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FBI K-9 #8
That Others May Live
A treat for dog lovers, this latest novel in the only mystery series that revolves around a K-9 search-and-rescue unit is gripping, timely, with a gutsy heroine and an authentic, harder edge that will appeal to fans of harder-edged mysteries.
There are situations that fill even the most seasoned FBI K-9 handlers with shock and horror. Meg Jennings is preparing for another work day when she gets words of a catastrophic scene in downtown Washington, D.C. Part of a twelve-story condo building has collapsed, and the rest of the structure could soon follow. Every search-and-rescue worker and K-9 team is needed on-site immediately to find survivors—and assess the casualties.
Putting aside her fears for her firefighter fiancé, who’s already inside the unstable building, Meg turns to the task at hand. If anyone is still alive within the rubble, she and Hawk, working alongside other K-9 teams, must find them. Every hour, every moment counts—and a wrong move could trigger a deadly chain reaction for those buried beneath. But beyond the present danger is a deeper threat, as evidence indicates that this wasn’t a random tragedy, but an act of domestic terrorism. And identifying the culprit and motivation, in time to stop another attack, means taking on an enemy with terrifying skills—and nothing left to lose.
There are situations that fill even the most seasoned FBI K-9 handlers with shock and horror. Meg Jennings is preparing for another work day when she gets words of a catastrophic scene in downtown Washington, D.C. Part of a twelve-story condo building has collapsed, and the rest of the structure could soon follow. Every search-and-rescue worker and K-9 team is needed on-site immediately to find survivors—and assess the casualties.
Putting aside her fears for her firefighter fiancé, who’s already inside the unstable building, Meg turns to the task at hand. If anyone is still alive within the rubble, she and Hawk, working alongside other K-9 teams, must find them. Every hour, every moment counts—and a wrong move could trigger a deadly chain reaction for those buried beneath. But beyond the present danger is a deeper threat, as evidence indicates that this wasn’t a random tragedy, but an act of domestic terrorism. And identifying the culprit and motivation, in time to stop another attack, means taking on an enemy with terrifying skills—and nothing left to lose.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 28, 2023
460 people are currently reading
8334 people want to read
About the author
Sara Driscoll
17 books939 followersSara Driscoll is the pen name of Jen J. Danna, coauthor of the Abbott and Lowell Forensic Mysteries and author of the FBI K-9s and the NYPD Negotiators. After over thirty years in infectious diseases research, Jen hung up her lab coat to concentrate on her real love—writing “exceptional” thrillers (Publishers Weekly). She is a member of the Crime Writers of Canada and lives with her husband and four rescued cats outside of Toronto, Ontario. You can follow the latest news on her books, including the FBI K-9s, at www.saradriscollauthor.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 271 reviews
November 19, 2023
That Others May Live
by Jen J. Danna writing as Sara Driscoll is the fascinating, suspenseful, and heartbreaking eighth book in the FBI K-9 crime thriller series. The book features Meg Jennings and her Labrador K-9 partner Hawk. They’re civilian employees of the FBI’s Human Scent Response Team.
Meg is preparing for another work day when she gets word of a calamitous scene in downtown Washington, D.C. near the White House. Part of a twelve-story high-end condominium building has collapsed, and the rest of the structure could soon follow. Her betrothed, Todd, is already at work. He’s a firefighter and paramedic and is likely already on site. If anyone is still alive within the rubble, she and Hawk along with the other K-9 teams must find them. Minutes count. But is this a random tragedy or is there a bigger threat?
Meg is compassionate, friendly, wants to help others, and has a keen sense of justice. She also has a fear of heights that she must overcome on some sites. Todd is smart, strong, capable, and pragmatic. While he may feel fear at times, he does the job despite it, and even uses it to keep himself sharp. There’s an array of characters from prior books that help with continuity and a sense of visiting friends. Key among these are her fellow K-9 team members and McCord, an investigative reporter who is Meg’s sister’s boyfriend.
Dynamic characters, unparalleled devastation, and great descriptions drew me in to this heartbreaking and intense story. It has a deeply involved and multi-layered plot and an incredible setting and takes place over the course of the week before Christmas. I was transported to the dangerous scene and felt as if I was living the events alongside the characters. This is an intense novel and reminds readers of the situations these teams and first responders encounter frequently. Their emotional toil is also highlighted as well as how several of them work through it.
