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Timber Creek K-9 Mystery #11
Fighting Edge
Major crimes intersect in this nail-biting installment of the Timber Creek K-9 mysteries by award-winning author Margaret Mizushima.
A routine welfare check becomes a nightmare when Deputy Mattie Walker finds a young mother dead and a hysterical toddler, possibly the only witness to a brutal crime. Before the investigative team can start piecing together what happened, Mattie discovers another criminal act in Timber Creek.
During a traffic stop for speeding, Mattie observes a nervous driver and a teenage passenger frozen with fear. A quick sweep of the car with her K-9 partner, Robo, reveals a dangerous mix of drugs and suspected human trafficking, providing Mattie with grounds to arrest the driver. After she places the teenager in protective custody, the sheriff’s department hands the case over to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
As the team gathers evidence and information, Mattie's husband, veterinarian Cole Walker, notices suspicious activity during ambulatory calls at dog kennels, indicating yet a third crime lurking in the shadows. What begins as isolated incidents quickly reveals a chilling organized crime has infiltrated their rural mountain community.
Every clue leads to more questions, and each answer brings them closer to greater danger. Do Mattie and her law enforcement partners have what it takes to shut down this criminal ring before it claims more victims? And could its next victim be someone Mattie loves?
A routine welfare check becomes a nightmare when Deputy Mattie Walker finds a young mother dead and a hysterical toddler, possibly the only witness to a brutal crime. Before the investigative team can start piecing together what happened, Mattie discovers another criminal act in Timber Creek.
During a traffic stop for speeding, Mattie observes a nervous driver and a teenage passenger frozen with fear. A quick sweep of the car with her K-9 partner, Robo, reveals a dangerous mix of drugs and suspected human trafficking, providing Mattie with grounds to arrest the driver. After she places the teenager in protective custody, the sheriff’s department hands the case over to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
As the team gathers evidence and information, Mattie's husband, veterinarian Cole Walker, notices suspicious activity during ambulatory calls at dog kennels, indicating yet a third crime lurking in the shadows. What begins as isolated incidents quickly reveals a chilling organized crime has infiltrated their rural mountain community.
Every clue leads to more questions, and each answer brings them closer to greater danger. Do Mattie and her law enforcement partners have what it takes to shut down this criminal ring before it claims more victims? And could its next victim be someone Mattie loves?
11 pages, Audible Audio
Published September 8, 2026
About the author
Margaret Mizushima
16 books1,259 followersMargaret Mizushima is the author of the award-winning and internationally published Timber Creek K-9 Mysteries. Active within the writing community, Margaret serves as president for the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Mystery Writers of America, was elected the 2019-2020 Writer of the Year by Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, and is also a member of Northern Colorado Writers and Sisters in Crime. She lives in Colorado on a small ranch with her veterinarian husband where they raised two daughters and a multitude of animals. She can be found on Facebook/AuthorMargaretMizushima, Twitter @margmizu, Instagram at margmizu, and her website at www.margaretmizushima.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
September 17, 2026
There was just too much copaganda in this book that outweighed the love I have for Mattie and her family, Robo/dogs in general, and fast-paced mystery/thrillers. This is the eleventh book in the series, and I'm sure that I had noticed problematic things in previous books but let it slide because it wasn't "that bad," and I still enjoyed them, but both the author and I seem to have become more extreme in our views about law enforcement in the years it took to publish all the books in this series, in opposite directions. Mizushima goes out of her way to point out, when the tactics that the police use don't pass the sniff test, that what her characters do is technically legal, for example camping on state lands to spy on private property, entering a home due to exigent circumstances, and calling for backup when a Latino driver and teenage boy seem nervous after being pulled over for speeding. In 2026, a Latina cop should have a clue and realize that everyone is terrified of ICE in our current dystopian existence, and it's a bit clueless to say multiple times that trafficked people have been "brainwashed to think the cops will hurt them." I feel like this book serves the function of fearmongering, especially in smaller or more rural communities, saying, "See, your sleepy mountain town isn't immune to crime. In fact, it's part of organized crime that will require lots of police to fix."
The author also makes sure to highlight that Mattie (and cops in general) do what they do out of their sense of duty to protect others. While there are definitely people like this, multiple things can be true at once: ACAB, the Latinx pipeline to law enforcement, and the complexity of humans. And the way that this book is written doesn't lean into the complexity, but rather seems to parrot lines taught to cops in workshops about protocols and scripts to follow to more easily evade getting in trouble.
