The Lost A Mace Reid K-9 Mystery by Jeffrey B Burton

9781250808622

273 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books
Release Date June 28, 2022

Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, K-9, Human Remain Detection Dogs, Police, Kidnapping

The book begins with a mysterious host meeting his guest. This sets the stage for the rest of the story. Mace Reid is a K-9 trainer and has a pack of human remain detection dogs. Vira – short for Elvira, his golden retriever, takes detecting up a notch. She not only finds bodies, but she can link the killer to the bodies. In this case, Vira knows who killed Calley Druckman. Mace and Agent Kippy Gimm believe her, but they do not have any proof. You certainly can’t arrest someone just because a dog told you.

This is the third book in the series. The story is fast paced, the characters are well developed. It is written in first (by Mace) and third person points of view. I love the author’s writing style. He really makes his characters personalities come through, especially the dogs. If you enjoy murder mysteries and dogs, you will like this series.

Another Book in the Mace Reid K9 Mystery Series…



I’m a huge K9 book fan. I found this series at the first book The Finders was intrigued. I wanted to find out what happened next.. you become invested in the characters. 



I have to say it took some time for me to get into this book. I think it had to do with the cuts from one perspective to the next. I still haven’t connected one part of the book to the story. I didn’t go back searching to understand…

Overall, once the main story took hold I enjoyed it. If there is another Mace Reid K9 Mystery I will put it on my TBR list.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.

An intriguing page turner. The dogs add so much to the story. This was my first adventure with Mace Reid and his cadaver dogs. I am eager to read the previous ones. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.

A Mace Reid K-9 Mystery, book# 3

The stars in this latest are Vira, an extraordinary cadaver dog, and her handler Mason” Mace” Reid.

The story brings us to Glencoe, Illinois. A home invasion turned kidnapping, the billionaire financier was assaulted, left behind while his wife and young daughter were taken for ransom. FBI and Reid with his specialized pack of cadaver dogs are brought to the scene. After a short time, Vira finds the dead body of the mother ....now everyone is on high alert to find the daughter....and the suspense begins...

It is also good to know that Mace works with the Chicago Police department and has a budding romantic interest with Detective Kippy Gimm...why not.

I enjoyed this story quite a bit. I love how the author seamlessly combined an amateur sleuth mystery with a police procedural while giving spotlight to the strong connection between the handler and his dogs. Vira’s mind borders on the paranormal; her ability to locate not only dead bodies but also picks up on the perpetrator’s scent at the site. Not a dull moment in this terrific mystery filled with twists and turns, action galore. I particularly love the narrative; the story is told with a touch of humour and does not bog down with frivolity or non-essential elements: it goes right to the point. The writing style is very engaging, so much so that I hated to put this book down. What about a clever plot: so intriguing, original and very intense. The theme covers a large range of topics from murder, assault, abduction, corruption, blackmail, deceit and relationships. Oh yes, maybe the Bratva also.. What is not to like...

Great story I am looking forward to the next saga..

I read the first 2 installments of the Mace series, which I quite enjoyed, but this was my least favorite. It jumped around a bit too much and I missed the more in-depth dog interactions; Mace and Kippy's relationship seemed superficial also.

Centered around the kidnapping of a 5yo girl and her slimy conman dad, the story seemed overly complicated by Russian mafia and random bad guys. The dialog seemed less comfortable than I remember in the previous books. Overall, okay, but a little disappointing.

Thanks #netgalley and #stmartin-minotaur for the advance copy of #thelost

reviews are on Goodreads, my blog, pinterest, Storygraph and Amazon when it's published.

I've read all three of the Mace Reid K-9 series, and I liked this one the best. It was certainly the most complex, but it also flowed the best. Burton knows all his characters now, including the dogs, and lets them act for themselves within the story. This has all those great elements - despicable rich guy, imperiled little girl, brutal Russian mafia, brilliant detective girlfriend, heroic dog, and average joe dog handler for the rest of us to identify with. Mix these all together in a plot only the dog can figure out (you think I'm joking?), and throw in quite a few spine tingling thrills, and you've got quite an entertaining tale. Highly recommend.
My copy was an eARC from NetGalley.

Pretty good, I enjoy the premise and have read others in this series. It's semi-formulaic but still an entertaining read. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Overall, I found this book to be a quick, easy read with a few surprises thrown in. I've read the other two books in the series, however, this book can be read as a standalone. I think my favorite aspect of the main character's (Mason Reid's) personality is that he isn't the stereotypical macho guy. He actually seems like a nice guy who just wants to help people using his pack of finders (his HRD trained dogs). His dry sense of humor adds a bit of cheesy comic relief to the book. The plot was interesting and kept my attention. It wasn't always clear to the reader what exactly was happening, which lead to some of the previously mentioned surprises later in the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing a copy for review.

3.5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in return for an honest review. This is the third book I have read and enjoyed in the Mace Reid K-9 mystery series. I thought the plot was taken to a higher level of complexity and was somewhat darker and convoluted. Flashbacks added clues to the mystery's solution but interfered with the flow. Once the investigation got underway, the book was fast-paced and intense and included some humorous banter. There were sections where the character was not initially identified, which confused me.

Mace is a dog trainer specializing in dogs for search, rescue, drug detection, and he specializes in cadaver dogs. He supplies his well-accomplished dogs to assist the Chicago Police, the local sheriff's department and the FBI. Mace has five dogs, each with their own distinct personality, skills, and behaviour. The dogs are delightful and add interest to this crime series.

Vira, a Golden Retriever, is a rescue dog and a highly-skilled cadaver dog. She has an uncanny scenting ability. She readily finds dead bodies and can also identify the chemical signature of the perpetrator at the scene of a crime. Vira has a solid protective bond with Mace and Chicago homicide detective Kippy Gimm. There is a growing relationship between Kippy and Mace. I felt the book relied too much on its vile criminals and wanted to see more of the dog's work.

