This is a new feature I developed and have been changing over the last couple years. I am trying to do short series with 3-4 books this year. I read the first book in the Riverbend K-9s as a freebie and then I bought the next couple audios for 99¢ each. Three new installments have been released and are on sale but they are also at Hoopla.
An Ear For Trouble by KT Lee Narrator: Ann Richardson
Series: Riverbend K-9 #2
on January 5, 2023
Genres: Mystery
Length: 7 hours, 43 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Elise Butler is a wildlife biologist who enjoys her stable (if somewhat predictable) job in finance at the World Wildlife Trust. However, when the veterinarian at Riverbend Animal Conservation Center goes missing, Elise offers to help the unlucky wildlife Conservation Center get back on its feet. Not only will the job in Riverbend, Indiana let her get back to her roots of working with animals, but it’s also a short drive from her sister’s workplace at Riverbend K-9 Academy, a training center for some of the FBI’s best explosive detection dogs.
FBI Special Agent Finn Cooper and his canine partner, Sedona, are chasing a well-funded animal trafficking ring. After an injury sidelines Finn from official FBI undercover work, he goes to work at Riverbend K-9 Academy to stay busy while he recovers…and to investigate his only remaining lead in the animal trafficking case.
Just as Elise begins to settle into life in Riverbend, her sister asks her to help the K-9 Academy by fostering one of their puppies. Finn is eager to keep Elise focused on training Zeke, the enthusiastic German shepherd puppy earmarked to become Riverbend’s first wildlife detection K-9, and keep her well away from his quiet animal trafficking investigation. Zeke quickly proves himself an expert both at chewing shoes and sniffing out clouded leopards. When Zeke starts finding scents where they don’t belong, Elise and Finn begin to realize that the Conservation Center may be more criminal than unlucky. And if Elise doesn’t keep her nose out of it, she might be the next target.
I really enjoyed An Ear for Trouble more than the first one I read, so I am glad I continued with this series. The dogs are the primary focus but they are one of the solid plot lines with a K-9 training center for the FBI in this town. The primary plot line usually involves a mystery around the animal conservancy and some kind of wildlife endangerment. The people working for the conservancy and the people at the FBI office are usually working together. The other secondary thread is a romance. The town and its main characters also play a strong role.
The main female character here is Elise, whose sister Zoe was the main character and an FBI K-9 handler in A Nose for Mischief. Elise works for a national wildlife nonprofit who help the organizations nationwide with budgets, marketing, fundraising, etc to develop best practices. Elise is an account but also has a degree in wildlife management. Riverbend conservancy has had some issues with debt and has just lost a baby snow leopard. Their vet is also missing. Elise also ends up as a temporary foster / trainer for a K-9 puppy whose initial foster became unavailable.
Finn is a FBI K-9 handler who was injured fighting wildlife traffickers and has come to work as a trainer while healing. He’s still researching various wildlife trafficking which seemed to have a connection to Riverbend. He and Elise are neighbors in the apartments above the coffee shop which is the heart of the town. They eventually work together to figure out what is going on with the snow leopards and pretty quickly make a couple.
A Whisker of Suspicion by KT Lee Narrator: Ann Richardson
Series: Riverbend K-9 #3
on February 9, 2024
Genres: Mystery
Length: 7 hours, 4 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Wildlife veterinarian Dr. Veronica Perry travels the world to help animals in need. When Riverbend Animal Conservation Center offers her a chance to lead their veterinary team while helping repopulate endangered species in her own backyard, Veronica can’t turn it down. It doesn’t hurt that living in Riverbend, Indiana, will also give her the chance to help train Luna, a foster puppy for Riverbend K-9 Academy’s wildlife detection program. Kai Torres is the head zookeeper at RACC. When his longtime friend, Veronica, joins their team, they work together to help restore RACC’s new land conservancy, just a few miles away from Riverbend.
Restoring the abandoned land will be well worth it both for native species and for Riverbend itself, especially after they discover that two Riverbend citizens have been attacked nearby. However, after Veronica and Kai believe RACC’s land is finally safe, Luna starts finding scents where they don’t expect them. Too late, they realize that the person responsible for the attacks is using RACC’s land conservancy as cover for a more nefarious crime. And they’ll do whatever it takes to make sure Veronica and Kai don’t discover the truth.
A Whisker of Suspicion starts where the previous story ended. The Riverbend Conservancy has quickly become solvent with its new director. Now it needs a new veterinarian. Veronica has been a part-time temporary one with the conservancy and is made an offer for full-time. She isn’t used to staying in one place and is concerned she will feel restrained.
Kai is the head animal keeper and works with the snow leopards so he has worked often with Veronica. He spends time with her and helps her acclimate to the town and various things at the conservancy. They are both excited about the new land the conservancy owns as a place for wildlife, a sanctuary of sorts. The grant allows them to place cameras and observe the wildlife.
People have found injured bobcats and they are seeing more than usual in the new wildlife area. Then they also see a mountain lion which is sort of shocking. The town is cutting trails for use of the area. But the area seems dangerous.
I guessed what was happening right away here and was not surprised to have Kai and Veronica pursue a personal relationship. It was an easy read but not as compelling or suspenseful as some of the series.
Narration:
Ann Richardson is the narrator for this series, which the primary points of view are the female characters, so that seems appropriate. We do get some of male character’s thoughts. Some of the characters like Marlene are very distinct. Mostly her male and female voices are similar. Her male voices are a bit deeper. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
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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Sounds like this might be more of a cozy mystery K-9 series. Am I sending that correctly? Great reviews, Anne💜
yes with an oddly tacked on romance.
This sounds like a fun series.
The combo is a little odd but there is just enough K-9 work to make it appealing for me.
Glad it got better as you kept going. I like the whole animal conservation center being at the heart of the mysteries. These sound good.
They are pretty good. The romances are a bit added on to the side.
Loving these covers!! They are cute. I might just be a sucker for the dogs lol
And there are the snow leopard cubs too.
Love the covers on these!
You know me, always trying to find another dog series I like.