I love mysteries about cats and dogs, so I was excited to find and read "The Finders," the debut book in this series, last summer. I was no less excited to find this one - and even happier when, once again, I got a pre-release copy of the book to read and review (thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley). Like the first, there's plenty of nail-biting action, both on the part of the pooches and their very likable trainer, Mason "Mace" Reid. Needless to say, though, the dogs pretty much have a corner on the lovable end - any country music fan like me would be hard-pressed to resist pups with names like Delta Dawn, Elvira and Sue (yes, the latter is a boy).

They all live near Chicago, and the dogs are in demand, largely by the Chicago Police Department, for their expertise in sniffing out human remains. As this story opens, a call from the previous summer sends Mace and a couple of his best canines to a major downtown fire, where the dogs nose out a body. Subsequent investigation determines the fire to be arson and that the dead guy, a lawyer, bit the dust before he turned up as a crispy critter (i.e., he was murdered).

Back to the present, Mace's not-yet-but-hoped-for main squeeze, police officer Kippy Gimm, calls him in to help with the murder of a local musician who, shall we say, was musically challenged and lost. Then Mace and the dogs seek and find an even more prominent - and spectacularly dead - local district attorney. That, in turn, leads to suspicions of nefarious connections that reach to the highest levels of government (hey, this is Chicago, after all). But whoever the someone or someones are behind the murder, it's pretty clear an in-depth investigation won't be welcome. Mace and Kippy soon learn that the hard way, though - putting them and the dogs in mortal danger, on the run and smack dab in the middle of an episode of "Who Do You Trust?"

For sure, this one barked right up my tree, and I'm sure it will be a hit with other readers as well. Good job!

The Keepers is the second book in the Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series.

We are thrust right into the action with Mace and Vira on the scene of an arson trying to determine if any bodies are in the fire. Then we fast forward to a rockstar killed in his home where Mace and Vira are at the scene. Although Vira is trained as a cadaver dog she has other skills. Vira can sense DNA from decedents left on other people. As bodies start piling up, Mace is looking over is back to help protect Vira and the police officers he works with.

Because this is the second book in the series, I felt like the pacing went a lot quicker than the first one. We already have a lot of the relationships and backstories established but Jeffrey B. Burton does a good job of recapping the first book if you've forgotten what happened or are jumping into book 2 blind. I did the find the story predicable for the most part but that didn't stop me from enjoy the ride. I can't wait to see what cases Mace and his band of cadaver dogs find themselves in next.

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for allowing me to read the book early in exchange for my honest review.

This one isn’t for me. A slow start and dog violence is just not something that I want to read. I hope it gets into the hands of readers that’ll love this story.

Thank you to Netgalley & St Martin Press for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked the first book in this series and while I liked this one I struggled with the beginning. I don't know if it was that there were too many characters or what but I felt a little lost. Things quickly fell into place and we were off with Mace and his trusty dog Vira by his side.

Mace is a well developed character and I really enjoy relationship with Kippy as they try to maintain a "just friends" distance. Even the dogs have personalities that are well established. They aren't just a novelty they are actual characters in the book and storyline. Vira has a strange ability to know sniff out the killer of whatever crime scene she is on. Trained as a cadaver dog she not only finds the bodies but she can also alert Mace and company to the killer even days later. Its a bit unnerving and a little spooky but Vira hasn't been wrong yet. However when Vira identifies this killer it brings them to the attention of people they would rather not know about Vira's ability and it puts them in danger. Not to mention how do you explain that the dog identified the killer?

This is a unique and fast paced mystery. Its always fun when you get to cheer for the animals instead of the humans. The characters are well developed and the mystery keeps things moving quickly.

This is the 2nd book in the Series and it was just as good as the first book.
The mystery will have you staying up late reading.
Any story with dogs is a plus for me, but dog and mystery and it is even better.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for fair and honest review.

The Keepers – Jeffrey B. Burton

Mason Reed is a K9 handler who teaches his dogs to sniff out human remains. He has a small crew of talented animals, but golden retriever Vira is a standout – she alone can detect and remember the scent of a killer – a talent that very few people are privy to. Officer Kippy Gimm is one of those people, and she’s summoned Mace & Vira to the scene of a brutal murder, where a well-known musician has been found dead in his kitchen. As Vira walks the scene under the pretense to look for drugs, when Mace & Vira catch a quick glimpse of the body, they see evidence of a brutal assault. Ushered off the scene, he can only hope Vira was able to catch a scent.

Later, when a search for missing Special Prosecution Bureau member Peter Feist culminates in his body being found in a nearby park, the victim of a brutal killing, Vira alerts Mason to the killer almost immediately during a chance meeting, opening up a big can of worms, as Vira has just implicated one of the cities’ highest-ranking officials in the murder. Vira’s behavior has also set the killer’s sights on Mason…

Mason, Kippy & Kippy’s partner “Wabs” regroup with this newfound knowledge, to decide how to best proceed. When a meeting with a city official goes goes unexpectedly awry, Mason & Kippy find themselves framed for a number of crimes and fleeing for their very lives with the dogs. In an effort to find the information that got Peter Feist killed, they head to his mountain cabin in hopes of finding some incriminating info. But someone else is heading that way as well. Can Mason & Kippy find what they need to put the killer away? Or will the killer find them first??

