Category Archives: Margaret Mizushima

October 5, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: Striking Range by Margaret Mizushima

Title: Striking Range by Margaret Mizushima
A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery Book Seven
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 288 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

A deadly secret is buried in the Colorado high country–and murder is only the beginning in the seventh gripping installment of Margaret Mizushima’s Timber Creek K-9 mysteries.

He was suspect number one–the man who tried to kill Deputy Mattie Cobb and may have killed her father thirty years earlier. But when Mattie and cold case detective Jim Hauck reach the Colorado state prison where they will finally get to interview him, he’s found dead in his cell. There’s only one clue: a map leading to Timber Creek and rugged Redstone Ridge.

Though she usually works with veterinarian Cole Walker, Mattie’s K-9 partner Robo has just sired a litter of pups, who require special, time-consuming care at Cole’s clinic. Left to explore the map’s clue without him, Mattie and Robo journey into the burned forest surrounding Redstone Ridge. But before they can finish their search they’re called to help investigate the death of a young woman found in a campground filled with elk hunters. Identification of the deceased points to her having recently given birth, but the infant is nowhere to be found.

As a deadly storm descends upon the mountains, covering everything with a layer of ice and snow, Mattie and her team search for the missing newborn. The storm batters the area, taking its toll on the team and forcing the sheriff to call in reinforcements. When new evidence surfaces, they decide that finding the woman’s killer will lead them to her baby, making them even more desperate to solve the case.

Then Cole goes missing, stranded alone in the high country with a person that Mattie now suspects is the mastermind behind several murders, including her father’s. She and Robo take to the trail to find Cole–but the killer has a cold-blooded plan that threatens them all.

Review:

Striking Range by Margaret Mizushima is a riveting mystery that takes place in rural Colorado. Although this newest release is the seventh installment in the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series, it can be read as a standalone.

Hoping to finally solve her father’s murder, K-9 Deputy Mattie Cobb teams up with San Diego cold case Detective Jim Hauck to question prisoner John Cobb. But when they arrive at the prison, they discover he died that morning. Disappointed, Mattie and her K-9 partner Robo head back to Timber Creek to gear up to follow the only lead they find in his cell. Jim joins them as they return to Redstone Ridge where they search the cave where John held her prisoner. Robo leads them to a surprising discovery along with other possible crime scenes. Before they can finish their hunt for more evidence, Mattie joins the investigation when a body is found at a local campground.

After a long night without much sleep, Mattie and Detective Stella LoSasso work together on the current case.  They are not making much progress but Stella discovers information that is absolutely chilling. They also locate the victim’s car which partially solves a troubling incident but also leads to more questions. Tirelessly tracking down each new lead, Mattie, Stella and Robo find an unlikely suspect who gives them valuable new evidence. But will they find their new suspect before someone that Mattie loves finds themselves in a dangerous situation?

Striking Range is a fast-moving mystery with a captivating storyline and atmospheric setting. Mattie is a dedicated deputy who will not rest until this latest case is resolved. Her relationship with local veterinarian Cole Walker continues to evolve and he remains an integral part of the volunteer force. Mattie’s friendship with Stella deepens as they work together on the current case. The continuing story arc about Mattie’s past simmers in the background as she puts all her effort into their current investigation. With a shocking plot twist, Margaret Mizushima brings this latest addition to the fantastic Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series to a nerve-wracking conclusion.

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Filed under A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery, Contemporary, Crooked Lane Books, Margaret Mizushima, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Striking Range, Suspense

September 7, 2020 · 11:58 pm

Review: Hanging Falls by Margaret Mizushima

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.

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Filed under Contemporary, Crooked Lane Books, Hanging Falls, Margaret Mizushima, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Suspense, Timber Creek K-9 Mystery Series

November 11, 2019 · 11:58 pm

Review: Tracking Game by Margaret Mizushima

Title: Tracking Game by Margaret Mizushima
Timber Creek K-9 Mystery Series Book Five
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 288 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Two brutal murders, a menacing band of poachers, and a fearsome creature on the loose in the mountains plunge Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner Robo into a sinister vortex.

An explosion outside a community dance sends Mattie Cobb and Cole Walker reeling into the night, where they discover a burning van and beside it the body of outfitter Nate Fletcher. But the explosion didn’t kill Nate–it was two gunshots to the heart.

The investigation leads them to the home of rancher Doyle Redman, whose daughter is Nate’s widow, and the object of one of their suspect’s affection. But before they can make an arrest, they receive an emergency call from a man who’s been shot in the mountains. Mattie and Robo rush to the scene, only to be confronted by the ominous growl of a wild predator.

As new players emerge on the scene, Mattie begins to understand the true danger that’s enveloping Timber Creek. They journey into the cold, misty mountains to track the animal–but discover something even more deadly in Tracking Game, the fifth installment in Margaret Mizushima’s Timber Creek K-9 mysteries.