Structurally, the book could also be better. There is too much going on: human trafficking, puppy mills, dog fighting, a mysterious murder, and Mattie and her family struggling with PTSD from past events.
While this book is one of the least bad in terms of dog information (low bar in fiction books, especially law enforcement K9s), it's still frustrating in terms of breed stereotypes and oversimplified portrayal of training and socialization.
The author also makes sure to highlight that Mattie (and cops in general) do what they do out of their sense of duty to protect others. While there are definitely people like this, multiple things can be true at once: ACAB, the Latinx pipeline to law enforcement, and the complexity of humans. And the way that this book is written doesn't lean into the complexity, but rather seems to parrot lines taught to cops in workshops about protocols and scripts to follow to more easily evade getting in trouble.
Structurally, the book could also be better. There is too much going on: human trafficking, puppy mills, dog fighting, a mysterious murder, and Mattie and her family struggling with PTSD from past events.
While this book is one of the least bad in terms of dog information (low bar in fiction books, especially law enforcement K9s), it's still frustrating in terms of breed stereotypes and oversimplified portrayal of training and socialization.
October 12, 2026
In Fighting Edge, the 11th book in Margaret Mizushima’s Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series, the author tackles murder and human trafficking in Timber Creek, Colorado. Mattie is adjusting to married life with Cole and her new family when a routine traffic stop raises her suspicions that a Hispanic man is trafficking a Hispanic teenage boy. Her investigation uncovers other crimes connected to the murder of a toddler’s mother, and Mattie forms a deep emotional connection with the child. The novel explores questions about protecting vulnerable children, Mattie’s desire for a child, and the importance of family.
Mizushima has a wonderful feel for the Colorado landscape and a strong command of police procedure. But the real appeal of these books lies in the characters. Each one—except for the villains—is warm and caring, striving to do what’s right for the town and their families. That includes Robo, Mattie’s devoted K-9 partner, whose bond with her is especially touching. You’ll find yourself rooting for these characters throughout. Highly recommended.
Mizushima has a wonderful feel for the Colorado landscape and a strong command of police procedure. But the real appeal of these books lies in the characters. Each one—except for the villains—is warm and caring, striving to do what’s right for the town and their families. That includes Robo, Mattie’s devoted K-9 partner, whose bond with her is especially touching. You’ll find yourself rooting for these characters throughout. Highly recommended.
October 3, 2026
I've enjoyed reading this series from the beginning, but this book had a vibe of someone suggested to the author that she write a book about human trafficking, and she seemed to be trying to wedge the topic into a setting where it just didn't fit quite right. She could also benefit from some good editing; I'm glad Mattie is making sure that the climate controls in the K-9 vehicle are on for Robo, but I don't need to be told that every time Mattie gets out of the car.
October 5, 2026
I got this as an audiobook, I have listened or read this whole series. This can be read as a standalone as the author does a great job filling in the back story. The K-9 officer and her husband, a veterinarian have concerns over the same case in this story.
October 26, 2026
Yea Robo Lovers!
Fighting Edge is a lovely book about an horrific subject-human, especially child, trafficking.
As always, it is well-written with great information about k-9 heroes and their handlers. The abilities of both canine and owner- trainers are amazing. It is a good mystery, too. I hope this is not the last Mattie book. The character has come (been developed) a long way since book one. Not labeled YA, but a good series for middle/high schoolers as well as adults.
Fighting Edge is a lovely book about an horrific subject-human, especially child, trafficking.
As always, it is well-written with great information about k-9 heroes and their handlers. The abilities of both canine and owner- trainers are amazing. It is a good mystery, too. I hope this is not the last Mattie book. The character has come (been developed) a long way since book one. Not labeled YA, but a good series for middle/high schoolers as well as adults.
October 23, 2026
Good as always. I’ve read all Margaret Mizushima K-9 books and loved them all. I would recommend you start at the beginning because the characters grow and develop in each book.
September 17, 2026
Deputy Mattie Walker works for the Timber Creek Sheriff’s Department alongside Robo, her 100 lb. German Shepherd K-9 companion. On an early Friday morning, she’s on a welfare check call for a single mother who failed to bring her child to the babysitter and isn’t answering her phone.
At the scene, Mattie finds the mother, Jaclyn, murdered, and her frightened toddler, Emma, crying alone in her crib. The only clue at the scene is a crack pipe left in the kitchen. Mattie contacts Jaclyn’s sister Beatrice Reynolds, who prepares to travel from Salt Lake City to take custody of Emma while the investigation gets underway.
