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FBI K-9 #1
Lone Wolf
An agent with the FBI’s elite K-9 unit works with her loyal search-and-rescue Labrador to sniff out a terrorist.
FBI Agent Megan Jennings and her canine partner Hawk are an effective team. With his highly trained sense of smell, Hawk can locate bodies anywhere—living or dead. When a bomb rips apart a government building in Washington D.C., they get to work saving the survivors buried beneath the rubble.
But even as the duo are hailed as heroes, a bomber remains at large. As more bombs are detonated and the body count soars, Meg and Hawk attempt to find the pattern to a madman’s reign of terror. Soon the desperate manhunt leads them into the wilderness of West Virginia, where the lone wolf can turn the hunters into the hunted.
FBI Agent Megan Jennings and her canine partner Hawk are an effective team. With his highly trained sense of smell, Hawk can locate bodies anywhere—living or dead. When a bomb rips apart a government building in Washington D.C., they get to work saving the survivors buried beneath the rubble.
But even as the duo are hailed as heroes, a bomber remains at large. As more bombs are detonated and the body count soars, Meg and Hawk attempt to find the pattern to a madman’s reign of terror. Soon the desperate manhunt leads them into the wilderness of West Virginia, where the lone wolf can turn the hunters into the hunted.
273 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 29, 2016
1674 people are currently reading
2735 people want to read
About the author
Sara Driscoll
17 books924 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 577 reviews
November 21, 2016
3.5 stars
Lone Wolf is a thriller about a domestic terrorist who is creating a state of fear as he enacts revenge against those who wronged him. While the mystery to uncover who is committing these crimes is interesting, it is the search and rescue dogs that are at the heart of this book. Learning about how these dogs are trained and the unique connections that they have with their handlers is fascinating. My respect for these dogs and their handlers has grown immensely. Getting to experience the emotional bond between Meg and Hawk makes Lone Wolf a worthwhile read!
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Lone Wolf is a thriller about a domestic terrorist who is creating a state of fear as he enacts revenge against those who wronged him. While the mystery to uncover who is committing these crimes is interesting, it is the search and rescue dogs that are at the heart of this book. Learning about how these dogs are trained and the unique connections that they have with their handlers is fascinating. My respect for these dogs and their handlers has grown immensely. Getting to experience the emotional bond between Meg and Hawk makes Lone Wolf a worthwhile read!
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 29, 2016
3.5 stars. As those who know me know, I will read any book if it involves a dog, especially a lab. This is the first in a series about a FBI K9 search and rescue team. We meet Meg and her black lab, Hawk, as they search for a child killer. But then a bomb explodes at the Department of Agriculture and Meg and Hawk are assigned to help there. A serial bomber using drones is taking out targets and Meg is part of a large task force.
This is a fast paced book with a decent plot. There's not a lot of extraneous detail to bog you down, although she takes the time to really explain how the dogs work. And not only how they work, but how they respond to the various situations. Driscoll has a very straight forward writing style. She gives you some backstory on each of the main characters and I'm hoping she will continue to flesh them out with each subsequent book. I have to remind myself that it's not fair to compare the characters in the 25th Archer Mayor book or 20 whatever J. A. Jance book with the first in a series.
Driscoll makes sure to contrast the horror of the blast scenes with sweet scenes between dog and human in off hours. While Meg has and develops new relationships with other humans, it's all about the bond between dog and handler.
Each chapter starts with a definition of a search and rescue or another FBI term. Often, this sort of “starter” irritates me. But here, it works.
This is not a deep or thought provoking book. Several of the plot turns don't ring true. But it is entertaining. And a large part of the enjoyment is all about reading how handler and dog work together. I would say that if this doesn't interest you, you probably won't like the book.
My thanks to netgalley and Kensington Books for an advance copy of this book.
November 15, 2023
Lone Wolf by Sara Driscoll
FBI K-9 series #1. Mystery suspense.
FBI Agent Megan Jennings and her canine partner Hawk, work search and rescue. After a bomb hits a government building in Washington, DC, Meg and Hawk work for hours searching for victims, both dead and alive. No sooner than they get home, they are called out again as another bomb destroys a building. The race is on, trying to figure out who is behind the destruction.
Intense and engrossing. The detective work and reasoning has them getting closer to the perpetrator. Hawk plays a key role. Such a good dog!
FBI K-9 series #1. Mystery suspense.
FBI Agent Megan Jennings and her canine partner Hawk, work search and rescue. After a bomb hits a government building in Washington, DC, Meg and Hawk work for hours searching for victims, both dead and alive. No sooner than they get home, they are called out again as another bomb destroys a building. The race is on, trying to figure out who is behind the destruction.
Intense and engrossing. The detective work and reasoning has them getting closer to the perpetrator. Hawk plays a key role. Such a good dog!
July 10, 2023
Lone Wolf was the first book written by Sara Driscoll and, of course, the first in her FBI K-9 series. It was a solid, well-researched, interesting book which was great for a first effort. The book's most distinguishing feature, in my opinion, was Driscol's exceptional ability to describe the interaction between the dog, Wolf, and his handler, Meg. The opportunity to peek into this intimate and deeply personal relationship, in and of itself, made Lone Wolf worth reading.
A bomb has exploded in a Department of Agriculture building in Washington, DC. Horrifyingly, a grade school class was touring the building at the time that the bomb detonated. The aftermath was awful and, for anyone involved in the resulting search and rescue effort, a gutwrenching, draining experience. Meg and Wolf were called to the scene and immediately went to work, initially finding and helping to rescue victims who were still clinging to life including a young girl who was buried under the wreckage, conscious and terrified. Several firemen removed some of the wreckage covering her so Wolf could crawl down to her to provide comfort while the firemen continued to work. She was, fortunately, extracted and immediately taken to a hospital for treatment.
Later, Wolf and Meg had to be ordered out of the operation because they were clearly exhausted. They took respite on a bench some distance from the building and collapsed into each other for desperately needed rest before they went home. Unbeknownst to them, a newspaper photographer took a photo of the exhausted duo for the following day's paper.
