Title: Hanging Falls by Margaret Mizushima
Timber Creek K-9 Mystery Series Book Six
Publisher: Crooked Lane
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 285 pages
Book Rating: B+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
Murder stalks the rugged Colorado high country–and sends Mattie Cobb on a quest to uncover the darkest secrets from her past in the sixth gripping installment of Margaret Mizushima’s Timber Creek K-9 mysteries
A deluge has flooded the high ground near Hanging Falls–but heavy rains aren’t the only menace descending on Timber Creek. While on a scouting mission to pinpoint trail damage, officer Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner Robo stumble upon a body floating at the edge of a lake. Robo catches human scent, which leads to an enigmatic forest-dweller who quickly becomes suspect number one.
With help from veterinarian Cole Walker, Mattie identifies the victim, and discovers an odd religious cult whose dress and manners harken back to the 19th century. As the list of suspects grows, an unexpected visit from members of Mattie’s long-lost family sheds new light on her childhood as they help Mattie piece together details of the fateful night when she was abducted at age two.
The tangled threads of the investigation and family dynamics begin to intertwine–but darkness threatens to claim a new victim before Mattie and Robo can track down the killers.
Review:
Hanging Falls by Margaret Mizushima is an intriguing police procedural. Although I highly recommend the previous installments, this sixth mystery in the Timber Creek K-9 series can be read as a standalone.
Deputy Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner Robo join wildlife manager Glenna Dalton in a hike to survey trail damage. They have just arrived at the lake when Robo and Glenna’s dog moose locate a floating corpse. With a storm moving in, Mattie knows she needs to save as much evidence as possible. She and Glenna manage to remove the body and Mattie stays behind while Glenna goes to call for help. As she is surveying the area for possible clues, Mattie believes she spots someone above the lake. Believing this person might be involved or know something about the death, she and Robo hike to scout the scene after Glenna’s return. Her instincts are right on target when they find a young man hiding the surrounding trees. Meanwhile Detective Stella Losallo, Deputy Ken Brody, and local vet and Mattie’s love interest Cole Walker arrive to remove the remains and search for evidence. Returning to the station to their suspect, Tracy Lee Brown, everyone hopes the case will be wrapped up soon.
Mattie decides to delay her vacation and her trip to meet her newly found sister Julia and grandmother. After bringing Tracy Lee back to his campsite, she, Robo and Brody look for more evidence where the body was found. With Robo’s invaluable assistance, they locate an item that leads them to a group of newcomers to Timber Creek. The religious group have recently relocated and they are establishing a new life for themselves. After talking to leader Isaac King and the others on the property, Mattie and Stella have a good idea who their victim is. But now they have to try to figure out why someone murdered the young man.
Mattie’s sister and grandmother decide to visit her in Timber Creek and she is nervously preparing for their arrival. She knows they have information about her deceased father and she is hoping they might have details about her missing mother. Mattie is surprised at how emotional their reunion is and she is almost overwhelmed by what she learns about her long ago past. Unfortunately not all of her questions are answered initially and after the case is wrapped up, Mattie knows she must travel to her sister and grandmother to learn the missing details.
Hanging Falls is a fast-paced and engrossing mystery with a well-rounded cast of characters. Mattie has continued to grow and evolve to the point where she is willing to be a little more open. She and Cole are at a more comfortable place in their relationship and she is grateful for his and his family’s support. The investigation moves at a brisk pace as they eventually uncover the truth about not one, but two murders. This latest addition to Margaret Mizushima’s marvelous Timber Creek K-9 series is another fantastic mystery that old and new fans are sure to enjoy.