Review:

Tracking Game by Margaret Mizushima is an enthralling mystery with a fantastic cast of characters. Although this newest release is the fifth installment in the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series, it can be read as a standalone. However, I highly recommend the previous novels in the series.

Deputy Mattie Cobb and veterinarian Cole Walker’s private relationship goes public when they attend a town dance together. But their evening plans are interrupted by a nearby explosion. Upon arriving at the scene, they discover a burning vehicle, a dead body and an injured friend and his wife. Cole’s friends Leslie and Garrett Hartman have had a difficult year and both he and Mattie are worried about Garrett’s injuries. Garrett’s attempt to save murder victim Nate Fletcher prevents important evidence from going up in flames. Mattie quickly brings her K-9 partner Robo to the scene where he soon sniffs out invaluable evidence.  But will their discoveries lead them to the killer?

Mattie is making progress with coming to terms with her troubled childhood. She continues to wrestle with trust issues and she remains a little wary of taking her relationship with Cole to the next level. Mattie pushes aside her personal demons as she and Robo become embroiled in the investigation into Nate’s murder.

Mattie, Chief Deputy Brody and Detective Stella Losasso put in long hours trying to unmask Nate’s killer. At first glance, Nate appears to be an unlikely victim but the evidence  soon paints a different picture of the outfitter.  Mattie and Stella follow their unexpected leads but they are frustrated by their lack of progress. When another person connected to the case is murdered, Mattie and the rest of the team are soon in a race against time to catch the murderer.

Tracking Game is a fast-paced mystery that is quite intriguing. Mattie continues to grow and heal as she becomes seriously entangled with Cole and his daughters. The investigation is quite fascinating and the case takes an very shocking turn. Margaret Mizushima brings the mystery to a tension-filled conclusion. 

While the mystery element is completely wrapped up, the novel abruptly ends with a cliff-hanger personal discovery.  Readers will be impatiently awaiting the next release in the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series.

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Filed under Contemporary, Crooked Lane Books, Margaret Mizushima, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Suspense, Timber Creek K-9 Mystery Series, Tracking Game

September 10, 2018 · 11:56 pm

Review: Burning Ridge by Margaret Mizushima

Title: Burning Ridge by Margaret Mizushima
Timber Creek K-9 Mystery Book Four
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 279 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Featuring Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner Robo, Burning Ridge by critically acclaimed author Margaret Mizushima is just the treat for fans of Alex Kava.

On a rugged Colorado mountain ridge, Mattie Cobb and her police dog partner Robo make a grisly discovery—and become the targets of a ruthless killer.

Colorado’s Redstone Ridge is a place of extraordinary beauty, but this rugged mountain wilderness harbors a horrifying secret. When a charred body is discovered in a shallow grave on the ridge, officer Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner Robo are called in to spearhead the investigation. But this is no ordinary crime—and it soon becomes clear that Mattie has a close personal connection to the dead man.

Joined by local veterinarian Cole Walker, the pair scours the mountaintop for evidence and makes another gruesome discovery: the skeletonized remains of two adults and a child. And then, the unthinkable happens. Could Mattie become the next victim in the murderer’s deadly game?

A deranged killer torments Mattie with a litany of dark secrets that call into question her very identity. As a towering blaze races across the ridge, Cole and Robo search desperately for her—but time is running out in Margaret Mizushima’s fourth spine-tingling Timber Creek K-9 mystery, Burning Ridge.

Review:

Burning Ridge by Margaret Mizushima is an intriguing and poignant mystery.  Although this newest release is the fourth installment in the phenomenal Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series, it can be read as a standalone. However, I highly recommend the entire series.

Veterinarian Cole Walker and his daughters, Angela and Sophie, are enjoying a pleasant outing in Redstone Ridge when they make a grisly discovery: charred human remains.  Deputy Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner Robo join the search effort to locate the primary crime scene and the remainder of the body.  Mattie also notices an anomaly in a meadow which in turn leads to the skeletonized remains of three other victims. The MO in both cases is eerily similar but the two crimes have taken place over twenty years apart.  Is it possible the same perpetrator is responsible for both crimes?

Mattie has slowly but surely been working to overcome her troubled past. When she was six years old, her father went to prison and she was abandoned by her mother. She has few recollections of her life with them but after recently reconnecting with her older brother, Willie, some of her repressed memories have surfaced. With her relationship with Willie improving, she has become more open to the two of them meeting. So when Matt’s girlfriend, Tamara, calls to let her know that  Willie is missing, Mattie is concerned. He is a recovering addict and initially, she is worried he has relapsed. But upon further discussion Tamara, Mattie has reason to believe that there might be a more ominous reason for his disappearance.

