Thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns in this book. The added bonus of a very smart, well trained canine, introduced a new character. Kept me wanting to read at all times of day or night!

It has been a long time since I truly laughed out loud while reading, but this book did that. He got me with ' there are 2 kinds of people in the world, people who like dogs and......assholes. Loved that.
While I may have been more endeared to the dogs and how he writes about them than the story, nonetheless, very fun to read.
I rarely enjoy the romance stuff in these mystery thrillers, this one was not too obnoxious.

WIll be very much looking forward to the next book.
If you love dogs, do read, I give it 5 stars for his clear and humorous love of dogs.

#NetGalley #The Finders #St. Martin's Press-Minotaur Books

This is the first book in a new series by Jeffrey B. Burton. I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to reading more in this series. The characters are very believable. There were many twists, turns and surprises. I enjoy a story that keeps me guessing which character is the bad guy. I devoured this book, I was not able to put it down, yet at the same time did not want the story to end. Well done Mr. Burton, I look forward to reading more from you and this wonderful series.

Not quite a cozy or even a mystery, this is really the assorted adventures of a pleasant fellow who's the alpha male in a household of dogs he's trained to hunt cadavers. The cadavers Vira, his supernaturally talented golden retriever finds, turn out to be related in death - they've all been killed the same way, and probably by the same killer This will appeal mostly to dog lovers, and there are plenty of us, but the humans in this slight story are thinly sketched in.

I'm really not too sure how to review this book. Storyline was different and being a doglover it held my interest - but only for a while.Interesting theory as to why/how Vira was so good at her job but there could have been more to the backstory in terms of how the dogs were trained. The writing itself...HMMMM. It all fell apart about half-way through - and no thought given to the reveal of who the killer was. The female police officer - clearly she was a rookie (and this was made apparent at the beginning) but still - come on! I don't have the time or energy to dwell on the number of police procedure errors she made! To sum up - not the worst of books but definitely only a 2 star from me.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Finders.

When I saw The Finders, I had to request it. It combines two of my favorite things in the world: dogs and mysteries.

Mace Reid loves dogs, so it's no surprise he works with them, notable training them as cadaver dogs.

When Vira, a clever dog with an unusual gift ends up with Mace, the two of them find themselves pursuing a serial killer, who has his sights set on Mace and Vira.

The Finders was an enjoyable read; the prose flowed, and Mace was a likable character, a bit self deprecating, kind of a doofus in the way he regards himself, though I wished he held himself in higher esteem.

He is a good guy, kind, loves animals, has an interesting job, so he has a lot going for him.

I did love how the author discusses how Mace trains his dogs, how dogs have uncanny senses, and their talents and abilities. It's clear the author did his research.

I also enjoyed the budding relationship between him and Kippy, a policewoman with big ambitions toward becoming a detective. She was competent, persistent, and tough; naturally, she's a beauty but aren't love interests in most books?

Vira is the standout; smart, intuitive, with preternatural instincts, she overcame a traumatic event to become a protege, a very special golden retriever Mace has never met before.

The mystery wasn't bad; I guessed whodunit it the moment the person showed up but I liked how the author adds a twist there isn't one killer, but two, and drops enough clues for it to lead to one particular person, clues that make sense.

I look forward to the next book in the series.

The story is well written and makes for an awesome mystery. As a person who is allergic to dogs, the only way that I get to “enjoy” them is in print, so reading about how the humans interact with the dogs as they weed out the killer, is always going to be a plus in my book. As the first in a new series, this is a good offering and a wonderful read with great plots and twists that lead into the next one. Love that the dogs are the stars of the story, but do not overshadow the efforts of everyone involved to bring justice.

Found this to be a very interesting read. Mason is a man who trains dogs for human remains detection. He adopts a dog with a mysterious past. Who seems to have super special ability which puts him and Mason in the path of a serial killer. Aided with the help of Chicago Police Officer Kippy Gimm they set out to thwart the serial killer before he kills Mason. A good read that keep me on the edge of my seat. Look forward to reading more by this Author.

I loved this book. A kidnapping, an accidental suicide, an incredible survival, a eager young cop and a dog trainer all in the first three chapters. Wow! Plus you begin follow a serial killer with a deadly mentor.

