Deadly Trade by Sara Driscoll @jenjdanna.com‬ @kensingtonbooks.bsky.social‬ @Saradriscoll @JenJDanna @KensingtonBooks

Posted October 28, 2025 by Anne - Books of My Heart in Book Review / 20 Comments

Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


Deadly Trade by Sara Driscoll @jenjdanna.com‬ @kensingtonbooks.bsky.social‬ @Saradriscoll @JenJDanna @KensingtonBooksDeadly Trade by Sara Driscoll
Series: FBI K-9 #10
Published by Kensington Books on October 28, 2025
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Pages: 304
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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After a difficult assignment and the excitement of her wedding to firefighter Todd Webb, Meg is more than ready for two weeks of sun, sea, and gorgeous Hawaiian scenery. Her K-9 partner, Hawk, accompanies Meg and Todd to their resort, reveling in his celebrity status with both staff and guests. After a week of relaxation, all three are ready to get out into nature on the Big Island, where Meg and Hawk can practice search strategies.

In the remote fern forest of Pu‘u Maka‘ala Natural Area Reserve, Hawk’s senses are on high alert. When Meg lets him leave the path, they encounter two men trapping bright birds. The poachers escape, leaving their bounty behind, and when agents from the FBI and US Fish and Wildlife arrive, they confirm that the birds are all endangered species near extinction. Super-wealthy collectors acquire them for private zoos, with no regard for the birds’ survival. Alive or dead, these beautiful creatures are merely trophies.

Meg, Todd, and Hawk join an official search using a local conservation dog to pinpoint vulnerable nesting grounds in an attempt to protect trafficked wildlife and to stop the poachers in their tracks. But beyond the threat posed by determined poachers lurks another danger—Mauna Loa, one of the island’s active volcanoes, has been grumbling, and is poised to turn this mission into their most terrifying yet.

The FBI K-9 series is one of the better ones for realistic work where the dogs are key in the story and do actual training and work.  There is the police work the characters are doing with the dogs. The personal relationship of the teams, their friends and family is well developed.

Deadly Trade starts with Meg and Todd in Hawaii on their honeymoon. When they are hiking, Hawk senses people and they are concerned someone is lost or injured in this remote area.  They go to help and find a couple guys trapping endangered birds.   They report the incident and Meg is asked to join the team to find the poachers.   Meg feels the need to stop this while the trail is fresh.

She is surprised when her boss sends Brian and Lacey, as well as McCord to join the search.  This is somewhat different than the search work in other cases.  First the area is beyond huge, so they need to narrow it to nesting areas where the birds might be caught.  Also the terrain is tough in many areas.  The team has a Hawaiian handler and his K9 who are trained to find nesting areas.   But that still doesn’t narrow things enough.

I enjoyed the science and smart deductions they made to figure out where they might find them.  McCord is an excellent researcher and figures out the possibilities for how they are transporting their grabs.  He also alerts them that the earthquakes they have been feeling may also be indictive of lava eruptions and that adds more risks.

There is plenty of danger from the poachers and from nature itself, as they hunt.  It was interesting to learn more about the birds and Hawaii topography.  The characters are well known and easily loved.

 

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Posted October 28, 2025 by Anne - Books of My Heart in Book Review / 20 Comments

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