The story begins with two men in a conversation about an art heist gone wrong that resulted in a hideous murder. I had been expecting Mace and his canine friends and thought I mistakingly downloaded the wrong book.

At last, Mace, Vira and Kippy enter the story on another case. A wealthy financier, Kenneth Druckman, reports that he was attacked in a home invasion and his wife, supermodel Calley and their little daughter Ellie (also called Scarf) have been kidnapped. A ransom has been demanded. Mace and Vira are assigned to search the extensive grounds around Druckman's mansion. Vira finds Calley's body, and an additional scent surrounding it leads back to the estate. Ellie is still missing. Has she been murdered also?

The story weaves a complex tale of kidnapping, stolen jewels, murder, deceit, and blackmail. In the background is a creepy multi-billionaire with his 'exquisites' unobtrusively pulling strings. The search for Ellie puts Mace, Vira, and Kippy in extreme danger from the Russian mob. What is the Russian Mafia's involvement?
Recommended for readers who enjoy excellent character development and complex crime stories, especially ones involving police dogs.

I just finished reading The Lost by Jeffrey Burton and if like me, you love dogs and thrillers, then trust me, this is right up your alley! While this is technically the 3rd in a series, it can be read as a standalone and this was the first one I have read. When a little girl is kidnapped and her mother murdered, Mace and his cadaver dogs are called to the scene to help. What he doesn't expect, is to end up at gunpoint with the Russian Mafia. This book was a quick read and a much needed escape. And how can you not love the whole dog pack? I will definitely be going back and reading his other books in this series.

The Lost by Jeffrey B. Burton is the third in the Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series. And while still an interesting read, this installment is a departure from the previous two in that it barely incorporates the K-9 aspect into the story.

Mace Reid is a dog trainer extraordinaire. His specialty is training dogs in human remains detection. As such, he is often called to assist with the local police. His girlfriend, Kippy is a member of that force. In The Lost, they are looking for the wife and daughter of one of the wealthiest men in the area.

I am a fan of Burton's writing style but had a few problems with this book. First, the dogs are a minor part of the story instead of the focus. In addition, <spoiler> as we are given the missing 5-year-old Eleanor's perspective on what is happening around her, she sounds like an adult. I can't imagine a 5-year-old having these thoughts </spoiler>. And lastly, the characters, in general, just are not as believable as they were in the first two books in this series. I had a hard time getting through this book as a result.

If you are curious about how police work goes, you will love this book. What an interesting career Mace and his kids have. The storyline is interesting and the characters are wonderful. I love how Mace, Kippy, and Vira work together. I would really like to be in Vira’s pack. I would like to hang out with all the kids. I very much enjoyed this book and can’t wait to follow them through their next case. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

Book 3 in the series, but while I like how Mace and Vira worked together there was a lot less of the dogs that make up most of the charm in this series. I also found Audrie’s storyline to be a bit irrelevant.

The latest Jeffrey Burton delivers an unusual thriller made more sympathetic with Mace Reid and his canine companions. The Lost has the violence and suspense of a thriller but it is mitigated by the bond that Mace Reid has with his dogs. As Mace comes into the field, he links clues that would otherwise be ignored and his companions find a way to keep even the most difficult and terrifying moments bearable.

During the pandemic, I've moved away from the violence of the usual thrillers and police procedurals. The kinder side of these Mace Reid books is a balm during tough times.

Mason Reid and his cadaver dog Vira are the main characters in this book. The dog plays a crucial role, she is not just a side-kick.

A billionaire is beaten and his wife and daughter disappear. Reid and Vira are brought in to solve the mystery before time runs out.

The Lost is a fast read with pacing that is spot on and a narrative that is exciting.

Cloak and Dagger is how this book starts. It is a little confusing at first as you encounter a wealthy man talking about expensive paintings and the disappearance of some of the pieces, as well as, people. Next you meet a billionaire who claims to have had a home invasion robbery and his wife and daughter are missing. Enter Mace Reid and his K-9 team who try to find the mother and daughter and solve the case. A lot is going on and at times it's a little hard to keep tract of things. Mace's character is fun, as are the cadaver dogs he works with. The story keeps your interest fairly well. I may have been a little lost as this is the 3rd book in the series but my 1st. It is worth reading though. I recommend this novel.

Third book in the Mace Reid series. I enjoyed it quite a bit though it was a little overly complicated. I enjoy the dogs and their different personalities and the relationship between Mace and Kippy. I will definitely read the next book in the series.

This is the third in the series and was not as good as the first two. The focus of the first two was on the canine cadaver dogs and their unique traits which made for interesting reading. This one focused more on dealing with the Russian Mafia and an eccentric billionaire. It was a bit of a struggle to read as it definitely dragged in parts unlike the first two of the series. I hope the author bounces back on the next book with the focus more on the dogs and less on uninteresting character development.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.

I love this series but was a bit disappointed by The Lost. I felt that too many of the chapters focused on the villains and victims, and there wasn’t enough of Mace and his dogs in this installment. I also wasn’t enthralled with the plot of this one, and found the storytelling a bit slow through the middle. I’ll stick with the series, though; I’d love to see more focus on Kippy’s background and Mace’s relationship with her in future books.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC.

The Lost by Jeffrey B. Burton is the third book in the Mace Reid K-9 Mysteries. Mace is a dog trainer who trains his own dogs as cadaver dogs. His dog Vira is exceptional and is at the center of this story. It's a great mystery with a few twists and turns and kept me guessing most of the way through.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my ARC of this book. I look forward to more in this series.