This was a great read! It was a bit slow to start for me, but once I had a feel for the characters, and things started happening, the book moved at dizzying speed, in an edge-of-your-seat cat and mouse game between Mason & the killer whom Vira inadvertantly identifies. I like the character development I see in Mason, and I am elated to see that Kippy is going to give him a chance. The dogs, particularly Vira, are front line characters in their own right, and I will be anxious to ‘see’ them again as well. If you love dogs, and enjoy the Ryder Creed, Mercy Carr and/or Meg Jennings K9 series, you’ll love Mason Reid as well!

Mace Reid is a twenty-something who trains cadaver dogs and is frequently hired by the Chicago Police Force. One of his dogs - golden retriever Vira - is something special. Besides being able to find dead bodies, she can also find the scent of the person who made them dead which has come in handy on some occasions.

Mace is recently divorced but is beginning a new relationship with Officer Kippy Gimm who is determined to become a detective. She calls Mace in when one of his idols, one-hit-wonder Jonny Whiting, is found beaten to death in his condo. Mace and Vira manage to get in under the guise of Vira being a drug sniffing dog when she catches the scent of Jonny's killer. Kippy, her partner Wabs, and Mace begin an investigation to discover the murderer and Vira comes through.

Meanwhile, another series of murders are taking place in Chicago which include an investor in from Minneapolis and the head of a Police group dealing with organized crime. Mace in called in to try to locate the cop and does manage to find him. Vira also gets a scent of the killer and alerts when the Police Commissioner and his driver arrive at the scene. But finding evidence to convict a Police Commissioner without becoming a casualty themselves really tests the ability of Kippy, Wabs, and Mace and his dogs.

This was a real page turner that I really enjoyed. It was fast-paced and action-packed. I like Mace who isn't the smartest or the bravest guy in the room but who is completely devoted to his dogs and their welfare. I liked his growing relationship with Kippy. I liked that, while most of the story is from Mace's point-of-view, Kippy does get some point-of-view time too.

It took a bit for this one to take off but once it did, I could NOT put it down!
Mace and his cadaver dogs are quite the team but his dog Vira has something special that can detect and sense things most dogs can't. As he and detective Detective Kippy Gimm start finding answers to a recent murder, someone else is hot on their trail doing their best to make sure the truth stays hidden. Just how far will the real killers go to keep the secret and who is at the top of the chain calling the shots?

Love this series with Jeffery Burton. It is interesting to learn about the job and abilities of cadaver dogs. Pretty fascinating how they perceive the world around them with their ability to smell so much better than humans. I try to imagine how different my life would be, if I were a cadaver dog:) Book is bloody is spots, and was hard for me to read, due to the writing being so realistic, I felt I was witnessing things first hand! I would of went with 5 stars, but I wasn't really connecting with Viva's special senses. It felt super natural to me, which isn't a genre I enjoy much., but still a good read!

This is the 2nd in a great series which follows a guy who works with 'scent detection' dogs, like cadaver dogs, assisting police at crime or accident scenes. It follows a pretty fast pace, has lots of action & is a compelling read. It has some scary, potentially gruesome scenes, but the author navigates these in a manner that conveys the moment but is 'readable'. Definitely a good follow-up to his 1st in the series, which was also very good. I recommend this to all who like dogs & a good mystery/thriller. I'll definitely continue to read in this series!
I received an e-ARC of this book from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley, after offering to read it & post my own fair/honest review.

Mace has taught his dogs to find cadavers and to smell the killer, too. He has a crush on the cop he works with but she just wants to be friends. He gets a call and heads out to with his dogs.

St. Martin's Press and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published June 29th.

One victim was really beat up. When they find the band member that left the group, the dog goes on high alert. That's one killer found. The other cases are more complex.

They are finding important people killed. The cops are working with the mob and anyone that doesn't do what he's told ends up dead.

As they learn who is involved, it's apparent that they will need the help of the FBI to take them down. But they need proof.

Their investigation gets more dangerous every minute.

Will they survive to take down the bad guys or will the bad guys win?

I would like to thank NetGalley and St Martens Press for the opportunity to read the second book in this series. As with the first book I have to say that no dogs died in this book.

Mason and his pack of dogs help to find cadavers and Vira seems to have a knack of finding killers. The author created amazing characters, especially the dogs who each have a unique personality and it adds a touch of humour to a violent story like to here Mace talking to the dogs. The bad guys are over the top bad which makes them easier to hate.

