Member Reviews

Summits edge.
Sara Driscoll

This one kept me on the Edge. The whole time. A rescue deep in the mountains in Colorado. A highjacker, a down plane.

I simply love this series. The Dogs have my heart. ❤️ I love books with dogs.

So so intense. Loved every minute of this book. Have read several books by this author each are unique in its own way. Simply perfect story's.

Get ready for a bumpy intense ride.
A definite page turner.

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Summit’s Edge by Jen J. Danna writing as Sara Driscoll is the fascinating and suspenseful ninth book in the FBI K-9 crime thriller series. The book features Meg Jennings and her Labrador K-9 partner Hawk. They’re civilian employees of the FBI’s Human Scent Evidence Response Team.

Meg and her human partner on the team, Brian Foster are called into Special Agent-in-Charge Craig Beaumont’s office. Meg, Hawk, Brian, and Brian’s K-9 partner Lacey are being deployed to Colorado where a hijacked plane has gone down somewhere in the Elk Mountains of Colorado near Aspen. The plan carried the board of directors of Barron Pharmaceuticals, two security guards, a junior assistant and three crew members. Has anyone survived? Exactly where is the plane? What is the status of the hijacker and who is he and why did he do it?

Meg is compassionate, friendly, wants to help others, and has a keen sense of justice. She also has a fear of heights that she must overcome on some sites. Climbing a mountain is not going to be easy for her. Hawk loves the rescue life. He’s steadfast, determined, and full of drive. He also loves and trusts Meg as she does him. There’s an array of characters from prior books that help with continuity and a sense of visiting friends.

Dynamic characters and fantastic world-building combined with a great plot, intense scenes, and excellent pacing are a standard expectation with this author. She has once again delivered that in this excellent and intense search and rescue deployment novel.

Reading a novel in this series is also a learning experience. Once again, the author provides a definition of an aspect related to the novel’s plot at the beginning of each chapter. In this case, the terms are mountain climbing related. She also details the preparations needed for a mountain rescue, the intensity of the search, the first responders’ actions upon finding the crash site, and the search for the hijacker. Risks abound for the searchers, including Hawk and Lacey, with parts of the mountainous route rated class three and four on a scale from one to five.

The author’s writing style continues to hook me quickly. The prose is well-written and engaging. Readers can tell she did a lot of research to get the details right regarding the dangers and process of mountain search and rescue. I was transported to the dangerous scene and felt as if I was living the events alongside the characters. This is an intense novel and reminds readers of the situations these mountain rescue teams can encounter. The atmosphere is tense and serious throughout most of the novel and it has more technical details than usual in this type of book without slowing the pace. I loved the ending epilogue.

Overall, this tense, engaging, suspenseful, and tragic mystery gripped me from the beginning. It was difficult to put down. I’m a fan of the series and looking forward to reading the next book.

Kensington Books and Sara Driscoll provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for November 26, 2024. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

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A page turner! With less than two weeks to go until her wedding, Meg and Hawk are tapped to travel to Colorado to search for the hijacker of a private plane which crashed in the mountains. But first they have to find the plane! Alongside her partner Brian and his dog Lacey, they head off into the wilderness with two FBI SAs and two search and rescue experts. And wow what a trip it is. You will feel the cold, the altitude, the stress Meg, Brian, and the others feel. I can't imagine making this climb in the light much less in the dark! Know that the mystery is less fleshed out and less important than the search (which was ok by me). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good read. I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next in Meg's life.

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This is the 9th book in the FBI K-9 series, but it is the first I have read and it didn’t impede my enjoyment at all. It did reference a couple of previous cases but I feel like I would still enjoy those if I were to pick them up. I listened to the audiobook for about the first half of this one before switching to kindle and binging the rest. I thought the narrator did a good job, her voice may have been a little flat it really fit the focused nature of the main character. This book takes us to a plane crash in the mountains and Meg and her partner Brian (one of my only complaints of the narration is that her saying Brian and his partner Ryan’s names sounded the same and was confusing) and their search dogs are sent to Colorado to help find survivors but also the high jacket of a private airplane. This isn’t the kind of search they’re used to, but they are sure that they and their pups are up for the challenge. I liked the glimpse at these smart, sweet working dogs and the important work they do that humans can't match. Overall I gave this one 4.5 stars rounded up since I was starting the series late and that might have kept me from becoming fully lost in the story.

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As a reader you never know ahead of time what kind of tragedy Meg and Hawk (And Brian and Lacey) will be facing and when and in this outing two weeks before she’s to walk down the aisle the teams are faced with yet another horrifying (and deeply terrifying to Meg) case when a hijacked private plane crashes into the mountains. Facing challenges they’d never prepared for is almost as dangerous as hunting for the hijacker and survivors in this unfamiliar wilderness. Riveting from beginning to end, I as always, highly recommend any of Sara Driscoll’s work!

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An incredible amount of research went into this novel. There were times I felt my breathing getting comprised as I read about the feeling of not being able to get enough oxygen. As one who has lived in the Colorado Mountains at 9500 ft., I know what altitude sickness feels like and the headaches, etc. that go with it. However, we were not under duress or trying to negotiate areas that were less than friendly for hiking, never mind the hope of finding survivors from a plane crash.

Add a good dose of suspense and danger to the mix, and you have a book you will not set aside until you find out who of the crash victims survives, including the murderer. The possibility of injury and even death for the rescuers is real and will certainly have you hoping for their safety. The two very precious K-9’s demonstrate their uncanny ability to follow a scent trail, under the most adverse conditions.

An early copy of this FBI K-9 novel was received through Kensington Publishing Corp. and NetGalley. These thoughts are my own and were in no way solicited.

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This was a very solid book and a nice introduction to Meg, Hawk and team. This was my first K-9 adventure but I am intrigued to read more. I was hooked from the opening sequence. The pacing was good. The climbing felt real and the characters are just flawed enough. I will have to check the other books and see the exploits of the dogs themselves.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

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FBI handler Meg Jennings and her K-9 partner, Hawk, along with colleague Brian Foster and his K-9 partner, Lacey, are sent to Colorado to aid in locating a private plane that crashed, then locating the hijacker that caused the crash, if he’s still alive. They’re dealing not only with the conditions of the mountain itself, but also weather conditions, high altitude issues, Meg’s fear of heights, and what they’ll find once they reach the crash site.

Once the site has been located and other teams arrive to assist, Meg and her team are surprised that there are so many survivors. However, the hijacker isn’t one of the deceased, which means their search isn’t over yet. Once the survivors had been helped to the best of the teams’ abilities and hearing what happened from the survivors, Meg and her team head off on the next part of their search effort. More danger lies ahead.

This is the first book I’ve read by Sara Driscoll, and I loved it! I’ll definitely be reading more of her books.

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

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What a harrowing experience. As if trying to locate a downed plane in the mountains isn't enough to contend with, there is also the cold, a killer, an unknown number of survivors, the high altitude, and Meg has a fear of heights. Since the search starts in the dark, there is a tradeoff between Meg's fear and the added difficulty of navigating the terrain in the dark.

This story is filled with detailed descriptions of the challenges faced by the rescue team (both humans and canine), danger, teamwork, and mystery around the killer/hijacker. There is a clear connection between not only Meg and her partner Brian, but also their K-9s. The big question is whether they can complete the mission in time for Meg to get home for her wedding.

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Meg and her dog Hawk work with FBI search and rescue. Even though they are based in DC and Meg is getting married in two weeks, they are summoned to the scene of a private plane crash in a rugged mountain area of Colorado. Apparently, the hijacked plane's passengers were the CEO of a big pharmaceutical company and his people which (surprise!) was notorious for selling opioids without regard to anything but profit. The book has many exciting details of Meg and the team fighting their way through the rough mountainous terrain with their dogs. Although there were others on the plane, I found myself disturbed that the search and rescue team were risking their lives to basically help a few wealthy executives. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

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This is the ninth book in the FBI K-9 series by Sara Driscoll. I started this series mid-stream and am enjoying it immensely. They can all be read as standalone mysteries but I enjoy getting to learn about the characters with each book that I read.

I read this in July and thought WOW! The hijacking of a pharmaceutical”s plane begins the immediate deployment of the K-9 teams of Meg/Hawk and Brian/Lacey to the hard to access mountains of Colorado.

I like that the main characters have fears and lives outside of their work but when the job calls, they respond with laser beam focus.

