Rating: 4 out of 5.

This is another good book in this K-9 Mystery series. Just when Deputy Mattie is poised to question the man she thinks murdered her father, he’s discovered dead in his jail cell. Mattie finds a map of Timber Creek in his cell marked with Xs in several spots on the mountains. She and San Diego cold case detective Jim Hauck head back to Timber Creek to investigate.

Before they can finish their search, Mattie and her K-9 Robo are called away to investigate the death of a young pregnant girl. The girl had recently given birth, but the baby is nowhere to be found. As the search intensifies, a big winter storm sets in, making a desperate search more difficult.

As typical in most mysteries, things get way worse before they get better, but Mattie and Robo keep plugging away, following the evidence until answers are found. I really enjoy this mystery series. Even 7 books in, I still enjoy reading about Mattie and her partner Robo. Mattie’s character is finally starting to let people into her life and although she faced incredible hardship early in life, she hasn’t allowed it to turn her bitter or cruel. She still believes most people are inherently good and is confidant enough in her and her partner’s abilities to trust her judgment and instincts. While she’s nobodies fool, Mattie still allows her humanity to guide her.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. All opinions are my own.