When Chicago billionaire financier Kenneth Druckman reports a home invasion and the kidnapping of his wife and child, the FBI calls in Mason (Mace) Reid and his dogs. Reid specializes in human remains detection and his cadaver dogs are among the best…and the best of his dogs is Vira (short for Elvira).

After Mace and Vira find the body of the mother, Vira’s special skill puts them on the trail straight back to Druckman. But there is still the young five-year-old girl to find, hopefully before the cadaver dogs are needed. Mace, his dogs and police detective Kippy Gimm follow all the twists and turns where the clues lead them.

Jeffrey B. Burton knows how to tell a tale and the characters of the humans and dogs are well developed, the mystery convoluted enough to keep the reader guessing and the ending satisfying.

This is the third book in this series and I look forward to the next!

The Lost is billed as a K-9 mystery, and this appealed to me. I'm a dog lover, and a mystery lover, so what could go wrong?

As it turns out, this particular book is heavier on the mystery than the dogs, which was a bit disappointing. The mystery itself is fine, although it seems unnecessarily complicated.

A billionaire is attacked in his home, and his former supermodel wife and young daughter abducted. Mace Reid is called out with his dogs, and the wife is found dead at the rear of the property. The daughter, however, is not found, and the hunt is on for the daughter.

The plot proceeds from there, with various agencies joining in. For Reid and his cadaver dog Vira, there isn't much to do, and when he is involved, it feels forced, because he has no reason to be involved. He's (sort of) in a relationship with Kippy, one of the members of the law enforcement team, so tangentially, we get Reid and Vira in those moments, when Kippy is telling him what's happening, in order to keep the reader informed. Not my favorite way, and of course we all know "show, don't tell".

The narrative switches back and forth between the bad guys and the good guys, so there's no mystery in the whodunnit other than if law enforcement can catch up to the bad guys and spoil their plans.

It's not a bad book, but if you're looking for a focus on dog sand their utilization in bringing the story to a conclusion, you might be, as I was, a bit disappointed.

Three out of five stars.

Thanks to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the reading copy.

I love this series! Mace and Vira are quite the crime solving pair. I loved catching up with them, along with his other dogs. This was fast paced & had a great mystery.

In this installment, a billionaire is injured during a home invasion and his wife & daughter have gone missing. The random call has come in and this is when lots of twists and turns start happening. I loved the action and trying to figure out what happened.

When billionaire Kenneth J. Druckman reports a home invasion, the police find him injured. His wife and five-year old daughter have been kidnapped. The ransom call is the usual—a large sum of money, come alone, don’t involve the police. A series of texts send him to multiple locations to make sure he’s not being followed. It also prevents the police from being on hand to catch the kidnapper.
The police call in Mason, aka Mace, Reid and his HRD dog (human remains detection) Vira (short for Elvira) to see if Vira can track the kidnappers. Instead, Vira does what she’s been trained to do—she finds the body of Druckman’s wife. There’s no sign of the little girl but instead of following a scent out of the woods, Vira turns back to the mansion, right back to Druckman. Is it possible this was all a sham? To what end?

With the help of Detective Kippy Gimm, now Mace’s girlfriend (I know, he can’t believe it either), Mace and Vira are hot on the trail to find the child.

To say more would give away parts of the plot. It’s better to issue a warning—before you start the book, set aside time to read cover to cover, have snacks on hand, and block out any distractions. The fast pace will carry you from page to page, anxious to see what happens next. Mace’s relationship with Kippy provides great one-liners, but for out and out humor, it’s the dogs who deliver. They’re named for song titles—Sue is a male German shepherd, Delta Dawn and Maggie the short-haired farm collies, Vira a golden, and Billy Joe a bloodhound. Sue loves to watch television when he’s not being the fun police. He likes things orderly. Delta Dawn and Maggie prank Mace as often as possible. Vira has special talents even Mace can’t explain. And Billy Joe? His motto is ‘I’ll roll in anything.’

A thriller’s pacing, humor so you can catch your breath, a great mystery, and dogs. What more could you ask for? Save yourself time and get all three books at once.

This is a for sure entry on my Best of 2022 list.