The bomber, seemingly to maximize his exposure, contacted a newspaper reporter to give him a story that would shift the attention from Meg and Wolf back to him. The reporter dutifully contacted the FBI and eventually, through some subterfuge on her part, he and Meg met. Although they both had misgivings, they worked together, to the extent possible, to track down the lunatic bomber (doubtlessly, a right-wing nutjob).
The bomber struck a second time, this time a local government building, and then a third....
Driscoll, as indicated earlier, did a superb job of painting a very detailed picture of the relationship between a search and rescue dog and his handler. Beyond that, the book was decently written, the plot was pretty run of the mill and the characters were fairly well presented although not well-developed. Since I have been a dog guy for many years, I very much enjoyed the book but I cannot say how readers without a particular affection for dogs might react.
I will read another to see if Driscoll's writing develops and to read more about Wolf. I would recommend the book for dog people but am neutral on whether to recommend it to others.
Finito
A bomb has exploded in a Department of Agriculture building in Washington, DC. Horrifyingly, a grade school class was touring the building at the time that the bomb detonated. The aftermath was awful and, for anyone involved in the resulting search and rescue effort, a gutwrenching, draining experience. Meg and Wolf were called to the scene and immediately went to work, initially finding and helping to rescue victims who were still clinging to life including a young girl who was buried under the wreckage, conscious and terrified. Several firemen removed some of the wreckage covering her so Wolf could crawl down to her to provide comfort while the firemen continued to work. She was, fortunately, extracted and immediately taken to a hospital for treatment.
Later, Wolf and Meg had to be ordered out of the operation because they were clearly exhausted. They took respite on a bench some distance from the building and collapsed into each other for desperately needed rest before they went home. Unbeknownst to them, a newspaper photographer took a photo of the exhausted duo for the following day's paper.
The bomber, seemingly to maximize his exposure, contacted a newspaper reporter to give him a story that would shift the attention from Meg and Wolf back to him. The reporter dutifully contacted the FBI and eventually, through some subterfuge on her part, he and Meg met. Although they both had misgivings, they worked together, to the extent possible, to track down the lunatic bomber (doubtlessly, a right-wing nutjob).
The bomber struck a second time, this time a local government building, and then a third....
Driscoll, as indicated earlier, did a superb job of painting a very detailed picture of the relationship between a search and rescue dog and his handler. Beyond that, the book was decently written, the plot was pretty run of the mill and the characters were fairly well presented although not well-developed. Since I have been a dog guy for many years, I very much enjoyed the book but I cannot say how readers without a particular affection for dogs might react.
I will read another to see if Driscoll's writing develops and to read more about Wolf. I would recommend the book for dog people but am neutral on whether to recommend it to others.
Finito
July 3, 2025
If I see a book contains a suspense plot and a dog, I am definitely grabbing it! LONE WOLF (FBI K-9 #1) did not disappoint. The first in a new series by Sara Driscoll takes you inside the FBI K-9 unit and focuses on Meg Jennings and her dog, Hawk.
The action in this book takes off at the beginning with a bombing via drone of a government building by the National Mall in Washington, DC. Meg and her black Lab, Hawk, are sent into the aftermath for search and rescue. (The author gives a very realistic description of the scene and the work this team would do together.) This is just the start of this bomber’s agenda of revenge on government agencies he feels have destroyed his life. It is a race to find out who is behind this devastation and stop him before more innocents die.
The book is an easy to read thriller/suspense with a few graphic scenes of violence from the bombings. It is a page turner that will keep you engaged. Meg lives with her sister, Cara, who is a professional dog trainer and their dogs Hawk, Blink, a red brindle retired racing greyhound and Saki, a blue pit bull therapy dog. I especially loved this author’s take on pit bull bans, because I live with two pit bull rescues that I love dearly.
With Clay McCord, a reporter from the Washington Post and Todd Webb, a firefighter and EMT, you have a bit of possible romance in future books. There are also two other teams of FBI K-9s, Brian with his German Shepard, Lacie, and Lauren with her border collie, Rocco. There is a lot of information besides plot in this first book. I would like to see future books in this series have more attention given to character depth, but besides that, I felt this was a great start to a new series I will definitely be following!
The action in this book takes off at the beginning with a bombing via drone of a government building by the National Mall in Washington, DC. Meg and her black Lab, Hawk, are sent into the aftermath for search and rescue. (The author gives a very realistic description of the scene and the work this team would do together.) This is just the start of this bomber’s agenda of revenge on government agencies he feels have destroyed his life. It is a race to find out who is behind this devastation and stop him before more innocents die.
The book is an easy to read thriller/suspense with a few graphic scenes of violence from the bombings. It is a page turner that will keep you engaged. Meg lives with her sister, Cara, who is a professional dog trainer and their dogs Hawk, Blink, a red brindle retired racing greyhound and Saki, a blue pit bull therapy dog. I especially loved this author’s take on pit bull bans, because I live with two pit bull rescues that I love dearly.
With Clay McCord, a reporter from the Washington Post and Todd Webb, a firefighter and EMT, you have a bit of possible romance in future books. There are also two other teams of FBI K-9s, Brian with his German Shepard, Lacie, and Lauren with her border collie, Rocco. There is a lot of information besides plot in this first book. I would like to see future books in this series have more attention given to character depth, but besides that, I felt this was a great start to a new series I will definitely be following!
November 29, 2016
3.5 stars.
Lone Wolf is the first book in a new mystery series about an FBI K-9 team featuring Meg Jennings and her black Labrador, Hawk. They help in search and rescue as well as tracking missions and become part of a large task force chasing a bomber who is seeking to punish those who he believes wronged him.
With an easy-to-read style, this was an entertaining read and should appeal to any dog lovers, as there was plenty of information on the training of working dogs, their behavior, and in particular, the bond between handler and dog.
The authors introduce a host of interesting side characters including Meg's sister, Cara, who runs a dog training center, Clay, a reporter, and Todd, a fireman, as well as Brian and Lacey who are also part of the K9 team. They are all really likeable characters and I'd be interested to read more about them and hope they'll become more fleshed out in subsequent books. The mystery aspect wasn't particularly suspenseful or intense but interesting enough to keep my attention throughout. I felt Meg was portrayed a bit too much like some super intuitive superwoman who could solve anything while the rest of the task force lagged behind. Personally, I prefer characters who are slightly more flawed. However, it's a new series that definitely has potential, especially if you enjoy reading about dogs. The definitions at the start of nearly each chapter would have been better placed in the format of a list at the end of the book as there often was no connection to the chapter they introduced.
