I love dogs and I love murder mysteries, it was really exciting to see a book that combined both.
I really enjoyed this story, of a cadaver trained dog and its owner handler; it's really easy to read and I was pulled in almost straight away and enjoyed the story-telling style. A great mystery, believable interactions and good pacing. I'm a happy reader and would recommend this book. It's well researched, showcases the skills and value of animals, and has a nice balance of tension and humour.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Mystery Murder Thriller

Kippy Gimm is a very good police officer. She knows how to do her job well and when she finds a puppy that should have perished, she knows that this dog is special.

Mason, aka Mace, is a great dog trainer. He has cadaver dogs and drug sniffing dogs, does obedience classes, and is just a good guy. When he meets Vira for the first time, he knows that she is going to be an amazing dog. While he had a slow run in his love life for a while, when he meets Kippy, his ability to flirt is on display and it made me laugh. He was so awkward.

There is a serial killer around Chicago, and it'll be up to Mace, Vira, and Kippy to figure out who it is. This is a fast-paced story where you are seeing it from different perspectives. I really liked that you read from different views. It helped to build suspense. I am very happy that this was as fast paced as it was, because the actual characters were somewhat flat for me. I found Officer Gimm's first name very distracting and the first time I read it, it made me laugh and go back to make sure I was reading her name correctly. Overall, this was entertaining and a quick read. I can't wait to see what Vira does next!

First off, I’m going to note that despite the adorable golden retriever on the cover, don’t be fooled into thinking this is a cozy mystery. There’s nothing cutesy or cozy here. This is a proper mystery thriller, and it’s an absolutely corking good read.

Dog handler and trainer Mason Reid took on the young golden retriever puppy Elvira ‘Vira’ for short, after she barely survived her first owner’s malice. Training her as a cadaver dog, he’s astonished by her abilities… and a little bemused when she takes her training above and beyond and starts tracking down the killers as well as finding their victims. Vira’s skills put her and Mason on the radar of another killer, though, and with Everyman on the hunt, both of them will need all their skills just to survive to search another day.

I absolutely loved this story. Mason’s a lovable dork of a dog lover, and Vira is a proper character in the story in her own right. Policewoman Kippy Gimm and Mason’s other dogs play excellent supporting roles, and I didn’t figure out the killer until the big reveal despite the fact that he’d been around since early in the story. I would have liked a little more insight into how and why Everyman chose his victims, especially since we did get quite a few scenes from his point of view, but that was a very minor quibble in a book I otherwise immensely enjoyed. I’ll definitely be looking out for more books in this series and looking forward to seeing what Mace and Vira get up to next! Five stars for a fantastic read.

I'm so excited for the beginning of this unique and interesting series!
Mason "Mace" Reid lives on the outskirts of Chicago. He is a dog trainer and specializes in cadaver dogs, training them to detect human remains.
It's been a tough year for Mace, losing his adored Springer Spaniel and going through a divorce.
At a crime scene, a golden retriever is rescued from carbon monoxide poisoning by police officer Kippy Gimm.
Mace adopt her and names her Elvira, Vira for short. She joins collies Maggie Mae and Delta Dawn and German Shepherd Sue (a boy) at his already full house of dogs.
As he trains Vira, he realizes that she has some very special skills.
When Kippy visits Vira to see how she's doing and meets Mace, sparks fly, at least on his part!
Soon he becomes involved in Kippy and her partner Dave "Wabs" Wabiszewski's case, hunting a devious and cold blooded serial killer.
Dubbed "Everyman" for his ordinary looks, he recognizes the threat that Vira and Mace are to him and targets them as his next victims.
This police procedural/mystery/thriller was gripping and extremely suspenseful. the characters were engaging and amusing, I loved Mace's self deprecating humor. And of course the dogs were amazing!
Thank you St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC via NetGalley.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book—so much so that I have subsequently bought all the others that Burton has written. I plan on a long weekend of binge reading! The Finders, by Jeffrey B. Burton. It is well written with a very likable protagonist in Mace Reid and a plot that delivers a whopper of a surprise. Reid is a dog trainer who specializes in cadaver dogs, and with the help of his canine friends, solves the mystery of missing women. A suspenseful mystery with well developed characters and the tease of a little romance thrown in make for a delightful read.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books/Macmillanusa for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was not what I was expecting. The first chapter was filled with a continuous description of vomiting by the character named Christine Dack.

The rest of the book is very violent and filled with more descriptions of vomit, blood, decomposition of bodies, guts, gore, eyes cut from their sockets, knife wounds, slashing, shootings.

4.5★s
The Finders is the first book in the Mace Reid K-9 Mysteries series by American author, Jeffrey B. Burton. Mason Reid is a dog trainer, specialising in training for Human Remains Detection. His newest dog, Vira, a young golden retriever rescued from almost certain death, is an incredibly quick study, but on her first proper case locating human remains, she follows up by fiercely attacking a bystander. That, sadly, seals her fate: despite her excellent detection skills, she will have to be put down.