Mattie joins Detective Stella LoSasso as she questions possible suspects but the murder investigation remains slow going due to a lack of evidence.  Once they have identified the newest victim, the case takes a shocking turn. Mattie is shaken but determined to help solve the murder, but the situation becomes incredibly dangerous as the perpetrator grows more desperate.

Burning Ridge is a fast-paced and engrossing police procedural. Mattie remains an absolutely fascinating protagonist who has grown and changed over the course of the series. Her relationship with Robo is exceptionally heartwarming and she is making progress with her slow-moving romance with Cole. The storyline is very clever and the identity of the perpetrator is truly surprising. With descriptive prose, Margaret Mizushima brings the setting vibrantly to life. Although the mystery is completely wrapped up by the novel’s action-packed conclusion, stunning revelations will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment in the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series.

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Filed under Burning Ridge, Contemporary, Crooked Lane Books, Margaret Mizushima, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Suspense, Timber Creek K-9 Mystery Series

August 7, 2017 · 11:57 pm

Review: Hunting Hour by Margaret Mizushima

Title: Hunting Hour by Margaret Mizushima
Timber Creek K-9 Mystery Series Book Three
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Deputy Mattie Cobb is in a dark place and has withdrawn from Cole Walker and his family to work on issues from her past. When she and her K-9 partner Robo get called to track a missing junior high student, they find the girl dead on Smoker’s Hill behind the high school, and Mattie must head to the Walker home to break the bad news. But that’s only the start of trouble in Timber Creek, because soon another girl goes missing—and this time it’s one of Cole’s daughters.

Knowing that each hour a child remains missing lessens the probability of finding her alive, Mattie and Robo lead the hunt while Cole and community volunteers join in to search everywhere. To no avail. It seems that someone has snatched all trace of the Walker girl from their midst, including her scent. Grasping at straws, Mattie and Robo follow a phoned-in tip into the dense forest, where they hope to find a trace of the girl’s scent and to rescue her alive. But when Robo does catch her scent, it leads them to information that challenges everything they thought they knew about the case.

Mattie and Robo must rush to hunt down the kidnapper before they’re too late in Hunting Hour, the third installment in critically acclaimed author Margaret Mizushima’s exhilarating mystery series.

Review:

In Hunting Hour, the discovery of a missing teen’s lifeless body has a rather profound effect on K-9 handler Deputy Mattie Cobb. Although this latest release is the third installment in Margaret Mizushima’s Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series, it can easily be read as a standalone (but I highly recommend the entire series).

Mattie is still trying to work through the deep-seated and extremely troubling issues from her highly dysfunctional and abusive childhood when her search for missing thirteen year old Candace Banks ends in tragedy. The subsequent investigation uncovers startling information that makes Mattie suspicious that the girl’s father, Burt, might have been molesting his daughter. Although there is no evidence to substantiate her theory, inconsistencies in his alibi definitely make him a person of interest in the case. The investigation into Candace’s death is barely underway when Mattie’s friend, local veterinarian Cole Walker’s youngest daughter is kidnapped.  Certain the two cases are linked, Mattie, Chief Deputy Ken Brody and Detective Stella LoSasso begin a frantic search to locate eight year old Sophie before it is too late.

In recent months, Mattie has distanced herself from Cole, his daughters and her co-workers as she undergoes therapy in an effort to come to terms with her traumatic past. With these terrible memories fresh in her mind, she is exhausted and emotionally battered as she and her canine partner Robo begin searching for Candace. After finding the young girl’s body, Mattie and the team soon discover somewhat unsavory and very unexpected information about the young teenager and Mattie’s childhood experiences lead her to a very troubling conclusion. Since Stella is the only person with any knowledge of the demons that are haunting Mattie, she gently, but diligently, cautions her to try not to let her past cloud her judgment and maintain her focus on the evidence they are uncovering.

Despite Mattie’s unsettling suspicions, there are other viable suspects who have valid reasons for harming Candace. Several members of the high school football team are brought in for questioning but is one of the young men Candace’s killer? After Sophie’s disappearance, suspicion then falls on Gus Tilley, one of Cole’s clients whose out of character behavior in recent days moves him to the top of the suspect list. Mattie and the rest of the Sheriff’s office are also frantically searching for a recently paroled pedophile who has been spotted in Timber Creek, but their efforts have thus far yielded few results.

With an engrossing storyline and an intriguing mystery to solve, Hunting Hour is a riveting police procedural that is incredibly suspenseful. Mattie is a deeply flawed yet immensely appealing protagonist who is gradually making progress with coming to terms with her past. Cole is a wonderful possible love interest but he is also carrying emotional baggage that leaves Mattie doubtful he is ready for a new relationship. The investigation into Candace’s death and Sophie’s disappearance is fast-paced and without a discernible motive for either crime, Mattie, Robo and the Sheriff’s department are faced with an almost daunting task as they ramp up their search for answers. Margaret Mizushima continues to keep the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series fresh with the addition of new characters, evolving relationships between Mattie and her co-workers and perplexing mysteries. This newest addition to this phenomenal series is sure to be a hit with loyal followers and readers who are just now discovering this fantastic crime fighting duo.