I learned a lot of new climbing terms and could empathize with Brian and Meg as they worked through their issues and looked out for each other. I also liked the support they received from their bosses.

It took a team effort to resolve. I highly recommend this book. The characters are relatable, have depth , and are strong.

I was given an advanced readers copy and am not required to leave a positive review.

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This is the second book that I’ve read in Sara Driscoll’s FBI K-9 series even though this is the ninth book in the series. Just like in book 8 (That Others May Live), Driscoll puts us at the scene of a disaster. This time it’s a plane crash, a small private jet that was hijacked over the high mountains of Colorado, making the search for survivors and for the hijacker extremely difficult - and dangerous. In addition to the difficult terrain, the search and rescue teams have to deal with the possibility of attitude sickness, in both the humans and the working dogs. I have experienced a bit of altitude sickness so I could really relate!

Once again, I was fascinated by how the dogs could follow a trail of people with their noses, with almost nothing tangible to go on (no piece of clothing to sniff, for example). Unfortunately, there was a lot of technical detail that, for me, bogged down the story a bit, even though it showed how much homework the author had done. I was mostly listening to the audio version so it wasn’t really possible to skim, but that was ok. It didn’t overly affect my enjoyment of the story.

In the first part of the book we follow the efforts made to find the crash site in the mountains and then once they find it, the hunt for the hijacker, who survived and ran off in the wilderness.

Main characters Meg and her dog Hawk and her search partner Brian and his dog Lacey, are back. They were flown in from DC to help with the tracking. Will Meg get back to DC in time for her own wedding?

This can definitely be read as a standalone. The author offers tantalizing bits of backstory throughout the book, referring to adventures in previous titles in the series.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book and to Recorded Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to a review copy of the audiobook. Susan Bennett did an excellent job with all the voices, both male and female. All opinions are my own.

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hijacked, fbi, k-9, suspense, canadian-author, unputdownable, teamwork, fast-pace, threats, crime-thriller, action, mountaineering, search-and-rescue, extrication, fiance, research, exhaustion, altitude, intense, learning-opportunity, stress, firefighters, plane-crash, riveting, execution, winter, thriller

A corporate jet with crew and major players in a pharmaceutical company. A man with a gun out to kill and hijack. Winter in the Rockies.
With less than two weeks until the wedding, FBI K-9 handler Meg and Hawk are sent to Denver urgently for the hijacked plane and whatever outcome is found. What happens next is as hair-raising as it gets! They have to CLIMB a 1400 ft mountain in the bitter cold. They do find the remains of the plane with both dead and severely wounded passengers. The firefighter who does mountaineering for FUN provides climbing gear and has emergency medical supplies, but this is way above his pay grade. Meg calls home on the SAT phone to DC to have her paramedic fiancé walk them through the emergency care possible under the conditions as the group on the mountain make arrangements for airlift. Meanwhile there is the problem of the unfamiliar altitude for the DC based folk and the dogs. Amazing! And then things get really sticky.
At the beginning of each chapter is a complex definition with examples of a useful word in specific terminology.
I requested and received a free temporary uncorrected advance proof from Kensington Publishing | Kensington via NetGalley. Thank you!
#SummitsEdge by Sara Driscoll @JenJDanna #AnFBIK9NovelBk9 @KensingtonBooks #SearchAndRescue #Hijacking #MountainRescue #Pursuit

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Another exciting adventure for the FBI K-9s. This one made me wish I were reading it during the extreme heat of summer. Lots of snow and cold. Not as appealing to me as some of the previous ones but still a good story. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

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Summits Edge
Sara Driscoll
November 26, 2024

Meg is over the edge thinking about her upcoming wedding to Todd. She has taken 2 weeks professional time so she, her mom, and Cara and finish all the preparation. Todd is excited as well. After the wedding they are off on a honeymoon ito a warm, romantic spot. She is finishing up the last details of work in the office when Craig motions for her and Brian to come to a meeting. Thinking it was prep for him and Lacey to take over while she and Hawk were gone. Wrong - the boss was dead serious. There had been a plane crash near Aspen, Colorado. He needed them to gather rescue gear and get on the plane.
Summits Edge will be published by Kensington Publishing Corp on November 26, 2024. This is Driscoll’s ninth book in the FBI K-9 series. Once again, Driscoll has researched and given readers in-depth information regarding the area. She provides the info on the search and it’s great difficulty for searchers on mountains at great height. The story is amazing and a true page-turner. Once again I was with the crew in my mind watching each climb attempting to locate the plane. If you are a fan of Meg & Hawk’s adventures you certainly will not miss it. The suspense is at its best for all who love a mystery. Do Enjoy!

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Summit’s Edge by Sara Driscoll is the 9th book in a series called K-9 series. The whole series focuses on Meg Jennings and her dog Hawk. The novel follows a search mission undertaken by Meg (with Hawk) and her partner Brian (Lacey, another search and rescue dog).

Meg and Brian were sent to Colorado to help track down a plane crash and the Hijacker (if alive). The plane contained a number of members of Barron Pharmaceuticals board and top positions. The plane crashed in a remote region in the 13-14 thousand foot mountains.

The novel follows their rescue mission and really hones down on the medical and technical aspects of being dog handlers, and the details of taking care of all of them. I found the whole story technical and riveting, which is a bit of an oxymoron. The book was a fast read and contained a lot of information. Summit’s Edge by Sara Driscoll was an interesting read.

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Summit's Edge is the latest in the FBI K-9 series. I've only read one of the prior books, but even though this book is #9, I had no problem connecting with the main characters. FBI K-9 handlers Meg Jennings and her work partner Brian Foster are sent on a search and rescue mission in the mountains near Aspen, Colorado. Meg and her dog Hawk are new to mountain rescues and the high altitude and Meg's fear of heights are obstacles that Meg is determined to overcome.

The team is looking for survivors of a crash in which a private plane was hijacked and at least one person was killed before the plane went down. In addition to the hazards of the extreme conditions they're facing, there is more danger to this search since the hijacker could be one of the survivors. The book does a great job of describing both the Colorado setting and the mountain conditions. It's informative about the equipment and skill needed to maneuver these mountains and the dangers of altitude sickness. I thought it was a little strange that Meg and Brian were called in when neither they nor their dogs had experience with mountain rescues, but overall I enjoyed this suspenseful book. I especially liked the ending, which I know readers who follow the series will love!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing the advance review copy of this ebook. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

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Sara Driscoll has done it again with another adventure with Meg and Hawk!
This is by far my favorite book of the series! Meg and Hawk along with their sidekicks Brian and Lacey brave the mountains where a high jacked plane has crashed.
Facing not only the dangers of criminals, but also weather conditions and rough terrain, the crew has their work cut out for them.
A well written story with plenty of twists and turns, realistic characters and a storyline that will keep you wanting, I highly recommend this book and series.
I was given a complimentary copy via NetGalley. My opinion is my own.

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The books opens quickly with the twists and turn leading to the plane crash. Then the author bounces us across the country to DC where we join our FMC and her work partner in learning investigating that plane crash and rescuing possible survivors is there mission. With only two weeks to go before her wedding, Meg is tossed into a dangerous mission that could have been more deadly if not for her fiancee and his medical knowledge. The mission sounds perilous but Meg and Hawk has proved tireless in previous books and always go where they can help. Along with her work partner Brian and his dog Lacey, this group embarks. The author gives us a front seat on this mission as we learn about and experience many dangers. It is so clear throughout the book that the dogs are not only important but loved. The scene were Meg took a rock for Hawk was so profound because I would do the same for my dog.
This series has built a nice strong stable of characters with McCord providing a lot of background and research that ultimately helped them understand what they were looking for. The survivors and there were survivors fill in additional pieces. Before I continue I don't see mentioning we have survivors as a big spoiler because we expect going in there will be a rescue. People are also lost and I found that especially said as one person was singled out and put into a bad spot that led to her demise for an unfair reason.
More mystery follows as our team once again braves the elements and a mountain to bring the hijacker to justice. Again, we see a special side of Meg as her big day approaches, she fills remorse for what was needed to be done to end the case. The counteract that sadness and tension, we get a big happy ending and the dog going on the honeymoon too.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

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Meg Jennings and Brian Foster, FBI Human Scent Evidence Team partners along with their K9’s Hawk and Lacey are sent to Colorado to find a missing plane crashed in the mountains. Suspense and plenty of action keep you glued to the pages as they find the plane and begin the search of the hijacker.
Another five stars for Sara Driscoll!

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