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Trail Gone Dark: K-9 Search & Rescue Mysteries, Book 1
Three days in the mountains. No satellite signal. No sign of life.
When Gemma Hartley’s pager sounds before dawn — MISSING PERSON, 72 HOURS OVERDUE — she and her legendary German Shepherd Kira are in the truck within twelve minutes. That’s what they do. That’s what they are. But what Gemma expects to be a routine search becomes something else entirely when Kira finds Alexis Mercer’s body at the base of Devil’s Ledge — and the evidence points not to accident, but to murder.
Fresh from Minneapolis and still carrying the grief of a SAR operation gone wrong, Gemma came to Elk Creek to disappear. Instead, she stumbles onto a thread that leads straight into the town’s buried past. Brianna Hartley — same last name, no relation — walked into these same mountains twenty-five years ago and was never found. Her sister Vera has been waiting ever since. And Warren Haskell, the town’s most respected citizen, keeps appearing in the margins of a story no one has wanted to tell.
With Deputy Marco Reyes working the criminal side and Kira working the air, Gemma is chasing two cases at the killer who took Alexis, and the truth about what happened to Brianna in 1998.
Some trails lead to answers. Others lead to graves.
Perfect for fans of Nevada Barr, Margaret Mizushima, and Margaret Coel. If you love atmospheric mystery, loyal K-9 partners, and small-town secrets that refuse to stay buried, Trail Gone Dark is the beginning of a series you won’t be able to stop reading.
★ #1 Amazon Bestseller in Animal Fiction ★
Book 1 of 14 in the K-9 Search & Rescue Mysteries series. All 14 books now available.
When Gemma Hartley’s pager sounds before dawn — MISSING PERSON, 72 HOURS OVERDUE — she and her legendary German Shepherd Kira are in the truck within twelve minutes. That’s what they do. That’s what they are. But what Gemma expects to be a routine search becomes something else entirely when Kira finds Alexis Mercer’s body at the base of Devil’s Ledge — and the evidence points not to accident, but to murder.
Fresh from Minneapolis and still carrying the grief of a SAR operation gone wrong, Gemma came to Elk Creek to disappear. Instead, she stumbles onto a thread that leads straight into the town’s buried past. Brianna Hartley — same last name, no relation — walked into these same mountains twenty-five years ago and was never found. Her sister Vera has been waiting ever since. And Warren Haskell, the town’s most respected citizen, keeps appearing in the margins of a story no one has wanted to tell.
With Deputy Marco Reyes working the criminal side and Kira working the air, Gemma is chasing two cases at the killer who took Alexis, and the truth about what happened to Brianna in 1998.
Some trails lead to answers. Others lead to graves.
Perfect for fans of Nevada Barr, Margaret Mizushima, and Margaret Coel. If you love atmospheric mystery, loyal K-9 partners, and small-town secrets that refuse to stay buried, Trail Gone Dark is the beginning of a series you won’t be able to stop reading.
★ #1 Amazon Bestseller in Animal Fiction ★
Book 1 of 14 in the K-9 Search & Rescue Mysteries series. All 14 books now available.
371 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 9, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
March 12, 2026
The information on the search and rescue and how the dogs are trained is very interesting. The cases mentioned in the book had me on the edge of my seat. I loved the intelligence of Kira, the K-9 Search and Rescue dog.
The book had plenty of twists, although some of the details of the cases are very repetitious over several chapters which made the story stall some. The plot is good, the characters relatable, and the setting of a small mountain town in Colorado seemed appropriate for the storyline. Also, there are a couple of expletives I didn't see coming, although it wasn't listed as Christian. I wasn't familiar with the author but went by description and reviews which didn't mention them. They were added for the character's benefit.
Overall, a good read, despite the negatives.
The book had plenty of twists, although some of the details of the cases are very repetitious over several chapters which made the story stall some. The plot is good, the characters relatable, and the setting of a small mountain town in Colorado seemed appropriate for the storyline. Also, there are a couple of expletives I didn't see coming, although it wasn't listed as Christian. I wasn't familiar with the author but went by description and reviews which didn't mention them. They were added for the character's benefit.
Overall, a good read, despite the negatives.
March 15, 2026
compelling story, needs better editing
Gemma and Kira are an amazing searching and rescue team. A big plus is that Gemma doesn’t take foolish risks like so many authors have their characters taking. The stories are compelling and read as if they could be fact not fiction.
Editing is not nearly as well done. Dialogs between characters often leave unclear which character is speaking, especially when each paragraph is one sentence. Sometimes the gender is changed within a conversation. Most egregious and disturbing is the name change of the missing 6 year old boy.