The author’s writing style continues to hook me quickly. The prose is well-written and engaging. There are twists and turns and surprises along the way in an intricate plot that kept me anxious. The atmosphere is tense and serious throughout most of the novel and it has more technical details than usual given the nature of this disaster. The author brings strong characters, great plots, wonderful relationships, and excellent pacing to the series. I thought it was an interesting that the author gave a definition of an aspect of high-rise construction at the beginning of each chapter.
Overall, this tense, engaging, and tragic thriller gripped me from the beginning. It was difficult to put down. I’m a fan of the series and looking forward to reading the next book.
Kensington Books and Sara Driscoll provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for November 28, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.6 rounded to 5 stars review is coming soon.
Meg is preparing for another work day when she gets word of a calamitous scene in downtown Washington, D.C. near the White House. Part of a twelve-story high-end condominium building has collapsed, and the rest of the structure could soon follow. Her betrothed, Todd, is already at work. He’s a firefighter and paramedic and is likely already on site. If anyone is still alive within the rubble, she and Hawk along with the other K-9 teams must find them. Minutes count. But is this a random tragedy or is there a bigger threat?
Meg is compassionate, friendly, wants to help others, and has a keen sense of justice. She also has a fear of heights that she must overcome on some sites. Todd is smart, strong, capable, and pragmatic. While he may feel fear at times, he does the job despite it, and even uses it to keep himself sharp. There’s an array of characters from prior books that help with continuity and a sense of visiting friends. Key among these are her fellow K-9 team members and McCord, an investigative reporter who is Meg’s sister’s boyfriend.
Dynamic characters, unparalleled devastation, and great descriptions drew me in to this heartbreaking and intense story. It has a deeply involved and multi-layered plot and an incredible setting and takes place over the course of the week before Christmas. I was transported to the dangerous scene and felt as if I was living the events alongside the characters. This is an intense novel and reminds readers of the situations these teams and first responders encounter frequently. Their emotional toil is also highlighted as well as how several of them work through it.
The author’s writing style continues to hook me quickly. The prose is well-written and engaging. There are twists and turns and surprises along the way in an intricate plot that kept me anxious. The atmosphere is tense and serious throughout most of the novel and it has more technical details than usual given the nature of this disaster. The author brings strong characters, great plots, wonderful relationships, and excellent pacing to the series. I thought it was an interesting that the author gave a definition of an aspect of high-rise construction at the beginning of each chapter.
Overall, this tense, engaging, and tragic thriller gripped me from the beginning. It was difficult to put down. I’m a fan of the series and looking forward to reading the next book.
Kensington Books and Sara Driscoll provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for November 28, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.6 rounded to 5 stars review is coming soon.
October 6, 2023
That Others May Live will remind readers of the collapse of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside Florida a few years ago. And that’s intentional. “Driscoll” knew she wanted to tackle the idea of a major building collapse. It’s an emotional read. Meg and Hawk are called out in the early morning as soon as the collapse of a condo building in downtown DC is known. Todd is already on the job, so he is also a first responder.
Driscoll takes us through each excruciating moment of trying to rescue people after a twelve story building comes down. Endless to say, the rescues are few. The first half of the book is taken up with this. It’s not until the book moves into the second half that she explores why the collapse occurred. It then becomes a little technical, which was fine by me. I like when authors don’t assume their fiction readers can’t handle science or engineering. The tempo of the book remains low key yet it totally captures the stress of working in such a volatile situation. Those looking for a high octane finish will be disappointed.
Sara Driscoll was the pseudonym used by Ann Vanderlaan and Jenna Danna. Ann passed away last year, so it is now just Jenna writing the books. The writing did feel a bit different, but it still incorporated the detailed descriptions of how the dogs work.
I have read the entire series, but I do think the book could easily be read as a stand-alone.
My thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for an advance copy of this book.
Driscoll takes us through each excruciating moment of trying to rescue people after a twelve story building comes down. Endless to say, the rescues are few. The first half of the book is taken up with this. It’s not until the book moves into the second half that she explores why the collapse occurred. It then becomes a little technical, which was fine by me. I like when authors don’t assume their fiction readers can’t handle science or engineering. The tempo of the book remains low key yet it totally captures the stress of working in such a volatile situation. Those looking for a high octane finish will be disappointed.
