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Maddie Castle #3
Hunting Grounds
A killer has returned and his reign of terror has only just begun. An unstoppable killer stalks the city, leaving a mounting body count in his wake. As panic and fear grip Pittsburgh, the FBI is brought in to assist the local police with the manhunt, hoping to prevent further bloodshed. Retired Pittsburgh K9 Handler Maddie Castle is pulled into the manhunt. She has experienced the killer's deadly handiwork firsthand. He left her crippled in body and spirit. Caught between her thirst for revenge and her desire to save lives, Castle knows that tracking the killer down and bringing him to justice will give her peace of mind. But this madman is shrewd and evasive, eluding capture at every turn. As Maddie and her K9 partner stay hot on his heels, she realizes that he might be one step ahead of her… He's already put her on his hit list. In the Hunting Grounds , death is the only escape. And if Maddie wants to survive the ultimate showdown with evil, she'll have to stay alive long enough to outwit him once and for all.
342 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 8, 2023
5511 people are currently reading
369 people want to read
About the author
L.T. Ryan
167 books1,459 followersL.T. RYAN is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author. The new age of publishing offered L.T. the opportunity to blend his passions for creating, marketing, and technology to reach audiences with his popular Jack Noble series.
Living in central Virginia with his wife, the youngest of his three daughters, and their three dogs, L.T. enjoys staring out his window at the trees and mountains while he should be writing, as well as reading, hiking, running, and playing with gadgets. See what he's up to at ltryan.com.
BOOKS IN THE JACK NOBLE SERIES
The Recruit (prequel short story)
The First Deception (prequel)
Noble Beginnings
A Deadly Distance
Thin Line
Noble Intentions
When Dead in Greece
Noble Retribution
Noble Betrayal
Never Go Home
Noble Judgment
Never Cry Mercy
Deadline
End Game
BOOKS IN THE BEAR LOGAN SERIES
Ripple Effect
Blowback
Takedown
Deep State (coming January, 2020)
BOOKS IN THE CLARISSA ABBOT SERIES
Beyond Betrayal
BOOKS IN THE MITCH TANNER SERIES
The Depths of Darkness
Into the Darkness
Deliver Us From Darkness (coming soon)
Social Media Links
Facebook (L.T. Ryan): facebook.com/LTRyanAuthor
Facebook (Jack Noble Page): facebook.com/JackNobleBooks/
Twitter: twitter.com/LTRyanWrites
Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/6151659.L_T...
Contact L.T. Ryan at contact@ltryan.com
About the Author
L.T. RYAN is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author. The new age of publishing offered L.T. the opportunity to blend his passions for creating, marketing, and technology to reach audiences with his popular Jack Noble series.
Living in central Virginia with his wife, the youngest of his three daughters, and their three dogs, L.T. enjoys staring out his window at the trees and mountains while he should be writing, as well as reading, hiking, running, and playing with gadgets. See what he's up to at ltryan.com.
Social Media Links
Facebook (L.T. Ryan): facebook.com/LTRyanAuthor
Facebook (Jack Noble Page): facebook.com/JackNobleBooks/
Twitter: twitter.com/LTRyanWrites
Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/6151659.L_T...
Contact L.T. Ryan at contact@ltryan.com
Living in central Virginia with his wife, the youngest of his three daughters, and their three dogs, L.T. enjoys staring out his window at the trees and mountains while he should be writing, as well as reading, hiking, running, and playing with gadgets. See what he's up to at ltryan.com.
BOOKS IN THE JACK NOBLE SERIES
The Recruit (prequel short story)
The First Deception (prequel)
Noble Beginnings
A Deadly Distance
Thin Line
Noble Intentions
When Dead in Greece
Noble Retribution
Noble Betrayal
Never Go Home
Noble Judgment
Never Cry Mercy
Deadline
End Game
BOOKS IN THE BEAR LOGAN SERIES
Ripple Effect
Blowback
Takedown
Deep State (coming January, 2020)
BOOKS IN THE CLARISSA ABBOT SERIES
Beyond Betrayal
BOOKS IN THE MITCH TANNER SERIES
The Depths of Darkness
Into the Darkness
Deliver Us From Darkness (coming soon)
Social Media Links
Facebook (L.T. Ryan): facebook.com/LTRyanAuthor
Facebook (Jack Noble Page): facebook.com/JackNobleBooks/
Twitter: twitter.com/LTRyanWrites
Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/6151659.L_T...
Contact L.T. Ryan at contact@ltryan.com
About the Author
L.T. RYAN is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author. The new age of publishing offered L.T. the opportunity to blend his passions for creating, marketing, and technology to reach audiences with his popular Jack Noble series.
Living in central Virginia with his wife, the youngest of his three daughters, and their three dogs, L.T. enjoys staring out his window at the trees and mountains while he should be writing, as well as reading, hiking, running, and playing with gadgets. See what he's up to at ltryan.com.