This is book one in a series about Gemma and Kira. I hope the editing is better in further books.
Gemma and Kira are an amazing searching and rescue team. A big plus is that Gemma doesn’t take foolish risks like so many authors have their characters taking. The stories are compelling and read as if they could be fact not fiction.
Editing is not nearly as well done. Dialogs between characters often leave unclear which character is speaking, especially when each paragraph is one sentence. Sometimes the gender is changed within a conversation. Most egregious and disturbing is the name change of the missing 6 year old boy.
This is book one in a series about Gemma and Kira. I hope the editing is better in further books.
May 18, 2026
Trial Gone Dark really pulled me in from beginning to end. It’s a thriller packed with mystery, suspense, and twists that kept me hooked—I honestly found it hard to put down. I liked how the courtroom drama and investigation parts were woven together, giving the story a solid legal edge while still being full of action and tension.
What stood out most to me was how the author kept the suspense alive by slowly revealing key details. The pacing felt just right, and every chapter brought something fresh to the story. The characters seemed real, especially in how they made tough decisions under pressure, which made the story feel emotionally grounded.
Overall, I’d recommend this to anyone who loves action-packed legal thrillers with a dark, suspenseful vibe. It’s the kind of book that keeps you guessing right up to the last page
What stood out most to me was how the author kept the suspense alive by slowly revealing key details. The pacing felt just right, and every chapter brought something fresh to the story. The characters seemed real, especially in how they made tough decisions under pressure, which made the story feel emotionally grounded.
Overall, I’d recommend this to anyone who loves action-packed legal thrillers with a dark, suspenseful vibe. It’s the kind of book that keeps you guessing right up to the last page
March 6, 2026
I was excited to stumble across this book & see this is a several book series.
I loved this first book in the series & have recommended it to others.
Now I'm on book 3 and am a bit embarrassed because of plot errors in book 2 that become even more numerous in book 3. There are so many discrepancies in events that have already. Events that transpired in earlier books suddenly didn't happen in later books. Unfortunately there not little errors but instead are events that become integral to the plot. How can they become so integral when
the issues or events were already cleared up in earlier books. By book 3 I'm very distracted by the plot errors & discrepancies.
If not for that, I was really enjoying the idea of this series and live the smash town characters.
I loved this first book in the series & have recommended it to others.
Now I'm on book 3 and am a bit embarrassed because of plot errors in book 2 that become even more numerous in book 3. There are so many discrepancies in events that have already. Events that transpired in earlier books suddenly didn't happen in later books. Unfortunately there not little errors but instead are events that become integral to the plot. How can they become so integral when
the issues or events were already cleared up in earlier books. By book 3 I'm very distracted by the plot errors & discrepancies.
If not for that, I was really enjoying the idea of this series and live the smash town characters.
April 3, 2026
Great working team
Really good mystery centered around an exceptional SAR team. Gemma and Kira make a very solid working team, with Gemma trusting Kira completely.
The reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is the continued insistence that the victim, Alexis, had done "everything right ". As a woman, especially one who has been in an abusive relationship, you don't embark on a 400 mile + solo hike, while posting all the details online. 9 Yes, I DO think she has the right to go on that hike without the fear of anything tragic occurring. I just don't feel the wisest choice is posting every possible detail of the trip.
In spite of my issues with the choice Alexis made, I do recommend this book and will move on to the next in the series.
Really good mystery centered around an exceptional SAR team. Gemma and Kira make a very solid working team, with Gemma trusting Kira completely.
The reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is the continued insistence that the victim, Alexis, had done "everything right ". As a woman, especially one who has been in an abusive relationship, you don't embark on a 400 mile + solo hike, while posting all the details online. 9 Yes, I DO think she has the right to go on that hike without the fear of anything tragic occurring. I just don't feel the wisest choice is posting every possible detail of the trip.
In spite of my issues with the choice Alexis made, I do recommend this book and will move on to the next in the series.
April 15, 2026
Needs an Editor
This storyline was fine, a couple of criticisms: There is a theme of Mexico but the names are not Mexican. Marco is not Mexican; Marcos is Mexican. Gemma is not a Mexican name, it's Italian. There were quite a few times in the book where I had to reread it two or three times to figure out who was speaking because it didn't flow well. Lastly, it just went on too long. I wished at one point I had started counting the number of times she referenced the 1998 ledger entry because she just said it over and over and over again. We get it, we got it 30 references ago. I really think a good editor could gave made this into a lot better book because it was a good story and good characters. Note - I couldn't write my way out of a box, this is just my input.