Sara Driscoll was the pseudonym used by Ann Vanderlaan and Jenna Danna. Ann passed away last year, so it is now just Jenna writing the books. The writing did feel a bit different, but it still incorporated the detailed descriptions of how the dogs work.
I have read the entire series, but I do think the book could easily be read as a stand-alone.
My thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for an advance copy of this book.
December 4, 2023
That Others May Live is an emotionally charged, devastating story about a twelve-story residential and commercial building that fell down early one morning in Washington DC. This is one of the best stories in the FBI K-9 series in my opinion. The author did a wonderful job showing the emotions and horrors of the residents, family and friends of the victims as well as those of the workers, including the K-9 workers. The technical information about the building and explosives used showed that a great deal of research was done to bring this work to completion. I have enjoyed reading the series with Meg, her K-9 partner Hawk along with the rest of the civilian Human Scent Evidence Team, Meg's fiancé, Todd, sister, Cara and her fiancé and Washington Post reporter, Clay. These books are full of characters who work together to solve crimes and mysteries, find victims, and have a plot that seems to be something that could happen today. This is another winner.
I was given a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts.
I was given a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts.
November 16, 2023
That Others May Live describes in great detail how the first responders work a site of a building collapse, and how dangerous it is for them and their dogs. I was fascinated by how the dogs could sniff out people or animals buried in “the pile.” That being said, there was an awful lot of technical detail that, for me, bogged down the story. The author, writing as Sara Driscoll, obviously did an enormous amount of homework on building construction in order to write this book.
The first 70% or so of the book covers the disaster and rescue efforts, and the last part of the book involves figuring out what/who caused the collapse and the manhunt that followed.
I liked the main characters, Meg Jennings and her dog Hawk, and her fiancee firefighter Todd Webb, as well as her sister Cara and her partner Clay McCord, who is an investigative reporter for the Washington Post and plays a large part in the story. Cara has a dog also, but it’s a therapy dog named Saki, not a search-and-rescue dog like Hawk.
This was my introduction to the FBI K-9 series (That Others May Live is book 8) but I felt fine jumping into the series midstream. This can definitely be read as a standalone. The author offers tantalizing bits of backstory throughout the book, referring to previous titles in the series. I might eventually try another book in this series, one that doesn’t rely s much on technical details.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
The first 70% or so of the book covers the disaster and rescue efforts, and the last part of the book involves figuring out what/who caused the collapse and the manhunt that followed.
I liked the main characters, Meg Jennings and her dog Hawk, and her fiancee firefighter Todd Webb, as well as her sister Cara and her partner Clay McCord, who is an investigative reporter for the Washington Post and plays a large part in the story. Cara has a dog also, but it’s a therapy dog named Saki, not a search-and-rescue dog like Hawk.
This was my introduction to the FBI K-9 series (That Others May Live is book 8) but I felt fine jumping into the series midstream. This can definitely be read as a standalone. The author offers tantalizing bits of backstory throughout the book, referring to previous titles in the series. I might eventually try another book in this series, one that doesn’t rely s much on technical details.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
July 2, 2023
Big thanks to both Kensington Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of That Others May Live, by Sara Driscoll.
Expected publication November 28, 2023.
When word comes in about part of a twelve-story condo building in Washington, D.C. collapsing, every search-and-rescue worker and K-9 team is needed on-site immediately, before the rest of the structure collapses, too.
Talk about a book grabbing you from the very beginning! Is it domestic terrorism? Structural failure? There's no time to figure it out. It was heartwrenching reading about what the SAR workers went through as they searched desperately for survivors. Every moment counted - and a wrong move could trigger a deadly chain reaction for those buried beneath.
That Others May Live was filled with tension, but also included fascinating details about search and rescue by canines, and humans, as well.
Expected publication November 28, 2023.
When word comes in about part of a twelve-story condo building in Washington, D.C. collapsing, every search-and-rescue worker and K-9 team is needed on-site immediately, before the rest of the structure collapses, too.
Talk about a book grabbing you from the very beginning! Is it domestic terrorism? Structural failure? There's no time to figure it out. It was heartwrenching reading about what the SAR workers went through as they searched desperately for survivors. Every moment counted - and a wrong move could trigger a deadly chain reaction for those buried beneath.
That Others May Live was filled with tension, but also included fascinating details about search and rescue by canines, and humans, as well.