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Filed under Contemporary, Crooked Lane Books, Margaret Mizushima, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Timber Creek K-9 Mystery Series

September 11, 2016 · 11:57 pm

Review: Stalking Ground by Margaret Mizushima

Title: Stalking Ground by Margaret Mizushima
Timber Creek K-9 Mystery Series Book Two
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

When Deputy Ken Brody’s sweetheart goes missing in the mountains outside Timber Creek, Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner Robo are called to search. But it’s mid-October and a dark snow storm is brewing over the high country. And they’re already too late. By the time they find her body, the storm has broken and the snow is coming down hard.

While Brody hikes down to bring back the forensics team and veterinarian Cole Walker gathers supplies to protect them from the storm, Mattie and Robo find themselves alone, guarding the gravesite overnight in the dead of the early winter. And that’s only the first long, dark night in a series of them, because as their investigation develops, Mattie, Robo, Brody, and Cole find themselves in the middle of the killer’s stalking ground–where the hunters have just become the hunted.

An effortlessly engrossing read filled with tension, excitement, and heart, Stalking Ground, the second in Margaret Mizushima’s lauded debut series, will send a chill down every reader’s spine.

Review:

Stalking Ground by Margaret Mizushima is another perplexing mystery in the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series starring Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner, Robo.

In this second installment in the series, Mattie and Robo are tasked with the unenviable job of trying to locate Chief Deputy Ken Brody’s missing girlfriend, massage therapist Adrienne Howard.  Although Adrienne has not be gone for very long, Brody is certain she is the victim of foul play but Mattie cannot help but wonder if she has just left.  When the missing woman’s car is found, Mattie and Robo try to track her but when Robo cannot find a trace of Adrienne, Mattie fears the worst.  After receiving an anonymous tip,  Mattie, Robo and Brody are faced with the grim task of searching for Adrienne’s body in a remote mountainous area.  When they uncover her remains, Mattie sends Brody to bring in the rest of the investigative team while she and Robo guard the burial site and gather evidence.  When an early snowstorm hits, local veterinarian Cole Walker, who is also a member of the volunteer mounted patrol, brings them much needed supplies to endure the storm.  The next day, Mattie and Robo once again team up with Detective Stella LoSasso as the investigation into Adrienne’s murder begins.

While Mattie still relates better to her canine partner than people, she is making progress with her co-workers and friends.  She enjoys spending time with Cole and his daughters, fifteen year old Angela and eight year old Sophie, but she is little uneasy about some of the feelings she has for Cole.  She has a casual friendship with her co-worker, Rainbow but Mattie still remains close to her former foster mother Teresa “Mama T” Lovato.  Mattie is estranged from her brother Willie but in recent months, he has been tentatively reaching out to her through Mama T.  When he finally works up the courage to call her, she is at first happy to hear from him, but an unexpected revelation brings up unsettling pieces of memories Mattie would rather leave buried.

Mattie’s professional relationship with Brody is much less contentious but he remains skeptical of Robo’s skills and although she thinks he is too close to the case, she agrees to work with him.  In the aftermath of their gruesome discovery, Brody goes back to regular patrol duties while Mattie and Stella spearhead the investigation.  They discover some puzzling information about Adrienne’s past but with few leads, they are not making much progress in locating a suspect or uncovering a motive for her murder.

Cole has a professional connection to Adrienne but unfortunately, he is not much help during the investigation.  He has a lot going on both professionally and personally so his interactions with Mattie are somewhat limited.  She does offer some useful advice for his ongoing issues with his oldest daughter Angela, who is still having troubling adjusting to her mom’s abandonment and her parents’ divorce.  In the midst of the upheaval at home, Cole is spending quite a bit of time on the road as he travels to an isolated ranch to treat an extremely ill horse.  Growing concerned over the lack of progress and some very puzzling symptoms and test results, Cole is stunned when he finally learns the truth about the cause of horse’s illness.

Stalking Ground by Margaret Mizushima is a gripping addition to the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series.  The characters are immensely appealing and they continue to grow and evolve as they work on their individual issues.  The mystery surrounding Adrienne’s murder is quite intriguing and while it is fairly easy to guess who the killer is, the perpetrator’s motive remains elusive until the novel’s rather dramatic conclusion.  A well-written and engaging whodunit that old and new fans of this refreshingly unique series are going to enjoy.

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Filed under Contemporary, Crooked Lane Books, Margaret Mizushima, Mystery, Rated B, Review, Stalking Ground, Timber Creek K-9 Mystery Series