Social Media Links
Facebook (L.T. Ryan): facebook.com/LTRyanAuthor
Facebook (Jack Noble Page): facebook.com/JackNobleBooks/
Twitter: twitter.com/LTRyanWrites
Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/6151659.L_T...
Contact L.T. Ryan at contact@ltryan.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews
June 1, 2024
What a sharp and disappointing drop in quality from the first 2 books.
I know Maddie has a lot of untreated trauma and is sleep deprived, but she's so illogical in this one. Stop traveling alone when you're being hunted. And don't pull a gun on your friend because you randomly decided he was a pedofile based on one instagram pic.
In an attempt to cover plot holes, the authors made Maddie so unlikable. She doesn't have a pension because she was too proud to sue for one? She was a drug addict. She'd have sued.
Also, there was so little Tempest in this story. She was basically just a cane for Maddie. And the pace in this one was so slow because there were a lot of Maddie overthinking stuff.
Maybe when I'm less annoyed, I'll come back to the series, but we're taking a break at the moment.
I know Maddie has a lot of untreated trauma and is sleep deprived, but she's so illogical in this one. Stop traveling alone when you're being hunted. And don't pull a gun on your friend because you randomly decided he was a pedofile based on one instagram pic.
In an attempt to cover plot holes, the authors made Maddie so unlikable. She doesn't have a pension because she was too proud to sue for one? She was a drug addict. She'd have sued.
Also, there was so little Tempest in this story. She was basically just a cane for Maddie. And the pace in this one was so slow because there were a lot of Maddie overthinking stuff.
Maybe when I'm less annoyed, I'll come back to the series, but we're taking a break at the moment.
August 11, 2023
I thought this was a great book. Made me cry. Glad my wife, kids, grandkids or great grandkids didn't come in my room while I was crying. How embarrassing. I like the mix between Madison's past and struggles and her current life and the strength that she has. Couldn't be more pleased and totally disagree with the person who gave the book a one star.
February 10, 2024
3.5 stars
I'm loving this series but I wanted to throw this one across the room. Why do authors create strong female characters and then make them self-doubting, self-blaming wafflers? Bentley professes his love and Maddie still doesn't believe she deserves it. Over and over and over. I get that she has issues but this book pushed it too far for me. Glad it's done. Hoping the next one helps her resolve it.
I'm loving this series but I wanted to throw this one across the room. Why do authors create strong female characters and then make them self-doubting, self-blaming wafflers? Bentley professes his love and Maddie still doesn't believe she deserves it. Over and over and over. I get that she has issues but this book pushed it too far for me. Glad it's done. Hoping the next one helps her resolve it.
May 7, 2024
Hunting grounds
Of the Maddie castle books, this was actually the best in my opinion! I was crying at the end there an ox got shot, and Maddie realized all the things in our life. How oxy showed her there was a different life to live. I cannot wait for the fourth book to come out. I hope there’s 15 or 16 in this series. That’s how much I enjoy reading them.
Of the Maddie castle books, this was actually the best in my opinion! I was crying at the end there an ox got shot, and Maddie realized all the things in our life. How oxy showed her there was a different life to live. I cannot wait for the fourth book to come out. I hope there’s 15 or 16 in this series. That’s how much I enjoy reading them.
August 10, 2023
This book is fantastic - if you know nothing about the Maddie Castle series. If you do know the series, it's disappointing, if not just plain bad.
I have several problems with this book, but one overwhelming one the fact that Maddie is a K9 handler, is a PI, and has a well trained K9, but Tempest is always either in her crate or the back seat of a car. Why? And now Tempest is trained as a service dog. How does she do her job when she's always in her crate or the back seat of a car? This series started with Tempest as a main character, but now she's only mentioned occasionally, and that's mainly so Maddie can use her to stand up.
***From this point, there are spoilers!!!***
A K9 sees an intruder in her handler's bedroom in the middle of the night. Gets crazy enough to tip her crate over, growls and snarls. That's it. Seriously? That dog would have been making enough noise to wake up half the city, not just growling and snarling. A good *guard dog* would have done as much. But a K9 just growling and snarling? No
Ox, who betrayed her and completely broke her trust, is able to make Maddie believe that Bentley, who has never been anything but good to her, is a serial killer. They've been friends since they were kids, she's been falling for him, but she can't simply ask him about a part of his life she doesn't know about? She just believes Ox, then starts ghosting Bentley and ultimately puts a gun to his head to ask him? Yeah....no.
I would also question the fact that Bentley just came running back after discovering how quickly and easily Maddie would turn on him.
This book is a Maddie Castle *thriller*. So why the romantic filler with Maddie and Ox? The backstory has been told. Their new relationship has been established. So rehashing all their feelings and all the warm fuzzy about how it is now - it's simply irrelevant. Even though Ox dies at the end, it's simply not relevant.