I chose to read this ARC provided by NetGalley and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.
Lone Wolf is the first book in a new mystery series about an FBI K-9 team featuring Meg Jennings and her black Labrador, Hawk. They help in search and rescue as well as tracking missions and become part of a large task force chasing a bomber who is seeking to punish those who he believes wronged him.
With an easy-to-read style, this was an entertaining read and should appeal to any dog lovers, as there was plenty of information on the training of working dogs, their behavior, and in particular, the bond between handler and dog.
The authors introduce a host of interesting side characters including Meg's sister, Cara, who runs a dog training center, Clay, a reporter, and Todd, a fireman, as well as Brian and Lacey who are also part of the K9 team. They are all really likeable characters and I'd be interested to read more about them and hope they'll become more fleshed out in subsequent books. The mystery aspect wasn't particularly suspenseful or intense but interesting enough to keep my attention throughout. I felt Meg was portrayed a bit too much like some super intuitive superwoman who could solve anything while the rest of the task force lagged behind. Personally, I prefer characters who are slightly more flawed. However, it's a new series that definitely has potential, especially if you enjoy reading about dogs. The definitions at the start of nearly each chapter would have been better placed in the format of a list at the end of the book as there often was no connection to the chapter they introduced.
I chose to read this ARC provided by NetGalley and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.
December 2, 2022
Part mystery and thriller with a great cast of characters including the dogs. Free read via hoopla on my new Kindle Fire.
December 5, 2020
My first book by the two female authors who write under the pen name of Sara Driscoll.
As an animal lover and an admirer of the work many dogs do for the police, fireman, rescue, drugs and so much more...
FBI Agent Megan Jennings and her canine partner Hawk are an effective team. With his highly trained sense of smell, Hawk can locate bodies anywhere—living or dead. When a bomb rips apart a government building in Washington D.C., they get to work saving the survivors buried beneath the rubble.
But even as the duo are hailed as heroes, a bomber remains at large. As more bombs are detonated and the body count soars, Meg and Hawk attempt to find the pattern to a madman’s reign of terror. Soon the desperate manhunt leads them into the wilderness of West Virginia, where the lone wolf can turn the hunters into the hunted.
The authors introduce a host of interesting side characters including Meg's sister, Cara, who runs a dog training center, Clay, a reporter, and Todd, a fireman, as well as Brian and Lacey who are also part of the K9 team.
A collection of great strong characters to build on for following books, but the strength of the book is of course the relationship between owner and dog, Meg and Hawk.
A well paced thriller, realistic, well researched thriller although no massive shocks or great twists, just an easy thriller to follow.
Really 3.5 review.
As an animal lover and an admirer of the work many dogs do for the police, fireman, rescue, drugs and so much more...
FBI Agent Megan Jennings and her canine partner Hawk are an effective team. With his highly trained sense of smell, Hawk can locate bodies anywhere—living or dead. When a bomb rips apart a government building in Washington D.C., they get to work saving the survivors buried beneath the rubble.
But even as the duo are hailed as heroes, a bomber remains at large. As more bombs are detonated and the body count soars, Meg and Hawk attempt to find the pattern to a madman’s reign of terror. Soon the desperate manhunt leads them into the wilderness of West Virginia, where the lone wolf can turn the hunters into the hunted.
The authors introduce a host of interesting side characters including Meg's sister, Cara, who runs a dog training center, Clay, a reporter, and Todd, a fireman, as well as Brian and Lacey who are also part of the K9 team.
A collection of great strong characters to build on for following books, but the strength of the book is of course the relationship between owner and dog, Meg and Hawk.
A well paced thriller, realistic, well researched thriller although no massive shocks or great twists, just an easy thriller to follow.
Really 3.5 review.
November 18, 2016
A madman goes on a bombing spree and an FBI-K9 team of 1 woman and her dog have to stop him before more innocent people die.
A bomb rips through a government building in Washington D. C. The race is on to locate and save the workers and children buried beneath the rubble. As the death total rises fear intensifies as the bomber continues his reign of terror. Will they be able to stop him?
This is a fast paced, action packed well written thriller that kept me on the edge of my chair.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Kensington Books and the author Sara Driscoll for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A bomb rips through a government building in Washington D. C. The race is on to locate and save the workers and children buried beneath the rubble. As the death total rises fear intensifies as the bomber continues his reign of terror. Will they be able to stop him?
This is a fast paced, action packed well written thriller that kept me on the edge of my chair.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Kensington Books and the author Sara Driscoll for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 20, 2018
I seem to be selecting books with an similar theme - preppers and those that don't recognized government agencies or the government in general.
This book is centered around a Search and Rescue FBI K-9 (Hawk) and his handler, Meg. Quite fast paced, and a very informative read. The author did her homework on SAR and the handlers - kudos! The characters are very likeable and the dogs are loveable (to me).
This is the first book in the series - highly recommend.
Sara Driscoll is the pen name of Jen J. Danna
4.5 stars and 2 big thumbs up!
This book is centered around a Search and Rescue FBI K-9 (Hawk) and his handler, Meg. Quite fast paced, and a very informative read. The author did her homework on SAR and the handlers - kudos! The characters are very likeable and the dogs are loveable (to me).
This is the first book in the series - highly recommend.
Sara Driscoll is the pen name of Jen J. Danna
4.5 stars and 2 big thumbs up!
November 20, 2016
If you love dogs and want a feelgood story then this book is for you. Meg and Hawk are on the trail of a bomber who is using drones to get to his targets, making him harder to find and identify. Meg has issues from the past but nothing is going to get in the way of her doing her job with the K9 she is devoted to. Excellent characters and although a little predicatable in parts, this has a good solid plot and that uplifting feelgood factor about it. A highly enjoyable read
January 5, 2017
I received this ARC from Net Galley and I really liked that they had an excerpt on the website to give you a preview of the story as well as the writer's writing style. I really liked the excerpt and was glad that I was approved for this book.
