Cover Image: Standing Dead

Standing Dead

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Thanks to Dreamscape & NetGalley for providing an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review

I was drifting off and skipped over a lot because some part became tiresome.
I couldn't really get into it which I know it has to do with me not being familiar with the previous books.
I'm sure I'll have loved it more if I had read the other books because everyone I know loved it.
My honest mistake as i did not realize it was the 8th book in a series.

Was this review helpful?

Standing Dead is the 8th book in the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series. Although each book has it's own crime/mystery to solve, there is an over-reaching ARC in this series involving Mattie and her family. This story brings it home and will be a huge spoiler if you want to read the previous books in the series. Having said that, Margaret Mizushima fills in all the backstories nicely so you will not be lost if you choose to read it as a standalone. The story opens with Mattie and her sister Julia attempting to visit their mother in Mexico. She and her husband are gone, leaving in a hurry and not telling anyone where they are going. Fast forward and Mattie is back home and there is a message nailed to her front door. She needs to find someone who needs her help. Mattie, her K-9 partner, Robo and others from the Sheriff's office head out to the forests and hills to see what they can find. What they find is Mattie's mother's husband, Juan Martinez. While out, they meet several hunters and their horses who seem to be poisoned in the various campgrounds. When her sister goes missing, the crime becomes personal as well as being a race against time. It becomes apparent that whoever is behind this, wants Mattie.

This was an action story, moving quickly, with a lot of twists and suspense. Mattie knows that whoever has her mother and daughter must be behind her father's murder years ago, but not sure why they have come out of the woodwork so many years later. The setting of the forests in the Colorado hills adds that tenseness and even more danger. Not only is Mattie involved, but the local veterinarian, who is also Mattie's partner. He is taking care of the various poisoned animals, and gets involved in the search as well. I enjoy seeing her team in action, how they have each other's backs, the tools they use and how they work together to protect one another, especially in the open areas. The criminals were well-developed, as well as dangerous and psychopathic. I love how Mattie figures them out and is able to get into their heads. Of course, Robo is an integral part of the story and investigation. I love how he is involved in the take down and arrest at the end of the book, but you will have to read it to find out how. Margaret Mizushima lead me on an enjoyable chase with this book. Her knowledge of K-9s and veterinary medicine shines through in these stories. A gripping mystery, well plotted and developed, with characters I love, especially the dogs. I highly recommend it. I have been enjoying the audiobooks, narrated by Nancy Wu. She is the voice of Maggie and does a great job with the others. I will continue listening to this series and if you enjoy audiobooks, I recommend that format.

Was this review helpful?

This was an ok mystery. It wasn’t anything special it was just average.
Thank you to netgalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
3 stars

Was this review helpful?

Standing Dead by Margaret Mizushima (Timber Creek K-9 Mystery Book 8) Just back from a trip trying to find her missing mother, Deputy Mattie Cobb finds a chilling note taped to her door telling her to look for “him” among the standing dead. Nail bitting and nerve wracking, it's sure to keep you on the edge of your seat!
#StandingDead #NetGalley #NetGalleyReader

Was this review helpful?

I really couldn't get into this. I just didn't seem to follow this very well. I am giving this 3 stars.

Was this review helpful?

Standing Dead is book 8 in the Timber Creek K-9 mystery series. I have enjoyed every one of the Timber Creek K-9 books and Standing Dead is no exception. It’s another great mystery for Mattie Cobb to solve in the beautiful Colorado mountains with her sweet German Shepherd, Robo. The story maintains a high level of mystery and intrigue while endearing the reader to the characters of Timber Creek.

Was this review helpful?

🎧 NetGalley AUDIOBOOK ARC Review 🎧

Standing Dead
By Margaret Mizushima
Publish date: Available now!


Thank you to @netgalley and @dreamscapemedia for an audiobook ARC of Standing Dead in return for my honest review.

Standing Dead is the 8th instalment in Mizushima’s Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series. I had not read any of this series before, and although it can work as a stand alone, I think it would have been a lot more enjoyable if I had read the rest of the series first. But that’s my bad!

STANDING DEAD follows Deputy Matty Cobb and her K-9 partner Robo as they continue to solve the decades long mystery involving her father’s murder.

This book is definitely more tell than show. There are lots of technical explanations about veterinarians and K-9 units. Don’t get me wrong, I personally really enjoy learning about that subject matter, but the mix of fiction and non-fiction just didn’t work here.


Read this if you like…
👮‍♀️ Police procedurals
🐕 K-9 units
⛰️ Atmospheric thrillers

Was this review helpful?

A thoroughly absorbing tale of canine care and murder mystery with a fascinating twist of fate. Definitely worthy time spent getting to understand the characters through a series of desperate situations.

Was this review helpful?

Decent story and mystery. I liked having the two main character sisters with different personality types! K9 Robo is a beloved character and the partnership between him and Maddie is a good balance with the darker theme of the story. The portion of the book where Maddie goes undercover to infiltrate and find the suspects responsible was engaging but I found the build up in the first half of the book a little slow. The narrator didn’t feel like the right voice for the characters to me, and the infliction she used in her voice for emotions was a little too dramatic. Otherwise a good listen.

Was this review helpful?

Nice to see old friends again!

I read the first two books in this series many years ago. Besides Robo the dog, my memory has been slightly hazy. Glad to report that book #8 Standing Dead, can be read on its own.

Deputy sheriff and K-9 handler Mattie Cobb from Timber Creek, Colorado is visiting her mother in Pueblo del Sol, a small village in Mexico. She arrived with her sister Julia but found their mother missing. Soon, Mattie's family circle vanished one by one. Who is taking her family and why? A substory is compelling also, her fiance and veterinarian Dr. Cole Walker is getting calls about ill horses.