The story grabs your attention and won’t let go. Mace is a lovable dog trainer who becomes involved when called in to adopt the golden retriever pup who somehow survived a bungled murder attempt. Vira develops into a “super” cadaver dog. He gets called into a search by Chicago PD and the roller coaster ride begins!

Kippy, the young cop who was there for Vira’s amazing survival touches base with Mace after Vira’s first case......and the story starts to truly unwind.

3.5 stars

What is it about a book with a dog on the cover? Seriously, I have no control.

Mason “Mace” Reid is an average guy who teaches obedience classes for people & their four legged children. But his real job is training cadaver dogs to find human remains for police departments in Lansing & Chicago. He’s still reeling from an unwanted divorce & the recent loss of one of his “kids” when he gets a phone call from a friend who runs a dog rescue. Seems he may have an addition for Mace’s team.

After he hears her story, Mace agrees to meet the golden retriever & it’s love at first sight. He promptly names her Elvira (Vira for short) & takes her home to meet the gang. Delta (Dawn), Maggie (May) & Sue (as in “A Boy Named..) Hmmm…I’m sensing a theme here. Her training begins & it’s soon clear there’s something different about her. Vira not only learns at warp speed, she has a spooky ability to make connections above her pay grade.

Kippy Gimm is a cop in Lansing who she rescued Vira after finding her at a crime scene. That she survived is a welcome bit of good news. She & partner Dave “Wabs” Wabiszewski are struggling with their search for a young woman who’s gone missing. And she’s not the first.

When Kippy checks up on Vira, she meets Mace & is intrigued by his dogs. She sees a way to speed up searching the areas she & Wabs need to cover & wonders if Mace might be interested. He is. But one search in particular leads to an event neither could have foreseen. It’s kind of a good news/bad news situation. They find what they’re looking for but the end result is a killer now has Mace in his sights. And so the hunter becomes the hunted.

In alternate chapters we meet a cold, intelligent sociopath who enjoys his “work”. So when some guy with a bunch of dogs screws up his plans…well, it really can’t be tolerated.

This is a quick, enjoyable book. There’s a bit of a slump in the middle but plenty of info on the science behind cadaver dogs & their training makes for an interesting read. Some creepy scenes & a steady rise in tension lead to an action packed finale.

When it comes to the two legged characters, Kippy is the best developed. She’s a smart, determined woman with a low tolerance for crap. As for Mace, he improves as the story progresses. It’s almost as if the author & his MC had to get to know each other & as events unfold, Mace’s personality & voice grew stronger. He’s a disarming & likeable guy whose world revolves around his furry crew & their strong bond is the heart of the story.

But the real stars are the puppers. Sue is the regal veteran who thinks of Mace as a barely adequate employee. Delta & Maggie have some sort of psychic connection & enjoy gaslighting their Dad. And Vira is always two steps ahead of everyone else. Now if she could just get those dense humans to pay attention! It’s a solid start to the series & I look forward to the gang’s next adventure. And yes, Sue..…I’ll bring peanut butter.

Honest review of an ARC from Netgalley.

I read The Finders by Jeffrey B. Burton quickly because I just couldn't put it down. It grabbed me from page one and kept my interest throughout. Mace Reid is a great character, and his dogs are the stars of the story. Learning about cadaver dogs and their training was a bonus. The characters had depth, and the dialogue was crisp and engaging.

This was my first book by Jeffrey B Burton. I am looking forward to more books in this series.

Dog lovers and mystery lovers unite! This is a promising new series that does well on both counts. Mace Reid is a dog lover and a dog trainer. But he’s no ordinary trainer. His specialty is training canines to work crime scenes, specifically to detect human remains. His brood of “kids” as he calls them grows by one when he takes on Vira, a lovable golden retriever with some uncanny abilities. Both of their lives are put at risk as they hone in on a serial killer. This was a fun book. Some good mystery elements as well as great characters, dogs included. Looking forward to the next one!

