Sadly, I was unfamiliar with this series; I should have listened to all nine by now. While this book stands well alone there are references to past books that make me want to read them all. The series focuses on FBI handler Meg Jennings and her K-9 partner, Hawk. Meg is a strong female lead. The character is realistic, likeable, knowledgeable, intelligent, and good at her job.
“In Summit’s Edge” a mere two weeks before her wedding to firefighter/paramedic, fiancé, Todd, Meg and Hawk are called on a special mission. A plane has been hijacked; on board are the board of directors of Barron Pharmaceuticals. One of the security guards shoots the CEO. The plane crashes on Elk Mountain in Aspen, Colorado along the Maroon Bells Wilderness area. The plane breaks into killing those in the tail section. The survivors have multiple injuries. The hijacker makes a run for it with the CEO’s son in hot pursuit despite his injuries.
Meg and Hawk, along with her friend/partner Brian and his K-9 dog Lacey must face treacherous weather in their effort to locate the plane and find the hijacker and Barron. This is a particularly tough mission for Meg, she is terrified of heights. Together Meg, Hawk, Brian and Lacey battle the weather, altitude, cold, lack of oxygen, and slippery unstable rocks; time is running out. This is a challenge unlike any they have faced before.
At the beginning of each chapter a term was defined concerning mountain climbing. It felt like I was on that slope with Meg as she and Hawk climbed the cold rocky mountain. Todd and others feed important information to the team searching for mountain. The details kept me eagerly listening to this tale. Kudos to author Sara Driscoll for the description of the climb and search. I was on the edge of my chair throughout this book.
This book has a special ending that fans will not want to miss.
Thank you NetGalley for the review copy. My reviews are my personal opinions.

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.

This is an absolute gem for fans of high-stakes suspense and action-packed thrillers. The story pulls readers right into the unforgiving wilderness of Colorado’s Elk Mountains, where FBI handler Meg Jennings and her loyal K-9 partner, Hawk, face some of the toughest challenges of their careers. Driscoll expertly weaves the tension of a nail-biting rescue with a complex and chilling cat-and-mouse pursuit, making each moment feel visceral and intense.

Meg Jennings is an incredibly engaging protagonist—strong, resilient, and deeply dedicated to her team and mission. Her bond with Hawk adds depth to the narrative, highlighting the bravery and loyalty that K-9 units bring to rescue missions. The danger feels all too real as they navigate not just the elements but a cunning hijacker who would do anything to evade capture.

Susan Bennett’s narration elevates the story, perfectly capturing both the thrill of the pursuit and the poignancy of the survivors’ plight. Her skillful voice work brings each character to life, making the danger, suspense, and even the occasional moment of relief resonate deeply.

With edge-of-your-seat suspense, vivid descriptions of the treacherous mountain setting, and characters you’ll root for until the end, Summit’s Edge is a remarkable thriller that keeps you hooked from start to finish. This book is a must-listen (must-read) for anyone who loves intense adventure, complex characters, and the inspiring partnership between K-9 officers and their handlers.

Thank you NetGalley, RB Media, and Sara Driscoll for providing an ARC (audiobook) in exchange for my honest review!

This is the 9th book in the FBI K-9 series. I haven’t read any of the other books in the series and it didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the book. I’m going to go back and start this series from the beginning.

The action packed story involves a hijacked private plane crashing in the Colorado Mountains and the K9 FBI team is racing against time to find the survivors and the hijacker.

I enjoyed Sara Driscoll’s writing style. Susan Bennett did an excellent job with the narration.

Thank you to NetGalley & RBmedia for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was different to the hard edged crime thriller I was expecting and it didn’t grip me as I’d hoped it would.

It is clear that the author has thoroughly researched the subject matter of high altitude mountain climbing and the use of search dogs, as these elements of the book, which were the main focuses, were very well written. After a high jacking occurs at the start of the book, the rest of the story describes the search meticulously, but with no real tension or twists, it ends fairly predictably.

This is the first book l've read in this series and I think that readers who have followed this series and are invested in the characters will enjoy this far more than I did. The narration by Susan Bennett, was excellent as she always is!

3 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Sara Driscoll and RB Media for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I have read the entire series by Sara Driscoll and have noticed a trend which does not please me. Where the early books we primarily a story laced with important facts about the field of rescue and dogs, the last couple of books have become way too technical with not much of story. Meg has taken a series backseat to the involved technical information that is conveyed. This latest book gave little in the way of a real storyline. The technical aspects of mountain rescue were so in depth and detailed that the story felt like it didn't exist at all. Though I love her characters and books, this was a disappointment.

