Striking Range: A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery

The Colorado mountains are once again the setting of this, the seventh Timber Creek Mystery. Author Margaret Mizushima is a master of painlessly educating her readers about the animals and outdoors she portrays. Throughout the series, steep mountains traversed by treacherous trails are where the main character, Deputy Mattie Cobb, and her K-9 partner, Robo, have endured peril and hardship to apprehend nasty criminals.

Mattie and Robo are on a quest to solve the thirty-year-old murder of her father. She is assisted by cold-case investigator, Jim Hauck. In the past, Dr. Cole Walker, a veterinarian, has been by her side in capturing her prey. This time around, there are newborn puppies added to the cast of characters. Dr. Walker must stay behind at his clinic to assure the survival of the littlest one. Cole is more than a friend to Mattie – he and his children have become dear to her.

Author Mizushima alternates chapters between Maddie’s quest and Cole’s efforts to save the tiny puppy. A massive storm brewing in the mountains becomes yet another factor as the story progresses to produce a marvelous cliff-hanger ending of the best kind. Readers will thoroughly enjoy the book.