I really liked the premise of this book and I was immediately drawn in with the search for a killer with S&R dogs and their handlers at the beginning of the story. This was an introduction to Meg and her dog Hawk and it worked for me. This quickly segued into Meg's involvement with going into a bombed building looking for survivors. A domestic terrorist is bombing government buildings and doesn't care about the collateral damage of innocent people. The bomber plot was really good and I thought the back story on the bomber was realistic.
We see the bombing and investigation primarily from Meg's viewpoint as the FBI searches for the bomber. We also get the viewpoint of the bomber/domestic terrorist. We don't know who he is but we see his side and why he has started his actions. The plot and the characters are good and this is the type of story I like to read.
Meg is given a solid back story with her prior occupation of being a cop with a canine partner and I like the family set-up with her sister and parents and their efforts on dog rescue and training. The story introduces a reporter and a fireman who are possible relationship opportunities for her and/or her sister, but this first book does not provide much in the relationship department which may disappoint RS readers. Aside from Meg, most of the other characters aren't fleshed out that much and need a little more depth and page time.
Even though I really liked the plot there were a lot of points that pulled me out of the story. Some of my issues were with the premise of "who" was doing "what" within the FBI.
Sometimes it's the little details that create stumbling blocks and pulls a reader out of a story. While reading I kept questioning why she was working out of FBI HQ in the Hoover building. It's a little thing, but the Hoover building was mentioned a lot. I kept thinking an S&R group might be a part of CIRG (Critical Incidence Response Group) which I think is located out of Quantico. I may have missed something.
The other set-up issue I couldn't understand was who and where the bomb task force was. I wondered where the DC Field Office was during all the investigation. Wouldn't it have been their case? We see very little of the bomb task force and their investigation. In an effort to have Meg be a key player in the investigation, there seemed to be some contrived plot points that I couldn't buy into. I think one of the weak points of the story is that we don't get to see the investigation from the perspective of the team investigating the bombing only from Meg's perspective. We don't know who they are and apparently the task force that is set to investigate the bombing is pretty slow and incompetent because Meg plays the wildcard persona who takes matters in her hands.
I'm probably being too hard on this, but it just didn't work for me.
The author has a good writing voice and a lot of potential with this storyline. She does a really good job with the rescue scenes with Meg and her dog Hawk and I'm huge into S&R stories. I just needed more of a reality check on the investigation procedures and in particular Meg's involvement of the procedures. I think readers who read a lot of crime/investigation novels will probably take issue with some points but readers who read stories with only sub plots of crime may not take issue. There were points where I skimmed because I didn't feel like the scene was advancing the plot - like the run in DC. I really didn't need the tour guide version.
There were so many times I was pulled out of the story because it just didn't seem likely. Yes it's a story, but what makes stories come alive is when they seem plausible. In this situation it needs to be grounded in a reality people know so that you feel it could happen…is happening. I don't want to suspend disbelief in areas that just don't seem logical.
2.5 Stars rounded up
I really liked the premise of this book and I was immediately drawn in with the search for a killer with S&R dogs and their handlers at the beginning of the story. This was an introduction to Meg and her dog Hawk and it worked for me. This quickly segued into Meg's involvement with going into a bombed building looking for survivors. A domestic terrorist is bombing government buildings and doesn't care about the collateral damage of innocent people. The bomber plot was really good and I thought the back story on the bomber was realistic.
We see the bombing and investigation primarily from Meg's viewpoint as the FBI searches for the bomber. We also get the viewpoint of the bomber/domestic terrorist. We don't know who he is but we see his side and why he has started his actions. The plot and the characters are good and this is the type of story I like to read.
Meg is given a solid back story with her prior occupation of being a cop with a canine partner and I like the family set-up with her sister and parents and their efforts on dog rescue and training. The story introduces a reporter and a fireman who are possible relationship opportunities for her and/or her sister, but this first book does not provide much in the relationship department which may disappoint RS readers. Aside from Meg, most of the other characters aren't fleshed out that much and need a little more depth and page time.
Even though I really liked the plot there were a lot of points that pulled me out of the story. Some of my issues were with the premise of "who" was doing "what" within the FBI.
Sometimes it's the little details that create stumbling blocks and pulls a reader out of a story. While reading I kept questioning why she was working out of FBI HQ in the Hoover building. It's a little thing, but the Hoover building was mentioned a lot. I kept thinking an S&R group might be a part of CIRG (Critical Incidence Response Group) which I think is located out of Quantico. I may have missed something.
The other set-up issue I couldn't understand was who and where the bomb task force was. I wondered where the DC Field Office was during all the investigation. Wouldn't it have been their case? We see very little of the bomb task force and their investigation. In an effort to have Meg be a key player in the investigation, there seemed to be some contrived plot points that I couldn't buy into. I think one of the weak points of the story is that we don't get to see the investigation from the perspective of the team investigating the bombing only from Meg's perspective. We don't know who they are and apparently the task force that is set to investigate the bombing is pretty slow and incompetent because Meg plays the wildcard persona who takes matters in her hands.
I'm probably being too hard on this, but it just didn't work for me.
The author has a good writing voice and a lot of potential with this storyline. She does a really good job with the rescue scenes with Meg and her dog Hawk and I'm huge into S&R stories. I just needed more of a reality check on the investigation procedures and in particular Meg's involvement of the procedures. I think readers who read a lot of crime/investigation novels will probably take issue with some points but readers who read stories with only sub plots of crime may not take issue. There were points where I skimmed because I didn't feel like the scene was advancing the plot - like the run in DC. I really didn't need the tour guide version.
There were so many times I was pulled out of the story because it just didn't seem likely. Yes it's a story, but what makes stories come alive is when they seem plausible. In this situation it needs to be grounded in a reality people know so that you feel it could happen…is happening. I don't want to suspend disbelief in areas that just don't seem logical.