I really enjoyed both stories and found the characters well-developed. Standing Dead has a lot of Mattie's backstory. Very entertaining and a good procedural with K9. Nancy Wu is an excellent voice for this series.

Was this review helpful?

“She was starting to see threats everywhere, whether they existed or not.” A k9 cop is on the hunt for bad guys who have threatened her by kidnapping family members. She herself had been a victim as a child, but now someone had come back to finish what was started years ago between her father and an unknown assailant. Our heroine works to find out the connection between the kidnappings and recent animal illnesses from selenium poisoning. This book was a bit slow in some places, but had some good red herrings and a decent plot to keep me on board for the quick read.

* I was provided an advanced reader copy of the audiobook version of this title in exchange for my honest opinion & review. *

Was this review helpful?

Standing Dead
I enjoyed this book even though I didn’t realize it was book 8 of the series. I believe it was fine as a standalone. The characters were given enough of a backstory/description that I never felt lost. I enjoyed the pace of this book and had some great suspense and mystery!


I listened to the audio book arc of this and thought the reader did a great job! Especially the final chapters when the suspense was picking up!

Was this review helpful?

This is book 8 in the Timber Creek K-9 mystery series. I always look forward to a new book featuring K-9 officer Robo and his handler Mattie.
Although this book continues the story of Mattie's past, the book can be read as a standalone thanks to the generous reminders provided.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook for review.

Was this review helpful?

Going into this I did not realise this was the 8th in the series and I think that’s why I struggled with the plot so much and connecting with the characters. Apart from that i don’t think this was written very well with interesting characters and an insight into investigations with K9’s which is unique and I really enjoyed Learning more about that. I think you do need to read the previous books to fully enjoy this however if I did I think I would have rated it higher.

Was this review helpful?

Mattie and the wonderful Robo are once again needed after finding a body in woods. This storyline continues her relationship with her mother and her sister and the problems that the relationship brings as she tries to find out what happened to her father years ago.

Side note: I really find Mattie and Cole's relationship relatable and healthy. They both have busy lives but find time to spend together. They also communicate really well which is something I don't see as often in books that I read.

This is my first time listening to the series. I had read the others. It did take me a little bit to get use to the cadence of the narrator's voice but I did find it easy to listen to.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to NetGalley I am able to give my honest review, which unfortunately is not very flattering. I seem to be on the opposite side of the spectrum with my rating, but feel it's because critics don't want to leave negative reviews. I did not realize it was the 8th book in a series, although the author did a good job with the backstory so I was able to follow the plot. The narrator was satisfactory, but didn't wow me. It was an ok book and great for some readers, just not me.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to Dreamscape & NetGalley for providing an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I keep seeing starred reviews for this series in PW, and I thought I'd give it a try, even though the series did not perform well at all in my library. Unfortunately, this one isn't for me.

I think that joining the series so far into it was a detriment, as there are numerous references to past situations that clearly color the current plot. The information about Mattie's training of Robo, her K9 partner, are interesting, It's different to what I have learned about K9/sniffer dog training, but I am probably nowhere near as well versed as Margaret Mizushima.

Unfortunately, the rest of the plot left me cold. Since I have no history with Mattie, her sister, and her mother, it was hard to feel invested in the crime. There are a lot of characters, and they're not well developed enough to keep straight. The writing felt flat and workaday to me, and the voice acting was OK, but in no way dynamic. The entire book has a very quiet feel to it, like it is there to impart info but not to wrap you in the story and make you feel a part of it.

Was this review helpful?

Standing Dead by Margaret Mizushima
Narrated by Nancy Wu
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Published: March 7, 2023

Standing Dead is the 8th book in the Timber Creek K-9 series by Margaret Mizushima. I have only read one other book in this series so far and found this easy to listen to as a standalone mystery. (I also found out that the first 5 books in the series are included in my Audible membership, so I will spending some time in Timber Creek in my very near future!)

I enjoyed this book so much!!!! The narration by Nancy Wu was incredible! I love how she brought this story to life!

I found this book to be captivating! I didn't want to stop listening to it! I loved the style and flow of it. I thought the police procedures and crime investigation techniques were described well. Mattie is such a great character! Getting to see her out there on her own was fascinating! She trusts in her team and stands strong! I loved it!

The story was incredible! It is fast paced with a great mystery! I could not get enough of this book! I loved the characters and look forward to seeing what their futures will bring, as well as learning more about their pasts by diving into the previous books!

I highly recommend reading this book! I know I couldn't stop until I reached the end and now I want more!!!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Was this review helpful?

Standing Dead is the eighth book in the Timber Creek series but can be read as a standalone. This is the only book I've read in this series and I loved it. I can't wait to go back and read the first seven. This story hits the ground running with a fast paced and engaging plot. I loved Mattie. I wish I knew more about her but I'm sure I'll learn more when I go back and read the earlier books in this series. Her police dog Robo is precious! The focus on good animal care this book has was endearing. It was also beautiful suspenseful and left me on the edge of my seat for the entire book. The plot twists were hard to guess and well executed. I can't wait to read more by this author.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I haven’t read the rest of the series. I jumped straight into this book. I feel like the author did a great job giving a bit of backstory and filling in the blanks so I wouldn’t be lost while reading this book first.
However, I was unable to connect with Mattie, or Robo. I feel like to have that connection I really need to go back and begin from the beginning.
The beginning really intrigued me. Investigating her moms disappearance in Mexico and then ending in Colorado. Seeing how the title came to play in the story was intense but I really think the narrator for me, didn’t use a wide variety of tones and inflections to tell the story. I just felt like she was just reading the story but didn’t bring the characters to life.
So that took a bit of the story away from me and sort of fell flat.
**3.5 stars**
I’d like to thank Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for the ALC.

Was this review helpful?