This series just gets better and better. Definitely a few twists I didn't see coming. I was also in a reading slump before starting this book. Revisiting these characters brought me out of it.

This is one of my favorite series. Mizushima always gives readers an exciting plot, fascinating backstories, and a wonderfully evocative Colorado landscape. To add to this, there is the deeply interesting and authentically described police canine element. Readers have come to love police officer Mattie Cobb and her highly trained dog Robo. The action and love between them is the real success of this series, although the great case of local characters and Mattie's troubled background certainly keep the stories and the interest flowing.

In this latest story, Mattie teams up with a California detective who has a new lead on the cold trail of the murderer of Mattie's father many years ago, and possibly the recent attempt on Mattie's life, detailed in a previous book. And more work calls Mattie with the death of a young woman in her jurisdiction, leading her and Robo to investigate.

Readers should start with the first in the series, as relationships and personal growth are carefully calibrated through each book, building up a rich and lively story line. Highly recommended for all mystery shelves.

The Timber Creek K-9 series is one of my favorites! I love the setting, the characters and the plots! I have yet to be disappointed with this series.

Striking Range is the 7th book in the series. The plot is fast-paced with lots of twists and sub-plots. Entertaining as usual! Mattie travels to question a suspect in a Colorado prison, but the prisoner dies leaving some mysterious clues in his cell. Add in a missing pregnant woman, puppies and a blizzard -- it all adds up to the usual great Timber Creek K-9 story!

This newest book is one of my favorites in the series so far! The action was non-stop and I couldn't stop reading! I am eagerly awaiting the next book.

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

This is a great series for those that want dogs involved in their mysteries. This is the 7th book in the series but can work as a standalone as Mizushima gives plenty of background.
Mattie Cobb is the detective and dog handler for the Timber Creek, CO sheriff’s department. This time, the case she’s investigating is personal. She was scheduled to question a man in prison who tried to kill her and was possibly involved in the death of her father. But that morning, he died of a drug overdose right before the interview.
Meanwhile, her beau, veterinarian Cole Walker has just helped deliver a litter of puppies that Robo sired. The reader gets a great bird’s eye view of a dog’s C section.
Mattie soon gets drawn into the search for a missing pregnant woman.
This series is perfect for those that want to learn more about how dogs and handlers work together. It always fascinates me and there’s always something new to learn. It’s scary to think that drug handlers and dogs are also now so at risk because of fentanyl.
The story itself was fast and entertaining. Mizushima does a great job of painting scenes that are easy to envision. I was caught off guard by the ending. I can only hope there are lots more books to come in this series.
My thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy of this book.

This seventh book in the Timber Creek K-9 mysteries finds Mattie getting closer to discovering who murdered her father some thirty years earlier. She's working with Jim Hauck who is a cold case detective from San Diego. Together they are planning to interview John Cobb in prison because he has ties to that long-ago murder along with more recent attempts to murder Mattie. But they arrive at the prison just in time to learn that Cobb has been found dead in his cell of a drug overdose. The only remaining clue is a guide book to Colorado hiking trails with some dog-eared pages. One of them with some suspicious Xs.

Mattie is determined to check out the trail even though one of the Xs indicates the location where Cobb tried to murder her. She and her canine partner Robo take off into the mountains along with Detective Hauck to see what they can find. They discover a lot. Possible body dumps, buried drugs, and buried explosives. All spotted by Robo but a Colorado blizzard moves in before they can explore more.

Then Mattie is called to a campground filled with elk hunters because a body has been discovered. It is the body of a young woman Mattie met at Cole Walker's veterinary clinic when she was visiting some puppies sired by Robo. But that young woman was pregnant and this one has only recently given birth before dying of a drug overdose. The hunt is on to find her baby and discover what happened.

This was another fast-paced and action-filled adventure for Mattie and her K-9 Robo which shows their close relationship. There is also Mattie's own growing relationship with Cole. Mattie is getting more comfortable with human relationships after a very difficult childhood.

Fans of the series won't want to miss this exciting installment. New readers will also enjoy the story for its action.

"Striking Range" is a K9-detective mystery. It's the seventh in a series. You can understand this book without reading the previous ones, and this book didn't spoil the previous mysteries except for events in "Burning Ridge."

The main characters were likable and complex, and they acted realistically to events. I cared about what happened to them. They dealt with personal struggles while solving the mystery. Mattie and Robo (her loyal and talented working dog) and Cole (the veterinarian who loves her) worked to solve the crimes. This was a clue-based mystery. It also had a lot of suspense due to the danger from the weather and the bad guys.

The crime scenes were not described in gory detail. There were no sex scenes. The was some bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this interesting and exciting novel.

