This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S THE LOST ABOUT?
Mace and his dogs are moving in different circles after the events of The Keepers, and get called to help the FBI look for a missing mother and daughter—they were kidnapped after a home invasion went wrong. Their husband/father, financier Kenneth J. Druckman, was beaten and left behind. It's up to Mace and Vira to give them a lead.

Sadly, it doesn't take long for Vira to find the mother's body on Druckman's land, or for her to act like Druckman did the killing. It's not like Mace can just point at the billionaire and shout, "J'accuse!" He's going to need to find more than the word of his young dog—he also needs to help the FBI (if he can) to find the five-year-old girl before it's too late.

Kippy Gimm (now a detective) and the rest of Mace's dogs are, of course, in on this, too.

NON-MACE PERSPECTIVES
Typically, I'm not a fan of a first-person narrated book frequently switching to the third person—usually the killer. It doesn't turn me off of a book, but I really don't enjoy it. Burton, however, has done a better job of it in this series than most authors. I don't know that I can say that I've enjoyed every instance of it—but, unlike most, in the previous two books in this series, those sections have added to the novel.

That really doesn't sound like a compliment, but it was one.

In The Lost, most of those scenes/chapters are essential. The way this novel is set up—and the crimes perpetrated by the various criminals involved (and there are a handful)—necessitates that we see things from several perspectives that aren't Mace's. There's just no way that he can find this information (he doesn't require it, but the reader is going to demand to know what's going on)—and it'd take months of investigation after these events for the FBI to figure some of this out (assuming they'd try).

The later in the book we get, the better these non-Mace portions get. Particularly those from the daughter's point of view, they brought a lot to the table and got me really invested in these characters.

I still think I'd prefer more Mace and less of everyone else in future books in the series—but The Lost really shows that this approach can work. It also underlines how good at it Burton is.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT THE LOST?
I'm not sure how the space is given to the non-Mace perspectives in this book compares to the previous novels, but it's significantly more—that alone makes this novel feel different. The fact that many/most of those sections of the book take place prior to Mace's involvement with the Druckman family also contributes to that feeling. I appreciate the fact that Burton's doing things in Book 3 to make sure the series doesn't get in a rut.

Sure, it'd be a fine rut to get stuck in and I'd have gladly read more books that were structurally similar to The Finders and The Keepers.* But I'm glad Burton made the step now and didn't wait until he needed to shake things up.

* I read The Keepers a year ago and didn't get the title until right this moment. I'm not too proud to admit that.

I'm not sure that we needed to learn about Kippy's job woes at this point—it didn't have an impact on this book, as FBI-centric as it was. It might have been better to talk about her difficulties with her new assignment when it'd have a bearing on the plot, and wouldn't risk feeling like a repeat when it does come up. It's not a good position for her to be in—I don't want to minimize that—I'm just not sure the reader needed to get that information now, I don't know what we're supposed to do with it. As complaints go (and I think it's the only one I had with this book), that's a pretty minor one.

The pacing on this is strong—we hit the ground running with Mace and Vira at the beginning and we really don't stop. There isn't a lot of time here for contemplation and rumination—it's not a breakneck speed, but it's a steady jog. Again, it shows that Burton's doing something different in this book.

I feel like I'm spending too much time talking about how different The Lost is from the other books—and I don't mean to harp on it, I'm just commenting on the various ways it is. I don't know that readers who aren't writing about the book are going to spend that much time thinking about it—I think they'll note the freshness of it, they'll feel the overall effect, though. I'm not saying it's better or worse than the other two, just appreciatively different. And that's a nice thing.

As always, any time spent with Sue, Maggie May, Delta Dawn, Vira, and Billie Joe is a boon. They're a fun pack of animals to read about—and I'm already looking forward to their next adventure. Mace and Kippy are good, too—but we all know who the stars are here.

This would be an okay jumping-on point to the series, I'm not sure you'd get the full idea of Vira's special talents—but that's okay, it's not required to appreciate the books. The important thing is that mystery readers—particularly the dog-loving kind—jump on to the series at some point.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.