This storyline was fine, a couple of criticisms: There is a theme of Mexico but the names are not Mexican. Marco is not Mexican; Marcos is Mexican. Gemma is not a Mexican name, it's Italian. There were quite a few times in the book where I had to reread it two or three times to figure out who was speaking because it didn't flow well. Lastly, it just went on too long. I wished at one point I had started counting the number of times she referenced the 1998 ledger entry because she just said it over and over and over again. We get it, we got it 30 references ago. I really think a good editor could gave made this into a lot better book because it was a good story and good characters. Note - I couldn't write my way out of a box, this is just my input.
March 19, 2026
Still haunted by a tragic loss during Emma Hartley's EMT work in Minneapolis, MN, she races across the country to a very secluded mountain town, Elk Creek, in Colorado looking for a new start and a new job as part of a Search and Rescue team with her specially trained dog, Kira. This very exciting story gives you an idea of how Emma and Kira work closely together through this rough mountainous terrain searching for lost and missing individuals. When a missing hiker loses her life under very suspicious conditions, the local police take over and Emma's sharp eye for details assists them in solving the case and pursing the criminal. This very fast-paced story was a good read!!!!
March 22, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. I'd already read book two. I did think this story would have benefited from more concise editing. There is more repetition than I prefer, almost like copy/paste was use to expand the text and it caused me to feel Gemma was excessively obsessing. I felt the book would more appropriately have ended with the conviction of the murderer. The remaining chapters could have made a novella or been introductory to book two. Good characterization. Believable conversation and a lot of good data on search and rescue operations and dog training. Made me long for another visit to Colorado.
March 23, 2026
Trouble starting but glad to have finished.
I’m not going to lie. I had trouble getting into this story. It’s taken me longer to finish than most books I read. I just seemed to have no trouble putting it down and then picking it up again.
But the story was good, despite my reticence. The characters are very real, and the story is believable. And as I read I realized it was just, really a slow start and a little trouble getting to know the main character as quickly as I usually do. It is a book I will recommend, and I’ll probably try some of the other books in the series as well.
I’m not going to lie. I had trouble getting into this story. It’s taken me longer to finish than most books I read. I just seemed to have no trouble putting it down and then picking it up again.
But the story was good, despite my reticence. The characters are very real, and the story is believable. And as I read I realized it was just, really a slow start and a little trouble getting to know the main character as quickly as I usually do. It is a book I will recommend, and I’ll probably try some of the other books in the series as well.
May 16, 2026
I really wanted to like this book. It was a decent story with likeable characters. But the writing ... or perhaps the editing or lack thereof?... is absolutely horrific. Sentences repeated multiple times. In fact, whole thought patterns were repeated. Conversations got confusing as they were frequently single sentence paragraphs (and who was speaking switched mid-conversation?). Towards the end of the book, the 2 main characters walked "back to the truck". Twice. This is over 300 pages and had at least three points it could have ended. But it droned & repeated onward. I will not be reading another; nor anything else by this author.
April 27, 2026
Great story. Love the descriptions of the scenery
Well-written story and interesting characters. My grandmother grew up in Telluride, and my mother was born in Denver. The scenery you describe sounds somewhat like Norwood, Colorado — mostly because of the “drop off” to the valley at one end of the town. I live in the East now, but I miss the mountains and have written in my will that my ashes and those of my 4 German Shepherds should be taken and left in Rocky Mountain National Park where I spent many hours hiking.
Well-written story and interesting characters. My grandmother grew up in Telluride, and my mother was born in Denver. The scenery you describe sounds somewhat like Norwood, Colorado — mostly because of the “drop off” to the valley at one end of the town. I live in the East now, but I miss the mountains and have written in my will that my ashes and those of my 4 German Shepherds should be taken and left in Rocky Mountain National Park where I spent many hours hiking.
January 27, 2026
Gemma Hartley moved to the town of Elk Creek, Colorado. She hoped the remote area would help her heal from her past. She has her dog, Kira, with her, and that's a good thing. When a person goes missing, Kira is needed to locate the person. When the body is found, foul play is obvious. The story is a bit long, but the author does a great job with the adventure and the scenery in which the story is located.
March 11, 2026
Interesting, Thoughtful, Loveable Characters
Gemma Hartley, her rescue dog, Kira, and Detective Marcos Reyes are very likeable and determined to get the perpetrator. A missing female, search is on. Kira located the body. Looks like she fell, but Gemma notices discrepancies. Which were later confirmed by the ME. Now the search is on to find out what really happened. Gemma, Kira and Marcos dive in and leave no stone unturned. Great job. Thank you.