While heading home to check on her stepdaughters Sophie and Angie, Mattie pulls over a speeding vehicle. Because the driver, Daniel Delgado, and passenger, Mateo Perez, seem nervous, Mattie brings Robo in to sweep the car and the K-9 detects drugs hidden inside the spare tire. Sensing Mateo’s visible fear, Mattie suspects that Daniel’s claim that he is his nephew is a lie. Daniel is arrested and Mateo is placed under protective custody after she contacts the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s human trafficking task force.
Meanwhile, Mattie’s husband Cole Walker, a local veterinarian, heads to Bret Beaty’s Rottweiler kennel with his assistant Tess to conduct health exams on new puppies. On their way in, Cole notices a pickup truck driving away. It’s filled with teenagers who appear to be workers but should be in school.
As Mattie and her colleagues dig deeper, these seemingly unrelated events begin to connect, revealing a far larger and more dangerous criminal operation.
It’s always unsettling when serious crimes hide beneath the peaceful surface of a small mountain community and I was curious to see how Mattie and Robo would handle this latest case. Mattie enjoys her job, and Robo is fitting in well with the department, but she struggles to balance her demanding career and her family life.
Cole and his daughter Angie are dealing with the traumatic experience from months earlier when they were held at gunpoint. The family is attending counseling but Mattie misses an important therapy session because the investigation is just heating up. Though she feels guilty, she and Cole share a mutual understanding of their high-pressure careers. One detail that caught my attention came in the second chapter. After reading about how Mattie trained Robo to work a crime scene, I wanted to find out more about their partnership and the important role Robo plays in the investigation.
Margaret Mizushima delivers suspense and heart in Fighting Edge, the latest installment in her Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series. Deputy Mattie Walker is once again at the center of the action and her determination and compassion make her an interesting protagonist. She’s tough and courageous, yet her emotional connection to the victims, especially Emma and Mateo, reminds readers that behind every case are real people whose lives have been shattered. “A death in a small town created ripples throughout the community.”
Mattie’s relationship with Robo adds a deeper layer to her character, highlighting her patience and dedication to her job. Cole’s observations uncover another piece of the criminal puzzle while his presence provides a much needed balance to the darker elements of the story.
The novel explores several powerful themes, including the vulnerability of innocent people, particularly children and victims of human trafficking, and the lengths people will go to protect their loved ones.
Mizushima also examines courage and justice in the law enforcement community. Agent Rick Lawson and Dawn Gallegos of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, along with Dawn’s Jack Russel terrier Half Pint, work with local law enforcement as the investigation into the human trafficking operation expands.
When they interview Mateo, he provides vital information about how he and others like him were lured into the system. The suspense builds as every answer leads to another question and the list of suspects grows.
Fighting Edge: A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery by Margaret Mizushima is an exciting crime novel that combines suspense with relatable human characters. Mizushima blends investigative detail and emotional depth, creating a satisfying mystery that will appeal to longtime fans and newcomers to the series. If you enjoy crime mysteries with K-9 partners, this latest Timber Creek novel hits all the right notes.
Robo ran down into an arroyo and then scrambled back up the other side. Mattie followed, sliding down the rocky bank, racing across the sandy bottom, and then struggling to gain the top of the other side. She could hear rocks clacking and falling behind her as Del came down the first bank.
At the scene, Mattie finds the mother, Jaclyn, murdered, and her frightened toddler, Emma, crying alone in her crib. The only clue at the scene is a crack pipe left in the kitchen. Mattie contacts Jaclyn’s sister Beatrice Reynolds, who prepares to travel from Salt Lake City to take custody of Emma while the investigation gets underway.
While heading home to check on her stepdaughters Sophie and Angie, Mattie pulls over a speeding vehicle. Because the driver, Daniel Delgado, and passenger, Mateo Perez, seem nervous, Mattie brings Robo in to sweep the car and the K-9 detects drugs hidden inside the spare tire. Sensing Mateo’s visible fear, Mattie suspects that Daniel’s claim that he is his nephew is a lie. Daniel is arrested and Mateo is placed under protective custody after she contacts the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s human trafficking task force.
Meanwhile, Mattie’s husband Cole Walker, a local veterinarian, heads to Bret Beaty’s Rottweiler kennel with his assistant Tess to conduct health exams on new puppies. On their way in, Cole notices a pickup truck driving away. It’s filled with teenagers who appear to be workers but should be in school.
As Mattie and her colleagues dig deeper, these seemingly unrelated events begin to connect, revealing a far larger and more dangerous criminal operation.