December 17, 2023
This one was intense -- a 12-story condo building collapses just after rush hour one Monday morning. The novel centers around the search dogs climbing the pile of rubble three-stories high looking for survivors and the fire fighters evacuating what is left of the building and then the underground parking garage. All of the action explained in detail and easy to visualize. Pay attention to the date/time/location at the beginning of each chapter. Everything happens in under a week, from the collapse, authorities investigating the how/why the building came down, to the resolution (in my former hometown!)
Note to readers: while most of this book does stand alone, there are references to prior adventures and the wedding discussion under the Christmas tree in the last chapter won't make sense if you haven't read at least the first book in the series.
Addendum: I was part of the author's "street team" for THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE. Because I felt so invested/involved in the production of this book, once it was released, I requested a copy of the audio book from my library. Perhaps because this was my second go-round, I picked up so much more (technically) this time around. Caveat: I hated the narrator. She read in a monotone most of the time (although this improved towards the end), and mispronounced Meg's name as "Mag" at least 40% of the read.
Note to readers: while most of this book does stand alone, there are references to prior adventures and the wedding discussion under the Christmas tree in the last chapter won't make sense if you haven't read at least the first book in the series.
Addendum: I was part of the author's "street team" for THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE. Because I felt so invested/involved in the production of this book, once it was released, I requested a copy of the audio book from my library. Perhaps because this was my second go-round, I picked up so much more (technically) this time around. Caveat: I hated the narrator. She read in a monotone most of the time (although this improved towards the end), and mispronounced Meg's name as "Mag" at least 40% of the read.
September 3, 2023
This book begins with a disaster--an apartment building collapse in Washington DC--with no apparent mystery at the outset. At first, the focus is on the FBI Human Scent Evidence Team's search for victims in the pile of rubble, but when her reporter brother-in-law begins looking for reasons why a building would simply collapse and her firefighter fiance finds remains of an explosive detonator, the search for the criminals ramps up. It seemed that the actual crime-solving part of the story seemed rushed after so much time was spent in the beginning setting the scene for search and rescue. Not my favorite book in this series. While this is the 8th book in the series, it can be read as a standalone.
Thanks to Kensington Books for access to a digital ARC on NetGalley.
Thanks to Kensington Books for access to a digital ARC on NetGalley.
August 17, 2023
A great addition to the series. I immediately felt the relationship bonds, the sense of urgency, and the talent of the dogs and team. The story covers a heavy topic and a surprising twist to the tragic loss of life that occurred at the beginning of the series. This book can be read without having read the rest of the series, but I would recommend reading the whole series to fully appreciate the development in the friendships, team dynamics, couples, and work colleagues. The canine role is unique and stays relevant the entire story as the k-9 teams are instrumental to the actions and their training/reactions/care is shared with detail. A good read!
August 22, 2023
Wow! This book is gripping from the first page and kept me glued to the story. It’s emotional, tense, complex, intriguing, and totally captivating. I learned a lot, was fascinated by the details of the search and rescue, the extraction of victims, the hunt for motive, and the way details came together to bring closure. I’ve loved all of these FBI K-9 books, and this is one of the best! I highly recommend the whole series! I enjoyed some references to details from those earlier books, and cannot wait for the series to continue.
July 24, 2023
That Others May Love, the eighth book in the FBI K-9 series by Sara Driscoll, hits close to home in the devastation that surrounds not only Meg, Hawk, and the entire K-9 rescue team, but also Todd, the DCFDEMS team and multiple other emergency groups. The suspense and action explode (no pun intended) from the opening page and gain momentum as the layers of the heinous crime are uncovered and on through to the very gratifying ending. There were several heart-pounding moments, but none is much as Todd’s (no spoiler here, you'll need to read the book) rescue of a victim.
This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily submitting my honest review.
This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily submitting my honest review.
April 3, 2024
Novel received courtesy of Goodreads.com First Reads Giveaways
This is Book #8 in Sara Driscoll's FBI K-9 series. I could tell that she holds K-9 rescuers and their handlers in high regard. She decided to write this novel after watching the dogs and their partners stay on the pile of rubble after the building collapse in Surfside, Florida. She absolutely conveyed the urgency and respect with the way these officers did their jobs.
