Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

On the Hunt by Iris Johansen introduces readers to a bold new heroine, Kira Drake, and her highly trained search-and-rescue dog, Mack. 

Johansen’s narrative is a thrilling blend of mystery, suspense, and action. Kira Drake is a compelling protagonist, characterized by her determination, intelligence, and deep bond with Mack. Their partnership adds a unique dynamic to the story, showcasing the incredible capabilities of search-and-rescue dogs while highlighting the emotional connection between handler and dog.

The plot is fast-paced and filled with twists and turns that keep readers on the edge of their seats. Johansen’s skillful storytelling ensures that each chapter builds on the suspense, making it difficult to put the book down. The vivid descriptions of Paris and the intricate details of the investigation add depth to the narrative, immersing readers in the world of high-stakes crime-solving.

One of the standout aspects of On the Hunt is Johansen’s ability to balance action with character development. Kira’s backstory and personal struggles are woven seamlessly into the plot, making her a well-rounded and relatable character. The supporting cast, including law enforcement officials and other key players in the investigation, are also well-developed, adding layers of complexity to the story.

For fans of crime thrillers and strong female protagonists, On the Hunt is a must-read.. This book is a testament to Johansen’s talent for creating engaging and suspenseful narratives that leave us eagerly anticipating the next installment.

Why isn't this a series, like Bones?

Or at least, a limited series on Netflix?
Kira has a special skill and an even more specially trained dog, Mack. Jack (how close is that name to Mack? But, who's a good boy?). Jack is bent on revenge for the death of his brother and embroils Kira and Mack in finding a bomber. Its a race.

It's been more than a long minute (years) since I've read an Iris Johansen. Nice to get back to reading her.
Recommend.

Nail biter from the very inception of this latest book by Iris Johansen. Anxiety rides high and there’s no way to avoid getting hooked into this crime novel by this inimitable author. Don’t fret over references to past characters or cases. In ON THE HUNT you will be totally enmeshed in tailing and tracking down a diabolical killer who truly has no conscience.
The tracking includes some of the best two and four legged characters. And needless to say not everyone is going to get along. Working as a team takes a great deal of effort and trust. Kira has it in spades with her highly trained companion Mack.
There are people who are intrinsically dark and extremely dangerous. Joseph Taylor is a prime example of that. He has Harlan in his sights along with anyone near and dear. Which includes Harlan’s niece Fiona and now add Kira. Harlan and Taylor have a violent history. Taylor killed Fiona’s dad. Using every means available to him, Harlan has been diligent in keeping those close safe. But Taylor is now enlarging the circuit of possible targets. That now includes Kira’s world.
I’m a big follower of Iris Johansen and ON THE HUNT is filled with just the right amount of tension and angst. Quite a bit of creative implausibility thrown in for good measure. There are some situations that belie credibility but make for a good crime suspense story. Suspend disbelief and join Iris Johansen ON THE HUNT.
In many instances the Hunter becomes the quarry which makes this story an interesting case of cat and mouse. Each understands that they need to be top of their game in order to come out the winner. Kira and Harlan are quite a challenge once they team up against the man who is behind evil. Very evident that Taylor has no conscience, scruples, or principles. But both Kira, Harlan and their team do. Just what will make them possibly cross that line if anything. Pay careful attention, Iris Johansen, leaves no rock unturned. Each character is truly larger than life, including the four-legged ones.

I am so excited to start another series by Author Iris Johansen.
In this new series we meet Kira Drake a bold new heroine and her highly trained search-and-rescue dog, Mack.
The story takes place in Paris, and we follow Kira Drake as she investigates a devastating museum bombing near the Eiffel Tower.
The plot of the mystery get more exciting when Kira crosses paths with Jack Harlan, a wealthy man driven by a personal vendetta to find the bomber responsible for his brother’s death.
This story blends suspense, action, and emotional depth, and will keep you on your seat. The characters are both strong and relatable, and her bond with Mack adds a heartwarming element to the story.
The story blends suspense, action, vengeance ,trust and emotions which makes this a great start to this series, if your a Iris Johansen fan this is a must if she new to you this series is a good on to start with.

She reluctantly agreed to help track a mass murderer…..

….and now she and anyone (and anything) that is important to her are in the killer’s crosshairs.

Kira Drake was found orphaned at the age of ten and was raised by Sarah Logan, who encouraged Kira to follow her passion for working with animals. She has become not only an accomplished trainer of search and rescue animals, she has also been developing serums that can extend the lives of the dogs with whom she works. She and her Golden Retriever Mack are in great demand within the law enforcement community given their remarkable talents including Mack’s ability to detect multiple types of explosive compounds, and are asked to assist in the investigation of the bombing at a newly opened museum in Paris which resulted in the deaths of hundreds. When their skills not only identify what kind of explosives were used but also pinpoint a nearby building where the bombs were assembled, the authorities are able to use that information to discover the man behind the heinous crime. Joseph Taylor targeted the museum as a strike against billionaire tech entrepreneur Jack Harlan, who had donated the funds which financed the building. Taylor had gained a position of trust with Harlan years earlier through a friendship with Harlan’s brother Colin, then both stole the plans for a new invention from Harlan and murdered Colin. Harlan has been hunting Taylor ever since, but Taylor has been able to escape each time he gets close to catching him. Harlan’s right hand man has been encouraging him to hire Kira Drake to run Taylor to earth, but neither Harlan nor Kira has been particularly enthused with the idea. After Kira’s stunning success in Paris, Harlan realizes that she is indeed his best bet to find Taylor and eliminate him and uses his friendship with John Logan, Sarah’s husband, to persuade Kira to do so. Very reluctantly Kira agrees, and she and Harlan immediately clash over how the search will be run and executed. When Kira and Mack are almost killed when they close in on Taylor, Harlan is able to save their lives and bring them to safety. He also adds them to those he considers it is his responsibility to protect, like his niece Fiona (Colin’s daughter), who has also been targeted by Taylor. As the fiercely independent Kira rebels against Harlan’s protective measures, the two must work together to plan a way to lure Taylor to a place where he can be captured. Undersea treasures, amazing horses, and more will factor in to their design….but Taylor has his own plans to enact, all of which threaten death and destruction to the people, places and animals Kira and the others hold dear.
Readers of earlier novels of romantic suspense by author Iris Johansen might recognize the character of Kira from her involvement with Sarah Logan on Summer Island. In On the Hunt, Kira rises to main character status. As Johansen’s female leads generally are, Kira is extremely intelligent, ferociously independent, and possesses gifts which guide her professional life. When she meets an Elon-Muskesque man who is every bit as smart and talented as she is (and who happens to be obscenely wealthy with a strong protective streak), sparks inevitably fly as they clash over control of their joint venture. Attraction springs up as well, and Kira isn’t sure what she wants to do about that complication. The cat and mouse game with Taylor brings danger to them both, which exacerbates the need in each to seize control of their plan, but they work towards finding compromises that will keep their loved ones safe and lead to a successful outcome. Fans of Johansen’s other books, including those featuring Sarah Logan, Kendra Michaels and/or Eve Duncan, will certainly enjoy this latest offshoot, as will readers of Heather Graham, Kay Hooper, and Catherine Coulter. Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for allowing me early access to this briskly paced thriller.

When I saw this story featured a strong FMC and her search and rescue dog I was excited to read it!

Overall I enjoyed this story! It hooked me right away and the story was fast paced. I loved the Paris setting and liked our FMC Kira and very sweet Golden Retriever Mack!! Kira is smart (and as an animal lover loved that she was working to help our animals live longer.) She had been called to Paris to help in the aftermath of an attack.

Jack Harlan wants her to help track down his nemesis (who is also responsible for the bombing.) He convinces her to help and this starts the hunt…but is he seeking justice…or vengeance?

I really liked the mystery and suspense and the cat/mouse game. There was also a sprinkle of romance that I enjoyed.

I also liked the side characters - Fiona was my favorite. This was my first book by this author and it won’t be the last.

This is the start of a new book series by Iris Johansen! I have read several books by this author, especially the Kendra Michael’s series, so I was interested to see how this book would compare. Overall, I enjoyed this book. Once again, this author does a fantastic job creating an exciting plot that keeps things interesting and I never want to stop reading. Although it did take me a little to get into the story as a lot of information is being thrown at you from the beginning. I was so intrigued to see if Kira, who is a tracker at finding things, would find the missing treasure and also catch the bad guy. Kira is such a fantastic strong and independent main character and doesn’t want much help from others. I love that she created a serum to prolong dog’s lives. Only if it was real! I thought Jack was a perfect counterpart for Kira. He lets her remain independent while also protecting her at all costs. I think the main flaw was just the beginning which was a little slow and the writing was a little off. It felt very staccato like in the beginning but I’d be willing to read more of this series!

On the Hunt is a fun new series by Iris Johansen is an engaging, and action packed thriller, that will definitely keep you glued to your seat.
This book was a quick and intense read, but also super believable.
She fills her pages with exciting page turning drama.
Johansen masterfully weaves suspense and adventure making this a thrilling experience.
Johansen's storytelling is as robust as ever, with a pace that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.
The book is a testament to Johansen's ability to blend elements of mystery, suspense, thriller, and adventure into a cohesive and compelling story.

Another fantastic romantic suspense by Iris Johansen. I have read or listened to all of her Eve Duncan stories and this was an offshoot of that series as we had seen Kira and her talented dog Mack in some of the Eve Duncan books. This time though was all about Kira and her story. It is another wild ride that Ms. Johansen is known for as she provides great villains, a true heroine, and terrific plot

Iris Johansen is one my favorite authors from years ago and this book definitely does not disappoint. There is thriller and suspense but a touch of romance too! Excited for this series and looking forward to what comes next!!

Thank you NetGalley & Grand Central Publishing for the advanced reader copy!

I have read and enjoyed many books by this author, but this one missed the mark for me a bit. I had a hard time staying engaged, and I found it very predictable. This is the start of a new series. I did like Kira and her dog Mack a, but I just didn't connect with them as I had hoped. Some of Mack's actions were hard to believe. This had a New Adult feel to it. The mystery wasn't what I've come to suspect with Johansen's books. Characters and dialogue lacked depth. Just "meh" overall.

Excellent new series by Iris Johansen. The pace and styling of this book reminds me of the Kendra Michaels series which is one of my favorites. The people and locations here held my interest as the story moved seamlessly along. I’m now looking forward to book number 2.

“On the Hunt” by Iris Johansen is an adventurous 4-star read. We are introduced to Kira Drake and her highly trained golden retriever, Mack, while they are investigating a bombing in Paris that killed over 200 people. While searching for the bomber, she is approached by Jack Harlan to work together in the investigation. From there, the story takes off on a wild ride around the world.

This story started out great and captured my interest, but then it bogged down, and there were parts that moved extremely slowly. There is a heavy focus on training both dogs and horses throughout the book, which I found interesting. However, several interactions between the two main characters were confusing due to unnatural dialogue used solely to create tension. There is also a scientific aspect to the story because of some of the technology used by both sides during the hunt. Overall, I thought this was a great book, and I look forward to the next installment in the Kira Drake series.

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing, Iris Johansen, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

Rounding up from 4.5 stars

As usual, I thoroughly enjoyed this book in Iris Johansen's most recent series. This is a new thriller series following a tracker and her search dog.

It's action packed and has a fast moving plot. The reason I deducted half a star is that this is panning out to be very similar to some of the other series that she has written. It has an enemies to lovers trope with the main female character being hard headed and very independent and the main male character being equally headstrong and extraordinarily wealthy.

