Summit’s Edge by Sara Driscoll
FBI K-9 #9

Intensely challenging rescue and manhunt as the K-9s and their handlers search for a murderous hijacker in difficult mountainous terrain ~ Excellent addition to the series!

What I liked:
* Being back with this wonderful cast of characters and finding out what they are doing
* Meg Jennings: civilian FBI handler with the forensic canine unit, strong, fit, dedicated, professional, team player, engaged, loves her family, resilient, good friend, protective, bonded with Hawk
* Hawk: black labrador, Meg’s canine partner and “heart dog, strong, determined, excellent skills, capable, loving, supportive, part of the family when not working
* Todd Webb: Meg’s fiancé, fireman and EMT, strong, professional, skillful, loves Meg and understands her, provided information about high-altitude illness before Meg, Brian, and the dog tackled the search in Colorado
* Brian Foster: Meg’s work partner, handler and partner of K-9 Lucy, married, good friend, has Meg’s back,
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* The epigraphs with information about climbing at the beginning of each chapter
* The teamwork and how fluidly the FBI in Colorado, the rescue personnel, and dog handlers worked together
* Feeling part of the story and learning more about climbing, elevation issues, emergency care and remembering climbing Mount Whitney and one of the youth in the group having altitude illness issues
* The last chapter and the happy wedding day with all the friends and family there
* Wondering what the next book will be about

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to
* Thinking about why anyone would be able to rationalize what the hijacker did

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to the author and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

Summits Edge is an exciting, often frightening story of the perils faced by the courageous first responders who perform mountain rescues, along with their highly trained intrepid rescue dogs. FBI special handler, Meg Jennings is busy preparing for her wedding, when the call comes about a hijacked private plane that has crashed in the Colorado mountains. Meg, her work partner Brian and their two rescue dogs, Hawk and Lacey are dispatched with other agents to the area. All the information they have is that it was a corporate plane belonging to a pharmaceutical firm, and that someone on the plane was shot before the crash. Their mission is to locate and rescue any survivors, as well as search for whoever fired the shot. Jen J. Danna (writing under the name Sara Driscoll) has written a well-researched, captivating novel that kept my attention from beginning to end. The characters she has created, for this book and the series, are wonderful representations of dedicated first responders. I love the way she starts each chapter with an explanation of the particular rescue technique that is used in that chapter. This is a fast paced, detailed account of what is experienced in a mountain rescue of this type, and the perils faced by both the human and canine heroes that perform this vital rescue. I learned so much from this book! The author has combined the harrowing facts of a rescue, that highlights the bravery of these first responders, and their canine counterparts into an absorbing mystery wrapped with just a bit of romance! Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy. The opinions of this review are my own.

I’m always a fan of crime fiction and add a dog and I’m over the moon. And even better when the dog has a purpose. When you throw in a missing pharmaceutical ceo, the story could be ripped from the headlines.

I’m a fan of the balance with Meg and Hawk and that there’s another handler and dog searching to show how they complement each other in a search. Meg’s wedding puts her part on a timer and when there’s an incident with another dog, the suspense and pace escalates.

The story started a little slow but after the setup, I was all in wanting to know what happened and if they’d make Meg’s deadline.

Susan Bennett does a great great job conveying the urgency and intensity of the search. She brought the story to life.

In book 9 Summits Edge of the FBI K-9 series, there is a call made from a private plan about a hijack right before the plane disappears. Not knowing if there are survivors or not, the mountain rescue team brings in the FBI K-9 unit. Meg/Hawk and Brian/Lacey are on a mission, taking them into the mountains of Colorado to locate wreckage and find any survivors. The weather, altitude, and treterious mountains might be the hardest and most dangerous missions yet.
The handlers and the K-9s face the complex search as they always do, but is it enough to locate the plane?survivors? The gunman? Will they all make it off the mountain safe? Is the challenge too much?
All the usual characters are helping the search from afar. Todd, who is a firefighter/paramedic and Meg's fiance, helps with medical advice along the way. He needs Meg back for their wedding in two weeks. Clay McCord helps by finding information to help figure out who the highjacker is and why he did this.
I have read all the books in this series, and this, by far, is the best one yet.
I always love the partnerships, trust, and loyalty that are shown in the series. I highly recommend this series to dog lovers and all readers alike.
I have to thank Kensington Books and Sara Driscoll for providing me with a digital ARC via Netgalley for an honest review. This review is made of my own opinion. The publication date is currently set for November 2, 2024. #SummitsEdge #FBIK9 #SaraDriscoll #KensingtonBooks #NetGalley @JenJDanna

