Tracking Game by Margaret Mizushima

Tracking Game by Margaret Mizushima ISBN-13: 9781643851358 Hardcover Publisher: Crooked Lane Books Released: November 12, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
An explosion outside a community dance sends Mattie Cobb and Cole Walker to the scene, where they discover a burning van and beside it the body of outfitter Nate Fletcher. But the explosion didn't kill Nate--it was two gunshots to the heart.

The investigation leads them to the family of rancher Doyle Redman, whose daughter is Nate's widow, and the people who work on the ranch. Then they receive an emergency call from a man who's been shot in the mountains. Mattie and Robo rush to the scene, only to be confronted by the ominous growl of a wild predator. Mattie begins to understand the true danger that's enveloping Timber Creek.


My Review:
Tracking Game is a K9-detective mystery/suspense. It's the fifth in a series. You can follow this book without reading the previous ones, and this book didn't spoil the previous mysteries. It's another satisfying, suspenseful mystery with the Timber Creek police (and friends).

Robo is a talented, well-trained working dog, and it's always fun to see him "on the job" with Mattie. The main characters were likable and had depth and complexity. Events had a realistic impact on them, and they had to (maturely) deal with relationship struggles at the same time as they dealt with crime. The crime was a clue-based mystery, and whodunit wasn't obvious until the last clues were uncovered at the end. Suspense was created from physical danger and relationship conflicts.

There were no sex scenes. The was occasional use of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this exciting mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.