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In the fourth Timber Creek K-9 mystery, officer Mattie Cobb and her canine sidekick, the endearing Robo, team up with veterinarian Cole Walker to stop a serial killer. Mattie and Cole have been unofficial partners since the first book in the series, Killing Trail (2015), and by now they're comfortable with each other, comfortable enough to be exploring, gently, the idea of romance. But that might have to take a back seat for now; it turns out that one of the bodies found on a Colorado mountain ridge is that of Mattie's estranged brother. The writing is strong, the mystery is well developed, and this book, in particular, takes us deep into Mattie's personal life, opening up new doors into her past. Although the the series is linked by its continuing characters, each installment can be read as a stand-alone. Fans of Alex Kava's Ryder Creed series should find the Cobb series very much to their liking.--David Pitt Copyright 2018 Booklist

Library Journal
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When veterinarian Cole Walker's dog finds a boot with a foot in it, Timber Creek, CO, deputy Mattie Cobb worries that Walker's two daughters, who were on the scene, will be traumatized. As a former foster child, Mattie struggles with trusting people. She does trust her K-9 cop partner Robo though, and the two are able to find the rest of the victim. The names tattooed on the man's body hit home for Mattie. Could it be her missing brother Willie, whom she hasn't seen in 25 years? While Mattie and Robo work the case, they unearth additional clues, but another link to her family forces her to abandon the formal investigation. Someone wants Mattie and Robo taken out permanently, and Cole joins forces with the sheriff's department when Robo is attacked and Mattie vanishes. VERDICT Mizushima's latest (after Hunting Hour) is an intense mystery that emphasizes the abilities of Robo and his partnership with Mattie. Combining a police procedural with Mattie's personal story creates an anxiety-inducing novel that will remind readers of Nevada Barr's books.-Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L., IN © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.