2.5 Stars rounded up
January 27, 2024
This is another one of my “cleaning out the TBR closet” selections that has been on my TBR list since Jan2021. I don’t know why either because it’s about a doggie search and rescue (SAR) duo where the MC’s sound like an amazing pair bad@$$ Feebs (yes, K9’s can be agents too, but only the amazing ones😊).
The book summary basically just introduces the primary storyline. From really early in the story, Meg and Hawk are dispatched to two bombing sites to rescue and recover victims. One of the things that I really liked about the format of the chapters was how they always began with definitions of many of the SAR tactics, procedures, and lingo. I find the work of SAR teams very interesting and enjoy learning more about the field and how it operates. Anyway, the work of the various SAR teams in this story are incredible and subsequently attracts the attention (especially Meg and Hawk) of a particular reporter who blasts their picture on the front page. This pisses the bomber off because he wants the attention on him. This is not a spoiler alert since it was revealed very early in the story.
Most of the story revolves around investigating the first three bombings in the first half. It’s well into the second half, the FBI’s investigation begins to narrow in on the killer after the fourth bombing attempt. The ending comes fast after that in an intense and scary but satisfying ending.
I like Meg and Hawk as well as many of the other characters, especially Meg’s sister, Cara, who owns a dog training business. Meg and Cara live together with their three dogs Hawk (Lab), Saki (Pitbull) and Blink (Greyhound) and they’re good people in my book. For a devoted dog mama, having a bunch of amazing dogs in the story is like icing on the cake. Anyway, I look forward to the next installment. So far, my efforts to “clean out my TBR list” have been a pleasant experience and has resulted in adding some new series to my reading list.
The book summary basically just introduces the primary storyline. From really early in the story, Meg and Hawk are dispatched to two bombing sites to rescue and recover victims. One of the things that I really liked about the format of the chapters was how they always began with definitions of many of the SAR tactics, procedures, and lingo. I find the work of SAR teams very interesting and enjoy learning more about the field and how it operates. Anyway, the work of the various SAR teams in this story are incredible and subsequently attracts the attention (especially Meg and Hawk) of a particular reporter who blasts their picture on the front page. This pisses the bomber off because he wants the attention on him. This is not a spoiler alert since it was revealed very early in the story.
Most of the story revolves around investigating the first three bombings in the first half. It’s well into the second half, the FBI’s investigation begins to narrow in on the killer after the fourth bombing attempt. The ending comes fast after that in an intense and scary but satisfying ending.
I like Meg and Hawk as well as many of the other characters, especially Meg’s sister, Cara, who owns a dog training business. Meg and Cara live together with their three dogs Hawk (Lab), Saki (Pitbull) and Blink (Greyhound) and they’re good people in my book. For a devoted dog mama, having a bunch of amazing dogs in the story is like icing on the cake. Anyway, I look forward to the next installment. So far, my efforts to “clean out my TBR list” have been a pleasant experience and has resulted in adding some new series to my reading list.
February 19, 2022
I'm not sure where I saw this book, but I'm glad I snagged it to read. Meg and Hawk work for the FBI canine unit. They are pulled into a serial bomber case when they are called upon to search and rescue. The story describes the relationship between the handler and dog, where they act as one. I couldn't put it down until I finished, and I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series.
November 30, 2016
Lone Wolf...The FBI K9 unit are the specialist team on the track of a terrorist bringing terror and panic to the East Coast of the States. A terrorist with a rather original concept, bombs a government building in Washington DC, the death toll rises as rescuers race to find those buried under rubble. Meg Jennings and her dog Hawk are the K9 team up against him, and it is a real insight into the relationship between a handler and their dog, the bond and loyalty, depth of trust attained through the training and working together, brings an emotional bond that cannot be rivalled. I liked Meg, she is a very strong female, and get's the job done, take's no nonsense, and knows when to ask for help, that show's a strong character. I found the plot had a good steady build up, with the right amount of tension , the race was on to find out who and why the bomber was targeting building's, and innocent people who were caught up in his reign of terror. I Loved the plot, bringing the K9 team and how it works on a daily bases as a main backing focus for the book is a refreshing change.A good thriller, it will keep you on the edge, has new characters to follow , and the promise of a new series in the making, all positive and looking forward to seeing more from Hawk too!.
October 22, 2021
This book centers around the FBI's elite K-9 unit of search and rescue dogs, as well as their handlers. Meg Jennings along with Hawk, her loyal search and rescue Labrador, must race against time as they hunt a deadly spree bomber.
Well, of course, I loved HAWK!! The bond he and Meg shared was beautiful to read about. Any book about search and rescue dogs utterly fascinates me and this book was no exception. Meg was given a solid back story and I love the fact that Meg's sister trains dogs and that their parents run an animal rescue. Lone Wolf does not provide much in the romance department, which made me happy.
My only complaint was that I found some of the plot lines to be rather unbelievable. I tend to dislike it when people who are part of a team do so many things secretly and on their own. However, I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series!!
Well, of course, I loved HAWK!! The bond he and Meg shared was beautiful to read about. Any book about search and rescue dogs utterly fascinates me and this book was no exception. Meg was given a solid back story and I love the fact that Meg's sister trains dogs and that their parents run an animal rescue. Lone Wolf does not provide much in the romance department, which made me happy.
My only complaint was that I found some of the plot lines to be rather unbelievable. I tend to dislike it when people who are part of a team do so many things secretly and on their own. However, I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series!!
April 19, 2021
I always enjoy books involving K-9 characters. This is the first in a series starring FBI Special Agent Meg Jennings and Hawk, her search-and-rescue Labrador. Lone Wolf is a thriller about a domestic terrorist who is wreaking fear along the Eastern seaboard. Beginning with a bombing at a government building on the National Mall, the story continues with more bombings and dead bodies. A task force is put together with Meg and Hawk a major part of it. Can they find this madman before more people are killed. The fist step is to try and find what these crimes have in common, then find their terrorist.