Mason Reid trains dogs to search for human remains, and he adopts Vira, a traumatized puppy who was rescued from CO poisoning by police officer Kippy Gimm. This book was entertaining and kept my interest, especially because it placed a heavy emphasis on the role of the working dog in investigating a murder. It's always a bonus if a book introduces you to the details of an unfamiliar subculture, as this one does with dogs and handlers. The biggest flaw for me was that Vira was portrayed as essentially having superpowers; the story was much more satisfying early on, when she was just described as really, really talented at her job rather than possessed of some quasi-magical insight, which seemed to be the turn things took later in the book. This has the makings of a series and is likely to appeal to a wide audience. I look forward to the next installment.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a digital advance review copy.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Loved this book- a taught psychological thriller... with dogs! There is a serial killer on the loose and Mace Reid and his cadaver sniffing dogs are called in to find the bodies in remote areas. His rescue puppy Vira is a savant at the work, not only sniffing out the bodies, but using her superior nose skills to identify the killers. After Mace and Vira foil a Everyman’s plans, they become his target. The randomness of the killer’s targets had me totally creeped out, and checking the locks on my doors twice.
The book has humor and even a little romance as newly divorced Mace finds fellow dog lover police officer Kippy Gimm ( hate her name btw) as irresistible a milk-bone. They work side by side to find the killer before he finds Mace and Vira.

On a side note I find the training dogs for this work really fascinating and wished the author had provided a bit more of a description of how Mace went about training a dog to do this work. On the other hand, it would have slowed the plot, so I understand why it was only briefly described.
It looks like this book is going to be a series, I cant wait to read the next one.

This first book in a new mystery series centered on Mace Reid and his HRD (Human Remains Detection) dogs by author Jeffrey B. Burton cannot help but be a huge hit among dog lovers. The affection and humor with which the author describes the main character's canine companions leaves no doubt that the author is a dog lover. As for the plot, for the most part, it is believable and the pace of the book is fast. I do wish that a few less pages had been spent on considering paranormal explanations for the exceptional scent abilities that Vira, his latest canine acquisition, displays. For me, at least, this detour interrupted the narrative flow and called more attention to the fact that most likely Vira's skill level pushed the boundaries of believability and that the author was relying a bit too much on these exceptional abilities to move the plot forward. That said, the sense of humor that the author brings to this hunt for a serial killer is refreshing and suffice it to say you may never look at highway rest areas in the same way.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars, simply because the series has great potential. If in future installments the author includes more solid detective work to advance the plot, rather than relegating most of the heavy lifting to the dogs, the series might just win Best in Show.

Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher, and the author for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was a little flawed but good overall. Hard not to like the dog of course. The dialog was pretty good, as were a couple of surprises. Pretty good pacing, but the body count seemed high. Overall, a pretty solid mystery.

Thanks very much for the ARC for review!!

Vira is an awesome dog. She can do amazing things and is super smart. However, I wasn't really in love with her owner Mason. If I had to listen to one more line about how amazing he thought Kippy was I was gonna call it quits. It kinda ruined the book for me. I will read the next book in the series.

Honest review of an ARC from Netgalley.

3.5 stars
Read this book courtesy of NetGalley. Mace Reid is an interesting character but his dogs are definitely the stars in the story! Cadaver dog training appears to be a thorough process beginning with finding the right dog and training them while forming a lifelong bond. Elvira/Vira/Honey Bear more than proves that she IS the right dog for any task set before her. She even runs rings around Mace and waits for his brain to kick in while he figures out what message she's trying to get across. The story was well written and the action fast-paced. While I didn't guess who the culprit was, I was on the right track with figuring things out. Would like to see more in this series and get to know Mace, Sue and the girls better!!

I love dogs and I love a good murder mystery and this book has both. That said, this book didn’t really do it for me sadly. It is an OK book and it delivers when it comes to featuring dogs, but the story it self was a bit lacking.

The Finders is a the first book in a new series by Jeffrey Burton. Mace Reid, the dog whisperer, is a dog trainer who maintains a group of cadaver dogs with song-inspired names. He adopts a golden retriever puppy who proves to be exceptionally talented at sniffing out bad guys. In a story with twists and turns, Mace and Vira (the retriever) get mixed up with a serial killer or two, while Mace tries to figure out how to romance the attractive police officer who initially rescued Vira (or, Honey Bear as she calls her). Great start to what I hope is an ongoing series. Recommended for fans of Paula Munier and Margaret Mizushima.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for access to a digital ARC.