Thank you Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the chance to read an advance copy of The lost by Jeffrey B. Burton. The lost is the 3rd novel in the Mace Reid K-9 mystery series and this time Mace and his canine companions, The Finders find themselves immersed in a home invasion, the husband assaulted and the wife and child kidnapped; Vira, the star of the pack, quickly locates the dead body of the wife, but the child Eleanor is missing. Vira quickly leads Mace back to the house and to Druckman, who staged the whole thing. But where is Eleanor? Mace, Vira and Detective Kippy 'Gimm must figure out the clues in order to find Eleanor in time. I am a big fan of this series. The relationship between Mace and his dogs is wonderful. Each dog has their own personality and are all adorable and I love the names of the dogs.! Each of those songs are favourites of mine! I enjoy Mace's character. He is an amateur detective; and he knows he is amateur; but he gets the job done. He also knows the stars of the team are his dogs. I enjoy the relationship he has with Kippy. They work so well together, Totally recommend this series!!!!

I really like this author, and his series with cadaver dogs is interesting. Mace Reed is a dog trainer and has a stable of cadaver dogs that are called upon by federal agents, local police and anyone requiring help with searches for victims. His golden Vira is the star, with special senses that seem to transcend belief.
A local millionaire reports a home invasion robbery and the kidnapping of his wife and daughter. Mace and his dogs are called in to search the grounds and woods adjoining the mansion. Vera does her job when the dead wife is found and the search begins for the missing child. Mace’s girlfriend and Chicago cop Kippy joins him in the effort.
This is a very tense, gripping story of Russians, stolen jewels and antiques, and the ticking clock to find the missing child. The chase puts Mace, Kippy and Vira in immediate danger, trying to track down the players.
Jeffrey Burton is a very good story teller and his characters are interesting and likable. My thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books and Jeffrey Burton for the ARC. All opinions are my own. I loved the book and loved the dogs. A really good read.

This is a great series in every way but especially if you love dogs, quirky characters and just the right touch of humor. Mace and his cadaver dogs sure do deliver a satisfying read, start to finish. The mysteries aren't the soft cozy type. There is serious stuff going on but Mace, Vira (short for Elvira, like the song - I love it) and Kippy Gimm are up to the challenge. If they aren't? A kidnapped child may never be found. There are some very bad people doing very bad things but knowing that Mace and the others are fighting the good fight makes it worth reading the tough parts.
The mystery was top notch but, to be honest, it took me awhile to adjust to its delivery. If this had been the first book in the series I think that would have made me set it aside as not finished. However, I fell in love with The Finders (Book #1) and was equally drawn into the second book, The Keepers. That was the reason I stuck with it and I was rewarded. It earned its 5 stars.
My thanks to the publisher Minotaur and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Lost by Jeffrey B. Burton is a highly recommended K-9 mystery/procedural and the third book in the Mace Reid series.

Mace Reid and his human remains detection (HRD) dog, a golden retriever named Vira, are called out to the estate of Kenneth J. Druckman where a home invasion and robbery turned into a kidnapping. His wife and their five-year-old daughter are missing, as well as all of his wife's jewelry. Vira searches for remains and finds his wife's body, but returns back to the house, leading Mace and Chicago police detective Kippy Gimm, to suspect that Druckman had something to do with the murder. Now the search is on for his daughter and the truth behind the purported home invasion and robbery.

It is always a pleasure to read Burton's K-9 novels. If you love mysteries and dogs this is a series for you. As the third book in the series featuring Mace Reid and his pack of dogs, The Lost follows The Finders (2020) and The Keepers (2021). Although it is not necessary to read the first two books in order to enjoy The Lost, you will likely want to do so after reading it. This is an entertaining and exciting case where the tension is often softened by Mace's humor and observations.

The excellent writing helps create tension and suspense while holding your interest with a fast pace and intricate plot. This time the complex plot involves billionaires scheming, deceit, kidnapping, murder, stolen jewels, and more. After a startling opening chapter you will have to keep reading to see how it all fits into the overall plot. I liked the chapters going back in time following the events that led up to the kidnapping. Once the two story lines merge the tension is palpable and the action really takes off. This has consistently been a good series.