Gemma Hartley, her rescue dog, Kira, and Detective Marcos Reyes are very likeable and determined to get the perpetrator. A missing female, search is on. Kira located the body. Looks like she fell, but Gemma notices discrepancies. Which were later confirmed by the ME. Now the search is on to find out what really happened. Gemma, Kira and Marcos dive in and leave no stone unturned. Great job. Thank you.
March 19, 2026
Needs editing
The basic story was pretty good, low-key, but still interesting. As always when lack of grammatical rules, ?punctuation, etc, and especially total disregard of paragraphing rules are so prevalent, it makes story harder to visualize.
There was also lack of consistency in minor story elements while also having excessive repetition of the same information, even using the same wording.
The basic story was pretty good, low-key, but still interesting. As always when lack of grammatical rules, ?punctuation, etc, and especially total disregard of paragraphing rules are so prevalent, it makes story harder to visualize.
There was also lack of consistency in minor story elements while also having excessive repetition of the same information, even using the same wording.
April 11, 2026
Come into the life of Search and Rescue. Gemma has a life altering experience that causes her to move to the high country. She rejoins SAR there and becomes involved in the search for a woman who was also escaping a life altering experience.
For her life is her dog, Kira. "Trust the dog". No one has a nose like Kira and training refines that noise to be the best. But Gemma is troubled by her past. What will the future bring in the mountains of southern Colorado?
For her life is her dog, Kira. "Trust the dog". No one has a nose like Kira and training refines that noise to be the best. But Gemma is troubled by her past. What will the future bring in the mountains of southern Colorado?
April 13, 2026
Incredibly good story!
Wow this was a really good story! My grandfather, dad and his two brothers were search and rescue members who traveled all over CA. So different tracking from working with a dog! Grandpa had a pair of hounds when I was little, around four years old, that he used to find me when I'd try to hide. I don't remember how many people lost in the desert were found by those dogs. Great story!
Wow this was a really good story! My grandfather, dad and his two brothers were search and rescue members who traveled all over CA. So different tracking from working with a dog! Grandpa had a pair of hounds when I was little, around four years old, that he used to find me when I'd try to hide. I don't remember how many people lost in the desert were found by those dogs. Great story!
April 24, 2026
I loved the story but despaired of a couple of things
First, the formatting of the dialog was really bad. It was hard to figure out who was saying what. I think someone decided to have each line of dialog on a different line without quotes or an indication if it was a continuation of the previous character or someone new.
Next, the name of Alexis' sister changed from Jennifer to Elena. And finally, too much repetition about the cliff hanger mystery.
I will try the 2nd book and hopefully these issues were brought up by her editor. I read A LOT and I am always looking for new writers. I really want to continue to read her books.
First, the formatting of the dialog was really bad. It was hard to figure out who was saying what. I think someone decided to have each line of dialog on a different line without quotes or an indication if it was a continuation of the previous character or someone new.
Next, the name of Alexis' sister changed from Jennifer to Elena. And finally, too much repetition about the cliff hanger mystery.
I will try the 2nd book and hopefully these issues were brought up by her editor. I read A LOT and I am always looking for new writers. I really want to continue to read her books.
April 30, 2026
A decent start
I like the characters in this first book of a series, both main characters and secondary ones. My favorite supporting character is Mae, owner of the general store, and expert chile roaster and burrito maker. The formatting was off-putting when it came to dialogue. It made it difficult at times to tell who was speaking. And at the very end, the victim's sister's name changed from Jennifer to Elena. Otherwise, it was pretty well-written.
I like the characters in this first book of a series, both main characters and secondary ones. My favorite supporting character is Mae, owner of the general store, and expert chile roaster and burrito maker. The formatting was off-putting when it came to dialogue. It made it difficult at times to tell who was speaking. And at the very end, the victim's sister's name changed from Jennifer to Elena. Otherwise, it was pretty well-written.
March 21, 2026
The Trail Gone Dark
It was well written, I thought the characters were interesting, the story was very believable. In my experience of life it would be very easy for a character like Derek who isn't tied to a 9-5 job could pull it off. And trainer with trained search are remarkable in what they can do.
It was well written, I thought the characters were interesting, the story was very believable. In my experience of life it would be very easy for a character like Derek who isn't tied to a 9-5 job could pull it off. And trainer with trained search are remarkable in what they can do.
March 22, 2026
Worth checking out the second book
This book had many good qualities : likable characters, great dog and decent plot, but the repetitivness throughout the book became really annoying.
I will be giving the next book a try only because I enjoyed the characters and Kira, the dog, so much in this first book.
This book had many good qualities : likable characters, great dog and decent plot, but the repetitivness throughout the book became really annoying.