the page turner will capture you on the very first page! An intense unpredictable story with complex characters and will keep you on the edge of your seat! A must read!

Book #9 in the K9 FBI series. If you've not read any of this series, you're missing out on some very good stories told with amazing details and plenty of tension built into every rescue adventure. The author takes the time to educate the reader on the real life process of K9 rescue and the habitats they must work in. This adds another dimension to the realism of each story. When the characters are this well defined, it's easy to root for the good guys. This mission is to find and rescue survivors from a downed aircraft where the crash was caused by a hijacking. As the team works to save the passengers, they must also stay alert for the hijacker. As always, Sara Driscoll provides readers with enough thrills to keep the pages flying. Another 5 easy stars for these rescue dogs and their handlers.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher Kensington for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first book I have read of this series, which caused a lower rating than many other readers. But one thing I always promise, is an honest review. The plot was enticing, but the execution for me made it a chore to complete the novel.

The opening chapters pulled me into the story as we learned of the hijacking of a small private plane that crashed into the mountains surrounding Aspen. With my first introduction to the FBI Human Scent Evidence Team and handlers Meg Jennings and Brian Foster with Hawk, a Black Labrador, and Lacey, a German Shepherd, the premise was interesting. Also, the whole idea of searching for the crash site within these treacherous and dangerous mountains to find any survivors and to chase a hijacker who maybe armed and on the loose piqued my interest.

But as the novel continued as Meg and others continued searching in this hostile, rugged setting to find the crash site, I lost interest. The journey into the mountains in search of the missing plane was laborious. I felt guilty as I skimmed more of the text until something happened. Also, while some may find all the technical details regarding mountain climbing and risks of high altitude in the mountains around Aspen interesting, it felt at times like I was reading a training manual rather than a thriller. If I were an actual mountain climber, I would be more excited by all the technical accuracy that the author tried to deliver.

My other problem with the novel is how information that was introduced early in the novel became significant later in the novel. Not to get into spoilers, but because of how certain information was delivered early, when it became a pivotal part of the storyline later, it was not as suspenseful as it could have been.

As this is the ninth novel of the series and the first novel I have read of this series, this contributed to me not getting invested in the characters plight or the romance of Meg and Todd. The epilogue for me was another portion of the novel where I was guilty as I found myself skimming through most of the epilogue to see if anything exciting would happen.

The payout at the end of the book had good suspense, which really helped raise this novel from two stars to three, but a little predictable from easter eggs mentioned earlier in the novel.

I wish I could have enjoyed this novel more and detest giving it a low score, but I will possibly give the series another chance in the future. Once again, interesting plot and setting, but it did not land the plane in the end for me.