At this point Mace is a fully realized likeable character with flaws and strengths. He continues to have a nice balance of analytical abilities and irreverent humor, and even a good dose of self-deprecating humor as he talks to his pack. You will root for him, his dogs, and for Kippy Gimm. They are all believable characters. The dogs - Vira, Sue, the German Shepard, and collies Maggie May and Delta Dawn and blood hound Bill (Billie Boy) - are all characters too and you'll see their individual personalities.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Minotaur Books via NetGalley.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Edelweiss, Google Books, and Amazon.

This was my first read from this author. If a book has dogs in it - I am happy to read as dogs make everything more fun. The other part of the book that was interesting to me is that I grew up in the area where much of the action takes place so the familiarity of the highways, parks and cities made it fun to ready.

While there wasn’t as much dog time as I hoped I did enjoy the story, There are lots of things happening in the book: Mystery, wicked characters, greed, a smidge of romance and sadness. The main characters are fun (the dog is really the best) and it moves quickly.

I have not read the first two books but would read another in the series!

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read and review the novel.

Expected publication date: June 28, 2022

(3.5)Intense with lightness and humor and dogs!!! I absolutely love the dog family in the Mace Reid series. They always make this series a winner. Great mystery with the story being told from several points of view. Along with murder, kidnapping there is acknowledgment of the mob, of human trafficking. This is book 3, more intense than the previous 3. It has an in depth plot with so many twist and surprises that I got a little lost. Mace, Kip, Vira (for Elvira :) ) and the rest will always have me looking for their next adventure. Thank you#Jeffreybburton #Minotaur Books and #NetGalley for the arc. I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions.

I really enjoy the Mace Reid books, and I was looking forward to starting the third in the series. It's not often you see a dog-centric book in the genre, and I appreciate both the insight and humor this brings to the table.

From the publisher via Goodreads: Glencoe, Illinois: A home invasion turned kidnapping at the mansion of billionaire financier Kenneth J. Druckman brings Mason “Mace” Reid and his cadaver dog, Vira, to this wealthy northern suburb of Chicago. Druckman was assaulted, left behind while his wife and young daughter were taken for ransom.

Brought to the scene by the FBI, Reid specializes in human remains detection, and Vira is the star of his pack of cadaver dogs he’s dubbed The Finders. After Vira finds the dead body of the mother, former supermodel Calley Kurtz, everyone is on high alert to find Druckman’s missing daughter before the five-year-old disappears forever. But the trail Vira finds on the property’s dense woodlands leads right back to Druckman himself.

With the help of Detective Kippy Gimm, Reid and Vira must race against the clock. Nothing is as it appears to be . . . and the red herrings could be lethal.

This was a fun, quick read with a lot of heart. The plot was well structured and moved, the character voices were engaging, and the conflict was a good blend of tense and readable. There were humorous moments that also toned down some of the more serious/graphic moments, so I think this will find a home with many readers--especially ones who love their canine companions as much as Mace does.

Big thanks to Minotaur and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

Thank you @minotaurbooks and @netgalley for the #gifted eARC of THE LOST.

Mace Reid and his pack of tracker dogs are back for another wild ride in the third installment of Jeffrey B. Burton’s series. This time Mace, Kippy and the dogs are searching for a kidnapped billionaire’s young daughter after a home invasion gone wrong leaves her father beaten and her mother murdered.

Burton delivers another binge-able read with THE LOST. I sped through this one in just two days. The short chapters and quick pacing make this book hard to put down. While we got lots of time with Vira, Mace’s golden retriever, the other tracker dogs (Sue, Delta Dawn, Maggie May and Bill) don’t get as much love in this one. I missed Sue and his no nonsense attitude and relished the few chapters he appeared in.

If you’re looking for a thriller to keep you entertained while on the beach this summer, then be sure to check out this series!

THE LOST is out June 28, 2022.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4764515918?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce3uZumlnwY/

The Lost by Jeffrey Burton is the third book in his Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series. This is a complex, action-packed whodunit. Mace Reid, along with his cadaver dog golden retriever Vira and Kippy now a Chicago police detective, find themselves in some very precarious positions. Thank goodness for Vira. I like these two main characters and Vira adds a lot to the story.It was fun seeing all the interactions and personality traits of the rest of the dogs in Mace's and Vira's "pack."I really enjoyed this story and look forward to more books in the series.

