You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
3.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book and the dogs especially. It's funny how adding dogs can make a police procedural even better lol. It was a little too long and my interest started to wane towards the end. I also found Mercy a little annoying. I guess it's admirable that she never gave up but she's not a police officer of any kind (game warden included) and she was risking Troy's job but that didn't prevent her from continuously investigating and taking risks. That's one of the things that always bothers me when it's a layperson solving the case.
3.5 stars
Took me ages to finish this book. It was a good read but it was a bit wordy and got bogged down in too many details.
Took me ages to finish this book. It was a good read but it was a bit wordy and got bogged down in too many details.
I absolutely loved this book! The main characters are some of the best drawn characters I have seen in a very long time. I have read over 90 books this year and this book stands out for its excellent character development.
MP Mercy Carr has moved back to Vermont to mourn her fiance and hide from the world. She spends her days hiking with the military dog her fiance was responsible for and learning to bond with the dog.
One day, the dog finds a baby in the woods in a carrier, apparently alone. This starts a series of events that introduce Mercy (and us) to Troy, who is a game warden with a working dog of his own -- Susie Bear.
I found the book compelling.
MP Mercy Carr has moved back to Vermont to mourn her fiance and hide from the world. She spends her days hiking with the military dog her fiance was responsible for and learning to bond with the dog.
One day, the dog finds a baby in the woods in a carrier, apparently alone. This starts a series of events that introduce Mercy (and us) to Troy, who is a game warden with a working dog of his own -- Susie Bear.
I found the book compelling.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was a refreshing break from the cozy and contemporary romances I had been stuck in for too long. It’s a compelling mystery woven with a story of survival, featuring a military veteran and her dog, a forest ranger, preppers, an artist, and a tight-knit community.
My favorite aspect of the story is the animals. Both the protagonist and her dog are survivors, rescued from the trauma of their pasts. The narrative invites you to decide: are the people helping the dog, or is the dog helping the human?
As for the mystery, it’s a masterfully layered tale, with incidents that gradually unfold into a complex and satisfying story.
My favorite aspect of the story is the animals. Both the protagonist and her dog are survivors, rescued from the trauma of their pasts. The narrative invites you to decide: are the people helping the dog, or is the dog helping the human?
As for the mystery, it’s a masterfully layered tale, with incidents that gradually unfold into a complex and satisfying story.
Had read a rave review of this author's third book in the series, but I always need to start at the beginning it seems. Having never heard of Paula Munier, this was a pleasing surprise.
Mercy, a female military police war veteran who was engaged in battle in Afghanistan where she recently lost her fiance is now living in forested Vermont with Elvis, her fiance's bomb sniffing dog who still has some PTSD. Together they live in a nice but remote cabin-like home not far from her independent thinking veterinarian grandmother, Patience, a great side character.
To work through their sadness, the two hike in the Green Hills, until one day Elvis finds a baby in a clearing. Their next hike? They find a set of decomposed human bones. Then the baby disappears from the hospital. Mercy's home is ransacked. All kinds of small dangerous situations occur with implied violence, but nothing is overly graphic. It's all about the mystery.
A game warden, Troy, and his search and rescue dog, Susie Bear soon join ranks with Mercy and Elvis. Both are told to stay out of things and yet Mercy especially reveals her cop skills. This is also about the value of art and the beauty of Vermont.
Would have liked to have seen romantic tension develop a bit more between Mercy and Troy, and there were plenty of opportunities for increased suspense. These elements were kept low-key. Really appreciated learning the difference between these types of working dogs, their needs, and how humans and dogs can heal one another. Great read.
Mercy, a female military police war veteran who was engaged in battle in Afghanistan where she recently lost her fiance is now living in forested Vermont with Elvis, her fiance's bomb sniffing dog who still has some PTSD. Together they live in a nice but remote cabin-like home not far from her independent thinking veterinarian grandmother, Patience, a great side character.
To work through their sadness, the two hike in the Green Hills, until one day Elvis finds a baby in a clearing. Their next hike? They find a set of decomposed human bones. Then the baby disappears from the hospital. Mercy's home is ransacked. All kinds of small dangerous situations occur with implied violence, but nothing is overly graphic. It's all about the mystery.
A game warden, Troy, and his search and rescue dog, Susie Bear soon join ranks with Mercy and Elvis. Both are told to stay out of things and yet Mercy especially reveals her cop skills. This is also about the value of art and the beauty of Vermont.
Would have liked to have seen romantic tension develop a bit more between Mercy and Troy, and there were plenty of opportunities for increased suspense. These elements were kept low-key. Really appreciated learning the difference between these types of working dogs, their needs, and how humans and dogs can heal one another. Great read.
I thought this was a great mystery novel with an interesting plot, characters I liked and a great sense of place. As a Vermonter, I loved that the author name checked lots of quality local brands. I also appreciate that she didn’t go for the Hallmark characterization of our state. I look forward to the next installment in the series.
The constant references to Vermont products was extremely jarring and intruded mightily into the story. I do not need to know that the dogs were waiting for pieces of Gran’Pappy Corncob’s Hand-Cut Organic Bacon or that every time the main character takes a sip of wine it’s Apple Farm’s Native Vermonter Big Red Merlot. Just tell us it’s bacon and wine.
Speaking of dogs, aren’t hot dogs, pizza, French fries, etc. terrible for dogs to eat?!? There’s no way these working dogs could be so healthy and energetic on such a crappy diet.
I skimmed a bunch of the dialogue, there was a lot of repetition that an editor should have taken care of. There were some huge leaps in logic that let the characters solve the mystery. And the main character had no personality, other than a streak of stubbornness that almost got her killed.
Speaking of dogs, aren’t hot dogs, pizza, French fries, etc. terrible for dogs to eat?!? There’s no way these working dogs could be so healthy and energetic on such a crappy diet.
I skimmed a bunch of the dialogue, there was a lot of repetition that an editor should have taken care of. There were some huge leaps in logic that let the characters solve the mystery. And the main character had no personality, other than a streak of stubbornness that almost got her killed.
Truly an amazing story. The start of a great series!
Highly recommend
Highly recommend