Remote terrain makes a difficult search more dangerous

When a private jet carrying the top executives of a controversial pharmaceutical company appears to have crashed in a remote mountainous area in Colorado during bad weather, there is limited time to mount a search and rescue. An emergency call was made from the plane to the authorities indicating that someone on board had a gun and was taking control of the flight: shortly afterwards the plane disappeared from radar, so it is unknown exactly where the plane went down. An armed highjacking puts this into the realm of the FBI, and they dispatch two of their best search-and-rescue dog and handler teams from DC to aid in the search for both the downed plane (and any survivors) and the armed highjacker. Meg Jennings and her black Lab Hawk along with Brian Foster and his German shepherd Lacey are among the best at what they do, but even as they pack what they need to bring with them they discover that there is a danger inherent to this assignment of which they were unaware - high altitude illness. The presumed search area is more than 10,000 feet in altitude higher than that to which their bodies are accustomed, and safety protocols would normally have them take several days to slowly acclimate to the different atmosphere….not an option in a race against time. They take what precautions they can and put that worry (mostly) to the back of their mind, and head to Colorado. Battling not just the challenges of working at high altitudes but cold temperatures, high winds, and treacherous terrain (and, for Meg, a paralyzing fear of heights) the two handlers and their talented canines join forces with local FBI and search agencies to search for the crash site. Will there be survivors? Who took control of the plane, and why? And can even a highly trained and dedicated group of searchers survive the treacherous conditions?
This is the ninth entry in author Sara Driscoll’s FBI K-9 series and, although it can certainly be read as a standalone thriller, readers of earlier installments will have the advantage of knowing previous exploits and backgrounds of the tight group of family and friends (two and four legged) who have formed tight bonds. From SAC Craig Beamount to Meg’s fiancé Todd Webb, Meg’s sister Cara and Cara’s significant other (and Washington Post investigative reporter) Clay McCord, there truly is a village which supports its members in their pursuits. The reader learns a great deal about the training and capabilities of search and rescue dogs (and the training and conditioning that their handlers maintain themselves) in each book, and in this story the circumstances and challenges of rescues in poor conditions and remote locations. It all makes for a combination of interesting characters, a twisty plot, and a growing appreciation of the working animals who risk themselves to save others. Those who have read previous books in the series will definitely want to pick this one up, as will fans of Alex Kava, Paula Munier and Margaret Mizushima. A quick and intriguing read that grabs the reader’s attention from page one…I enjoyed the ride and look forward to book ten in the series. Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for allowing me early access to Summit’s Edge.

My New Favorite in This Series!

I loved Summit’s Edge, the latest in Sara Driscoll’s FBI K-9 series! It far exceeds my expectations. The primary characters are a close-knit family, highly engaging, passionate about their work, and loyal to those in their lives. Descriptions are so clear that I can almost see everything, but this time I am happy to have been only an armchair traveler!

Meg, Brian, and their K-9s are often teamed together in searches. They work together as one, and their dogs will, when necessary, act on commands from either handler. Meg and Brian have each other’s back; likewise, they and their dogs have each other’s back. Meg’s dog is Hawk, a black labrador. Brian has Lacey, his German shepherd. They have far more grit than they think and adore their dogs. Hawk and Lacey work very well together, and adore their handlers and work. Meg and Brian work for Craig, SAC of the FBI Human Scent Evidence Team. They can be sent anywhere in the country at any time of day or night that requires their talents.

Barron Pharmaceuticals has a luxury jet that company officers travel in frequently. The father and son, Kenneth and Eli Barron, were passengers with their board members and an administrative assistant. They are going to Napa for their annual board meeting. Shortly after takeoff, the flight assistant called to report that the jet had just been hijacked by one of the security guards and one person had been killed so far. There was no indication of the plane anywhere on radar, and a crash is thought to have been heard. The plane and survivors, if any, must be found.

In May, the mountains of Colorado can have snow and be extremely cold, so Brian and Meg grabbed clothing layers and special snacks for themselves and their dogs. The altitude in the Elk Mountains could reach 14,000 feet, necessitating special medications to avoid altitude sickness that could put them out of commission. Meg has one personal struggle that could cause her distress in this search. Brian is the only person at the FBI aware of it, and he always does what he can to encourage her.

The wedding of Meg and her fiancé, Todd, a firefighter and paramedic in DC, is less than two weeks away, and Craig promised to have them back on time. Brian, ordained on-line, is looking forward to conducting their wedding ceremony.

Upon arrival, Meg and Brian were accompanied by Stacey and Corey from the local FBI office and Hensley and Fife, two men from Mountain Rescue Aspen, one of whom has extensive experience in the area. Heavy cloud cover and high winds have prevented any kind of aerial search.

