Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Second Grave by Jeffrey B Burton Narrator: Will Tulin
Series: Chicago K-9 Thriller #2
Published by Tantor Audio on October 7, 2025
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Length: 7 hours, 55 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Another day another find for dog trainer Cory Pratt's cadaver dogs Alice and Rex. This time a mass grave with three bodies and a second single grave over three decades old. A cold case that Cory's sibling and Chicago Police detective Crystal has to solve fast as the killer of the four men is still out there.
While the identities of the men are determined one by one, the bodies are linked to an infamous crime which remains unsolved to this day. And with the killer trying to cover their tracks, other dangerous and lethal individuals start getting involved . . .
I read Burton‘s unrelated Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series and liked it. The Dead Years starts off the Chicago K-9 Thriller series. We have a brother and sister team who lost their parents in a car crash. Crystal was old enough to assume a quasi parental role for her almost adult brother, Cory. Crystal is a Chicago police detective, and Cory has a dog training business. Their father was a veterinarian. We get mostly Cory’s perspective.
I am enjoying this series more than the previous one. The Second Grave starts with a search for an elderly man who wondered off from a family picnic in a state park. They do find him. But the dogs find much more. They turn up two more graves with bodies which are not recent. Unfortunately, the killer is still around and doesn’t want anyone to find any answers.
Crystal and Cory both face danger, as well as the relatives of the victims who might know something. There is another interested party who is also a big danger to the killer.  Luckily, Alice and Rex are smart and help protect Crystal and Cory even though they are cadaver dogs not protection dogs. I would have appreciated their role to be a bit bigger with more showing than telling. Dogs are important to me and their personalities.
Crystal is smart and catches on to the killer without enough evidence but she and Cory work towards gathering more information, along with more in-depth background of their suspect. They do this with each suspect but finally hit on the actual killer. It’s a very sad story and the current events aren’t pretty either.
I enjoyed their work and skills. Cory had some personal growth and I hope he will develop, along with his dog handling in future stories.  He is still so young and not quite on a solid path. Yet.  We don’t know much about Crystal’s life and friends and I’d enjoy more insight on her character too. There’s plenty of details to flesh out along with the police cases here.
Narration:
The narrator has been the one for the series. I appreciate the continuity. The character voices were comfortable and familiar enough for me to know them. The tones were neutral enough to leave me completely in the story and not distracted by the narration. I listened at my newer speed of 1.75x.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Jeffrey B Burton
Jeff was born in Long Beach, California, grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, and received his BA in Journalism at the University of Minnesota.
Novels in Jeff’s Agent Drew Cady mystery series include: THE CHESSMAN, THE LYNCHPIN, and THE EULOGIST. His short stories have appeared in dozens of magazines.
Jeff is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and the Horror Writers Association. He lives in St. Paul with his wife, an irate Pomeranian named Lucy, and a goofball of a Beagle named Milo.
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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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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 25-Audio
- 25-COYER
Another K-9 series! Glad you’re enjoying, Anne💜
I always have to try them.
This sounds good and I’m instantly pulled in by anything involving working dogs.
yes, I always want to read about working dogs.
I hope he does grow more in the next!
It’ll be interest to see. I always want more dog time though.