The Lost by Jeffrey B. Burton
If you are a dog person you will love this book but be aware that there may be things that will give you issues. Mason Reid and the kids are back. The kids are a Golden Retriever, two Collies, a German Shepard, and a bloodhound pup. Mason is a human remains detection specialist or the parent of the human remains detecting pooches. The gang is called in when a financier’s wife and daughter are kidnapped.
The author depicts extraordinary talents in the dogs. He also clearly shows the level of commitment that dogs give to their human parents. Love, loyalty, and bravery are not strictly human traits. The dogs show those traits in spades. I particularly like the dog’s distinctive personalities. Sue, the patriarch, German Shepard is lord of all he sees. Vira though is practically a paranormal phenomenon.
The story includes a psychopathic vigilante whose behavior has consequences beyond his short-sighted goals of demented right and wrong.
Mason whose social skills need honing is still yearning Kippy, his now more than just friend, cop.
I really enjoyed the book and recommend it.

This is the 3rd in the Mace Reid K-9 series. I loved the first book and was underwhelmed in the second. I decided to go ahead and try the third, mostly because I just love Vira, Mace’s ace cadaver dog.

I definitely enjoyed this one and felt it’s a step back in the right direction. I will definitely keep reading this series.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

This novel is the third in the cadaver dog series by Burton and the third I've read. I did not find this one as compelling as the earlier ones. Part of the reason was the plot concentrating more on a variety of characters rather than primarily the dogs. I appreciate the relationship between Mace and Kippy as they are major characters, but there were many other characters, including ones from the Russian mob. That diluted the emphasis on the cadaver dog.

Burton's writing style was varied. There were chapters about an unknown person that had a writing style I liked. The rest of the text was a bit different and almost had an oh gosh, country style of writing. Also, the narrative had flash backs I thought disrupted the flow of the plot.

The plot was as complex as the list of characters. It involved financial fraud, a very odd wealthy man, plenty of schemes and a valiant dog. The denouement clearly relates all the events after the fact.

While this is not the best book in the series, I did generally enjoy it and will be watching for the next one, hoping Burton returns to featuring the dogs.

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

Hey folks, daddy Steve here with some doggiebook talk. At the beginning of June I reviewed a book titled The Keepers, the second book in the Mace Reid K9 mystery series by Jeffrey Burton. I had actually read it back in 2021 when it came out. Well, the third book in the series, The Lost, came out last June 28 and this is the one I want to talk to you about today.

Again, lots of love for this series and not only its main dog, Vira the cadaver dog, but the fact that the main human character, Mace Reid, actually trains a few other dogs. I liked the more conventiional mystery setting of this book more than the previous book in the series that dealed in city corruption.

It’s another recommended read, especially if you like mysteries. And yeah, no dogs were harmed in this book…

Huge thanks to NetGalley who provided a free eBook advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. This is as honest as it gets...

#Malcolmstories #doggiebooks
#NetGalley #TheLost

This is the third in the series about cadaver dog trainer/handler Mason "Mace" Reid and his stable of intelligent pooches. It's perfectly readable and entertaining, but I have to say it didn't resonate with me as much as the other two. In part, that's because there's less focus on the dogs. Yes, super-smart golden retriever "Vira" (a nickname for her real name, Elvira, from the popular Oak Ridge Boys song of years ago) gets some page time and Mace does what he can to keep Bill from rolling around in stinky substances. But it's Mafioso-style crime that takes center stage here, and for me, that's never a favorite topic. And even though they're apparently an official couple now - if I recall correctly, that was just a wish on Mace's part in the second book - I just didn't feel the love between Mace and his main squeeze, Detective Kippy Gimm (yes, that's her real name).

On the plus side, though, there's plenty of action, and for those who haven't read the first two, it stands alone well. This time out, a reported home invasion sends Mace and Vira out behind the property of an uber-wealthy financier, where she sniffs out the very dead body of the rich guy's super-model wife Calley. Still missing, however, is their young daughter, Eleanor; even Vira's super-sniffing ability is no help in finding her. Then, their fears are realized; she's been kidnapped, and there's a stiff ransom demand for her safe return.

Needless to say, the clock starts ticking; no one, including the FBI, wants to find Eleanor's body somewhere. For the benefit of readers, chapters shift from what went on a few weeks earlier, with mentions of the aforementioned mobsters and his relationship to the aforementioned mobsters and hints that not everything and everyone are what and who they seem to be. Even Mace and the Chicago-area law enforcers seem to be running around in circles, finding little evidence and spending precious time with an investigation that often barks up the wrong tree.

The twists and turns continue right up to the end, and of course there are some tense moments with threats to the lives of Mace, Kippy and Vira. Will they all survive? Will they find Eleanor before it's too late? And will they bring the culprits to justice? Ah well, all I'll say is that Vira plays a part in the outcome. All in all, it's a fun romp that dog-lovers are sure to love. As for me, I once again thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

Jeffrey Burton’s cryptic and intriguing opening scene hooked me right away. From the prologue to the finish, I couldn’t put the book down. The Lost is the third book in the Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series, and the author has again written a fantastic story that crosses the genres of police procedural and cozy mystery.

Kippy, Mace’s police woman pal and sometimes partner, is assigned to a high profile kidnapping that seemingly has nothing to do with the prologue scene (but you know will be woven into the main storyline). Kippy brings in Mace and his trained canine companion, Vira, and the sleuthing begins. The dogs are truly my favorite part of this series, so I was a bit disappointed that they had smaller roles in this book. However, that allowed for further development of the human characters (Kippy and Mace).

The Lost features a good mystery with a complicated plot, some humor, and a big surprise culmination.

A dastardly plot

This wasn't my favorite book in the Mace Reid K-9 series. It was too convoluted and there wasn't enough about the fantastic dogs.

That written, it was readable. Mace Reid and his golden retriever Vira are called to an estate of a billionaire near Chicago whose wife and young daughter, Scarf, have been kidnapped. The FBI has called in Mace because Vira is a human remains detection dog, and right away Vira finds a body - and implicates the husband.

This book goes in too many directions right from the start and I just wasn't as invested in it as I was in the first two books in the series (although I did like that the romance between Mace and Detective Kippy Gimm has heated up). It's worth reading if you've read the other two books but definitely don't start your reading experience of the series with this book.

I received this advanced reading copy from Minotaur Books through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

I have enjoyed every book in this series, and looking forward to more!

Kenneth Druckman, one of the wealthiest men in Chicago, is distraught after a house invasion lead to the kidnapping of his wife, Calley Kurtz Druckman, and his young daughter, Eleanor.

Mason (Mace) Reid is called into a high-profile case and brings Vira, a Golden Retriever, to aid in searching for a missing wife and child. Vira has a unique talent, aside from finding the bodies, she has a nose that leads right back to the culprit. Mason has a dilemma in trying to convey what he knows Vira knows without saying so or risk being put in a padded room.

When Kenneth Druckman receives a ransom request, the FBI, Mace, and Vira tag along, but all no closer to finding Elle or the perpetrators. Then Kenneth Druckman goes missing.

A prime suspect is no longer in the picture, but Elle is still missing along with the expensive jewelry. Kibby Gimm, a detective and Mace's girlfriend, does some digging and comes up with an interesting theory. A pawn store owner passes on some information that makes this case much worse. Kibby, Mace, and Vira take a drive and hit pay dirt. Following a tip, they head back to town and a narrow escape, but a mistake puts them all in jeopardy. Time is of the essence!

I enjoyed this story and the ending that leaves Kippy hanging on Mace's answer. There is humor along the way, including the antics of all of Mace's dogs with a good mystery.

I requested and received this ARC from NetGalley via St. Martin's Press and I have voluntarily reviewed this book.

We join Mace, Kippy, and Vira in the third book of the series to try to uncover the truth about Druckman, a financier whose wife and daughter go missing. After reading the first two books I was excited to read this one but unfortunately it came up a bit short.

I found the plot to be a bit strange with an art heist being semi involved and I never really grasped how it all tied together; the end was a bit unusual, unexpected and strange to me too. Plus I felt Mace and Kippy were a bit off their investigation game. Vira was great as always! But I could’ve done without reading this one and also didn’t necessarily love the hint of thoughts of human trafficking as a possibility from the Russian mobsters.