The Lost by Jeffrey B Burton is the 3rd book in his Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series. Refresher: Mace Reid, our hero, trains dogs (cadaver dogs) that can hunt for dead bodies. He works with the police, and Vira, one of his amazing dogs (Sue, Maggie, Delta and Bill), has unique abilities to sense things besides dead bodies, such as a slight paranormal element of sensing the murderer.

Mace receives a call from Special Agent Len Squires to bring Vira to the home of Billionaire Financier Kenneth Druckman, who was assaulted and his wife and daughter have been kidnapped. A ransom has been demanded, with Mace and Vira assigned to trek on the extensive grounds around the mansion. Vira finds the dead body of the wife, but the daughter is still missing; however, Vira finds the trail leads back to the Druckman’s estate. Unable to prove to Squires, Mace now suspects the husband had a hand in killing his wife.
Kippy Grimm, our heroine and Mace’s girlfriend, is a homicide detective, and starts to work close with Mace and Vira to investigate Druckman and his Russian mob connections. What follows is a wonderful exciting, tense thriller, with non-stop action, edge of your seat suspense, and a few twists along the way, Things will escalate when Mace and Kippy searching for the daughter and Vira (who is protecting the girl), find themselves in intense danger.

The Lost was intriguing and tense, with a complex tale of kidnapping, murder, and the Russian mob. To tell too much more would be spoilers, and this is the kind of book you need to read to understand. Mace continues to be a wonderful hero, as well as Kippy, who is tough,savvy and strong. Not to mention Vira, who remains the star of this series, being an amazing dog.

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

This book hooks you on the first page and doesn't let go. It's a gripping murder mystery that is full of twists and turns and will keep you guessing until the end. It's a great read that you don't want to miss.
I received a complimentary copy from St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I have loved each of Jeffrey Burton’s books that I have read and this one is no different. Vera and crew are never left without something to do and craziness to get involved in. Another winner for Mace and his crew.

This is the third book in the Mace Reid K-9 series, but don’t be afraid to jump right in!
What appears to be a home invasion at the home of billionaire Ken Druckman turns into a kidnapping of his daughter and wife, Mace Reid and his cadaver dog, Vira, find themselves searching for them in the surrounding acres of the home. It didn’t take Vira long to find the body of Calley, his wife, but there is no sign of daughter Eleanor. And suspiciously, Vira follows the trail right back to the home. Did Ken murder his wife, and where is his five-year-old daughter?

There are lots of twists and turns along the way and once again the dogs are the stars of the story. For all of you dog lovers out there, this series will warm your heart and keep your interest to the very end, no matter which book you pick up first.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for my copy of The Lost by Jeffrey B. Burton.

I’m not a dog person but so far I love this series. You realize that these dogs really are family. Reed’s affection and concerns for their wellbeing is toughing. The description of the various dog characters will make you smile and to top it off they earn their keep by locating dead bodies, identifying the guilty party and most important of all defending Reed when needed even when it causes them bodily harm.
To keep Reed also a bit grounded with the human race we have Detective Kippy Gimm who does her best to be part of this family without been pushy or overly demanding. Mostly been a great friend to Reed and shares in the adoration from the dogs.
I think this book is a bit darker than the previous ones and I feel you needed to concentrate a bit more to make sure you know everything that is happening but all by all I really enjoyed this book and found it a fairly easy read with many different angles.

I received an ARC of this book. I love this series! Great characters, especially the furry ones. Intriguing mystery that kept me reading straight through until the end. Highly recommend!

In the previous books by Burton, we have gotten glimpses of what the killer or other criminals are up to while Mace, Vira, and Officer Kippy are investigating. But in this story, the time is split at least 50/50 between what our leads are doing, and what the criminals are doing, and I can’t say I liked it that way. We got a lot less time of Mace, Kippy, and Vira, which are the best parts of the series, and more time spent on Druckman, Russians, and a mysterious Belgian. But at no point did we question or wonder what the criminals were up to, because we were always shown. In that sense, it was more of a thriller than a mystery, because I wasn’t trying to figure out who the culprits were, but only wondering if our lead characters would make it in time to resolve everything.


