Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Blind Search by Paula Munier Series: Mercy & Elvis Mysteries #2
Published by Minotaur Books on November 5, 2019
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 352
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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It’s October, hunting season in the Green Mountains—and the Vermont wilderness has never been more beautiful or more dangerous. Especially for ten-year-old Henry, who’s lost in the woods. Again. Only this time he sees something terrible. When a young woman is found shot through the heart with a fatal arrow, Mercy thinks that something is murder. But Henry, a math genius whose autism often silences him when he should speak up most, is not talking.
Now there’s a murderer hiding among the hunters in the forest—and Mercy and Elvis must team up with their crime-solving friends, game warden Troy Warner and search-and-rescue dog Susie Bear, to find the killer—before the killer finds Henry. When an early season blizzard hits the mountains, cutting them off from the rest of the world, the race is on to solve the crime, apprehend the murderer, and keep the boy safe until the snowplows get through.
Inspired by the true search-and-rescue case of an autistic boy who got lost in the Vermont wilderness, this mystery is a compelling roller coaster ride through the worst of winter—and human nature.
I LOVED Borrowing of Bones which was the first book in the Mercy & Elvis Mysteries series. I was thrilled to see a new installment was coming out soon and to be able to read it. I love the mysteries and also the working dogs in the story. Mercy has left the military and lost her fiance who was Elvis’ partner in K9 work. They are both dealing with their grief and making a new life. Mercy was an MP and is a key to investigations in the series.
Blind Search was somewhat different than Borrowing of Bones. Mercy worked more on her own than with the game warden, Troy, and the dogs were also less in the plot. Troy and the dogs were still involved but not as much. The romance also was brought up by other characters but they spent almost no time together and it didn’t progress. Mercy works for Daniel, again really, and the whole have vs. have-not is on display quite a bit.
I enjoyed the continued world building and character development. I love the townspeople and Henry and hope we continue to see them in future books. There were some exciting new additions to the local community. Some of the bad guys, and Harrington, seem to be just black, with no shades of gray. I’d prefer them more complex when they are in multiple books.
I hope the rich vs. ordinary thing is just part of Mercy’s settling between her parent’s/ Daniel’s world and the regular folks, being able to include both aspects in her life. She may not be able to change the way her parents want to control her but find a compromise where she doesn’t have to shut them out of her life. Then again, they may not be salvageable.
I look forward to more. I hope the dogs will be even more involved, actually working. Of course, the people development is also important. But I love the dogs!
About Paula Munier
PAULA MUNIER is the author of the bestselling Plot Perfect, The Writer’s Guide to Beginnings, Writing with Quiet Hands, and the acclaimed memoir Fixing Freddie. The first novel in her mystery series, A BORROWING OF BONES (Minotaur, 2018) was inspired by the hero working dogs she met through Mission K9 Rescue, her own Newfoundland-retriever-mix rescue Bear, and her lifelong passion for crime fiction. In her fabulous day job as Senior Literary Agent and Content Strategist for Talcott Notch Literary, she represents many great writers. Her specialties include crime fiction, women’s fiction, upmarket fiction, MG/YA, high-concept SFF, and nonfiction. She lives in New England with her family, Bear, Freddie, and a torbie tabby named Ursula.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Looks like a fascinating story and series. Great review, Anne?
I like how much the dogs are part of the story, more so it felt in the first book. The mystery is primary; romance is in the background.
I don’t think I’ve see this series, maybe here, but you caught my attention with this review. Looks good. Thanks, Anne!
I really am enjoying this series. I liked the first book a little more than this one, unusual, but they are both good. I just found this because of reticular activation having just done the K9 Series on Saturday. I hope you get a chance to try them.
that cover sucked me right in. 🙂 enjoyed the review and i hope you get more of the critters in future books
It’s good. I liked the people characters too. 🙂
I always like when we have dogs in a story like that and this book sounds good too
yes, it’s a good series. I plan to stay with it.
I’m sold and have to go check out the series. Right up my alley!
Exactly me when I saw it. I had to try it!
This one sounds so good. I also like stories that include animal characters. Lauren Carr’s books all have some of the most memorable animal characters.
oh! I’ve been looking at reading Lauren Carr, very interested in some of her books but I didn’t realize about the animal factor. Thanks for letting me know. I hope you get to try this series; it’s good.
I’m sorry to hear there was less with the dogs in this book since that is one of the things I liked best about the first book. Still looking forward to reading it though!
There was less about the dogs and the romance in this book. It was focused more on the mystery Mercy was working. The dogs did take part just less so.
This does sound like a promising series. I would probably want more dogs too though 🙂
I was spoiled by the first book where there was more dog work. This had some but not as much. Mercy’s dog played a different role than the first book. In the first one, Elvis was more a search dog, in this one he was more a therapy/ guard dog.