Maddie goes off to find Grace at the end - without Tempest - and naturally gets captured. This part dragged on for way too long. But finally Tempest gets to do something! She's able to show Ox and the others where Maddie is. Then she isn't mentioned again until she gets to "tend to" Grace, whose only injuries are some scratched hands, while Ox is dying. Apparently this K9 and service dog did not go immediately to her handler once the chaos was over. Seriously?
Hopefully the next book will be better.
I have several problems with this book, but one overwhelming one the fact that Maddie is a K9 handler, is a PI, and has a well trained K9, but Tempest is always either in her crate or the back seat of a car. Why? And now Tempest is trained as a service dog. How does she do her job when she's always in her crate or the back seat of a car? This series started with Tempest as a main character, but now she's only mentioned occasionally, and that's mainly so Maddie can use her to stand up.
***From this point, there are spoilers!!!***
A K9 sees an intruder in her handler's bedroom in the middle of the night. Gets crazy enough to tip her crate over, growls and snarls. That's it. Seriously? That dog would have been making enough noise to wake up half the city, not just growling and snarling. A good *guard dog* would have done as much. But a K9 just growling and snarling? No
Ox, who betrayed her and completely broke her trust, is able to make Maddie believe that Bentley, who has never been anything but good to her, is a serial killer. They've been friends since they were kids, she's been falling for him, but she can't simply ask him about a part of his life she doesn't know about? She just believes Ox, then starts ghosting Bentley and ultimately puts a gun to his head to ask him? Yeah....no.
I would also question the fact that Bentley just came running back after discovering how quickly and easily Maddie would turn on him.
This book is a Maddie Castle *thriller*. So why the romantic filler with Maddie and Ox? The backstory has been told. Their new relationship has been established. So rehashing all their feelings and all the warm fuzzy about how it is now - it's simply irrelevant. Even though Ox dies at the end, it's simply not relevant.
Maddie goes off to find Grace at the end - without Tempest - and naturally gets captured. This part dragged on for way too long. But finally Tempest gets to do something! She's able to show Ox and the others where Maddie is. Then she isn't mentioned again until she gets to "tend to" Grace, whose only injuries are some scratched hands, while Ox is dying. Apparently this K9 and service dog did not go immediately to her handler once the chaos was over. Seriously?
Hopefully the next book will be better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2025
Oh my heavens...what happened between Book 2 and Book 3!?!
Ox: He was just absolutely awful this whole book. Beyond just the "maybe just residually in love with/protective of Maddie", he went straight to evil control-freak. Despite what the author seems to be trying to make us feel, there was nothing remotely endearing about Ox's behavior towards Maddie. I grew absolutely exhausted with the nonstop repetitive dialog and conflict between those two.
Bentley: Good grief! Just speak, for crying out loud! My tolerance for "I can't quite find the right words to tell someone something" plummeted to zero in this book. Also, after what Maddie does to him, he acts like it is completely understandable and STAYS FRIENDS WITH HER!
Maddie: I can't...even... A few disparaging words and circumstantial accusations from Ox and suddenly Maddie doubts everything she knows about her best friend, thinks he must be a killer of some kind, even if he isn't THE killer, and she pulls a gun on him.
I'm sorry, I could barely bring myself to give this 2 stars. My 1-star reviews are reserved for "gross", "could not finish", or similar books, but this one really barely scraped the 2-star mark. I hate series' that bench a bad guy for a while and then bring them back later in some sort of revenge tour. Patricia Cornwall did this a lot in her books too. I really didn't care about the Country Killer, or Red Ribbon Killer, or whatever name he went by in the first book. I certainly wasn't hoping he'd resurface for a whole book of his own.
There was far too much dialogue in this book to make it interesting. So much angst in the Ox-Maddie-Bentley triangle that I might as well have been reading a Twilight book, if the characters in that book also had drug pasts and major relationship issues. It was just exhausting.
Finally, what about Tempest? Isn't she supposed to be a highly-trained K9 specimen? I get why Maddie is nervous about deploying Tempest from time to time, but it's ridiculous and boring that Tempest is always in the back seat or a crate when Maddie could use her the most. What's the point in having a crack K9 dog if you're babying her like a ragdoll kitten if danger might be near?
As a glutton for punishment, I have already downloaded Book 4, mostly in the hopes that this book was an anomaly.
Ox: He was just absolutely awful this whole book. Beyond just the "maybe just residually in love with/protective of Maddie", he went straight to evil control-freak. Despite what the author seems to be trying to make us feel, there was nothing remotely endearing about Ox's behavior towards Maddie. I grew absolutely exhausted with the nonstop repetitive dialog and conflict between those two.
Bentley: Good grief! Just speak, for crying out loud! My tolerance for "I can't quite find the right words to tell someone something" plummeted to zero in this book. Also, after what Maddie does to him, he acts like it is completely understandable and STAYS FRIENDS WITH HER!