A condo building in Washington, DC collapses during the morning rush. Meg and her dog, Hawk, are head to the scene even before they are called. When Meg sees the building, she knows instinctively that there won't be many survivors. The building failure happened at the bottom of the structure causing each floor to pancake on top of the one below it. This leaves very little chance that there are voids where a person could survive while waiting to be rescued. She and Hawk hit the pile of rubble as soon as they're assigned an area. They manage to find one survivor that first day but keep searching for several more days.
While Meg is working the pile that first day, she realizes that her fiancé, Todd, is likely trying to help people out of a section of building that is left barely standing. Todd is a DC fireman and always seems to find himself in the most dangerous assignments. Both Meg and Todd make it home that first night realizing that finding anyone alive is highly unlikely but knowing that they will continue to do their jobs until ordered to do something else. Even on the day of the collapse, the first-responders look for clues as to what brought the building down. The need to figure out if the building collapsed on its own or if someone intentionally brought it down.
Even though this is #8 in a series that I've never read before, I never felt as though I had to read the books in order. Every once in a while one of the characters would mention something from a previous book. This didn't detract from the story but did make me want to go read the first seven! Driscoll's knowledge of K-9's and their partners is apparent. She very respectfully described the scene of the collapse and the bodies trapped in the rubble. I would definitely recommend the series.
This is Book #8 in Sara Driscoll's FBI K-9 series. I could tell that she holds K-9 rescuers and their handlers in high regard. She decided to write this novel after watching the dogs and their partners stay on the pile of rubble after the building collapse in Surfside, Florida. She absolutely conveyed the urgency and respect with the way these officers did their jobs.
A condo building in Washington, DC collapses during the morning rush. Meg and her dog, Hawk, are head to the scene even before they are called. When Meg sees the building, she knows instinctively that there won't be many survivors. The building failure happened at the bottom of the structure causing each floor to pancake on top of the one below it. This leaves very little chance that there are voids where a person could survive while waiting to be rescued. She and Hawk hit the pile of rubble as soon as they're assigned an area. They manage to find one survivor that first day but keep searching for several more days.
While Meg is working the pile that first day, she realizes that her fiancé, Todd, is likely trying to help people out of a section of building that is left barely standing. Todd is a DC fireman and always seems to find himself in the most dangerous assignments. Both Meg and Todd make it home that first night realizing that finding anyone alive is highly unlikely but knowing that they will continue to do their jobs until ordered to do something else. Even on the day of the collapse, the first-responders look for clues as to what brought the building down. The need to figure out if the building collapsed on its own or if someone intentionally brought it down.
Even though this is #8 in a series that I've never read before, I never felt as though I had to read the books in order. Every once in a while one of the characters would mention something from a previous book. This didn't detract from the story but did make me want to go read the first seven! Driscoll's knowledge of K-9's and their partners is apparent. She very respectfully described the scene of the collapse and the bodies trapped in the rubble. I would definitely recommend the series.
July 31, 2024
4 Stars. Another great outing for Meg, Hawk, Todd and the crew. While this one was a little heavy and slow, that is what the subject matter dictated. This is a wonderful series that I recommend to everyone, especially dog (Labrador) lovers. I didn’t realize it was going to take place during Christmas, if I had I might have waited as I like to read books set in the season during the season. Again, might have been lucky because it was so dark but someone might think otherwise. Can’t wait for the next one!
October 15, 2023
I loved this book! It gripped me from the first page until the end! It is a chilling, emotional account of the collapse of a high-rise residential condo building, and the dedicated rescue teams, with their K9 partners that work tirelessly together at the site of the tragedy. The book starts as the FBI K-9 teams, and other first responders are summoned just after the collapse. It is a well written, well researched book that made me realize the full extent of what these types of rescue teams, along with their specially trained dogs are capable of. Each chapter starts with an explanation of the various aspects of building design for a high rise of this type, which greatly enhanced both the story and my understanding the dangers that both the victims and the rescuers faced. There was one harrowing rescue where I simply could not put the book down! The latter part of the book details the investigation into why the building collapsed and it is frighteningly realistic. Sara Driscoll (Jen J. Danna) wrote in the beginning of the book that the collapse of the building in Surfside, Florida was her inspiration. The book is a fitting tribute to all first responders, and K9s, as well as the victims in all tragedies of this type. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my advanced copy. The opinions of the review are my own.
January 27, 2024
I enjoy these books about working dogs and their handlers. I understand that this one was in part a tribute to all the first responders working in dangerous situations. However there was a great deal of technical information about how field commands are set up and d how they operate, a lot of technical information about building construction and it slowed the story a great deal. I thought the information about how electric car batteries could complicate rescues was very interesting. Early on I was sure the author was going to kill off a dog or a responder but thankfully that didn’t happen.