Thank you NetGalley for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

TW: Death of a Parent, Kidnapping, Human Trafficking

When Mace is brought into a case concerning a missing wife and daughter he uses his cadaver dogs to try and find the scent. The story that the billionaire financier Kenneth J. Druckman spins doesn't seem fully true. With the help of his girlfriend Police Detective Kippy Grimm they try to sort out all the missing pieces of the story.

There are some flashbacks with a Russian Mobster and an art heist that is part of the story but you aren't sure how it intermingles until the end.

This is the third book in the series but unfortunately this didn't pull me in like the first book.

I received an arc for review, all opinions are my own and given freely.

I'm so glad this series is going on. I liked this book as much as I liked the previous two. Burton does a great job of weaving mystery, humor, and suspense into a great story. The characters are believable - love Mace and Kippy. My favorite characters of course, are the dogs and I hold my breath whenever one is in danger.

I guess my only disappointment in this book is that there wasn't much about the rest of the dogs. I love Vira, though, and I'm sure the others will get their chance in the spotlight in future books.

I have to say this was my least favorite book in the series so far. The main plot of the story centers on the home invasion/murder/kidnapping of the Druckman family. The story was well written and for me the question of how everything was going to resolve itself kept me interested. To me it seemed as if the characters of Mace, Kippy, and Mace's family of canines were almost side characters that were just there to drive the plot along, but there wasn't much character develpement or time just spent with them. Since the interplay between these characters was my favorite part of the first two books in the series this left me disappointed. I hope there is another book in the series that focuses more on my favorite characters and maybe has more lightheartedness between the more serious plot elements.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this novel for my voluntary and honest review.

Mace and Vira are at it again and this time, we learn who the killer is almost immediately at the start of the story. When Druckman's wife and daughter are kidnapped, Calley, his wife is found by Vira the next day outside of his hope. While it takes Mace and Kippy a bit to put all of the pieces together, the hunt is now on to find their missing 5 year old daughter.
Burton writes with such humor paired with suspense and his books are always hard to put down.

When a rich man's daughter is kidnapped and wife is murdered, Mace and his dogs are called in to help with the search. The plot was good, and although there wasn't a ton of mystery about the big perpetrators of events, it was interesting learning details and seeing what happened.

Those who know me could predict that my favorite characters were the dogs. I love them all and their different personalities.

Thanks to netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. I'll be watching for the publication of future books in the series.

I stayed up way too late to finish this book. It is the third book in this series, and it is just as good as the other two. I really like Mace. He's not your brooding, introspective rich 'hero' - Mace lives in a trailer with with his dogs, has a steady girlfriend (Kippy) who is a police detective, and enjoys a good beer. He is an excellent trainer of cadaver dogs - dogs that can detect human remains - and is regularly called to assist the Chicago police in finding bodies. He has one dog, Vira, who has an extra talent - she can follow scents left on the victim, scents that can lead right back to the killer.

This book is very suspenseful and there is a lot happening. The characters/events include several billionaires (including some with shady pasts), Russian mafia members, the FBI, a home invasion, murder, and kidnapping. Mace was called in to help look for the missing wife and daughter.

I received an advance reader copy from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to read and review this book.

This series is such a hidden gem. I really don’t hear or see anyone talking about them and they NEED to be RAVED about!

Mace is a dog trainer, his dogs are human remains cadaver dogs and his one dog, Vira, a Golden Retriever seems to be more than that. Vira is special and can sense more than meets the eye. In this book, a little girl, Scarf and her Mom, Calley have been kidnapped. The husband and father, Kenneth Druckman has been tied up and beaten. FBI agent Squires has brought in Vira and Mace to check the land the massive home sits on. What will they find and where will this installment take them?

This series has everything you want; mystery, suspense, a little romance, dogs who are beyond smart and even a little action. I truly love this series and highly recommend to you all! Thank you to Jeffrey and St Martins Press for the review copy! This one I’m giving 4 stars, Jeffrey’s writing always has a way to draw you in from the first page!