Maddie: I can't...even... A few disparaging words and circumstantial accusations from Ox and suddenly Maddie doubts everything she knows about her best friend, thinks he must be a killer of some kind, even if he isn't THE killer, and she pulls a gun on him.
I'm sorry, I could barely bring myself to give this 2 stars. My 1-star reviews are reserved for "gross", "could not finish", or similar books, but this one really barely scraped the 2-star mark. I hate series' that bench a bad guy for a while and then bring them back later in some sort of revenge tour. Patricia Cornwall did this a lot in her books too. I really didn't care about the Country Killer, or Red Ribbon Killer, or whatever name he went by in the first book. I certainly wasn't hoping he'd resurface for a whole book of his own.
There was far too much dialogue in this book to make it interesting. So much angst in the Ox-Maddie-Bentley triangle that I might as well have been reading a Twilight book, if the characters in that book also had drug pasts and major relationship issues. It was just exhausting.
Finally, what about Tempest? Isn't she supposed to be a highly-trained K9 specimen? I get why Maddie is nervous about deploying Tempest from time to time, but it's ridiculous and boring that Tempest is always in the back seat or a crate when Maddie could use her the most. What's the point in having a crack K9 dog if you're babying her like a ragdoll kitten if danger might be near?
As a glutton for punishment, I have already downloaded Book 4, mostly in the hopes that this book was an anomaly.
October 18, 2023
4.5 Stars 🌟
Absolutely great ending to this series! There were several things that were still left unresolved after the last book - book 2- and this book did not disappoint in filing the blanks and FINALLY bringing this story to a close.
This book starts with Maddie seeming to be getting her life back on track. Things are going well with Tempest, and there looks like there is also changes occurring in her relationship with Benton. She is sober now and is working on getting her body back to a somewhat more manageable place.
Of course, that just happens to be the time when the serial killer known as the "Country Killer" strikes again. This time it is MUCH more personal and he makes it very apparent that he is focusing on Maddie.
This book starts with a bang and it doesn't let up until the very end. There is lots of action, some scary drama and a race to try to find the killer before he does more damage to Maddie's life.
Without going into spoilers, let me just say that this book got me with an event that I didn't see coming and boy did it hurt. I wasn't expecting it and more than that, I wasn't expecting my reaction to it. To get a reaction from me like that, I know that Mr. Ryan did his job in creating characters that I had developed a relationship with. Ones that I cared about and cared what happened to. That is always the best compliment I can give to a book.
Absolutely great ending to this series! There were several things that were still left unresolved after the last book - book 2- and this book did not disappoint in filing the blanks and FINALLY bringing this story to a close.
This book starts with Maddie seeming to be getting her life back on track. Things are going well with Tempest, and there looks like there is also changes occurring in her relationship with Benton. She is sober now and is working on getting her body back to a somewhat more manageable place.
Of course, that just happens to be the time when the serial killer known as the "Country Killer" strikes again. This time it is MUCH more personal and he makes it very apparent that he is focusing on Maddie.
This book starts with a bang and it doesn't let up until the very end. There is lots of action, some scary drama and a race to try to find the killer before he does more damage to Maddie's life.
Without going into spoilers, let me just say that this book got me with an event that I didn't see coming and boy did it hurt. I wasn't expecting it and more than that, I wasn't expecting my reaction to it. To get a reaction from me like that, I know that Mr. Ryan did his job in creating characters that I had developed a relationship with. Ones that I cared about and cared what happened to. That is always the best compliment I can give to a book.
April 24, 2024
This book was ok, but I don't care for Bentley. Ox is a definitely a better match for Maddie. I know he cheated on her, but at least she can't walk all over him! Getting tired of Maddie's knee pain, go to the doctor. I couldn't believe the ending, why in the world did this character have to die? This was the only person who really had any chemistry with Maddie. I hate it when female characters in books think they can save the world -alone. I will not read next book since my favorite character was killed off. I usually do not read books about private investigators, I prefer cops or FBI. Bottom line, I would not recommend this series. It is a stretch calling her a dog handler, the dog spends most of the time in a cage or in the backseat of the car.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2024
This book was as predictable as the rest on who the bad guy was. I didn’t love Maddie going off the deep end about Bentley’s past. She seemed a little hypocritical about it. And holding a gun to his head - extremely aggressive and unnecessary. The main storyline was creepy and connected to the first book and the basis of the series so that closure was nice. The end was completely heartbreaking. So sad.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2024
Lot’s of emotion was poured into this one. A serial killer returns after a 2 1/2 year absence. The same one Maddie had shot and the same one who shot her leg. More dialogue than the previous two. Ryan and Gray delivered a lot of suspense and good foreshadowing within the pages. Bentley, Tempest, Grace and Ox are all part of the story that leads to an intense and climatic conclusion. Better get the kleenex out.
September 6, 2023
Maddie Castle / L. T. Ryan story varies from their norm…..