Striking Range is the newest book in Margaret Mizushima’s Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series. This book finds Deputy Mattie Cobb looking further into the murder of her father thirty years earlier. She tries to interview a man in prison who was an integral part of her father’s murder only to find him dead in prison the day she and a detective arrive to talk with him. Her investigation seems to go from bad to worse in a suspense-filled book involving drugs, a new mother found murdered, and her missing infant. Mizushima keeps the story interesting by going back and forth between all the characters involved. As always, there is suspense involved when Mattie and her K-9 partner, Robo, trail the suspect through the mountains of Colorado, adding a surprise twist at the end. These books are never a disappointment and a must read!




Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Mattie, Robo, and Cole are back with a couple cases that are full of questions. These characters have developed so nicely since book one and picking up a new book in this series is like catching up with friends.
The mystery surrounding the body of a young woman is heartbreaking. There is a large cast of suspects. And a few excellent twists along the way.
The case from Mattie's past involving her father is just as intriguing. The witness is dead and Mattie is left with a map and more questions. The answer to who killed the witness was easy to guess, but it doesn't take away from the suspense.
I absolutely loved the ending! After the intensity of these cases, it left me with a huge smile. I already want the next story.

Deputy Mattie Cobb and her K-9 Robo are back in another Timber Creek Mystery by Margaret Mizushima.
Mattie and cold case detective Jim Hauck go to the Colorado State Prison planning to interview John Cobb the man who tried to kill Mattie and who may also have information about her father's murder three decades earlier. To their frustration, the Cobb is killed in his cell before the interview can take place. The only clue they discover is a map of the Timber Creek area.

There are several threads that are intertwined in this latest addition to the series: Mattie's search for information about her father, a dangerous secret on the mountain, a dead young woman and a missing newborn, and then Cole goes missing on the mountain. But it is the characters in the series that provide the biggest draw, and Robo is always a star. This time the puppies Robo fathered give their mother a difficult time, but are received with great joy by all of those who love both Robo and Sassy.

I look forward to every book in this series. Mizushima has once again kept me eagerly turning the pages to see what the familiar characters are up to, puzzling the mysteries, and cheering on Robo.

NetGalley/Crooked Lane Books Mystery. Sept. 7, 2021. Print length: 288 pages.

This read has the basis of an interesting story but has a bit too much 'dollar's. I enjoyed every character but Huck and most of the narrative. Cole plays a larger part than usual and Robo is terrific as always
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc

This is another intense and suspenseful mystery in the Timber Creek Mystery series. Like the others, some elements of the story continue through the series, but this can be read and enjoyed without having read the previous books (but they’re so good, I recommend reading all of them!). In this case, we see human (infant) trafficking, drugs, and murder with a few unexpected twists and turns. Add in new puppies (Robo, Mattie’s K-9, becomes a father!) and the growing relationship between Mattie and Cole (local veterinarian and father of two girls), and this book is a must read!

Striking Range by Margaret Mizushima is the seventh book in the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series. I don't know how I have missed this series before now. Thoroughly enjoyed Mattie, Robo, Cole, Stella and the other members of the teams, both human and canine. The background information about the relationships between the recurring characters was well incorporated without being confusing. Well crafted mystery, fast paced, action packed, and with vivid descriptions made for a very enjoyable read. Will be looking for the backlist of Ms Mizuschima's K-9 Mystery Series set in Timber Creek and of course future books also.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Striking Range by Margaret Mizushima is the seventh book in the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series. This has become one of my favorite police procedural series. The author brings plenty of suspense and action to a story featuring Deputy Mattie Cobb and her canine partner, Robo. It is set in and around the small town of Timber Creek in the mountains of Colorado.

While this is the seventh book in the series, enough background to events and people allows this book to work well as a standalone novel. In this one Mattie is meeting California Detective Jim Hauck at a Colorado prison. They plan to interview John Cobb, the man who tried to kill Mattie a few months ago and may have killed her father 30 years ago. However, when the guards go to get John, he is dead in his cell. A map is found featuring areas around Mattie’s home town. Not long after Mattie and Detective Hauck arrive in Timber Creek, a young woman is found dead and Mattie and her team need to search for her newborn baby as well as the killer, in addition to solving the mystery of the map.

Mattie, Robo, and the other members of the sheriff’s department begin investigations that have a lot of twists and turns and some red herrings. As usual, Maggie’s boyfriend, veterinarian Cole Walker, helps with the investigation when he’s not dealing with his practice. The characters are appealing and Maggie shows some growth with her friendship with Stella.

The writing is compelling, engaging and entertaining. The plot clever plot is intriguing and very realistic. Information about the different types of police dogs added another dimension to the book. Multiple plot lines kept me thoroughly engaged and turning the pages.

I was immediately drawn into the investigations and the lives of Mattie, Robo, Cole, and several residents of Timber Creek. I believe the fact that the author and her husband run a veterinary clinic and live on a small ranch in Colorado helped with the realism of the events and visualization of the area. Themes include police investigations, murder, veterinary procedures, family relationships and dynamics, how the past affects current actions and thoughts, changing relationships and more. There are some serious themes in this novel that I won’t reveal due to spoilers.

This is the third book that I have read about Mattie, Robo and Cole. They seem like old friends, and I can’t wait to read the other books in this series. If you are a dog lover or just enjoy an engaging and suspenseful mystery, I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.

Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books, Margaret Mizushima and Net Galley for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for September 7, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

Mattie and a cold case detective from San Diego are going to the penitentiary to interview a man that Mattie thinks might have information on her father's murder. they are shocked when the man is murdered before they can speak to him, but he has a map in his cell with horribly familiar locations. When a body is found, Mattie is shocked when she recognizes the victim. They start to see a pattern of women who have recently delivered babies who have gone missing, along with their infants. The author is great at building suspense, and in creating a twisty plot in which Robo, Mattie's K9 partner, plays an integral role. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

I haven’t read the previous books in this series but that didn’t seem to make any difference in this book. It was a good story, lots of action and kept me turning the pages quickly. I enjoyed the interaction between Mattie and her dog. I enjoyed this book and will be looking forward to the next one.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

Even though a later book in Margaret Mizushima's Timber Creek K-9 series, this is a solid stand-alone as well. In fact, this is my first read from the author and I didn't feel like there were chunks of history missing as the important details of the past were blended nicely into the story. That's always a plus for me. The main characters have depth and are well-round with broad emotional range as well as intelligence. There are intersecting, twisted cases and loads of suspense. With a satisfying conclusion that weaves together loose ends, Striking Range is a solid tale. The only caution is scattered profanity in the otherwise clean writing.

I received a complimentary copy of the book without obligation. This review is my opinion.

rural, Colorado, murder, murder-investigation, law-enforcement, drugs-issues, drug-trafficking, relationships, family, family-dynamics, friendship, thriller, suspense, procedural, K-9*****

The first body is of a teenager recently delivered of a healthy baby who is missing. There's a blizzard in the mountains and it's hunting season. There are supposed hunters in town with possible ties to the dead girl. Then one of the deputies is run down, is concussed, and looks like both legs broken. This is a tense and suspenseful procedural. A really good read!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thanks!

In Margaret Mizushima's Striking Range (Crooked Lane Books 2021), Timber Creek Deputy Mattie Cobb is headed to Colorado State prison to interrogate an inmate who might have critical information related to the thirty-two-year-old-cold case of her father's death but when she arrives there, he's found murdered in his cell. She and her K-9 partner, Robo, are assigned to investigate it with another cold case detective, Jim Hauck. Unrelated to this case, a young nine-month pregnant girl is found dead and without her baby. No one knows if the baby is alive or died in child birth so Mattie and Robo need to track the infant down while there's still time.

This is the seventh in the fast-moving, dramatic, and dog-centric Timber Creek K-9 Mysteries. This one has a particularly good opening line:

"Today Deputy Mattie Cobb could interrogate the man who had once tried to kill her."

Deputy Mattie Cobb has exactly my attitude toward dogs. She respects them, considers them best friends, and would never choose her life over theirs. Here are a few lines I loved:

"...weighed in at around one hundred pounds. This high-energy male shepherd was her constant companion, not only her partner but also her best friend."

"Talking to Robo always settled her nerves, so she explained to him what was going to happen next."

"Her German shepherd partner, Robo, heaved himself up from his cushion where he’d been sleeping and dropped his shoulders into a long stretch. His pink tongue curled and his sharp teeth glistened as he yawned until his throat squeaked."

What annoyed me in this story, unlike earlier books in the series, is that it spotlights the too-oft repeated fiction plot of a family member killed long ago that weighs so on the main character that they obsess over it and/or must find out the truth. I liked this plot line the first ten times I read it but now, I want something more creative out of writers. I was happy that within the first chapters, she moved on to a different plotline. 

Margaret Mizushima has a good voice that pulls me in as a reader and does a nice job of developing the plot at the right pace. But, in this story, I think if not for Robo, her working dog partner, it would have been a bit bland. Hearing how he tracks criminals and prepares himself for his job is fascinating and never gets old.  Other than that, in this particular book, I didn't find enough creativity or clever plot twists to carry a Robo-free story. Still, it's a good read and worthy of 4/5.

"Striking Range" was an excellent addition to the series with a believable plot and characters that are fully developed.. However, it is not a good jumping off book for anyone who hasn't read the rest of the series.

Deputy Mattie Cobb is waiting in the parking lot for cold case detective Jim Hauck. They enter the Colorado State Prison in hopes of talking to the man that they believed may have murdered Mattie's father 30 years ago. After they enter the prison, it goes on lockdown and the man they came interview is found dead under suspicious circumstances. In his cell, he had a map of Timber Creek, the area where Mattie works, and had red Xs marked on certainly places. Mattie and her K-9 partner Robo, along with detective Hauck, take to the mountains to see what they can find. Lots of twists and turns as the cases unfold and this book kept me turning the pages and up most of the night until I finished it. I really enjoyed this book and I love the cover. Great job Margaret Mitzushima. I want to thank Net Galley, Crooked Lane Books and Margaret Mitzushima for an ARC e-book in exchange for an honest review.