I will be giving the next book a try only because I enjoyed the characters and Kira, the dog, so much in this first book.
March 30, 2026
A good read
Learned a lot about SAR and the loyal, intelligent dogs who partner. The characters felt real, their Interactions relatable. The book constantly refers to the past, A tiny bit tedious especially last chapter. But the subject is a decent one and most readers will enjoy the book.
Learned a lot about SAR and the loyal, intelligent dogs who partner. The characters felt real, their Interactions relatable. The book constantly refers to the past, A tiny bit tedious especially last chapter. But the subject is a decent one and most readers will enjoy the book.
April 15, 2026
Too long
Well written, easy to read, and enjoyable but way too long with the same ideas and words reiterated over and over again. I kept waiting for something else to happen, but was just the same thing over and over which could have ended the book way earlier. Ended up skimming the last few pages. Would have been better with some editing.
Well written, easy to read, and enjoyable but way too long with the same ideas and words reiterated over and over again. I kept waiting for something else to happen, but was just the same thing over and over which could have ended the book way earlier. Ended up skimming the last few pages. Would have been better with some editing.
April 18, 2026
Outstanding Book! Read it!
Great story! Exciting thrill ride. You won't be able to stop reading.
Secrets we keep always come to light! It amazes me how some people feel they can control our life.
We have to live life to the fullest. Never know what's coming!
Sophie Lyon, is a brilliant author! Looking forward to the next book.
Great story! Exciting thrill ride. You won't be able to stop reading.
Secrets we keep always come to light! It amazes me how some people feel they can control our life.
We have to live life to the fullest. Never know what's coming!
Sophie Lyon, is a brilliant author! Looking forward to the next book.
April 30, 2026
I liked this book a lot
It was easy to fall into this story! Within two pages I was hooked quite firmly, and I have spent the whole rainy, dark cold day curled up in my cozy chair on search and rescue missions led by friendly people I have come to really like !! I highly recommend this book !
It was easy to fall into this story! Within two pages I was hooked quite firmly, and I have spent the whole rainy, dark cold day curled up in my cozy chair on search and rescue missions led by friendly people I have come to really like !! I highly recommend this book !
May 10, 2026
Good story
The story is a compelling one,. Ms Lyon develops her main characters well. Though she gets a bit repetive and wordy. The missing person was found. The murder investigated. The guilty party arrested. Gamma finding her new start. All great parts of building the series. I do want to read more.
The story is a compelling one,. Ms Lyon develops her main characters well. Though she gets a bit repetive and wordy. The missing person was found. The murder investigated. The guilty party arrested. Gamma finding her new start. All great parts of building the series. I do want to read more.
May 12, 2026
Mountain Secrets
This fiction had thoughtful conversations, even if only to oneself. It allows one to understand the characters of the book better. What could be better than a girl and her dog? Not an ordinary dog but one the girl has trained and can read and trust in rescue operations.
This fiction had thoughtful conversations, even if only to oneself. It allows one to understand the characters of the book better. What could be better than a girl and her dog? Not an ordinary dog but one the girl has trained and can read and trust in rescue operations.
Did Not Finish
May 12, 2026I’m having a hard time following some of this book - it’s hard to tell who is speaking because normal grammatical structure isn’t followed to indicate that. I also just got to the part where our MC has a feeling and wants to look at specific dates for the trail but with no actual reason and pulls out the name of another woman who went missing. Too far fetched for me.
May 22, 2026
one. ever knows when acceptance of life and change happens
A really well written story of discovery of events and of one’s self. A story of hope and achievements and acceptance of self and others. Learning to let go of things you cannot change. Very enjoyable thought provoking read. c woods
A really well written story of discovery of events and of one’s self. A story of hope and achievements and acceptance of self and others. Learning to let go of things you cannot change. Very enjoyable thought provoking read. c woods
February 22, 2026
great reading!
I love mysteries and especially mysteries with dogs, they’re smart and sometimes whimsical creatures, this book had all the right things that I like to read. It’s a good plot, and a decent ending. I recommend reading this book.
I love mysteries and especially mysteries with dogs, they’re smart and sometimes whimsical creatures, this book had all the right things that I like to read. It’s a good plot, and a decent ending. I recommend reading this book.
March 14, 2026
Home
Gamma was running, trying to find peace. In Elk Creek she and Midi work and settled. Would it become home? This author has given us a story that is full of seeking one you can hardly put down. Makes you think.
Gamma was running, trying to find peace. In Elk Creek she and Midi work and settled. Would it become home? This author has given us a story that is full of seeking one you can hardly put down. Makes you think.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews