06/14/2021
In Mizushima’s entertaining seventh Timber Creek K-9 mystery (after 2020’s Hanging Falls), Deputy Mattie Cobb is at last on the verge of interviewing John Cobb, the chief suspect in her father’s murder 30 years earlier, in the Colorado state prison where he’s serving time for a recent attempt to kill her and other crimes. Before she can do so, Cobb, who also abducted Mattie at age two and gave her his last name, is found dead in his cell. A book of Timber Creek County hiking trails in the cell has handwritten Xs along one trail. Curious about their significance, Mattie decides to visit the spots indicated. The discovery of the body of a teenager who just gave birth interrupts Mattie’s quest, and she surmises that the killer may have taken the victim’s newborn baby. Her investigations lead her and her valiant German shepherd partner, Robo, into the snowy wilderness and a thrilling face-off with a devious killer. Jolly visits to the office of Mattie’s veterinarian boyfriend, Cole Walker, provide relief from the grim detective work. Series fans will hope Mattie returns soon. Agent: Terrie Wolf, AKA Literary Management. (Sept.)
FINALIST, COLORADO AUTHORS LEAGUE AWARDS, MYSTERY
Praise for Striking Range
"The tension and drama of this series installment will satisfy fans of K-9 partners and solid police procedurals."
—Library Journal, starred review
"Entertaining . . . Fans will hope Mattie returns soon.”
—Publishers Weekly
“The subtlety of this seventh Timber Creek K-9 mystery suggests the best of Scandinavian noir, with a nod to animal lovers.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“The way Mattie handles her service dog, the logistics of his training, his canine personality, the important evidence he believably uncovers, and their warm yet disciplined interaction remain the heart of the stories and give them their authenticity and appeal.”
—New York Journal of Books
“We’ve seen Mattie grow from an unsure rookie into a confident detective . . . Readers have come to love Robo as much as Mattie and will be pleased."”
—The Denver Post
“Margaret Mizushima is a master.”
—San Francisco Book Review, 5 stars
“Another solid mystery.”
—Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine
“Smartly written and a lot of fun.”
—Red Carpet Crash
“Mizushima has such a talent in drawing the reader into the story...highly recommend this series.”
—Cozy Mysteries Book Reviews
“Striking Range, a chilling mystery set in winter-cold Colorado, pits K-9 officer Mattie Cobb and her dog Robo against a band of ruthless killers. Tense and satisfying.”
—J.A. Jance, New York Times bestselling author of the J. P. Beaumont series
"Memorable characters, rugged setting, and a page-turning mystery. Brilliant!"
—Bruce Robert Coffin, award-winning author of the Detective Byron Mysteries
“This pair of crime-fighters is more skillful and better bonded than any in all of literature...Nobody weaves a tale like Mizushima.”
—Saralyn Richard, award-winning author of A Murder of Principal
"Mizushima has created an authentic dual-purpose K-9 character while weaving together a captivating mystery that will keep the reader guessing. A must-read for all dog and mystery lovers.”
—Kathleen Donnelly, K-9 handler for Sherlock Hounds and mystery author
Praise for the Timber Creek K-9 Mysteries: “[A] solid sixth outing...Fascinating information about the training and handling of police dogs.”
—Publishers Weekly
"An imperfect heroine and her beloved canine sidekick: What’s not to like?"
—Kirkus Reviews
“Rich in human interest and guaranteed to delight every dog lover, especially fans of Robert Crais’s K-9 Maggie, and Paula Munier’s bomb-sniffing Elvis.”
—Booklist
“Readers who follow Mattie and Robo will be eager for the updated story line.”
—Library Journal
“Hanging Falls is an exceptional mystery, with stunning descriptions, authentic characters, and numerous revelations in store for the thoughtful, engaging Mattie Cobb. Margaret Mizushima has a powerful gift for creating suspense; the adventures of Mattie and her K9 partner Robo are absolutely riveting.
—Cynthia Kuhn, author of the Agatha-award-winning Lila Maclean Academic mysteries
“Both the human and animal characters feel authentic.”
—The Washington Times
"Mizushima has a gift when it comes to crafting immersive settings."
—Associated Press
“I can’t wait for the next adventure from these dynamic partnerships.”