This deployment takes Meg and Brian through experiences I didn’t envy! It was hard to close my eyes to the scenes and still read while they were lowered down a steep slope, each with their respective dog, on a rope! What they did to locate the plane, help survivors, then follow the scents of the killer/ hijacker and the passenger determined to get revenge was remarkable! You won’t want to miss a word of this tale! I was very satisfied with the entire novel, especially the ending and resolutions! I very highly recommend this and all of this series, which is one of my favorites. Those who appreciate breathtaking views and adventures, K-9 search and rescues, and the very best of friends and family will want to savor each one!

From a thankful heart: I read and based my review on a pre-publication copy as provided by Kensington via NetGalley. A hearty thanks to each!

Suspenseful thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat…

This is the second novel I’ve read by this author and it packed the same punch as the first. From the opening pages, the author surrounded me in a plot that had lots of balls in the air and interesting, insightful characters to catch them.

Set in the rugged mountains of Colorado, mountain climbing/hiking was a major focus and I thought I might be lost in the technical aspects of it all. Instead, each element was explained in a way that was easy and familiar and kept me interest throughout. The tension of the pursuit, the challenges they faced, made the warm and engaging characters even more so. The bond between human and canine was striking and helped to make this a favourite read of the year.

I believe this is the last book in this series and I can’t wait to go back to the beginning and find out more about Meg and Hawk and the entire team… I know there are many adventures to discover…

Meg, Hawk and the rest of this amazing cast of characters are back and better than ever! This case was so intense and kept me on edge. My heart pounded through some of the scenes. This is my favorite procedural series featuring K9s. And that ending was perfect!

This was a "heart in your mouth" kind of adventure, all the way!

Meg and Hawk are called out, along with Brian and Lacey, to locate the man who hijacked a private plane, and the man who is pursuit of him - on a high, scary mountain where every step could be your last.

Lots of suspense in this one and, once again, the dogs steal my heart :) There are also some lovely things going on for the humans but I won't give away the surprise!

One of the things I really love about the series is the relationships that Meg has with her dog, with Brian, her fiance, her sister and her parents. It is really wholesome, which is very much appreciated by this reader.

5 stars from me and I am looking forward, already, to the next book in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books.

What a complete rush from the very beginning to the thrilling end! Meg Jennings is planning her upcoming wedding to the love of her life, Todd Webb. When she and her K9 Hawk, along with her FBI Human Scent Evidence partner, Brian Foster and his K9 Lacey are called to an urgent meeting. A plane has crashed in the Nevada mountains and they will be needed to search for the crash site and possibly the hijacker if they survived. Was the entire board of Barron Pharmaceuticals, who were on the flight, targeted and if so, why? As they prepare for harsh conditions, as well as unfamiliar terrain, they meet up with their contacts from the Denver FBI office. Along with assistance from Mountain Rescue Aspen, a volunteer group who live near and have hiked the mountains they will be climbing. Once they find the crash site, they will need to assist the survivors, with the SAT phone help of her fiancé who is with DC Fire & Emergency Medical Services. With the hijacker on the run, they along with their dogs begin the search to stop him. Will she do what she must do to stop the killer and make it home in time for her wedding? WOW! I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

Immersed. Like many of the books in this series you are feel like your there, present in every situation. Its been fascinating watching Meg grow and still deal with her issues and vulnerabilities. Hawk her K-9 who is her partner and companion. Brian her human partner ( love his wit and sarcasm) and his K9 Lacey go to Denver - just days before Meg's upcoming wedding to Todd who is a firefighter and ems. There are moments of catching your breath and oh no, they wouldn't do that would they. This was a fascinating, well thought out plot that entertained and informed. The ending put a smile on my face. Thank you for the advanced copy. I freely share my honest thoughts and opinions.. Summit'sEdge #AFBIK9 #SaraDriscoll #Kensington #NetGalley

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Nail biting will happen while reading this book. Meg and her K-9, Hawk, and the rest of their crew are used to battling adversaries, but danger takes on a whole new meaning in this fantastic story.

