Love this book . I have read all this series so far and have loved all. This book just adds to the characters I love already. Can't wait for the next one. Highly recommended

This is a terrific series with characters that are constantly changing. I’m so excited to see what happens for them next! A good pick for fans of Nevada Barr.

This is a new-to-me author and I wasn't sure what to expect, all I can say is WOW!! This book is outstanding. It is full of action, suspense and drama. Once you start reading you don't want to stop, you have to know what happens next. I feel in love with Robo, what a dog! You could feel the bond he had with Mattie. I want to go back and start with the first book in this series. Thank you Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Deputy and K-9 officer Mattie Cobb rushes to a burning vehicle to find a man who was shot and killed. She and her colleagues trace the killing to drug and wildlife trafficking, and including another murder. The takedown involves harrowing searches through the Colorado high country in forests and canyons. Mattie’s family past and her relationship with Vet Cole Walker round out her story.

This mystery works as a stand-alone, but the references to other criminal investigations which are presumably covered in the earlier 4 books suggest reading in order would be preferred. There is a lot of K-9 training woven into the story which should appeal to dog lovers and readers of police procedurals. Rugged and suspenseful. Recommended.

Readalikes/Similar Authors:
Katie Ruggle’s Rocky Mountain K9 Unit series; Archer Mayor’s Joe Gunther mysteries; Gabriel Cohen’s mysteries; Susan Hill – The Various Haunts of Men; Inger Ash Wolfe – The Taken.

Pace: fast
Characters: Developed, backstories, likeable; strong female
Story: Plot-driven
Language: Compelling
Tone: Suspenseful
Frame: Timber Creek, Colorado; contemporary

Review copy provided by the publisher.

A steady-paced, character-driven mystery that continues the strong storyline begun in the earlier books in the series. This fifth volume in the series adds more resolution of the growing relationship between Mattie and Cole. The book also continues with the interesting details about working with and supporting a K9 partner. The plot thread about Mattie's DNA drives toward developments in the next book in the series, but it seems like an uncomfortable part of the fifth book.

This book will be released November 2019. With the solid mysteries and crimes to be solved that author Mizushima builds into the series, this title should be on your TBR list for November. Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to the NEXT title to be released!

This continues the story of Mattie Cobb and her police dog Robo. This has been a great series and this book is no exception. There is character development, character interaction, and a good story to surround them. When I first saw this book and saw that it was part of a series, I just had to read all that had come before. I am glad I did and look forward to see what is next.

In Margaret Mizushima's Tracking Game (Penguin Random House 2019), next in the Timber Creek K-9 Mysteries, Mattie Cobb and her working dog Robo are called In to find the criminals who blew up a car and killed everyone inside. Timber Creek is a tight community so most residents knew the person killed. That makes it more personal. The two partners start by tracking down clues the murderer may have left, then try to track down people who may have fled the crime scene, and it builds from there. Before they solve the crime, they face an unexpected and highly-dangerous wild predator that should have no part in the Timber Creek wilderness.

With each piece, Mizushima describes in authentic detail how a working dog like Robo can follow a scent, track down non-human evidence, and everything else he does to help his partner solve the crime:

"She let Robo pull her forward through the deep grass while she watched his every move, looking for his head to go up and his hackles to rise, his way of telling her that someone is here, someone is out to get us. Robo raised his face"

"He stuck his nose in a depression between bales to sniff, then turned to sit and stare at her. His signal that he’d found something."

"When she slipped on his narcotics detection collar, it focused all that eagerness into work. She clipped on his"

For those of you who are avid readers of this series, we know Mattie and the town veterinarian Cole have a budding romance. In this installment, it continues to grow but not without a few bumps. Mattie loves Cole, but she has secrets from her past he doesn't know and Mattie is sure when he finds out, he will no longer want any part of her.

In every chapter, every scene, her every move, Mattie's affection for her partner Robo defines her life:

"Life seemed so simple for Robo: rest and relax when you can, take pleasure in a job well done. He didn’t lie awake at night wondering if he’d done the right thing. She loved him for it."

In everything they do, they are partners, each with their own strength, both with a high degree of respect and trust in the other;

"Cops might need a warrant to collect DNA from a person, but there was no law on the book to inhibit a K-9 officer from taking in someone’s scent.

