Mattie believes that one of the Cobb’s killed her real father Douglas Wray. Harold Cobb died years ago but she is about to visit John Cobb in prison to see if he will tell her anything. Along with Mattie is cold case Detective Jim Hauck from Sam Diego who has undertaken to look into her father’s death. But when they arrive at the prison they are too late. John Cobb is dead and it looks like an opioid overdose. They do get to look in his cell and find a book about the Timber Creek area with a few trails marked with an X. Mattie and Hauck are keen to investigate those spots with Mattie’s K-9 partner, Robo.

At one location Robo alerts them to a find and they dig up a bag of drugs. Then Mattie is called away to investigate a dead body found in a camping area. Mattie recognises the girl as Tonya Greenfield whom she had met at Cole Walker’s vet clinic the day before. Tonya had been very pregnant then but it appears that she had given birth since then. But where is the baby? It all starts to look quite suspicious when Mattie learns that both John Cobb and Tonya died of fentanyl poisoning. Could there be a possible link? It seems highly unlikely. And yet the bag of drugs found also turns out to be fentanyl. Hmmm! The plot soon thickens when the police learn that other teenage mums who had just given birth have disappeared in the surrounding area in recent times. Who or what is the connection?

In these books Robo is often the star of the show! He is a wonderful well trained German shepherd and in this book he becomes a daddy! But soon he and his human partner, Mattie, are in the thick of it again as the other Xs on Cobb’s map need to be investigated and it is soon apparent there is a viper in the nest and one of Mattie’s nearest and dearest is in grave danger.

These wonderful characters have become like family and it’s always great to catch up and see how they’re going. You might think these stories are a little on the cosy side but there is always plenty of action, danger and outdoor adventure. And of course lots of doggie heroics. I can’t wait for the next book in the series! Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the much appreciated ARC which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.

This is the seventh and my new favorite of the series, but then I always say that when I get a new one.

Protagonist Deputy Mattie Cobb is partnered with her canine, Robo, and is still trying to clear her father’s reputation. She and California Cold-Case Detective Jim Hauck are set to interview an inmate with info but he is discovered deceased in his cell. They find his map marking locations they will need to explore in the high country.

The multi-layered plot involves service dogs and the discovery of a young woman’s body who has just given birth. The newborn infant, however, is missing.

I have really come to love the support characters and always learn more about canine behavior and the amazing relationship with their handlers.

The writing style seizes the scene and comes alive with the people, the scent of the mountains and the chill of the temperatures and wind as it slices sideways. The fast-paced plot makes a compulsive read. It’s gripping and never waivers or sags in the middle or constantly repeat gains.

The police procedurals remain authentic, realistic, and the interpersonal dynamics believable. As always, suspenseful and artful storytelling builds the tension as it shifts between scenes.

Always good and I’m happy to recommend.