This was an interesting story with the search for the bomber being the main plot, but with the search and rescue teams being what I loved. Learning about how these dogs are trained and the unique connections that they have with their handlers is so interesting. Meg lives with her sister, Cara, who is a professional dog trainer with other dogs living with them. I also found it quite interesting, yet scary to read how it was drones and technology that was used in these crimes. The book is an easy to read thriller/suspense with a few graphic scenes of violence from the bombings. We are introduced to the bomber early, with his POV, but seeing how the team investigates and puts the pieces together was well-written. It is a page turner that kept me interested from the beginning to the end. I am looking forward to reading more in this series. If you are interested in K-9 thrillers, all but book 2 in this series are currently available on Kindle Unlimited, and I recommend you give it a try.
This was an interesting story with the search for the bomber being the main plot, but with the search and rescue teams being what I loved. Learning about how these dogs are trained and the unique connections that they have with their handlers is so interesting. Meg lives with her sister, Cara, who is a professional dog trainer with other dogs living with them. I also found it quite interesting, yet scary to read how it was drones and technology that was used in these crimes. The book is an easy to read thriller/suspense with a few graphic scenes of violence from the bombings. We are introduced to the bomber early, with his POV, but seeing how the team investigates and puts the pieces together was well-written. It is a page turner that kept me interested from the beginning to the end. I am looking forward to reading more in this series. If you are interested in K-9 thrillers, all but book 2 in this series are currently available on Kindle Unlimited, and I recommend you give it a try.
January 16, 2019
What I liked:
- A new series to me
- The story
- The location (where I live)
- The search & rescue black laborador retriever!!
- Other dogs in the book
- The main characters and supporting characters
- Potential romance in the future (provided it will not take over the mystery)
- Lots of edge-of-your-seat action
- The narrator; Angela Dawe is always a pleasure
- Audio/story was the perfect length. I tend to get bored if the audio extends over 9 hours.
What I didn't like:
- Didn't quite understand all the details of the bombings, but not enough to deter me.
As you can see, I could find little that I didn't like.
Story: 4.5 stars
Narrator: 4.5 stars
- A new series to me
- The story
- The location (where I live)
- The search & rescue black laborador retriever!!
- Other dogs in the book
- The main characters and supporting characters
- Potential romance in the future (provided it will not take over the mystery)
- Lots of edge-of-your-seat action
- The narrator; Angela Dawe is always a pleasure
- Audio/story was the perfect length. I tend to get bored if the audio extends over 9 hours.
What I didn't like:
- Didn't quite understand all the details of the bombings, but not enough to deter me.
As you can see, I could find little that I didn't like.
Story: 4.5 stars
Narrator: 4.5 stars
September 3, 2020
I've read a few K-9 mysteries, and this one really shows off the canine skills. As with any new series, a lot of characters are introduced and there isn't space to develop them all. However, there is a nice variety of people and dogs. There are hints at future romances, but none realized in this story. The dogs are great!
There isn't much of a mystery for the reader, as we're introduced to the villain early on, but the mechanics of the investigation are detailed, with few missteps.
I will read the next one, as I expect that the character development will improve.
There isn't much of a mystery for the reader, as we're introduced to the villain early on, but the mechanics of the investigation are detailed, with few missteps.
I will read the next one, as I expect that the character development will improve.
February 13, 2021
Two-haiku review:
Drones carrying bombs
Crazy targets government
Agent and dog search
Love K-9 stories
Liked characters in this one
Action-packed thriller
Drones carrying bombs
Crazy targets government
Agent and dog search
Love K-9 stories
Liked characters in this one
Action-packed thriller
November 29, 2016
A new crime series is an exciting event, and when it expands one’s horizons in the genre, it is especially a great find. Lone Wolf by Sara Driscoll is the first in the F.B.I. K-9 novels and features F.B.I. Special Agent Meg Jennings and her black Labrador search-and-rescue/tracking dog named Hawk. Using dogs to help recover and/or discover during a crime investigation is an area with which I was not familiar and an area that has not been overly covered in the mystery/crime genre. Lone Wolf does an excellent job of bringing these dogs and their handlers to the light of day. The team of handler and dog are fiercely devoted to one another and must be able to depend on each other in life and death situations. The author does a superb job of describing the emotional bonds of handler and dog, as well as the physical training required. The use of a defined search-and-rescue term at the beginning of each chapter in the book helps acquaint readers with the jargon used in this function of search-and-rescue. The characters are fresh and interesting including the canine ones, the plot is all too plausible in our world today, and the story unfolds in a chilling atmosphere of well-measured suspense.
Fear has gripped the nation’s capital as a domestic terrorist is targeting government buildings and departments which he feels have wronged him and ruined his life. The modus operandi is homemade drones, packed with C-4 for maximum damage and loss of life. Meg and Hawk are drawn into this nightmare investigation as the first drone demolishes the Department of Agriculture building on a day that school children are visiting and directly in the bomb’s path. Survivors must be found in a crucial window of time, and the FBI K-9 unit is an integral part of the search and rescue effort. Meg and Hawk and the other canine teams work throughout the night locating those who clung to life amidst the hellish chaos.
The perpetrator soon shows that he is an angry American with axes to grind and no regard for human life, as he sends an anonymous email to Washington Post reporter Clay McCord indicating that there are more bombings to come. The next target is outside of D.C., and Meg and Hawk are once again called in with the other first responders. With a home-grown terrorist who shows no signs of stopping his attacks to kill and maim, Meg enlists the aid of McCord to do some private investigating into finding this madman before the death and destruction paralyzes the nation with uncontrollable panic.
I think that Jen Danna and Ann Vanderlaan, a.k.a Sara Driscoll, have found a niche in crime fiction that the FBI K-9 series fills quite nicely. I look forward to the minor characters, Meg’s fellow dog handlers and the newspaper reporter and the hint of a romantic interest for Meg all being fleshed out more. To me, that’s one of the beauties of a series, each book adding more background and more character development. There is lots of potential for this series to be a popular one, and not only for dog enthusiasts.
I received an ARC of Lone Wolf, but it is a definite hardback buy for me, too.
Fear has gripped the nation’s capital as a domestic terrorist is targeting government buildings and departments which he feels have wronged him and ruined his life. The modus operandi is homemade drones, packed with C-4 for maximum damage and loss of life. Meg and Hawk are drawn into this nightmare investigation as the first drone demolishes the Department of Agriculture building on a day that school children are visiting and directly in the bomb’s path. Survivors must be found in a crucial window of time, and the FBI K-9 unit is an integral part of the search and rescue effort. Meg and Hawk and the other canine teams work throughout the night locating those who clung to life amidst the hellish chaos.