Set in Chicago and the “dirty cops” along with the mob you are guaranteed to endure a lot of violence in this book. It wasn’t over the top explicit so I wasn’t too gory. The author created a good storyline and there were times I didn’t want to put the book down but some of the filler was long and boring and I found myself speed reading through those parts.

An all round exciting story with amazing dogs and good characters. A great combo that provides you with an exciting murder/crime book

The main character of The Keepers, Mace Reid, has endearing relationships with his dogs, and his descriptions of them appeal to any dog lover. The busy plots of the book are somewhat overwhelming and occasionally confusing, and the action is a bit too sanguinary for this reader. There are also some jarring grammatical errors that should be corrected. This is the second book by Burton I've read, and I like the character development of Mace as well as that of his fellow detectives, but I find the book a bit bumpy.

The Keepers, by Jeffrey B. Burton, is a fast-paced, action-packed crime mystery. Mason “Mace” Reid raises and trains cadaver dogs, dogs specializing in human remains detection. He refers to his dogs as his kids and calls them The Finders. Of course, they are all talented but Vira, his golden retriever, has a gift. Mace and Vira work alongside Chicago Police Officer Kippy Gimm to solve murders, uncover corruption, expose a Chicago mob boss, and more. I enjoyed the twists and turns in this book. Although we learned who some of the culprits were before the climax, there were still enough surprises and suspense waiting until the very end. I recommend this book for those who enjoy crime mysteries, especially when some of the main characters are dogs!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC. This is my honest review of the book, a book I recommend. I look forward to more of Jeffrey Burton's books!

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: June 29, 2021
“The Keepers” by Jeffrey B. Burton is the second novel in the Mace Reid K9 series (the first one being, “The Finders”, which I also had the oppourtunity to read and review).
Mace Reid and his cadaver dogs are called in to investigate a murder in Washington Park, but what they find there is far more than just a dead body. Soon, Mace, his dogs and police officer Kippy Gimm are on the run from the Chicago mob, and this is one race that will only end in death. With greed, political corruption and intense mob intimidation, Mace and Kippy are forced to take on the most powerful men in Chicago, who will stop at nothing to keep their power.
Mason (Mace) Reid is a likable character, and his charming nature continues throughout the second novel. He acquires a new dog, Bill, who joins his seriously adorable brood of cadaver sniffing dogs, including Vira, who made her first appearance in the last book, as the almost psychically talented leader of the pack. Kippy returns in this novel too, and of course the romantic tension still exists between our two main characters, continuing the will-they-or-won’t-they questioning that presented itself in the first novel. The greatest characters by far, of course, are the dogs, who use their innate training and intuition to find dead bodies and essentially, save the day.
This novel has a lot of characters, including a lot of high-powered politicians and downright dirty-deed doers. Although most of the novel was told from Mace’s perspective, we did get a few sections that would be narrated by one or more of the leaders of Chicago’s seedy underbelly. It was difficult at first to sort through who was who, and exactly who was working for whom, but the dark revelations of Chicago’s crime-powered leaders was interesting and likely, all too realistic.
The ending finally provided a resolution to the will-they-or-won’t-they question between Kippy and Mace. “The Keepers” plays out like a Hollywood action movie, full of gunfire and fistfights, where the hero comes out on top. It was an engaging and gripping read, peppered with brave and adorable cadaver dogs, and I look forward to seeing more of Mace Reid in the near future.

Well done Jeffrey! A unique view behind the scenes in police investigation. Dogs really are our best friends and their abilities can be amazing. Quickly paced, plausible, and enough turns to keep things moving allong. Please Sir; can I have some more?

I had read the first one in this series and really liked it. I was excited to be given the opportunity to read this one. It was a good police type book. Some of his interactions with the dogs were cute too. I felt kinda bad for the dogs that got hurt towards the end. I really expected this book to be more about his dog finding dead bodies and not so much about police corruption. Overall I didn’t care for this one as much as the first.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

I didn’t read the first book, but that wasn’t a problem at all. This story of a man and his several cadaver-sniffing dogs was relatively well done. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.

My thanks to Net Galley for inviting me to read my second book in this series.

Mace Reid, owner of an agency that uses cadaver dogs to assist the police, and Officer Kippy Gimm are back again in this tale of a public figures murder, corruption, racketeering, mob hits., and of course, delightful dogs.

Enjoyed this very much. Quick, easy , read, well developed protagonists, and the focus on the dogs. Unique and different read!

I read the first book in this series, The Finders, when it was available in 2020 and had a few reservations but was looking forward to reading the second. Now I've done that and have made the decision not to continue any further in the series. I said in my review of the first book that it looked as if the author was going to try to give the dog Vira an unusual ability and I hoped that would not happen. Unfortunately it has happened and the book has veered off into an area I'm not interested in. Also, this second book has one of the dogs in this pack sustaining a significant injury during the investigation; I was uncomfortable with that situation in the first book and was very unhappy to see that type of situation repeated in the second book as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press Minotaur Books for an e-galley of this novel.