*****Spoilers for book two, The Keepers, below.*****












I was also disappointed that there was no mention made of grieving for Officer Wabs. With the way the last book ended, I thought he should have at least been mentioned.

When the wife and young daughter of a wealthy Chicago financier are kidnapped during a home invasion, Mace Reid and his golden retriever Vira, a trained human remains detection (HRD) dog, are called in to help. The story is told from multiple points of view, including Mace (who has a dry, depreciating wit) and various characters involved in the case. The story is not as focused on Mace, Vira's "special talent", the rest of Mace's pack of HRD dogs, and his girlfriend, Chicago police detective Kippy Grimm, as the first two books in the series, but they all play a role; for this reason, although I think this book would be fine as a standalone, the reader may enjoy the characters more if they have the "backstory" from the earlier books. Here, the author branches out to explore the mindset and motivations of different people involved in the crime(s). I thought the story was fast-paced, and although we know who the criminals are early on, there were still several surprises along the way.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: June 28, 2022
Jeffrey B. Burton brings his Mace Reid mystery series back with the newest instalment, “The Lost”. Once again, Mace and his crew of cadaver dogs are on the case of a missing woman and her young daughter, the family of a billionaire financier. Mace, his police officer girlfriend, Kippy, and Mace’s crew of dogs, most especially Vira, head to the ostentatious estate of Kenneth J. Druckman, and find more than they bargained for. Soon, Mace finds himself in over his head, surrounded by dead bodies, missing children, and scorned Russian mobsters with a score to settle.
I was first introduced to this series right from the hop, with Burton’s first novel, “The Finders”, and then was again delighted to receive his second, “The Keepers”. Although this is one of those series where reading the others are not required, I highly recommend it! Not only is Mace Reid the complete antithesis of what you’d expect, his delightful dog partners are utterly adorable (and oh-so smart!). Burton (through Mace) speaks very casually, in every situation, and his hilarious banter with his dogs made me laugh every time. I adore Mace’s take on the world, and his utmost respect for his canine partners (and his female partner, Kippy, too!).
This novel had a lot of characters and a lot of interconnections between the characters (especially in regards to the Russian mob), with the players crossing and double crossing each other so often it was difficult to tell who was working for whom. Beyond Mace and Kippy (and the dogs), the “good guys” were hard to determine. I enjoyed the constant action though, and the emotional aspect of Mace and Kippy searching for young Eleanor Druckman.
The story ends well, and Burton brings his novel to a close as he does with all other novels in his “Reid” series- “The Lost” is complete and satisfyingly wrapped up, but the characters could definitely reappear in another novel (or two) and weave another tale. There was so much left in Kippy and Mace’s characters, and relationship, that I have no doubt we have not seen the last of them.
A detective story complete with adorable, scruffy dogs, Burton’s “The Lost” has pulse-pounding action, developing romance (without the sappy sweetness, thank goodness) and an addicting plot. Burton has found a unique take on the police procedural genre, and I hope to see Mace (and his beloved partners) again and again!

Mace Reid and his cadaver dog, Vira, are called to the home of financier Kenneth J. Druckman by the FBI. Supposedly there was a home invasion, Druckman was beat up, jewels were stolen, and so were Druckman's supermodel wife and six-year-old daughter. Mace and Vira quickly find the murdered body of the wife and Vira indicates that Druckman is the guilty party. But young Eleanor is still missing.

This leaves Mace and his girlfriend Kippy, Chicago homicide's new darling, to find the missing girl. But things are complicated and more people than Druckman are lying.

The story is told from multiple viewpoints including those of a few of the villains of the story. When all is untangled, we have a story of greed financial chicanery including Ponzi schemes, the Russian mobs, and a mysterious financial mogul who isn't going to allow himself to be cheated.

Along the way we have great scenes with Mace, Kippy, and his assorted dogs. I loved Mace's voice as he narrated is sections of the story.

Fans of the series will enjoy this third adventure.