On it's own it's a great book and has the promise of being a good series to look forward to. I just happen to have read all of this author's other books and I feel like I'm reading the same stories, just with different characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Release date 9/3/24

Kira Drake and her search and rescue dog, Mack are in Paris to investigate the bombing of a museum. Jack Harlan has an abundance of money. He is looking for the man thatt killed his brother and who he believes is responsible for the bombing.
Kira and Mack are always in demand, but Jack has convinced Kira to help track this man down. Is it justice or revenge. Thanks netgalley for another Iris Johansen novel.

Really wanted to finish this one out of respect for the author and their amazing career, but her writing style has changed so drastically and the characters so wooden that it was easier to just to stop. Hope this one finds a home with her legions of fans, it just wasn't for me this time.

Kira Drake is smart, driven and has learned to depend on herself and her talented dog Mack. Jack Harlan is a genius billionaire who is used to being in control. When these two have to work together you know there is going to be clashes.
On the Hunt is a thrilling race to survive a psychopath. I was enthralled from page one.

Kira Drake and her special golden retriever dog, Mack, decide to help Jack Harlan track down his nemesis, Joseph Taylor. She’s doing it for justice while Jack is in it for revenge. Seems like a simple enough task for Kira and Mack, but when danger comes to herself and those she cares about, things change, and she’s determined to bring him in.

I enjoyed the story, but it reminds me a lot of her Eve Duncan series, which I loved, but the main female characters seem to have a lot of the same characteristics. I love the dogs and the horses.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I know the author from reading her popular Eve Duncan series. This is the beginning of a new series featuring Kira Drake. Kira is a strong heroine. In her downtime she focuses on dogs, creating a serum helping them live two and three times a regular lifespan. How I wish that was real. When she is called she takes her specially trained golden retriever Mack to find things. He is crossed trained to find people, bodies, explosives etc. It makes them excellent trackers.

In this book she is hired by a wealthy tech mogul Jack Harlan to find an almost super villain named Joseph Taylor. He recently bombed a new art museum in Paris killing many. Part of the group is Fiona, Harlan’s ward, who he has raised since she was seven. She is a horse whisperer and I really enjoyed her scenes.

The pace of the book starts off quickly in the aftermath of the bombing. Characters are introduced while the plot races forward. It isn’t till half way through the book do you get more background on the leads. The adventure travels from Paris to Colorado to the Caribbean and Egypt. There is a will they wont they build up between Kira and Harlan that isn’t quite answered in this book.

Overall it was an exciting and fast paced adventure. But I wasn’t really caught up by the leads. I would need to read another before I knew if this is a series I’d want to commit to reading.

Introducing Kira Drake and her wonder dog Mack, this book seems like the start of a new series which is a refreshing change of pace even though I have enjoyed every single Eve Duncan book that I've read.  
Jack Harlan, billionaire inventor, scientist and entrepreneur is searching for his brother's killer who continues to elude him even as he poses a threat to Jack and all he holds dear. When a bombing in Paris has the footprints of this killer, Jack convinces Kira to take on a hunt for this man along with her dog Mack.  They both find themselves in the US with the killer in their scope but their lack of trust in each other gets Mack shot and the killer in the wind.
 Fiona, Jack's niece, his brother's daughter is his ward and a horse whisperer.  She wants Kira to use the techniques that she has used to train and prolong the life of her dogs on horses. With that in mind they all head off to the Kira's island, but Fiona is kidnapped even as Jack and Kira head off to an island nation ruled by her friend who has the finest horses and buried treasure in caves around his island. 
The story winds through some cool toys and scientific inventions, and treasure even as the chase between the good guys and bad guys continues with some kidnappings and killings. As usual, Ms. Johansen delivers a great story that sweeps her readers in.  I hope we see more character development for Jack and Kira in forthcoming stories and Fiona of course is a delight and I hope a key part of the series to come.