The perpetrator soon shows that he is an angry American with axes to grind and no regard for human life, as he sends an anonymous email to Washington Post reporter Clay McCord indicating that there are more bombings to come. The next target is outside of D.C., and Meg and Hawk are once again called in with the other first responders. With a home-grown terrorist who shows no signs of stopping his attacks to kill and maim, Meg enlists the aid of McCord to do some private investigating into finding this madman before the death and destruction paralyzes the nation with uncontrollable panic.
I think that Jen Danna and Ann Vanderlaan, a.k.a Sara Driscoll, have found a niche in crime fiction that the FBI K-9 series fills quite nicely. I look forward to the minor characters, Meg’s fellow dog handlers and the newspaper reporter and the hint of a romantic interest for Meg all being fleshed out more. To me, that’s one of the beauties of a series, each book adding more background and more character development. There is lots of potential for this series to be a popular one, and not only for dog enthusiasts.
I received an ARC of Lone Wolf, but it is a definite hardback buy for me, too.
December 2, 2016
The fact that I've given this 1 star doesn't mean it's not a good book. It just means I don't like it as per GR's rating system.
When I first saw this book, I saw it was about a K-9 unit and I thought "Great!" because I love dogs and I love thrillers. The book is fairly easy to read and I was able to get into it quickly. But I was also quite quickly disappointed with the level of writing. I had to check to see if this was a Young-Adult's book because the writing seemed to be simplified down. Simplified down not just in vocabulary and structure but in complexity in thought and sophistication of the writing and the characters. Like I said, it's not a bad book, it's just that the characters acted in such a low jpeg way that it was hard for me to read.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy an easy book, thrillers and dogs. I received this book free as a review copy.
When I first saw this book, I saw it was about a K-9 unit and I thought "Great!" because I love dogs and I love thrillers. The book is fairly easy to read and I was able to get into it quickly. But I was also quite quickly disappointed with the level of writing. I had to check to see if this was a Young-Adult's book because the writing seemed to be simplified down. Simplified down not just in vocabulary and structure but in complexity in thought and sophistication of the writing and the characters. Like I said, it's not a bad book, it's just that the characters acted in such a low jpeg way that it was hard for me to read.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy an easy book, thrillers and dogs. I received this book free as a review copy.
October 15, 2016
I enjoy books with first responder characters and dogs so this one hit the spot. Most books like this do not have characters with the knowledge they are suppose to for the job they are doing. This author gives the reader the understanding of what these people and dogs go through in their professions. I would have liked more character interaction but the character/dog relationships were well done
October 29, 2017
This is more of a 3 star read- but anything dealing with a rescue dog- and our men and women of our police force and first responders- that deserves another star!
A decent read- nothing all that unusual or different - but I enjoyed it -and looking forward to reading more in this series !
A decent read- nothing all that unusual or different - but I enjoyed it -and looking forward to reading more in this series !
January 26, 2025
Meg Jennings and her black Labrador, Hawk, are partners in the FBI’s Forensic Canine Unit in Washington, D.C. Each case they encounter is different, but the training procedures and safety protocols for K-9 officers and their dogs remain consistent. In one case, Meg and Hawk, along with Brian and his German Shepherd, Lacey, will track bootprints discovered at a crime scene in Maryland. Another case escalates alarmingly over several days, targeting government buildings.
The story unfolds as a gripping suspense thriller that immerses readers in the world of trained canine experts. It captures the adrenaline highs experienced during search and rescue missions or the pursuit of a suspect on the run, alongside the heart-wrenching aftermath of their experiences. The scenes are intense and vivid, bringing to life a cast of characters dedicated to their professions, whether in the canine unit, as firefighters, or as reporters. An authentic aspect of the narrative is the focus on how these individuals recharge and care for their K-9 partners, both on and off the job.
I particularly enjoyed the structure of each chapter, which introduces K-9 training and search and rescue vocabulary, complete with definitions. This format engages readers in the timeline of events, detailing the day of the week, month, day, time, and location, including city and state. Throughout the timeline, from Tuesday, April 11, to Sunday, April 23, readers accompany Meg and Hawk through Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and West Virginia.
I am excited to read more from this series.
The story unfolds as a gripping suspense thriller that immerses readers in the world of trained canine experts. It captures the adrenaline highs experienced during search and rescue missions or the pursuit of a suspect on the run, alongside the heart-wrenching aftermath of their experiences. The scenes are intense and vivid, bringing to life a cast of characters dedicated to their professions, whether in the canine unit, as firefighters, or as reporters. An authentic aspect of the narrative is the focus on how these individuals recharge and care for their K-9 partners, both on and off the job.
I particularly enjoyed the structure of each chapter, which introduces K-9 training and search and rescue vocabulary, complete with definitions. This format engages readers in the timeline of events, detailing the day of the week, month, day, time, and location, including city and state. Throughout the timeline, from Tuesday, April 11, to Sunday, April 23, readers accompany Meg and Hawk through Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and West Virginia.
I am excited to read more from this series.
March 26, 2023
Strong police procedural with some solid suspense, but I felt very little connection to the MCs. I may read more of this series at a later date.
June 17, 2017
When a madman goes on a bombing spree, an FBI K-9 team of one woman and her dog is the key to stopping him before more innocents die and panic sweeps the Eastern seaboard.
Meg Jennings and her Labrador, Hawk, are one of the FBI’s top K-9 teams certified for tracking and search and rescue. When a bomb rips apart a government building on the National Mall in Washington D.C., it will take all the team’s skill to locate and save the workers and children buried beneath the rubble.