I am a big L. T. Ryan fan, and I enjoyed the first 2 Castle stories. The heart of this story to catch a serial killed was solidly described early; But, Hunting Grounds was too drawn out with repeating back stories that slowed the pace of the expected drama. Otherwise I would have rated it higher.
I am a big L. T. Ryan fan, and I enjoyed the first 2 Castle stories. The heart of this story to catch a serial killed was solidly described early; But, Hunting Grounds was too drawn out with repeating back stories that slowed the pace of the expected drama. Otherwise I would have rated it higher.
August 21, 2023
Sappy
I loved Maddie and Bear. Like Tempest — the next dog but she doesn’t have enough of a role in this book. Reads more like a romance novel than a thriller.
I loved Maddie and Bear. Like Tempest — the next dog but she doesn’t have enough of a role in this book. Reads more like a romance novel than a thriller.
December 31, 2023
Depressing. I had to stop reading it.
June 8, 2024
Too much touchy Feely. Not enough storyline.
December 21, 2024
I probably won't read more of this series.
August 9, 2023
Did not see this coming.
I waited a long time for this book. I really liked the novella and book #1 in this series. I loved book #2 so much that I read it twice. After only a couple chapters into this one, I was really unsure whether I liked it or not. I kept thinking "what the heck is going on with Maddie?". She was all over the place emotionally. The Country Killer wants Maddie to suffer for what she did to him. He feels that he's way too superior to be bested by Maddie. She is the only person to have even come close to ending his reign of terror, and she's a woman. He despises women. Never mind that he has tortured, raped, and viciously killed multiple women. What he wants now is to make Maddie suffer until she finally offers herself up to him so he can kill her, by her own choice. But in the meantime, the idea is planted in her head that Bentley is the killer. I felt that Maddie gave in to that suggestion way too easily. She's known Bentley most of her life. He's never been anything but her best friend. He adores his daughter and would never bring her around someone he didn't have complete confidence in, yet he lets Maddie have a close relationship with her. Maddie knows Bentley better than she knows anyone else in her life, and yet the minute Ox plants the idea in her head that Bentley is a killer, she buys into it immediately. Why would Maddie believe that? It turned Maddie into someone that she'd never been before. And then finding out that Bentley actually had his own secrets that he's never shared with Maddie - any hope of a future between Maddie and Bentley seems gone. How could they even begin to come back from all that? In the meantime, the Country Killer is ramping up his terrorizing campaign, and it's all aimed at Maddie. This book was a roller coaster of emotions from beginning to end, so by the end of the book, everyone, including me, was crying. I hope the next one is more relaxing, with just a "normal" amount of murder and mayhem. I don't know if I can stand another ride like this one. But, then, I can't wait until the next Maddie Castle book comes out, either. It won't be soon enough for me.
I waited a long time for this book. I really liked the novella and book #1 in this series. I loved book #2 so much that I read it twice. After only a couple chapters into this one, I was really unsure whether I liked it or not. I kept thinking "what the heck is going on with Maddie?". She was all over the place emotionally. The Country Killer wants Maddie to suffer for what she did to him. He feels that he's way too superior to be bested by Maddie. She is the only person to have even come close to ending his reign of terror, and she's a woman. He despises women. Never mind that he has tortured, raped, and viciously killed multiple women. What he wants now is to make Maddie suffer until she finally offers herself up to him so he can kill her, by her own choice. But in the meantime, the idea is planted in her head that Bentley is the killer. I felt that Maddie gave in to that suggestion way too easily. She's known Bentley most of her life. He's never been anything but her best friend. He adores his daughter and would never bring her around someone he didn't have complete confidence in, yet he lets Maddie have a close relationship with her. Maddie knows Bentley better than she knows anyone else in her life, and yet the minute Ox plants the idea in her head that Bentley is a killer, she buys into it immediately. Why would Maddie believe that? It turned Maddie into someone that she'd never been before. And then finding out that Bentley actually had his own secrets that he's never shared with Maddie - any hope of a future between Maddie and Bentley seems gone. How could they even begin to come back from all that? In the meantime, the Country Killer is ramping up his terrorizing campaign, and it's all aimed at Maddie. This book was a roller coaster of emotions from beginning to end, so by the end of the book, everyone, including me, was crying. I hope the next one is more relaxing, with just a "normal" amount of murder and mayhem. I don't know if I can stand another ride like this one. But, then, I can't wait until the next Maddie Castle book comes out, either. It won't be soon enough for me.
December 14, 2023
Thrills and chills from the beginning to the end!
WOW! Hunting Grounds, the third book in the Maddie Castle series by L.T. Ryan and C.R Gray, was a thrilling, emotional, and thoroughly entertaining read from the first page to the last! I was unable to put this book down! The action was non-stop and the suspense was heart-stopping intense! When I finally reached the end and could finally catch my breath, all I could think to say was "WOW!" I want more Maddie, and Tempest! I don't want this series to ever end.