August 24, 2023
This story is a great tribute to Sara's co-author. The story is very well written. I did not follow the events this story is similar to but let me tell you I was brought to tears a couple times and can not imagine being part of this tragedy. Also a great big THANK YOU to my daughter for getting the ARC and letting me read it. ♥️📚
April 25, 2024
That Others May Live is the 8th book in the FBI K-9 series by Sara Driscoll. I have really enjoyed this series and although it is great to have read them in order, it isn't necessary to read them all to enjoy this story. The story opens with a building collapse in Washington DC, where the bottom 2 floors were businesses and the top 8 were luxury condominiums. Meg Jennings and her search-and-rescue K-9 partner, Hawk, race to find survivors, but it doesn't look good. The building pancaked and spilled out, killing nearly everyone in the building, the underground garage and many on the street in front. They spend a few days looking for survivors, and it then becomes a recovery operation. Once again, Meg's future brother-in-law, who is also a reporter, gets information that this was not an accident but an act of domestic terrorism. Can Meg's team and her bosses find the people responsible, figure out why they did it and arrest them?
The author prefaces the book with a forward explaining where the idea of this story came from. The collapse of the apartment building in Miami a year of so ago, gave them their start to the story and if developed from there. This is a suspenseful story that really tears at the heartstrings. The loss of life was so sad, but very realistic in a collapse of this type. Not finding people alive takes a toll on the dogs and their handlers. I found that part of the story well written and emotional, but when they determined it was deliberately taken down and other buildings might also be in danger, the story ramped up. Who would do that and be responsible for so many deaths? What could possibly be the reason. All I will say is that this is a very timely issue, although not one that we should have to deal with. As the climax to the story came closer, the story was quick moving and gripping. With some twists, and lots of suspense, the story came to an unexpected, but satisfying conclusion. I have enjoyed this series and getting to know about the various types of K-9 dogs used by rescue workers and law enforcement. Susan Bennett has been narrating this series and she does a good job with the story. Her voices are not necessarily recognizable, but her expression and tone are perfect for these stories.
The author prefaces the book with a forward explaining where the idea of this story came from. The collapse of the apartment building in Miami a year of so ago, gave them their start to the story and if developed from there. This is a suspenseful story that really tears at the heartstrings. The loss of life was so sad, but very realistic in a collapse of this type. Not finding people alive takes a toll on the dogs and their handlers. I found that part of the story well written and emotional, but when they determined it was deliberately taken down and other buildings might also be in danger, the story ramped up. Who would do that and be responsible for so many deaths? What could possibly be the reason. All I will say is that this is a very timely issue, although not one that we should have to deal with. As the climax to the story came closer, the story was quick moving and gripping. With some twists, and lots of suspense, the story came to an unexpected, but satisfying conclusion. I have enjoyed this series and getting to know about the various types of K-9 dogs used by rescue workers and law enforcement. Susan Bennett has been narrating this series and she does a good job with the story. Her voices are not necessarily recognizable, but her expression and tone are perfect for these stories.
December 7, 2023
I don't think I have ever read another series that speaks better to the fact of the amount of unbelievable strength, courage, determination and stamina it takes for our first responders to do their jobs, nor the incredible physical and emotional toll those jobs cause. And, yet, they rush headlong into danger, dealing with unspeakable horrors on a daily basis, to do everything they can to save lives. It specifically highlights the highly trained women and men who work with equally trained dogs, the incredible bond they have with their dogs, and their main goal of locating victims, whether alive or not, to bring them home to their families. For those dogs also experience physical and emotional trials, along with their owners. These books tell those stories in amazing depth with down to earth characters dealing with life and death situations. The mysteries they encounter during their work are complex, emotional and intense. Page turning, edge of your seat reading. I highly recommend them all.
Personally, I think this story is the best one yet. It can be a stand alone read, but I suggest you read them all. They are excellent!
Personally, I think this story is the best one yet. It can be a stand alone read, but I suggest you read them all. They are excellent!
February 15, 2024
Thank you Goodreads for this giveaway win! I loved this book.
A high rise suddenly collapses. What's behind the fall?
I liked the technicality behind alot of the book and I learned alot about K9 dogs and how they work.