But Mace is convinced there was a good reason for her behaviour, and follows up on the bystander in an attempt to save his dog. Both Mace and another of his dogs are injured, but a life is saved. However, the incident brings him to the (very much unwelcome) attention of a cold-blooded serial killer who refers to himself as Everyman.

The Chicago PD officer who rescued Vira from asphyxiation, Officer Kippy Gimm is soon convinced that this dog is special, especially when she sees her react, not to the man accused of a brutal murder, but an apparently innocent family member. So when it becomes clear that Mace is being targeted, she (and her less enthusiastic but still willing) partner, Dave Wabiszewski start investigating in their own time.

This series debut novel is well-plotted with suitably scary villains and a nail-biting climax. The characters are credible and of course the canines have equal billing when it comes to personality and appeal. This is a novel that will delight not just dog lovers and includes a wealth of fascinating information about cadaver dogs, how they are trained and used. More of Mace, Kippy and the dogs will be most welcome. An enjoyable read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and St Martin’s Press

I enjoyed this mystery. It has everything I like in one. First off, it was clean in that it had only a few objectionable words and those were appropriate. The mystery was well presented and I had no idea who the villain was until the author revealed the person. Burton's writing style is good as was the pace of the action.

I liked the characters and felt they were developed well. Mace, our hero, is recovering from a divorce but is getting ready to think about women again. I liked Kippy too. Coming out of a very painful end to a relationship, she is extremely hesitant to think about entering into another relationship. I really appreciate there was no token graphic romantic interlude.

I like to learn a little something when I read a novel and was happy to read about dogs being trained for cadaver discovery. I really liked how Burton gave a rescue dog special abilities. While unusual, it seemed entirely plausible, especially given the discussion about human abilities. Once and a while an Einstein comes along and it may very well be the same in the world of dogs.

I recommend this mystery to readers who like one plotted well and with engaging characters. It would be especially appreciated by dog lovers. I'll be looking for the next in this series.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

An excellent start for a new series featuring a great dog.
A solid mystery that kept me guessing, interesting characters and a lovely dog. This is an engrossing and entertaining story, perfect for mystery and dog lovers.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

This was not one of my usual reads so I was reluctant to read this but it was great. I look forward to more books by this author!

This book was made for me to read! I have 2 doggies now and my first human baby due this month and I can't describe what it's like having fur babies. Dogs truly don't deserve humans!!

They can really tune into our feelings and they just know how to perk us up and make us happy. There's something very special about a bond between a dog and it's owner. This book by Burton really highlights that bond. You see a dog who quite literally comes back from the dead and somehow has this intuition of who is a bad person. She goes to extreme lengths to protect her owner and I think that's what really shows how great dogs are. They don't care about themselves; they care about us.

Not only did Burton write a great thriller novel where I didn't even see the ending but he really knew how to connect with his readers. Especially if you're a huge dog lover like I am. I cried and laughed and smiled my way through this book and when I finished, I hugged my babies tight. I don't know what I'll do when their time comes to leave Earth but I appreciate Burton writing a story that makes me appreciate them even more and to just reiterate that dogs don't deserve humans!

I chose to read this book because I am a dog lover. There are actually multiple dogs, so it was even better than I imagined. Vira is the main dog character who proves to have some almost supernatural detection abilities. I have no idea if there are really dogs that can do what Vira did. And I don’t care because a dog hero is great in any story. Plus – just look at that cover. If you are a dog lover, I dare you not to give it a second look!

The main plot of the story is actually pretty serious, because of the psychopaths hunting and killing innocent people. When the killer targets Mace, who is just a dog trainer, Mace will have to step out of his comfort zone to make sure he does not become a victim. Mace is a man without supernatural abilities (except he has Vira). He is not a cop, detective or superhero. He is just an ordinary man in extraordinary circumstances. Which actually makes the danger Mace gets into even more serious.

He does have have the help of some cops, including Kippy, who he flirts with. Both Mace and Kippy are getting over previous relationships, so the flirting is awkward but sweet. They both adore Vira. I do love a story where the dog/cat/pet brings people together.

The suspense is intense because, you know, psychopaths, but it is tempered by Vira and her dog family and Mace’s sweet sense of humor. Mace Reid K-9 Mysteries will be a series to watch.

Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Finders
Mace Reid K-9 Mysteries, Book #1
Jeffrey B Burton
5 Stars

Synopsis:

What happens when the hunter becomes the hunted?

Jeffrey B. Burton's The Finders marks the beginning of a fast-paced new mystery series featuring a heroic golden retriever cadaver dog named Vira and her handler, Mason Reid.

