Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
In the Killer's Siight by Mike Omer Narrator: Nicol Zanzarella
Series: Kate Marino #1
Published by Brilliance Audio on September 1, 2026
Genres: Mystery
Length: 10 hours, 57 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible
Officer Kate Marino has a complicated relationship with her hometown. But there’s one thing that could bring her back: Her seventeen-year-old niece Alice disappeared two days ago. And she’s not the only woman who’s gone missing.
With police dogs Nero and Bella (now retired) in tow, Kate returns to her childhood home and the ghosts that inhabit it. It’s not just the looming presence of her father, however, that hinders Kate’s investigation. Something even more sinister awaits her there.
Dead bodies confirm the missing women are the work of a serial killer who hunts his prey through the New Hampshire wilderness. With time running out, Kate’s determined to find Alice before she becomes his next victim.
I was very excited to start this series if it was going to have K9 work and police work. Kate Marino is a K9 officer. She has a retired cadaver K9 Bella and a new drug and people search dog, Nero. Neither seems quite disciplined enough to do actual K9 work and Kate doesn’t seem to make sure they have water or other protections.
The main story is Kate’s cousin’s daughter, Alice goes missing in a town about 2 hours away where she grew up. She is a single Mom to her daughter Ivy. Her husband was shot in the line of duty and his mother, Dolly, lives nearby and helps watch Ivy when she is gone.
Kate goes to help search for Alice. She has to fight to stay on the task force with the FBI people and local law enforcement, even though she is also an officer plus she knows the local woods better than almost all of them from her childhood. Kate is the one who finds every major clue and eventually finds Alice.
Kate is rarely in her hometown although her father and his sister and the cousins live there because her father is a drunk and abused her after her mother died. She did go live with his sister Ruth and she is fond of her. Ivy barely knows them and doesn’t understand why exactly. Ivy seemed really immature for her age in the story. Kate is good at work work but a bit of a hot mess otherwise.
I’m not sure where the series will go from here so I’ll probably read more.
Narration:
I have listened to Nicol Zanzarella before and enjoyed her work. The voices seemed gender and age appropriate and kept me comfortably in the story. Kate is our primary point of view so her voice was the strongest. We do briefly get the dog’s thoughts. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Mike Omer
Mike Omer is the author of the Zoe Bentley Mystery Series and the Glenmore Park Mystery Series. In the past, he’s been a journalist, a game developer, and the CEO of the company Loadingames. He is married to a woman who diligently forces him to live his dream, and is the father of an angel, a pixie, and a gremlin. He has two voracious hounds that wag their tail quite menacingly at anyone who comes near his home.
Mike loves to write about true-to-life people who are perpetrators or victims of crimes. He also likes writing funny stuff. He mixes these two loves quite passionately into his mystery books.
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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:
- 26-Audio
- 26-COYER
I’m a huge fan of K9 stories, so this definitely interests me, Anne. Nice review.
Thanks Carla. The K9 parts aren’t as realistic as I would like but I still love a story with K9s.
It sounds pretty good, and hopefully the next book will be even better.
Thanks. First books can be different with setup of the world and characters until things get into a groove.
Oh interesting that she has dogs that work two different service skill sets.
yes although one is supposed to be retired. Nero is new and may eventually be trained in more skills.
I love a good mystery book! I’m definitely checking this out.
I’m always interested in a mystery too.
Nice review, Anne💜 I debated about this one but my plate was full.
Thank you Jonetta. Mine was also full but I took it anyway. I seem to have a more open October so some things will just roll out a week or so.
Hopefully she gets more proactive about caring for her dogs! That would bug me. Glad to see you enjoyed the story overall and plan to continue reading the series.
Thanks Rachel. I want all the K9 stories and I want them all to be good ones.
I like K9 stories too. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this one! I’ll be curious to see what you think if you decide to read further in the series.
I’ll probably read further if it isn’t too had to get it. But the next one will be a decider.
Mmmm curious to see how book 2 goes for you
yes I like the concept but am not yet sold on the execution.