A high rise suddenly collapses. What's behind the fall?
I liked the technicality behind alot of the book and I learned alot about K9 dogs and how they work.
December 13, 2023
I have greatly enjoyed the other books in this series, but this one fell flat for me. It’s because the other books focused on personal relationships as a good balance to the crime being investigated. I truly WANTED to like it, but I feel like the cliff notes would have been perfectly sufficient.
In this book the personal relationships felt like an afterthought. ALL of them. Not just the romantic attachments, but Meg’s relationship with everyone around her. The only one that felt real and remotely fleshed out was between her and Hawk. Her dog. I’m a dog mama so I get that, but there was zero serious feeling between Meg and anyone else in her life.
In this book the personal relationships felt like an afterthought. ALL of them. Not just the romantic attachments, but Meg’s relationship with everyone around her. The only one that felt real and remotely fleshed out was between her and Hawk. Her dog. I’m a dog mama so I get that, but there was zero serious feeling between Meg and anyone else in her life.
December 13, 2023
Hm, well. It felt like too much of this was a primer on construction. We didn't get to the mystery until almost 2/3 of the way through the book. I skimmed a lot of concrete and steel stuff.
There were a few fun, fast-paced or edge-of-your-seat scenes, but seemed like fewer than in the past.
Also, lined yoga pants for 10 degrees? C'mon, someone in search and rescue would know to dress better than that. Siiiiigh. Perhaps another city dwelling author who doesn't go outside much?
There were a few fun, fast-paced or edge-of-your-seat scenes, but seemed like fewer than in the past.
Also, lined yoga pants for 10 degrees? C'mon, someone in search and rescue would know to dress better than that. Siiiiigh. Perhaps another city dwelling author who doesn't go outside much?
October 26, 2025
Questo libro mi è piaciuto molto anche se la storia è molto dura da digerire in quanto è incentrata sul crollo di un palazzo residenziale di 12 piani. Di fronte a una tragedia o a un evento naturale catastrofico le famiglie delle vittime e il pubblico vorrebbero che le vittime fossero trovate tutte immediatamente e molti accusano i soccorsi di essere lenti: questo libro ci spiega cosa provano i soccorritori, lo stress fisico ed emotivo che devono affrontare e soprattutto i rischi elevati che corrono per cercare di salvare più persone possibili (memorabili due scene che coinvolgonoil fidanzato pompiere della protagonista). Da questo punto di visto, questo sarebbe un libro da far leggere a tutti. Poi c'è la parte sulle indagini e qui si aprono altri scenari: dietro il crollo c'è una teoria complottistica molto verosimile e i personaggi si chiedono come le persone possano credere a certe stupidaggini. E sottolineano il ruolo della rete e il giornalista cognato della protagonista parla anche della colpa che ha al riguardo la stampa. Io aggiungerei anche alcuni politici che per prendere un voto più calcano la mano su alcune di queste teorie. Insomma, è un libro che fa pensare.
October 3, 2023
An informative story about how a building can collapse, how survivors are rescued and how it effects the rescuers.
The story is told through the eyes of Meg, a member of the Human Scent Evidence team. We follow with Meg and her rescue dog, her relationship with her firefighter fiance and the chase for the bad guys.
First the collapse, then the search for survivors, then the recovery of the remains, then discovering how the building collapsed. It is technical but very interesting.
Within the technical stuff there is the human aspect. How this effects the workers/rescuers.
The writing is clearly descriptive. You feel like you are carefully walking on the fallen concrete slabs and crawling through a small opening to reach a survivor trapped in a void while feeling vibrations and hearing creaks overhead. Many tense, scary and exciting scenes.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story is told through the eyes of Meg, a member of the Human Scent Evidence team. We follow with Meg and her rescue dog, her relationship with her firefighter fiance and the chase for the bad guys.
First the collapse, then the search for survivors, then the recovery of the remains, then discovering how the building collapsed. It is technical but very interesting.
Within the technical stuff there is the human aspect. How this effects the workers/rescuers.
