Hunting Hour is the start of a great mystery and romance. Please read the series in the order they are written.

Mattie and her K-9 dog Robo are on the hunt for the person who killed a teenager on the hill behind the school. When another young girl goes missing, Mattie is even more eager to solve the crime as both cases seem to be connected. Moreover, the missing girl is the daughter of the vet that Mattie has been having an on-again off-again romance with, since the first novel in this series.

The novel is engrossing because of the mystery plot and also because of the well-drawn and developed main character, Mattie. She becomes real as we learn about her own dark childhood and how it affects her as she hunts down a child killer and kidnapper. Family relationships are emphasized in the novel, which is quite refreshing in a murder mystery.

I wish I would have known it was a series....I tried really hard to finish the book but I struggled with it and tbh skipped a lot of the pages. I will be going back to finish it after I read the first book in the series maybe that will help a little

An exciting read. The book was well written, a well thought out plot with amazing characters. I like a book grabs me by at least the first chapter and hold my interest till the very end, which this one did. A heck of a read.

Interesting and well developed story line. The characters are true to life. I really enjoyed the process of Mattie and Robo. Mattie reminds me of Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon. Although this is the 3rd book it is not necessary to have read the earlier ones in order to follow and enjoy this one. The author is writes a good book and I'm thinking I really should hunt up the first two.

Who is Mattie? Where is she at and why? Who is Robo? Who is she talking to? Who is Ken Brody? Who are Rainbow and Stella LoSasso? Where is Timber Creek? In the middle of her discussion, Mattie's cell phone shows a call from work, why? When she responds, what is she told and what happens? Who are Cole, Sophie, Angela, and Mrs. Gibbs? What is going on in the life of the Banks family? What i learned about Candace Banks turned my stomach, as a real life teacher. What is Robo unable to do that Banjo gets called in for? Who do they suspect? Who is Olivia? What happens when she shows up? Why are people on the lookout for a man named Heath, three other men, and Heath's vehicle? Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow!!!! Things did not end like I expected or thought they would. I am very happy about that!

RECEIVED THIS BOOK AS A GIFT FOR A FAIR/HONEST REVIEW and REVIEWER FOR Bloggin' With M. Brennan.

Hunting Hour is the third book in the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery Series written by author Margaret Mizushima. Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advance copy.

Detective (Mattie) Cobb is in love with the town vet, Cole Walker. But he is still in love with his ex-wife. That means little when his daughter goes missing days after another young girl is found dead. Though very much too personally involved, Cobb and Robo, her amazingly awesome and gorgeous canine partner, pull out all the stops to help track down the missing girl. Like the previous 2 books in this series, Ms. Mizushima infuses the story with information about animal care and dog training. Not so much that it gets boring, but enough to feel realistic. Unlike the previous 2 books in this series, it wasn't as easy to discover who was taking the girls. Ms. Mizushima's plots are getting deeper and more evolved, and her characters' lives are getting more complicated, but her writing style still remains straight forward and a refreshing change from all the twists and turns so overly used in most books today. I have enjoyed reading these cozies and look forward to the next one!

From the very start to the very end, this book had me turning pages. I love the interaction between Maggie and Robo, her dog. As an animal lover, this book really appealed to to me but when I began reading it I couldn't put it down. No, it's not a fast-paced, action thriller but the story line is well written and the author's attention to detail are splendid! I found myself getting caught up in all the characters. Certainly one worth your time to read.

This was my first book by this author, so I was unfamiliar with the characters and their previous histories. But I found the book to be very entertaining and am now curious to read the previous books in the series.

I got into this series, because I was given he chance to review Hunting Hour via the publisher & NetGalley. I loved the character development of Mattie in this one. You're really starting to get to know her & so much more about her past. The books all tend to have the same premise, which is to be expected in a series like this. But at times, I felt like I knew what was going to happen next, but there was a twist I didn't see coming. I'm very interested to see where this series goes!

Hunting Hour

by Margaret Mizushima

Hunting Hour begins with the personal issues of Sheriff’s Deputy Mattie Cobb, but quickly segues into the drama of a missing young teenage girl. The focus of this book by Margaret Mizushima is the efforts of Mattie and her K-9 officer Robo. They work well as a team. Originally trained to sniff out drugs, Mattie has recently trained Robo to search by sniffing an object belonging to a person and then follow the scent. He is also capable of following commands to attack a perpetrator, stop the attack, and keep the suspect in place. All of that sounds easy but is actually a complex process, once the dog is trained, to prep the dog properly for each event, handle him correctly, and then reward for a good effort. If the dog doesn’t find something, that is as significant as if he does. All of this information is shared in context so it is never pedantic and helps move the story.

While Mattie is doing her job, she has to deal with her feelings for Cole, the local vet, and his two daughters. Trauma from Mattie’s past also surfaces during her investigations. She must struggle to remain professional when confronted with a suspect with bizarre behaviors.

I highly recommend this mystery and plan on reading the two previous books in this series: Stalking Ground and Killing Trail. There was no problem reading this book as a standalone, but it is such a good mystery that I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Crooked Lane Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: #3 in the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery Series

Publication: August 8, 2017 — Crooked Lane Books

Memorable Lines:

The stress on his face caused the pain she’d been suppressing to flare. He came to stand at her side, the warmth from his body contrasting with the coldness she felt in her chest…

Fear gripped her, making her gasp. Sprinting toward the aspen grove, she entered, slowing to part the foliage around the slender white tree trunks slashed with gray.