Meg, Hawk, Brian and Lacey are called in to assist after a private plane owned by Barron Pharmaceuticals is hijacked and goes down in the Elk Mountains in Colorado. There is hope that there will be survivors, which is why their unit has been called into assist. Conditions will not allow any kind of air support, so they will have to go in on foot. Tedious, scary and dangerous do not even begin to describe this trek.

There are some scary and tense moments as they trek up the side of this mountain. Some heroes do not wear capes, but they definitely deserve the title of hero, which is what these guys, gals and dogs are. With extremely rough terrain, the possibility of avalanches, illness and any other kind of danger you can think of, plus they have no idea if there is an armed hijacker on the run, the stakes are high and the days are long and cold.

The sheer amount of information the author provided as she told the story was interesting in and of itself, even without the mystery. It made me tired just reading about their adventure. To add to the stress, Meg is getting married in two weeks. Talk about a mental overload. However, Meg is dedicated to her job in hopes of finding survivors, so she puts it out of her mind.

The cast of characters are always interesting in this series, and the mystery written into this one was interesting to say the least. I always feel a little smarter after reading about the adventures of this crew. Dog lovers and mystery lovers will enjoy this book, even if you may grind your teeth while reading it.

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Meg Jennings and Hawk (K-9), and Brian Foster with Lacey (K-9) are heading to the mountains. Not for fun, Meg would never choose to do heights, but a corporate plane crashed in the Elk Mountains of Colorado. Right before the plane disappeared from the screens a call was made from the plane that there was a gunman on board.
This will be either a rescue mission or a body retrieval mission, and danger is in more than one way – high altitude sickness, weather, facing a gunman that survived, and the fear of heights.
I love reading this series, it always surprises me how much I learn (I do searches while reading as the it is so cool to learn something and read some more about it)
You can totally read this book on its own but I would suggest you read the all.

SUMMITS EDGE is the ninth book in the FBI K-9 novels by Sara Driscoll. While I haven’t read any previous books in the series, this was easy to jump in and read as a standalone… and whet my appetite to go back and read more stories about this FBI K-9 duo! From the very start, it’s obvious that the author has done extensive research on rescue missions on treacherous mountains. She starts each chapter with a mountaineering term explanation, which brings added value. Her attention to detail makes the reader feel like they’re right there, gasping for breath in the low oxygen altitudes, or feeling the icy bite of the treacherous winds on the snow-packed peaks. But what drew me in and held my attention was the relationship between FBI Human Scent Evidence team partners Meg Jennings and Brian Foster and their dogs, Hawk and Lacey. The ability of the dogs is truly remarkable and the love and respect the canines and their humans have for each other is heartwarming. The character development and realistic setting are top-notch, but the star of the show is the heart-stopping rescue mission of the victims of a hijacking and plane crash, and the tracking of a murderer, all under treacherous conditions. With a fast pace that kept me engaged, I couldn’t put the book down until I’d read to the very end. If you enjoy tense, suspenseful books with a strong female protagonist and DOGS, do yourself a favor and read this one!

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

An armed hijacker, 14,000 foot peaks covered with loose scree, the possibility of high-altitude sickness and a wedding only two weeks away all make this latest Meg and Hawk a high-tension page-turner. Climbing definitions starting each chapter add to the fascinating details of a springtime high altitude mountain search. I liked learning about avalanche survival, how to cross the remains of an avalanche, the classes of climbing , and how to belay a dog. Relationships shine, whether human to human or to dog. Driscoll is at the top of her game and this can be read on its own. Highly recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

I found the journey to get to the plane wreck a bit boring but otherwise I enjoyied the story and the characters.

The team is looking for a downed plane that was hijacked - all the makings of an exciting adventure. But Instead the majority of this story is a how-to on climbing: dealing with altitude, finding proper handholds, walking on scree, etc. I haven't read the other books in the series, and there are a ton of throwbacks to what I assume happened in those novels.

This was an okay read for me. I would have preferred more story and less climbing manual.

Not family friendly due to profanity and adult themes.