Mason "Mace" Reid lives on the outskirts of Chicago and specializes in human remains detection. He trains dogs to hunt for the dead. Reid’s coming off a taxing year—mourning the death of a beloved springer spaniel as well as the dissolution of his marriage. He adopts a rescue dog with a mysterious past—a golden retriever named Vira. And when Reid begins training Vira as a cadaver dog, he comes to realize just how special the newest addition to his family truly is…

Suddenly, Reid and his prize pupil find themselves hurled into a taxing murder case, which will push them to their very limits. Paired with determined Chicago Police Officer Kippy Gimm, Mace must put all his trust in Vira's abilities to thwart a serial killer who has now set his sights on Mace himself. (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Mace trains dogs for all sorts of jobs, but his specialty is training dogs to hunt for dead bodies. He has adopted a new dog named Vira and she has an uncanny ability and is very good at her job. He has other dogs too and they all have distinct personalities and have jobs to do. I enjoyed reading about all of the dogs and how they all got along. Mace teams up with Chicago police officer Kippy Gimm to figure out the serial killer that has been creating havoc.

The writing style flows smoothly and it defines the characters very clearly through their actions and words. The author’s descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning and pulled me along at a breakneck speed. There was plenty of suspense contained in this book and I found myself hesitating to keep reading at times because I was afraid what would happen. I was very surprised who the killer ended up being, and that was great.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. And if you love animals you will definitely want to read this one. I am looking forward to reading the next book when it is released.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

I was so excited about this book as soon as I first heard about it! Being a doglover, and having spent most of my life living in and around Chicago, this one seemed tailor-made for me! The main character, Mason or "Mace" Reed trains dogs, particularly cadaver dogs and the series begins with his new partnership with a very special golden retriever.

It's a fast-paced and engaging read, involving a nefarious serial killer, Mace and his dogs and I had a very hard time putting this down! I do wish that there had been a little bit more realism to some of the locations (Egg River rest stop?!) and I am surprised that Mace doesn't take more flak for being a Cubs fan on the Southside... but otherwise, this didn't strike me as inauthentic the way some book set in Chicago do. And I am sure that some less well-known suburbs will be glad to have a shout-out as well!

Burton offers different perspectives - from both the villain and the heroes - and though this does somewhat detract from the mystery of it all, it doesn't really negate any of the suspense. In some ways this allows for a short-cut sort of approach to include more details, which I did appreciate. Mace is a bit remiscient of Andy Carpenter, though he's not quite as funny. Still, this definitely makes for a solid foundation for a new series - and I definitely do plan on following this series in the future!

The Finders is the first book in Jeffrey B. Burton’s Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series. This new series features dog handler, Mace Reid, and his golden retriever cadaver dog, Vira.

There’s a killer loose in the areas surrounding Chicago. Mason “Mace” Reid, dog trainer/handler, and his golden retriever cadaver dog, Vira, whom he acquired under strange circumstances, are drawn into the investigation and they, along with Mace’s other cadaver dogs and Chicago Police Officer Kippy Gimm, become objects of the killer’s murderous rage.

The Finders is a great read. The characters are well-developed and believable with complete backstories. The dogs are a compelling element in the story. The premise and plot are unique and very interesting. Mr. Burton successfully injects humor into the dialogue and character’s introspection. I absolutely enjoyed this novel and rate it an easy 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend it to everyone, especially those who enjoy a good mystery.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

I loved The Finders, and Vira was a wonderful character, the rightful star of the book. My only complaint was that too many clues seemed to be given away too early on, making it too easy to figure out the bad guy. But maybe I just read too many mysteries!

If you love dogs, or if you like to learn new things about police procedure, you need to read this. An interesting spotlight on a lesser known part of dog training/police work partnership.

*ARC via netgalley and publisher in exchange for my agreement to review; my opinions are my own*

This book is for dog lovers, lovers of rescue animals, lovers to true crime stories, lovers of phycological thrillers, and lovers of a well researched, well flushed storyline.

From the first few pages I was completely consumed. I loved everything about this book. The characters were well developed and completely relatable. This book has everything some romance, mystery and thriller. I can’t wait to read more of Mason Reid and Vira’s journeys.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it was hard to put down. Loved the twists and turned. Thanks for the great read.

Elvira, Vira for short, barely survives carbon monoxide poisoning by a vicious owner as a puppy. At the kennel, she is adopted by Mace. Mace trains Vira to be a Human Remains Detection dog. On Vira’s first case, she finds the body of the victim of a serial killer. She then jumps up, wrenches her leash from Mace’s hand, and runs across the street to the bystanders. Barking, she brings a man down and rips one of his eyes out. Mace tries to discover why in The Finders.

There are more mysteries to solve within The Finders too. I enjoyed this tale of an extraordinary golden retriever and her lovelorn master. I even enjoyed reading about the serial killers that populate the book. Both seemed like genuine people dealing with a compulsion no one could control.

The Finders is highly recommended for serial killer thriller fans (not fans exactly but you know what I mean). Its plot is deliciously different from the usual cop chases killer story. Plus I have new respect for my Chihuahua’s sense of smell. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars!

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.