Always listen to your dog! If you don’t, you’ll only be as good a team as a human cop can be. If you do, the possibilities are endless.

This one was a really good read. I was very impressed. (Amazon reviewed)

Could not finish... will try again next year and start all over

I received the ARC from NetGalley and publisher for an honest review.
I love this series. Mattie has problems that keep coming up from her past, but she doesn't let that stop her from doing her job. Great story, great dogs, great people and some heart-stopping mystery all add up to a great read. Can't wait for the next in the series.

In addition to being a mystery about two girls who disappeared, this book is about how mental illness, both minor and severe, manifests itself. Deputy Mattie Cobb's past trauma plays a role in her attempt to save a missing girl with the help of her police dog, Robo, as well as in her personal and professional relationships. More than one suspect suffers from mental illness, and Mattie has trouble stepping away from the effects of her personal experiences to see the facts clearly. Mizushima adds depth to this thriller as she shows how childhood damage can impact an adult's perspective.

While Mattie and Robo are searching for the first missing girl, the town's veterinarian, Cole Walker, fields call after call from a strange customer who is concerned that someone is harming his animals. Cole begins to suspect that Gus is suffering from a form of Munchausen Syndrome. When Cole's daughter, Sophie, goes missing and the suspense ratchets up, Gus is high on list of possible subjects. The search for Sophie brings Cole's estranged ex-wife back into town, putting a strain on the rest of his family as well as on Cole and Mattie's relationship. This stress, combined with the stress of the search and her memories, causes Mattie to reach a psychological breaking point. The palpable tension in the book is as much personal as it is professional, as we watch Mattie's judgment falter repeatedly even as she and Robo play an important role in the investigation.

Robo provides a much-needed relief from the darkness of the book. He is serious in his search to find the girls and vicious in his defense of Mattie, but he also loves to play when he's not working. When he has accomplished the task at hand his reward is some ball-play, which helps the reader relax a bit in the midst of all of the well-written anxiety of the search. Robo undergoes some additional training during this investigation, and it appears that these experiences may set him and Mattie up for a role outside of their rural Colorado town of Timber Creek. We will have to see if that's where Mizushima is taking the series.

This is the third in the series, and reading the earlier books will help provide some context to the relationships. However, the plot works as a standalone so this book could work as an entry point to the series. Both Cole and Mattie are fully developed characters in HUNTING HOUR, so it is only the more peripheral characters who would suffer from the lack of backstory for the uninitiated. As in all of the books, the locale is extremely well described, transporting the reader to Timber Creek. The reader may guess the resolution before Mattie figures it out, but the plot is well tied up while still leaving room for the next installment. I'm looking forward to the next in the series already!

This is a haunting mystery. Yes it is book three but to be honest this can be read as stand alone. What I found really interesting was the training of the K-9. Robo the K-9 dog and his handler deputy Mattie Hobb. However if you want to know the back stories of the characters I guess reading the first two books would benefit you. But the story is stand alone.


Robo and Mattie are asked to investigate a missing child. But when they find her she is dead. Both Robo and Mattie are very involved in the investigation to find the killer. In the mean time the local veterinarian's daughter is taken. There are a lot of twists and turns and no I am not going to tell you what happens. But as a side note it is amazing how the dogs are used.


If you like a good mystery then this is for you. This is my first book by this author but I will definitely be checking out books one and two. Enjoy!


*ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley*


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2118966081


https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R173L9H5ZYG7EF/ref=pe_1572281_66412651_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Engaging action in this mystery. Enjoyed the read. Could have more suspects; they seemed stereotypical. Liked the characters especially Robo, Sophie, Angela and Mrs. Gibbs. The main characters, Mattie and Cole were okay; there was too much restating of her past, and quick judgements with Mattie.
First time reading author. Would read again.
Voluntarily read ARC for honest review.

This entire series is increasingly a pleasure to read. From the beginning with Killing Trail, the story line of a rural Colorado sheriff beginning her work as a K9 officer is engaging and character-driven.

This third book shows Mattie Cobb growing in confidence and her awareness of relationships with the folks around her. The life of the small town of Timber Creek is realistically complicated, and the residents respect Mattie's work and are grateful for the strategic help she and her dog Robo provide.

Author Mizushima does an excellent job positing a compelling and opaque mystery in each book, as well as developing characters the reader cares about and relationships that matter, change, and deepen.

The series is a pleasure to read - and this third entry is the smoothest and most enjoyable.

Timber Creek Deputy Mattie Cobb has withdrawn from veterinarian Cole Walker and his family to work on issues from her past. Then Mattie and her K-9 partner Robo are called in to track missing junior high student Candace Banks. Sadly, they find Candace dead on Smoker’s Hill behind the high school. Suspects include the girl's father and some high school students whom Candace had been having sex with. But soon another girl goes missing, and this time it's Cole’s 9 year old daughter Sophie. Mattie and Robo, as well as Cole and community volunteers, go on a frantic search. One tip leads them to the national forest where a group of registered sex offenders are camping out. The search then focuses on solitary farmer Gus who has been acting weird and constantly calling Cole for help with his animals. Mental help issues are highlighted in this story.

This is another fine entry in the Timber Creek K-9 mystery series.

I received this book for free from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review.