The writing is clearly descriptive. You feel like you are carefully walking on the fallen concrete slabs and crawling through a small opening to reach a survivor trapped in a void while feeling vibrations and hearing creaks overhead. Many tense, scary and exciting scenes.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2025
Book #8 in this series, and it definitely was a winner. The dogs, as always, were incredible. When a 12 story building with 2 underground parking garages suddenly collapses in downtown Washington DC, collapsing floor by floor and crushing cars and pedestrians on the street, the K-9 units are immediately called in. The search is on for any possible survivors, and the dogs are put to work. If anyone was able to survive the crushing collapse they would be trapped in a void space, and a dog will pick up the scent. Some survivors were found, but the dogs get very depressed when time goes by and they are not finding any survivors.
Very dangerous and heroic work is done by all the responders who have come in for mutual aid from surrounding cities and states.
Very well written and I felt I was actually at the scene watching the hard work being done.
Very dangerous and heroic work is done by all the responders who have come in for mutual aid from surrounding cities and states.
Very well written and I felt I was actually at the scene watching the hard work being done.
February 14, 2024
More than most series, and especially this book, you are drawn into the mindset of first responders. Meg and her K-9 partner, Hawk, rush to the scene of the collapse of 12-story condo in downtown D.C. where the dust clouds are still rising, in hopes of rescuing victims. Detailing trying to search in the dangerous piles of debris and hoping for an alert from her dog of a human buried underneath, you can really appreciate the physical and intense emotional demands on the first responders...human and canine. I learned so much about structures and safety, as well as just enjoying a cracking good mystery. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review of the book.
November 30, 2023
This was a tough one, you could see how working the scene really took a toll on Meg. From hardly finding any people alive to Todd doing his job in one instance that was very dangerous, to speaking to the victims families. Heck, even the dogs started to get down. Todd had some good advice for Meg when she really needed it and being with her friends who also were working the scene and having a hard time helped too. But I think it was the decisions Meg made to wedding plans that really gave her something to look forward to, her and everyone else.
August 30, 2023
Every minute counts when the first responders search for live victims at a highly populated apartment building. This book is a real testament to their work and a clear look at many of the dangers they face. This is and excellent work of fiction and has a real story which tell not only about what is done, but also about the kind of investigative work done to determine the cause. Riveting!
At the beginning of each chapter is a definition of a useful word in specific terminology.
I requested and received an EARC copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
At the beginning of each chapter is a definition of a useful word in specific terminology.
I requested and received an EARC copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
October 15, 2024
Sara Driscoll does a good job of getting into the nitty gritty with the chapters, I was tense the whole time reading! I would have given 5 stars if we got more coverage of tools, techniques, and Incident command (but I am probably biased to that niche hyper focus). I would like to have had a TOC.
If you like rescue doggos, and the ES personnel who work in the debris with them try this book out.
This was loaned to me by a friend who got it from Goodreads as a giveaway, so thanks!
If you like rescue doggos, and the ES personnel who work in the debris with them try this book out.
This was loaned to me by a friend who got it from Goodreads as a giveaway, so thanks!
September 23, 2023
I really enjoyed reading this book. A high end apartment building collapses. This is a story about rescue dogs and their handlers. Why did the building collapses? This i a hard book to put down.
October 15, 2024
First a big shout out to the author Sara Driscoll, Goodreads, and Kensington Press for making this ARC available!
That being said I feel really bad about not getting to this good for almost a year, it almost ended up in my "did not read" shelf. But, by divine intervention I was given a window of time where life was not hectic, and devoted that window to the viewing of this awesome book.
I am a big fan of the Author's because she walks the talk, and gets intimate with the materials she is writing about and for a book covering the work of a K-9 team that is a must, the chapters almost act as a countdown (or up) to time passing each precious minute, hour, day while people are trapped under a collapsed building could be the last time their clock moves forward. If you are into emergency services, or the disaster response scene then I don't need to tell you to get a copy of this book.
If you are new to this suspense/thriller genre then this book is a good gateway book for you!
That being said I feel really bad about not getting to this good for almost a year, it almost ended up in my "did not read" shelf. But, by divine intervention I was given a window of time where life was not hectic, and devoted that window to the viewing of this awesome book.
I am a big fan of the Author's because she walks the talk, and gets intimate with the materials she is writing about and for a book covering the work of a K-9 team that is a must, the chapters almost act as a countdown (or up) to time passing each precious minute, hour, day while people are trapped under a collapsed building could be the last time their clock moves forward. If you are into emergency services, or the disaster response scene then I don't need to tell you to get a copy of this book.
If you are new to this suspense/thriller genre then this book is a good gateway book for you!
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November 7, 2024Very good book !!
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