Scent of Murder: A Novel

by James O. Born

Scent of Murder is a gritty police thriller from veteran law enforcement agent and author James O. Born Two years after being tossed from the detective bureau for using questionable tactics while catching a child molester, deputy Tim Hallett's life is finally on track. Assigned to a special K-9 unit with the best partner in the world, a Belgian Malinois named Rocky, Hallett has finally learned to balance police work with his family life. But that all changes in the heat of a Florida sugarcane field. While searching for a kidnapper, Rocky locks onto the scent of a predator unlike anyone has ever seen. Or have they? The more Hallett digs, the closer he comes to his old issues when the case that ended his career as a detective appears to be the key to a series of kidnappings. When the trail turns to murder, Hallett risks everything to catch the killer, even if it means clearing the child molester who drove him to violence and ruined his career. Along the way, Hallett and his partners learn the true meaning of loyalty and courage as their canine companions take police work to a new level and show that instinct means more than training.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

304 pages, Hardcover

First published April 7, 2015

About the author

James O. Born is a Special Agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). He has been involved in investigations in such areas as organized crime, violent crimes, economic crimes, drug cartels, and public corruption. It has now been fourteen years since Born started writing, and ironically, he has the same editor as W E B Griffin and Tom Clancy - the very authors he spent his time reading during those long surveillances years ago. Born currently lives in suburban Palm Beach County with his wife Donna, and two children, John and Emily.

Series:
* Bill Tasker
* Alex Duarte

Reviews

[Jodi Gates]

I'm not sure what's wrong with me, as I see all the 3+ stars this book receives. I don't like to be negative, but the book did not draw me in (I almost felt like I was reading an essay about a crime mystery). And a personal annoyance was that the characters were referred to with first and last names. (Throughout the Entire book!) Somehow that made me feel disconnected to them. (And if I was reminded of them driving a Tahoe one more time, I thought I was going to throw the book!)

[Rina]

Good story. Good characters. Great dogs! Look forward to another.

[Judith]

I'm glad I got it for free.

To be fair, this book is simply not for me. I am sure it finds many satisfied readers elsewhere.

Tim Hallett finds himself on a special canine team with a Florida police department. The team features three dogs with different specialties. Tim's is great at chasing down a suspect.

Because the team was created with a special grant, the team leader wants to make use of it whenever possible and with the greatest visibility, to prove its worth. Thus she offers the team to a detective force looking for a missing young woman. Tim and his dog, Rocky, had found a young girl who had just escaped from a sexual predator.

Tim had experience with sexual predators. He had been kicked off the detective unit after using force to get a perp to reveal where he had hidden a kidnapped girl. The guy confessed and the girl was found, so to some Tim's actions were heroic. He himself had no regrets.

Tim was pretty certain that the current case had all the hallmarks of that same perp, who was roaming free. He wanted the investigation to focus there, and in time that is what happened. The lead detective, no fan of Tim's, nevertheless chose to follow that lead.

Meanwhile we get to read the thoughts of the man they are chasing. Is it that guy or is it someone near him (like his son) or is it someone else entirely?

I felt the narrow focus on one man was ridiculous and not supported by any evidence, so I wondered why so many were swayed to go there. I also wondered about Tim's attitude about violence and generally the use of fear and force to get what he wanted. We know more about the use of force now than we did 100 years ago, for example, and we know that torture does not work. But the Tims of the world are still with us. This book is for them.

[Mary Donegan]

‘24 - READ ‘25 - 3 STARS

DESCRIPTION : Two years after being tossed from the detective bureau for using questionable tactics while catching a child molester, deputy Tim Hallett's life is finally on track. Assigned to a special K-9 unit with the best partner in the world, a Belgian Malinois named Rocky, Hallett has finally learned to balance police work with his family life. But that all changes in the heat of a Florida sugarcane field.

While searching for a kidnapper, Rocky locks onto the scent of a predator unlike anyone has ever seen. Or have they? The more Hallett digs, the closer he comes to his old issues when the case that ended his career as a detective appears to be the key to a series of kidnappings. When the trail turns to murder, Hallett risks everything to catch the killer, even if it means clearing the child molester who drove him to violence and ruined his career. Along the way, Hallett and his partners learn the true meaning of loyalty and courage as their canine companions take police work to a new level and show that instinct means more than training.

REVIEW :

First book by James O Born himself. Read all his books with Patterson in the Det Michael Bennett series, which I loved and most were 4/5 Stars.

This one grabbed my attention because it had a dog. In the first chapter I was loving it!!! I could tell Mr O Born wrote this book; I could “hear” him. Great beginning with all the dog interaction! I also loved hearing the dogs’ options and comments. I thought the story itself went on a little too long; could have been 50 pages less and I would not have gotten bored.