A very enjoyable audiobook. Mountaineering, K-9 working dogs, and a manhunt are the key actions in this novel. Meg is the FBI agent who lives and works with Hawk, a trained Labrador retriever. Hawk and Lacy, a German Shepherd, are assigned with their handlers to help find a plane crash and the man who caused the accident. The plane was carrying the CEO, COO, CFO, and Board of Directors of a Purdue-like Pharma company selling, nay pushing, highly addictive opioids on doctors and their patients. Gee, someone wanted them dead? Quelle surprise! But they are not all dead and neither is the person who caused the crash. Lots of (literally) high-altitude climbing and dog handling details made for interesting listening. And all this happens less than two weeks before Meg’s wedding. For series readers, I’m sure the wedding is exciting. Since this is the first I’ve read in this 9-book (so far) series, I was not as interested in the Epilogue’s lengthy descriptions of wedding flowers etc. But I can see the appeal and will definitely be reading the earlier books in this series to get all caught up before #10!
My thanks to the author, publisher, producer, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook for review purposes. Publication date: Nov 26, 2024, so order your copy today!

A hijacked private plane goes down in mountainous Colorado. On board is the entire board of a big pharmaceutical company. A murder was committed just before the plane went down. Who was the intended target and why?  Meg is an FBI agent with a K-9 partner, Hawk. She and her colleagues team up with local search and rescue agencies to locate the crash site. This is a very fast paced adrenaline pumping action crime thriller. The dogs in the middle of the action are fantastic, the knowledge about the dogs and rescue terminology is spot on.

The narrator is amazing. She delivers all the emotion. I was able to listen at 1.5x speed with no problem at all.

Thank you to Netgalley and RB media for the ARC. Thank you for allowing me to review this novel.

3.5 stars

I went into this blind to the author/series/anything, and I found it to be a decent read. You're definitely plopped down in the middle of a series, but you don't necessarily need to have read any of the other books to understand who the characters are and what's going on in this installment.

I enjoyed the premise, but I do feel that there are sections of narration devoted to technical description/definition that are clunky and out of place (e.g. excessive background on specific backcountry hiking/SAR techniques that the narrator explains to the reader, or that are not-well-integrated into dialogue). I actually really appreciated learning these facts, I just wish they were a bit less on-the-nose.

This is also very obviously an American novel. The normalization of gun culture, even in context, is strong. This is more of a reader-beware, if that's not your thing. My last little gripe has to do with the ending, so light spoilers: it's very fade-to-black, which feels like a cop-out.

On the whole, this read did what I wanted it to. It's a great low-stakes/distraction of a listen, and I would read more in the series.

Book Title: Echoes of Memory
Series: FBI K-9 Book #9
Author: Sara Driscoll
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Susan Bennett
Publisher: RB Media
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pub Date: November 26, 2024
My Rating: 3.4. Stars
Pages 320


Although this is my first in this series, I have read other Sara Driscoll novels and loved them.

FBI handler Meg Jennings and her K-9 partner, Hawk are heading to the Colorado Mountains to locate a hijacked plane which crashed in the mountains. Meg has a ‘fear of height ‘ which I have as well only I know mine isn’t a fear of height but a’ fear of falling’ as I don’t experience it if I am in a place or safe enclosed space – high-rise etc. but won’t see me on the balcony!!
In this story they are also facing potential for high altitude sickness for both humans and dogs.
Story goes into medical details as to why it happens and how to keep from allowing it to cause problems.

It is obvious Ms. Driscoll does an amazing amount of research. There were times I thought the story read like a documentary as it was so ‘richly detailed’ ~ so much information.
I loved Meg and Hawk so was curious-wondered if it was even possible that there would survivors from the plane crash. Yes it kept me interested.
Plus knowing Meg was getting married in a few weeks had me hoping for a HEA!

Want to thank NetGalley and RB Media for this early audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for November 26, 2024

I expected to enjoy this book based on the description, but it fell flat for me. It reads more like an introductory guide to high-altitude climbing, with lengthy explanations of survival tools and weapon use. If you're new to climbing and need a primer on terms like "summit" and "switchback," this book might be up your alley. The suspense was lackluster, and the dialogue felt stilted and unnatural. Overall, the best word to describe this book is "dull". The characters had no spark whatsoever. The only bright spots were the dogs. They were alright.

A great novel by Sara Driscoll. I loved the human to canine connections as well as the wilderness aspects of this book.

FBI handler Meg Jennings and her K-9 partner, Hawk, vie to rescue plane crash survivors from a Colorado mountain—and contend with a hijacker determined to stop them.

As long as there’s hope of finding life, no mission is too dangerous for Meg Jennings and her colleagues in the FBI K-9 unit. But locating the wreckage of a hijacked private plane high in the Elk Mountains of Colorado is treacherous in a multitude of ways—some of them impossible for even a seasoned team to predict.

The plane, carrying the board of directors of Barron Pharmaceuticals, crashed on a rocky peak and was cleaved in two. Perilous weather means the rescuers have to ascend on foot, with their dogs unleashed in case of falls. It takes hours to locate the wreckage, but miraculously, Meg and Hawk find half a dozen passengers and crew still alive. The hijacker also survived, and has fled into the wilderness with the CEO’s son in pursuit.

As soon as day breaks, the K-9 teams set out to find both men, and the dogs quickly pick up a scent trail. Meg has used her connections with an investigative reporter to learn as much as she can about the hijacker, hoping to use it when they apprehend him. But first, they must contend with the mountain’s savage fury, and an adversary who will destroy as many lives as possible rather than face justice .