Hunt for the Keeper

by Anita Rodgers

My daddy used to say, “Don’t dig up more snakes than you can kill.” Well, here I am, dancing in the snake pit to beat all snake pits.

You’d think after three years the newbie jokes would end and they’d stop calling me Agent Starling behind my back. But, no, uh-uh, they haven’t begun to get tired of that yet. Probably never will.

Like it or not, I’m on the task force hunting the Keeper right along with them. And when Jack and I catch the s.o.b., there’ll be plenty of humble pie to go around. Then maybe I’ll get some respect around here.

I’m done with their gossip and BS.

We’ve got seven victims (that we know of).
A mountain of evidence.
And a killer who’s gone to ground.

And every day the Keeper is out there is another chance for him to kill again. Not on my watch. No, sir.

In this game you’re either all in or all out. Come hell or high water, I’m in it. If it all goes to crap, so be it.

Bring it on!

The Hunt for the Keeper is the prequel to The Dead Dog Trilogy which is available on Amazon as a boxed set (ebook only) or in separate volumes; Let Dead Dogs Lie, Every Dog Has His Day, and Dog in the Hunt (in ebook and paperback).

128 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 25, 2023

About the author

Anita Rodgers is the author of the psychological thriller, False Witness, the Scotti Fitzgerald Mystery Series, and the recently released Dead Dog Trilogy.

She’s a writer, a blogger, a pet mom, a gardener, a cook, and a lover of puzzles. She lives in Southern California with her beloved terrier/poodle Lily and two silly cats, Boodie and Bitzy. And can usually be spotted at Starbucks contemplating the perfect crime over a cup of Sumatran. She has a serious social media addiction, is obsessed with GIFs, and loves to interact with family, friends, and fans on Facebook and Twitter.

Reviews

[Joyce Ziebell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm no stranger to Anita Rodgers' well-written thrillers. Hunt for the Keeper is the prequel to the Dog Trilogy series with Lottie Stark, Jack Brady and the obsessed killer Stokes. Though this book could certainly be a stand alone book, I recommend reading the trilogy as well. Why? Because the capture of Stokes in the prequel is a bit ho-hum, though reading the trilogy series tells me why. Yeah, that comment alone is mysterious.

Lottie is a really great character. At times I'd like to scold her, though I do love her snarky attitude. I'm in her corner amid the doubts, desires, frustration and sadness. And through it all she keeps her quick wit down-home roots and humor. Jack's a great partner, though he'd be on my strangle list for deceiving Lottie. And what's to say about FBI Dixon, except a conceited, complete a-hole.

Thankful that the author and I sort of crossed paths about a decade ago. Thanks for all the great reads, Anita.

[Kayleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book I have read by Anita Rodgers and I look forward to reading more. Great book easy to read.

[Frances Vivienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well worth the read.

After reading "The Dead Dog " trilogy by Anita Rodgers, it was wonderful to read the prequel- Jack is a married man, and has a daughter. But the marriage is over, only kept quiet for the sake of his daughter. Lottie and Jack both work together on the case of a serial killer, but have had a relationship for six months, without anyone knowing. This is a great start with the prequel, as you finally get to know what happened to their relationship before the trilogy.
The " Dead Dog Trilogy " is a great read and by reading the prequel first, you get to know, Lottie, and Jack before the trilogy, and their troubles.
Anita Rodgers has achieved a great prequel, that is well worth reading before the trilogy.
Highly recommended.

[Eve Culley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beginning of Lottery and Jack. I got so angry at Jack and his behavior. Ben, her daddy, should have taken a switch to him.
Guess the fact that I got so emotionally involved with a book character must mean its a good story and you know what - it is.
Good story with characters you'll love to hate - just saying Dix.
Good job, Anita.

[Eve Culley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lottie, oh Lottie my heart bleds for you

The beginning of Lottery and Jack. I got so angry at Jack and his behavior. Ben, her daddy, should have taken a switch to him.
Guess the fact that I got so emotionally involved with a book character must mean its a good story and you know what - it is.
Good story with characters you'll love to hate - just saying Dix.
Good job, Anita.

[Carolyn Breckinridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of intense criminal mystery series, author Anita Rodgers’ Dead Dog Trilogy is as good as they get. The books, Let Dead Dogs Lie; Every Dog Has His Day; and Dog in the Hunt, introduce us to a gutsy female detective named Lottie Stark who is helping track down a serial killer who leaves a path of young women in his wake (each with a dead dog as his signature calling card.) The killer is ruthless, and his MO is remarkably similar to the crimes of a serial killer believed to already be dead. In fact, Lottie is certain she watched him die. This situation greatly intensifies when the killer sets his sights on Lottie, herself, as his next victim. Now comes a prequel to the series, Hunt for the Keeper. For those who have already read the trilogy, this prequel provides a page-turning backdrop for the original three novels. For those who are new to her work, Hunt for the Keeper will be a perfect book with which to begin the series. As best as Lottie and her FBI profiler/partner, Jack, can surmise, The Keeper has murdered at least seven victims. In this prequel, Lottie is also working for the FBI, but she has been having a tough go of being accepted as a legitimate agent. Some of her colleagues intuit that she and Jack are having an affair. For others, it is enough that she is a female. The Keeper is wily, dangerous and also has Lottie in his sights. As the hunt intensifies, it becomes clear Lottie has everything to lose –her career, her reputation, her life. Hunt for the Keeper is an exceptional beginning, a skillfully-crafted prequel, to a series certain to gain national attention.

[Lyn Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping, Moving, the Perfect Prequel
I loved the author's Dead Dog trilogy, and I got excited seeing Anita published the prequel, Hunt for the Keeper. The prequel is the perfect setup for the trilogy that follows. It fills in missing details that were hinted at in the other three books. We get to experience how Lottie's passionate relationship with Jack began. I simply love Lottie as a character. She's very dimensional and relatable with her sharp wits for investigation, her snarky attitude, her compassion, and her dogged pursuit to take down the serial killer. We also see her vulnerability, especially with Jack. I wanted to give him a kick in the pants toward the end and how Lottie ends up in her next setting for the trilogy makes perfect sense. Great dialogue, pacing, the story gripped and moved me. Way to go, Anita!

[Karen King · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all of Anita Rodgers books and they are great. This one fills in the story of how Lottie Stark and partner Jack brought down the serial killer Stoker prior to the Dead Dog Trilogy.

It brings us back to Lottie in her stint at the FBI with Jack and the beginning of their love affair while chasing down the nasty Stoker.

Lottie is truly an authentic fearless Texas agent, smart as a whip, sassy, and as relentless as the killers she pursues. She and Jack make the perfect team.

This story is on par with the Trilogy, great pacing, wonderfully distinct characters, snappy dialog, and never boring.
I highly recommend!

[P.S. Winn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this a quick read, and one readers can grab, and know they are in for a great ride. I am a fan of Thomas Harris, who wrote Silence of the lambs, which this book references a few times. The tale, following agents who are hunting down a serial killer, is also one of relationships, personal and those by co-workers. Readers will find the compelling tale is over too soon, and be looking for more.