—Anne Hillerman, New York Times best-selling author of the Manuelito, Chee, Leaphorn mysteries
“Robo’s brilliance is matched only by Mizushima’s own keen intelligence as she weaves a complex tale of family love and conflict set deep in the Colorado mountains.”
—Scott Graham, National Outdoor Award-winning author of Arches Enemy
"As always, Mizushima’s knowledge and attention to detail shine through."
—Barbara Nickless, Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author of Ambush
“Combining a police procedural with Mattie’s personal story creates an anxiety-inducing novel that will remind readers of Nevada Barr’s books.”
—Library Journal
"Fans who miss Virginia Lanier’s 'Bloodhound' series, and readers who relish strong female characters and procedurals with a strong sense of place will want to get better acquainted with Mattie and Robo."
—Library Journal
"Will tug the heartstrings of every dog lover."
—Booklist starred review
“Winning heroine…A realistic view of how a K-9 team works, treating Robo as an important character, but never stooping to anthropomorphism."
—Publishers Weekly starred review
"Mizushima does an excellent job of developing [Mattie and Robo] as characters, allowing readers to feel a personal connection to them both."
—RT Book Reviews, Top Pick
“Heart-pounding action and strong, three dimensional characters."
—David Thurlo, co-author of the critically acclaimed Ella Clah, Copper Canyon, and Charlie Henry mysteries.
“With plenty of outdoor action, comparing Margaret Mizushima to Nevada Barr and C.J. Box is apt.”
—Mark Stevens, author of the award-winning Trapline and Lake of Fire
★ 09/01/2021
In the continuing search for answers to her father's murder, Timber Creek sheriff's deputy Mattie Cobb plans to meet with a Colorado state prison inmate, but he's found dead in his cell on the day of their planned interview. He leaves Maddie a possible clue, in a map to Timber Creek and the surrounding wilderness. Mattie, her K-9 partner Robo, and cold case detective Jim Hauck follow the clue into the mountains, trying to beat a blizzard. They find only one of the prisoner's stashes before Mattie is called away to the scene of a murder—a young mother has been found dead at a campground, and there's no sign of her newborn. The sheriff's department brings in everyone to search, fearing the baby will be found frozen. As they comb the mountains, one of their own is the victim of a hit-and-run, and the blizzard traps Mattie's boyfriend, veterinarian Cole Walker, with a desperate man connected to the cold case and the missing infant. The man sets a trap for Mattie and Robo that leads to a dramatic chase on a mountain trail. VERDICT Mizushima's follow-up to Hanging Falls still leaves questions about Mattie's past. The tension and drama of this series installment will satisfy fans of K-9 partners and solid police procedurals.—Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L., IN
2021-06-29
A veteran K-9 cop hunts a serial killer in the rugged mountains of Colorado.
The unsolved murder of her father, Douglas Wray, has haunted Deputy Mattie Cobb for decades. San Diego cold case detective Jim Hauck, who’s been investigating the crime, meets her and her K-9 partner, Robo, at a Colorado prison to question inmate John Cobb, a prime suspect as well as a villain so prominent in Mattie’s early life that, until recently, she'd thought he was her uncle. Cole Parker, Mattie’s veterinarian boyfriend, can’t be on hand to lend his support because he’s back home in Timber Creek delivering Sassy’s German shepherd puppies, sired by Robo. The delivery goes well; Mattie’s visit, not so much. Cobb’s been found dead in his cell, leaving behind a book with dog-eared pages as well as maps with markings. The sweeter happenings at Cole’s clinic play out in counterpoint to Mattie's quest; Hauck suspects there’s a link between Cobb’s death and that of Mattie’s father, and Mattie sees the things Cobb has left behind as so many potential clues. While exploring a cave that Cobb’s map led her to, Mattie gets a call about the discovery of a body nearby. Mizushima’s subdued voice perfectly matches her heroine’s methodical, unruffled approach, building suspense as it presents the complex backstory with clarity. Forensics and the wilderness setting figure prominently in the probe. The identity of the victim will surprise many readers as the determined sleuth chases someone now identified as a serial killer.
The subtlety of this seventh Timber Creek K-9 mystery suggests the best of Scandinavian noir, with a nod to animal lovers.