Maddie Castle and her K-9 service dog are a dynamic duo! Maddie's continued struggles to deal with her PTSD and fragile sobriety are so poignant it had me in tears at times. I was holding my breath, trying to will her to hang on each time her resolve was tested. And I jumped up and did a happy dance each time she resisted falling into darkness. Maddie's strength of character and continual transformation is incredibly well-crafted. Her characterization is a credit to the talents of the authors, Ryan and Gray. While there are no cliffhangers in any of the books I have read so far, Maddie's character keeps me pondering what will happen next. And let's not forget Tempest, K-9 service dog extraordinaire! It amazes me how much personality the authors have crafted into a dog character! In the words of L.T Ryan and C.R Gray, Tempest comes alive! As I read, Tempest became so real, I could not only see her, I felt her head on my leg when Maddie was frightened and in need of comfort. I smelled her doggy breath and heard her chomping on her dog food as Tempest ate! Tempest is as important to the story as any other human support characters. Amazing!
I highly recommend Hunting Grounds to those who love a thrilling suspense story and service dogs!
WOW! Hunting Grounds, the third book in the Maddie Castle series by L.T. Ryan and C.R Gray, was a thrilling, emotional, and thoroughly entertaining read from the first page to the last! I was unable to put this book down! The action was non-stop and the suspense was heart-stopping intense! When I finally reached the end and could finally catch my breath, all I could think to say was "WOW!" I want more Maddie, and Tempest! I don't want this series to ever end.
Maddie Castle and her K-9 service dog are a dynamic duo! Maddie's continued struggles to deal with her PTSD and fragile sobriety are so poignant it had me in tears at times. I was holding my breath, trying to will her to hang on each time her resolve was tested. And I jumped up and did a happy dance each time she resisted falling into darkness. Maddie's strength of character and continual transformation is incredibly well-crafted. Her characterization is a credit to the talents of the authors, Ryan and Gray. While there are no cliffhangers in any of the books I have read so far, Maddie's character keeps me pondering what will happen next. And let's not forget Tempest, K-9 service dog extraordinaire! It amazes me how much personality the authors have crafted into a dog character! In the words of L.T Ryan and C.R Gray, Tempest comes alive! As I read, Tempest became so real, I could not only see her, I felt her head on my leg when Maddie was frightened and in need of comfort. I smelled her doggy breath and heard her chomping on her dog food as Tempest ate! Tempest is as important to the story as any other human support characters. Amazing!
I highly recommend Hunting Grounds to those who love a thrilling suspense story and service dogs!
September 19, 2023
great story…edge of your seat
This was another well written story in this series. We get to see the Country Killer come back this time and he is after Maddie and set on torturing and breaking her. This story is tense and keeps you on the edge of your seat, especially when you get closer to the end and things start coming together. There are some twists in this one for sure. I loved seeing more development between Bentley and Maddie and her coming to a good place with Ox so the ending was a surprise and another blow for Maddie but I am hopeful with the next story and see how Bentley and Grace give her the safe place to deal with what happened. This story had plenty of the action and intrigue as they tried to figure out who the killer was and what his connection to Maddie was so they could find him and stop him. This story was intense and I found it engaging and entertaining and am excited for what comes next.
This was another well written story in this series. We get to see the Country Killer come back this time and he is after Maddie and set on torturing and breaking her. This story is tense and keeps you on the edge of your seat, especially when you get closer to the end and things start coming together. There are some twists in this one for sure. I loved seeing more development between Bentley and Maddie and her coming to a good place with Ox so the ending was a surprise and another blow for Maddie but I am hopeful with the next story and see how Bentley and Grace give her the safe place to deal with what happened. This story had plenty of the action and intrigue as they tried to figure out who the killer was and what his connection to Maddie was so they could find him and stop him. This story was intense and I found it engaging and entertaining and am excited for what comes next.
May 12, 2025
I started a book my cousin loaned me (a “real” book”) which meant I couldn’t read it in bed after Dixie went to sleep, so I chose to read the third book in L. T. Ryan’s Maddie Castle Series, “Hunting Grounds,” for my “going-to-sleep” reading. While there was a bit too much of “internal self-conversation,” for lack of a better description, I enjoyed this book. Maddie finally comes face to face with the serial killer who ended her career as a K9 officer, has to work with her ex-husband detective to find him, wonders if she can actually trust the man that she has fallen in love with, and battle all the inner demons of her addiction to pain drugs. The author makes his characters likeable (even with all their flaws), but one probably should read the first two books in the series before reading this one to have a full understanding of all the introspection taking place. (342 pages)
October 25, 2023
I have really enjoyed this series. It’s entertaining, (mostly) non-cheesy, and has great characters who are believable humans you can root for. This 3rd book in the series wrapped up the storyline well - it even made me cry at the end, which hasn’t ever happened with a mystery/thriller, so kudos to the authors for a well-rounded story.
