Striking Range: A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery

In Mizushima’s entertaining seventh Timber Creek K-9 mystery (after 2020’s Hanging Falls), Deputy Mattie Cobb is at last on the verge of interviewing John Cobb, the chief suspect in her father’s murder 30 years earlier, in the Colorado state prison where he’s serving time for a recent attempt to kill her and other crimes. Before she can do so, Cobb, who also abducted Mattie at age two and gave her his last name, is found dead in his cell. A book of Timber Creek County hiking trails in the cell has handwritten Xs along one trail. Curious about their significance, Mattie decides to visit the spots indicated. The discovery of the body of a teenager who just gave birth interrupts Mattie’s quest, and she surmises that the killer may have taken the victim’s newborn baby. Her investigations lead her and her valiant German shepherd partner, Robo, into the snowy wilderness and a thrilling face-off with a devious killer. Jolly visits to the office of Mattie’s veterinarian boyfriend, Cole Walker, provide relief from the grim detective work. Series fans will hope Mattie returns soon. [em]Agent: Terrie Wolf, AKA Literary Management. (Sept.) [/em]