Overall, this is a well-constructed, fast-moving, engaging story you won't want to miss, especially if you're a dog love.
--published to my blog, WordDreams,

This latest book in the series is one of my favorites. The characters feel like friends and I felt like I was right there with them as they navigate the case. Fans of Alex Kava's Ryder Creed series will enjoy Maggie and Robo. I have enjoyed the slow build up to Maggie and Cole' relationship because it feels natural. However, after this book I hope to see better progression. It's okay to have obstacles, but, I hope to see more strength and confidence in each other. The author is great at making the reader feel multiple emotions. I was happy, sad, angry, frustrated, and stunned at various plot points. Never once in the five books of the series have I correctly guessed the bad guy. To me, that is the hallmark of a great mystery!

This one seemed a bit overlong to me although I liked the evolving characters and the plot. Just was a bit boring here and there
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for allowing me this arc in exchange for an honest review

Mattie and Robo are once again called to track a killer, while Cole helps to track a wild cat in the mountains. Will love bloom between Mattie& Cole? Great addition to this series.
Goodreads & Facebook

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the eARC.
This is the fifth in the K-9 Timber Creek series featuring Maggie Cobb and her K-9 partner Robo. I just love Robo, what a magnificent dog he is!
Cole Walker, Mattie's love interest, is getting ever closer to Mattie, but she is still cautious because of her difficult past. That part of the story is getting a big tedious, I wish she would just get over it, Cole deserves her love and trust...
The story starts with the murder of a close friend of Cole's and soon thereafter one of the main suspects is also killed. When Mattie and Robo go on the hunt to try and find the body they hear the terrifying roars of what seems to be a large wild cat.
Between this predator and the human ones this mystery is a good one; the bond between Mattie and Robo is as usual great to read about, but I do wish the romantic angle would be less important!
As a dog lover I recommend this book, more of the dog please! 3.5 Stars.

A wonderful installment in this series. Some very complicated characters and relationships, Cole's ex-wife and his children and Mattie's basic relationship fear. Adding a very complicated murder and the need to interpret truth from lies make this a face paced adventure. The depth of family ties is challenged and exposed for all to see.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

This is the first book in this series that I read. I'm so going to get the other books in this series soon.

I really enjoy getting to know Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner Robo.

As she tries to manage a romance with Cole the local vet her past keeps getting in the way.

When a explosion happen they discover a man name Nate inside a van but the explosion isn't what killed him it was two bullet in the heart that did it as they inform the family about to make an arrest another man is shot but when they arrived they find something more dangerous.

I like the relationship between Mattie and Robo and how he helping her deal with her emotions. I can totally see this on hallmark movie mystery channel.

This is another mostly enjoyable installment in this small town, mountain mystery series. The main character is a sheriff's deputy who partner is a trained K9, part drug and explosives locating dog, part search and rescue dog, and parttime scene stealer.

In between finding criminals, missing people and wildlife, Mattie tries to allow a romance with Cole (local veterinarian and a major character) to move forward, but situations and her history keep getting in the way. Yes, tension is needed but there is too much of this time. Just jump ahead.

After reading several of these books, I find it surprising that the author relies so heavily on Mattie's crippling fears in this newest book. Her past is what makes her such a great deputy but it also is exhausting to read about and short changes the reader. I want to shout "Come on! Get the girl some therapy!" If this sappy romance stuff keeps up I'm going to relegate this series to the young adult section.

I love this series. I love the setting and Robo. It features a strong female lead which I also love . It is fast paced .

I absolutely love this series and was delighted by the newest installment, Tracking Game. One of my favorite things abut this series is the timeline it keeps, and this book picks up very shortly after the previous one. This plot is very different from the others. The characters are far more developed and that makes for a quick and exciting read. I find that each book gets better and better- hard to believe the wait will be so long for the next!

Every book in this series I get more and more invested in these characters. Cole is trying hard to show Mattie how much he cares for her and grow closer while Mattie is struggling with her past and gain the courage to tell Cole without losing his love.

Her partner Robo is proving over and over that the investment the town made in purchasing him was worth it. Mattie and Robo are growing closer every day and he seems to be exceptional at everything she asks of him. But he is also helping her emotionally more that she ever expected.

When there are two murders in town and one severely injured citizen, it make only be Robo who is capable of solving these crimes. But what they find will shock everyone.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner, Robo are up to their ears in a new investigation after local outfitter Nate Fletcher is found inside his van after it explodes. Nate has two bullets in his heart, a pretty good sign the explosion was an attempt to cover-up or destroy evidence. Mattie, Robo and Cole Walker have more than a few suspects, one of whom is in love with Nate’s widow. And as if they didn’t have enough on their plates, they get a call for help from a man who claims to have been shot. When they get to his location, they find something much more sinister. This series is just so good, so well written and will appeal to fans of Nevada Barr and Paul Doiron.