The only downside for me - and the reason I prefer the first book in the series to these other two - is that the best part is about her being a K9 handler and there’s almost nothing related to that in this one. The dog is more of a background feature than a focus.
The killer does get a little too cartoonishly super villainy for me at times, but they end up addressing that, so I’ll forgive it. Great overall read.
The only downside for me - and the reason I prefer the first book in the series to these other two - is that the best part is about her being a K9 handler and there’s almost nothing related to that in this one. The dog is more of a background feature than a focus.
The killer does get a little too cartoonishly super villainy for me at times, but they end up addressing that, so I’ll forgive it. Great overall read.
March 26, 2025
Non stop nail biting
This book goes from zero to sixty in the first three pages and never lets up. It is an intense, tension filled, nail biter. The serial killer who ruined Maddie’s life has returned and he wants revenge for her injuring him. The whole book is the psychological torturing he is putting her through and the chase to find him and take him down.
There’s a lot of self-reflection and Maddie examining her life. Her relationship with Bentley gets strained and she and Ox go more than a few rounds. But some important realizations come to both her and Ox and Bentley reveals some important secrets. The climactic moments are intense and the resolution to the crisis is rough. The book ends on a sad but hopeful note.
This book goes from zero to sixty in the first three pages and never lets up. It is an intense, tension filled, nail biter. The serial killer who ruined Maddie’s life has returned and he wants revenge for her injuring him. The whole book is the psychological torturing he is putting her through and the chase to find him and take him down.
There’s a lot of self-reflection and Maddie examining her life. Her relationship with Bentley gets strained and she and Ox go more than a few rounds. But some important realizations come to both her and Ox and Bentley reveals some important secrets. The climactic moments are intense and the resolution to the crisis is rough. The book ends on a sad but hopeful note.
August 11, 2023
WOW…..just WOW!!!!
Let me just say again…..WOW. I love Maddie Castle but this was the best yet. A serial killer is obsessed with Maddie & the cat & mouse game is on from the very first page. The action doesn’t stop until the last page. I cried through at least the last quarter of the book & it takes a lot to make me cry. Maddie is such a bad ass with a loving heart. Tempest is the best dog ever. Grace is growing into Maddie 2.0 & Bentley takes care of all of them. I can’t wait for the next installment. I love all of LT’s characters in his other books but Maddie is my hands down favorite!!
Let me just say again…..WOW. I love Maddie Castle but this was the best yet. A serial killer is obsessed with Maddie & the cat & mouse game is on from the very first page. The action doesn’t stop until the last page. I cried through at least the last quarter of the book & it takes a lot to make me cry. Maddie is such a bad ass with a loving heart. Tempest is the best dog ever. Grace is growing into Maddie 2.0 & Bentley takes care of all of them. I can’t wait for the next installment. I love all of LT’s characters in his other books but Maddie is my hands down favorite!!
August 22, 2023
I found this series because of a Kindle Challenge. The description of the first book made me curious and once I started reading it I was hooked! I read all 3 books in 3 days and now I'm dying for the next book to be released!
I hadn't realized how invested I had become with the characters. I felt so many emotions while reading this book. I was smiling to myself while feeling such happiness for Maddie and I found myself crying at least twice. I have to say I never expected one of my 'crime books' to have me feeling all the things. I absolutely loved it! I would give this book more than 5 stars if I could!
Maddie Castle is my must read series of 2023!
I hadn't realized how invested I had become with the characters. I felt so many emotions while reading this book. I was smiling to myself while feeling such happiness for Maddie and I found myself crying at least twice. I have to say I never expected one of my 'crime books' to have me feeling all the things. I absolutely loved it! I would give this book more than 5 stars if I could!
Maddie Castle is my must read series of 2023!
March 5, 2025
Serial Killer Returns
The Country Killer has returned. The evil one responsible for Maddie's injuries, losing her job, and her dog, Bear's death . Can he be stopped ? How many more murders ? Another gripping saga and page turner. Seriously, I couldn't put it down. The author keeps your interest, the characters draw you in, so much happening in each installment. If you like crime stories, detective stories, this is an excellent series, but please, you must start with the first book in the series. Get the background, fall in love with the characters. You will be hooked and continue the series as I have. Now , I must start on Book 4 !!!
The Country Killer has returned. The evil one responsible for Maddie's injuries, losing her job, and her dog, Bear's death . Can he be stopped ? How many more murders ? Another gripping saga and page turner. Seriously, I couldn't put it down. The author keeps your interest, the characters draw you in, so much happening in each installment. If you like crime stories, detective stories, this is an excellent series, but please, you must start with the first book in the series. Get the background, fall in love with the characters. You will be hooked and continue the series as I have. Now , I must start on Book 4 !!!