[Christine]

Definitely a plot twist I wasn’t expecting at the end! Overall a good book but the storyline can be disturbing in moments

[Jamila Eve-Cann]

It’s probably just me but it started off slow. It didn’t fully grab my attention. I couldn’t tell which was more important the dogs apart of the K-9 unit or solving the kidnapping & murder cases.

[Mayre]

Enjoyed it, but wish he had written more books in this series

[Henry Neil]

a page turner

At first too many characters then I got them straight and got caught up on what was going to happen next. Really a good read.

[Teri Cooper]

Excellent read. Fast paced and I couldn't put it down.

[Marcia Evans]

The dog POV added nothing to the story.

The use of first and last names so much was annoying, as well as the inconsistency of how the names were used.

Overall, not a terrible story

[OpenBookSociety.com]

http://openbooksociety.com/article/sc...

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Jeanie

(Discretion is suggested for young adult readers and those sensitive to reading sexual abuse or murder scenes.)

cent of Murder is a solid, well-written mystery in which the author shows the depth of character of the protagonists, the loyalty and dedication of Rocky, and the other K-9 officers, and the obsessed and depraved working of the murderer’s intentions. We also see the tender relationship between a law officer with his young son, Josh. I enjoyed this novel, in part because I have an ever-growing respect for the use of K-9 officers and for the overall plot.

Tim Hallett is an enigma, a man who rarely trusts others. It has taken many months for his connection with his K-9, a huge, furry Belgian Mallinois to develop, even though the well-trained yet loyal and playful young adult dog clearly was attached to Tim. One of the K-9’s absolute favorite times was when playing with Tim and Josh, and he would defend them at the risk of his own life, if need be. Tim and Rocky were paired up after he behaved in such a manner that damaged the conviction of a sexual predator that cost him his job as a detective.

A murderer was on the loose, someone who had begun as a sex offender, then began to kill the girls molested. Tim Hallett believed that the perpetrator was the man he had arrested, now out of prison early due to his emotion-driven mistake a couple years before. Tim is the leader of two officers with K-9 partners on his team, and they work together to try to catch the suspect before he re-offends.

Portions of the story are told from the murderer’s point of view. His (or her) point of view includes almost no personal information, simply the history and his (or her) view of the girls he (or she) has harmed in the past. We also see the horrifying moments when the murderer changes from the need to abuse to the need to abuse, then murder and hide the evidence.

Tim Hallett is a three-dimensional, well-developed character. The anonymous murderer, the other character that we read the most of, is developed only to the degree that we need to see him/her. We read of him/her mostly in first person, but we are limited until the story is nearly complete to learn anything else. Other characters are developed relative to their role and how much they are part of the story. Tim is very likable, as are Tim’s team members.

After a very interesting opening scene, there were times that the story seemed slow, but those times were well-used to build the plot and help the reader understand good law enforcement work. Scent of Murder is not, for the most part, a book that is fraught with suspense building with every page, but there are many scenes that are hard to close the pages on. By midway into the mystery, the sense of urgency builds to a crescendo that is absolutely unanticipated based on the information learned throughout the investigation.

One of the strengths of the book is a brief history of K-9’s, including their use in military and law enforcement. Understanding the training and the bond developed with the human partner through the course of training brings to life the value of the K-9 and how it is a highly-trained officer with amazing abilities. While no one dog could be trained to do everything, most are able to give chase and catch bad guys and protect their human partner.

Another strength of Scent of Murder is how the author demonstrates relationships between characters through conversations, thoughts, and actions. The conversations sound genuine, whether positive or combative, and the actions and reactions also sound, overall, genuine.

Just when this reader was convinced that the police are closing in and almost ready to make the arrest, the ultimate U-turn is made in the plot; police just might not be able to get the bad guy on time before he or she strikes again. I highly recommend this novel to adults of any age who appreciate police procedurals, suspense, and mysteries that include K-9 partners. The way the investigation is thoroughly completed is impressive, and shows the excellence of those wearing the badge and the tightrope they must walk to ascertain that the right person is captured the right way to ensure an airtight case. I closed the novel with a renewed respect for those who choose these jobs because they want to see justice done.

[Joe]

Well THAT was certainly different.
Likeable characters and a good story line.
I'd always heard that some of the K-9 guys could be described as being "their own persons".

[Claire Matturro]

From his first novel, Walking Money (Putnam 2004), James O. Born has established himself as an authentic voice, a skilled and talented storyteller, a master of seat-of-your-pants pacing, and a wisecracking funny person but in the best of ways. In other words, from the beginning, Born was a great storyteller and author.

So it’s no surprise that his newest novel, Scent of Murder (Forge Book 2015), is also a great read with its sharply written, fast-paced plot, complex characters, and its authentic voice. What does come as a surprise is that Born steps out of his usual voice and persona to adopt—at least here and there in Scent—the point of view of a dog. Yes, a dog. Not, you understand just any dog, no this is not Marley and Me. This is Rocky, a specially trained, highly intelligent Belgian Malinis police service dog.

Rocky’s point of view interludes are few and far between, but they add an amazingly wonderful quality to the storytelling.

This is a book about three law enforcement K-9 partners, and their three dogs. Set in south Florida (but not Miami), in and around Belle Glade and Lake Okeechobee, with their sometimes all but third-world quality, the novel moves fast as the K-9 unit and other officers track a sexual predator and killer of young women. However, they are chasing the wrong person. Tension builds as the killer stalks his next victim, while the cops continue stalking an innocent suspect. But then…no, I won’t give it away. Read it for yourself.

Some of Born’s previous themes, especially cop camaraderie vs. cop territorialism, reappear in Scent, but to a good purpose. This is an excellent entry in the Born collection and I recommend it to Born’s fans, old and new. And if you have not discover James O. Born yet, dive it, this is a great book to start with, and you will want to read more.

[Gloria Feit]

This novel reminds me of the old TV show Mr. Ed. Instead of a talking horse, we have talking dogs. And the dogs are more intelligent than their human handlers, who are K-9 cops. There are three on the K-9 team led by Tim Hallett, who was booted out of the detective bureau even though he rescued a girl and captured her would-be rapist, obtaining a confession by an unorthodox method.

Now a series of abductions, with the victim of one of them murdered, leads the police poobahs to enlist the K-9 team in an effort to capture the culprit. Hallett is convinced the perpetrator he originally apprehended who is now at liberty is responsible for the present crimes. And he pushes the investigation in that direction. But it is really up to the dogs to solve the crime.

Well, having dogs as the protagonists in a crime novel is different. Unfortunately, much of the writing is too cutesy, and having sections with the dogs offering analysis and other observations is too much. And various attempts by the author to explain the person responsible for the reign of terror by offering psychological reasons for his actions seem too simplistic. On the other hand, the novel is light and can be read quickly and enjoyably.

[Joan]

Tim Hallett, Claire Perkins, and Darren Mori work with police dogs in the Canine Assist Team of the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office. Called to assist in the hunt for a kidnapped teenager, they put the dogs through their paces and, as a result of their success, are temporarily assigned to the detective bureau to aid in the hunt for the kidnapper.

Tim is certain a child molester is behind the kidnappings, but with no evidence to support that belief, the other officers are reluctant to accept his theory, especially since there is bad blood between the officer and the man he suspects. Tim becomes more and more involved in the hunt and when a kidnapping victim is murdered, he risks everything to catch the killer.

This police thriller treats readers to an honest look at the canine team, both on and off duty; Rocky, Tim’s Belgian Malinois partner, even takes his turn at narrating events. Plot twists and turns abound; readers are apt to be surprised when the perpetrator is identified.

Recommended.

[Randy Evans]

Dog lovers will really like this story about a group of three k9 cops and their dogs trying to find and stop a sex offender.

[J]

I received this book free with the first-reads giveaway program.

This is a 4 star book for someone who not only loves dogs, but also appreciates the many amazing things they can do. The police dogs in this book are main characters along with their handlers. The author does a great job capturing and bringing to light the special connection that people and dogs share with one another. This was an easy and enjoyable read.

[Amy]

Loved it!! Thank you, Born, for including a Golden Retriever, Brutus in the book and giving all three dogs (Smarty and Rocky too) equal billing, along with their handlers. Very enjoyable read. So many good qualities that are brought forth by these characters, who truly represent the dog lovers out there. I hope that this is a new series!!! (library book copy)

[Donna]

I enjoyed this book because of the dog's personality. He presents situations from the dog's point of view that seem very realistic. Being a dog lover, I thought it was great. Look forward to more stories from him.

[Dan]

I won this book in some sort of giveaway from somewhere, and I'm glad I did. This is a really interesting story of a K-9 cop and the work that goes in to being one. Also I liked the little bits told from the dogs point of view. I think I'll look for some more of this Authors books.

[Tonya Bryner]

Enjoyable book about a group of K-9 officers and their dogs. The perspectives change from chapter to chapter, even including a few short ones from the perspective of the dog (sounds hokey, but it works!).

[Rhonda]

I hardly ever stop reading a book once I start, but this one was impossible for me to finish. I enjoyed James O Born's other novels, but this one seemed more like a beginner's creative writing paper.

[Sandy Bina]

This was very engaging

The characters were likeable, at least the good guys were. The bad guys devious. The story was fun and enjoyable.

[FSU Alumni]

James O. Born (B.S. '83)

[Jeffrey Philips]

Excellent read. I love books about dogs that can find people.

[Sharon Sipos]

Interesting account of police dogs. The people relationships were a bit disappointing.

[Ruth Turner]

A pretty good read.

[Carol]

Loved it. Liked the dogs input too!

[John Wintersteen]

4/1/2015 new book. High ratings but that may be all family. Interesting plot line