More victims die and fear rises as the unseen bomber continues his reign of terror, striking additional targets, ruthlessly bent on pursuing a personal agenda of retribution. Meg and Hawk join the task force dedicated to following the trail of death and destruction to stop the killer. But when the attacks spiral wide and no single location seems safe any longer, it will come down to a battle of wits and survival skills between Meg, Hawk, and the bomber they’re tracking. Can they stop him before he brings the nation to the brink of chaos
What did I think:
five stars
OMG this was a hole lot better then I thought it was going to be, loved how though out the book at the top of the pages you get worlds that have to do with the K 9 search and rescue and their meanings, love the dynamic relationship that Meg and Hawk though out the story, as well as the other characters , loved seen how the K 9 search and rescue worked and what type of jobs they're called into do ,no matter how hard it'll be for them and their dogs, day in and day out, and that they also need the thinks they get but sometime don't, plus I loved the backed story that was between Hawk and Meg ( which is something I can relate to, no only because Hawk is a black Lab , and two of my dogs are part black lab but about how sick he was when they first met, the story is some what like how we got our oldest dog Mia , who was just a puppy when my sister brought her home back in 2011, someone was giving away her and her brothers and sisters , so glad that my sister brought her home, because we found out that night when we took her to the emergency vet clinic that she was dehydrated and had five different type of worms, kind of like Hawk) , other thing I loved is how Meg and her sister and their family took dogs in and give them a home, which is another thing I can relate to, since though out my childhood I grew up with dogs wither we took them in because someone dropped them or we adopted them, just like Meg dogs have always been a part of my life and will always be so, and the biggest thing I loved about this story was where it took place in West Virginia which is my home state , because there just doesn't seem to be a lot of books that are either about it or takes place in it. So if you loved animals , and love to read about the K 9 search and rescue then this is one you have to pick up, really great characters, the story pulls at your heart and soul, once you start to read it you just can't put it down , it grabs you and pulls you in to it and has you hooked so much so that you have to see what happens next, with that said I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion and review and that these are 100 % my own thoughts to what is truly a great book
June 30, 2017
First and foremost, a big shout-out and thank you to Sara Driscoll for advancing me a copy of her new novel, "Lone Wolf" in exchange for my honest review.
Drones carrying C-4 equals to one mad bomber blowing up buildings killing as many men, women and children as possible and getting away with it.
Let me first start off by saying that I am not an animal person. I never grew up with animals, or had a pet, and have no intention ever to own a pet. I’m sorry if you can’t understand this but that’s me. I have nothing against people who have pets. I certainly don’t condone people hurting animals; I just don’t wish to own one. I mention this because this novel is all about dogs (and of course the bomber), from beginning to end. There's a lot of talk about dogs that at times I thought it went on more than it should, not to mention I found it to be a little boring at times, but that’s me.
You don’t often think of how those who want to hurt others or create mass destruction go about it until it actually happens. To some, a Drone is a new toy that flies, to others it’s a means of carrying C-4 and destroying buildings with a click of a button from a distance.
The story of Meg and Hawk finding and stopping a mad bomber was quite intriguing. I was captivated right from the start.
Like the author’s other series, her heroines are well-developed and very likeable. Meg is a strong woman. Her determination to find those who hurt others comes across quite well, as does the love she has for Hawk (and other dogs and animals). What I really like about her is that she’s not like your typical heroine who doesn’t want any help from anyone, that she can do it all on her own. No, Meg does have help and even asks for it from other K-9 units and other resources. She’s a woman who loves her job and her dog, loves the satisfaction of capturing a criminal as she never gives up. As strong as she is, there are times she'll let her guard down letting her vulnerability peak through, which only makes her more realistic. I also enjoyed reading about their (Meg and Hawk) roles, how she and her dog work together in order to locate and capture criminals. I’ve seen a few K-9 units and to be honest, I never really thought about them or appreciated what they did until I read this novel so thank you for that Ms. Driscoll
The story is told from several POV’s, including the bomber, which I most enjoyed and was quite intrigued with trying to understand why he does what he does; his belief that the government is out to get him, and that those who have done him wrong need to be punished; interesting and very thought-provoking. We’re also privy to Clay McCord, a reporter receiving direct emails from the bomber. These secondary characters including a K9 team, Brian and Lacey, adds more substance to the story making it even more realistic.
If you love reading a good mystery with a lot of suspense, I think you’ll enjoy this one and if you love dogs, it’s a definite must-read. By the way, for those who are hoping for some romance along the way, there’s none to be found here. It’s pure suspense through and through. Does this mean I’ll read the next book in the series? Absolutely.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2016
Meg and her dog Hawk are FBI agents who do search and rescue and tracking. When a bomb explodes in a busy DC government building, Meg and Hawk are called in to look for survivors. A tour group of 5th graders happened to be there that day. They find some survivors including a young girl trapped in the rubble.
This bombing was just the first. Reporter Clay McCord gets a communication from the bomber and lets the FBI know as soon as possible. He was a former war correspondent and now in a well-respected journalist with the Washington Post. However, the bomber strikes again before the clues in his communication can narrow down the search. This time he chooses an IRS office. Meg and Hawk are again called in but this time there were no survivors.
Meg is determined to find the bomber and enlists Clay who also happens to have an unruly puppy. She tracks him down at a dog park to ask if he wants to help her investigate.
This story was quite exciting as the FBI tracks down the disgruntled bomber. Along the way we learn a lot about K-9 dogs and their relationships with their handlers. I especially liked Meg's close relationship with Hawk and her grief at the loss of her previous dog who died in the line of duty.
Fans of dogs and mysteries won't want to miss this one.
This bombing was just the first. Reporter Clay McCord gets a communication from the bomber and lets the FBI know as soon as possible. He was a former war correspondent and now in a well-respected journalist with the Washington Post. However, the bomber strikes again before the clues in his communication can narrow down the search. This time he chooses an IRS office. Meg and Hawk are again called in but this time there were no survivors.
Meg is determined to find the bomber and enlists Clay who also happens to have an unruly puppy. She tracks him down at a dog park to ask if he wants to help her investigate.
This story was quite exciting as the FBI tracks down the disgruntled bomber. Along the way we learn a lot about K-9 dogs and their relationships with their handlers. I especially liked Meg's close relationship with Hawk and her grief at the loss of her previous dog who died in the line of duty.
Fans of dogs and mysteries won't want to miss this one.
March 18, 2025
AAAA świetne 😍😍
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