August 11, 2023
Maddie Castle Favorite
Discovered LT Ryan during Covid lock down and enjoy most series. Was disappointed in Rachel Hatch later books and haven’t been able to get back into them and don’t have the heart to finish a Savage book. But I Love the Maddie Castle Series. Maybe because it has a love story component and I like that. It still has lots of action, adventure and suspense. Each one has been soooooooo good and I can’t wait for Vanished Trails…….just hope I am not disappointed by devastation in the love story in future stories.
Discovered LT Ryan during Covid lock down and enjoy most series. Was disappointed in Rachel Hatch later books and haven’t been able to get back into them and don’t have the heart to finish a Savage book. But I Love the Maddie Castle Series. Maybe because it has a love story component and I like that. It still has lots of action, adventure and suspense. Each one has been soooooooo good and I can’t wait for Vanished Trails…….just hope I am not disappointed by devastation in the love story in future stories.
August 15, 2023
Exciting, suspenseful thriller!
Country killer is back, and he has set his sights on Maddie! He broke into her trailer and cut some of her hair for a souvenir. He is killing women who resemble Maddie. Maddie and Ox are desperate to find him. The FBI have been notified that the country killer is back. L.T. Ryan and C.R. Gray take the reader on an intriguing journey showing how Maddie, Ox, and the FBI are trying to find out the identity of the country killer. This book was unputdownable and has a surprise ending. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Happy reading! 😊
Country killer is back, and he has set his sights on Maddie! He broke into her trailer and cut some of her hair for a souvenir. He is killing women who resemble Maddie. Maddie and Ox are desperate to find him. The FBI have been notified that the country killer is back. L.T. Ryan and C.R. Gray take the reader on an intriguing journey showing how Maddie, Ox, and the FBI are trying to find out the identity of the country killer. This book was unputdownable and has a surprise ending. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Happy reading! 😊
August 24, 2023
A phenomenal series
My eyes teared at the c
onclusion of this book, which I never do. Maddie, Ox n Bentley, make a fantastic team ready to defend the residents from Red, who kills women for sheer malice and pleasure.
I couldn't put the book down. Read it everywhere. I wanted it to continue, but like all good things, it ended. Loved the book. I can't wait for the next book in the series. BTW, my friend was a K9 officer, so I got to see both in action, which also attracted me to this series. Recommended...
My eyes teared at the c
onclusion of this book, which I never do. Maddie, Ox n Bentley, make a fantastic team ready to defend the residents from Red, who kills women for sheer malice and pleasure.
I couldn't put the book down. Read it everywhere. I wanted it to continue, but like all good things, it ended. Loved the book. I can't wait for the next book in the series. BTW, my friend was a K9 officer, so I got to see both in action, which also attracted me to this series. Recommended...
February 17, 2024
Can Maddie stop an obsessed stalker?
An amazing, scary, heart poundind read about a serial killer that started raping and murdering 1st older women, than one night Maddie and Oz with K9 Bear almost apprehended " The Country Killer" instead Bear was killed and Maddie injured badly enough to end her police career. She injured TCK tho too and he is out for revenge. The twists and search for him takes so many turns and horrible murders of women that look like Maddie, that you are unsure where it will go til the end.
An amazing, scary, heart poundind read about a serial killer that started raping and murdering 1st older women, than one night Maddie and Oz with K9 Bear almost apprehended " The Country Killer" instead Bear was killed and Maddie injured badly enough to end her police career. She injured TCK tho too and he is out for revenge. The twists and search for him takes so many turns and horrible murders of women that look like Maddie, that you are unsure where it will go til the end.
May 2, 2025
While sorting out the dynamics of a friendship with Ox, and examining her feelings for Bentley, Maddie ends up yet again, tangling with the Country Killer. This time, he has Maddie and her world squarely in his sights.
I have enjoyed all the Maddie Castle books so far, but this one well and truly took you along for the journey.
Lots of ups and downs emotionally, and an ending that will put a lump in your throat and bring tears to yours eyes.
Looking forward to more books into Maddie’s exploits.
I have enjoyed all the Maddie Castle books so far, but this one well and truly took you along for the journey.
Lots of ups and downs emotionally, and an ending that will put a lump in your throat and bring tears to yours eyes.
Looking forward to more books into Maddie’s exploits.
August 31, 2023
outstanding series!!
Love Maddie and her friends. She is a success story from rags to well survival. The way the characters are written is excellent. You feel their pain and their joy. Love the story and the mystery but this was about the people and I loved it!! Cannot put it down. Can’t wait for the next Maddie Castle book. I’ve been reading LT Ryan books since the beginning of Jack Noble series. Excellent!
Love Maddie and her friends. She is a success story from rags to well survival. The way the characters are written is excellent. You feel their pain and their joy. Love the story and the mystery but this was about the people and I loved it!! Cannot put it down. Can’t wait for the next Maddie Castle book. I’ve been reading LT Ryan books since the beginning of Jack Noble series. Excellent!
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