It’s always unsettling when serious crimes hide beneath the peaceful surface of a small mountain community and I was curious to see how Mattie and Robo would handle this latest case. Mattie enjoys her job, and Robo is fitting in well with the department, but she struggles to balance her demanding career and her family life.
Cole and his daughter Angie are dealing with the traumatic experience from months earlier when they were held at gunpoint. The family is attending counseling but Mattie misses an important therapy session because the investigation is just heating up. Though she feels guilty, she and Cole share a mutual understanding of their high-pressure careers. One detail that caught my attention came in the second chapter. After reading about how Mattie trained Robo to work a crime scene, I wanted to find out more about their partnership and the important role Robo plays in the investigation.
Margaret Mizushima delivers suspense and heart in Fighting Edge, the latest installment in her Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series. Deputy Mattie Walker is once again at the center of the action and her determination and compassion make her an interesting protagonist. She’s tough and courageous, yet her emotional connection to the victims, especially Emma and Mateo, reminds readers that behind every case are real people whose lives have been shattered. “A death in a small town created ripples throughout the community.”
Mattie’s relationship with Robo adds a deeper layer to her character, highlighting her patience and dedication to her job. Cole’s observations uncover another piece of the criminal puzzle while his presence provides a much needed balance to the darker elements of the story.
The novel explores several powerful themes, including the vulnerability of innocent people, particularly children and victims of human trafficking, and the lengths people will go to protect their loved ones.
Mizushima also examines courage and justice in the law enforcement community. Agent Rick Lawson and Dawn Gallegos of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, along with Dawn’s Jack Russel terrier Half Pint, work with local law enforcement as the investigation into the human trafficking operation expands.
When they interview Mateo, he provides vital information about how he and others like him were lured into the system. The suspense builds as every answer leads to another question and the list of suspects grows.
Fighting Edge: A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery by Margaret Mizushima is an exciting crime novel that combines suspense with relatable human characters. Mizushima blends investigative detail and emotional depth, creating a satisfying mystery that will appeal to longtime fans and newcomers to the series. If you enjoy crime mysteries with K-9 partners, this latest Timber Creek novel hits all the right notes.
Robo ran down into an arroyo and then scrambled back up the other side. Mattie followed, sliding down the rocky bank, racing across the sandy bottom, and then struggling to gain the top of the other side. She could hear rocks clacking and falling behind her as Del came down the first bank.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
In Fighting Edge, Mattie and Cole with their girls are still adjusting to their new marriage. Angie is struggling with the attacks at the vet clinic and they have scheduled some family counseling. But Mattie goes to do a welfare check and finds a dead young women and a live 2 year old. Then she has a traffic stop where things don't seem right. She ends up arresting the driver on drug charges. The teen boy they detain for child services.
There's much to do with talking to the family and friends of the dead woman and finding care the the toddler, Emma. Mattie worries about who will care for her long-term. The co-workers seemed close to the victim, but the ex-boyfriend is a piece of work. Then he ends up dead.
Cole has some new clients. One has him do a visit of a dog he is considering buying for breeding. His kennels are very nice and the dogs are being trained. He and his wife have some teen workers who clean the dog runs and are helping with some planting at their new place.
The seller of the dog is from a town farther away, but their vet calls because he has a family emergency to have Cole do his vaccine trials with the puppies there. Cole isn't sure since it is sort of a puppy mill, but again everything is clean and well kept. He again sees some teen workers who also look young to not be in school.
The ex-boyfriend tuns up dead and all those teens are likely being trafficked. So things just continue to get more complex. Mattie and Stella do good work on gathering up enough evidence along with the FBI they have called in about the kids. It's an exciting case as they work to round up the criminals and save the children. Robo does several drug busts, then unexpectedly finds the dead ex-boyfriend, and has a big role in the takedowns.
The Timber Creek K-9 series continues to give me a great working K9 in Robo, the mystery of police investigations and rescue missions, as well as a continuing to develop family life. I hope to read many more!
Review copy was received from Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
In Fighting Edge, Mattie and Cole with their girls are still adjusting to their new marriage. Angie is struggling with the attacks at the vet clinic and they have scheduled some family counseling. But Mattie goes to do a welfare check and finds a dead young women and a live 2 year old. Then she has a traffic stop where things don't seem right. She ends up arresting the driver on drug charges. The teen boy they detain for child services.
There's much to do with talking to the family and friends of the dead woman and finding care the the toddler, Emma. Mattie worries about who will care for her long-term. The co-workers seemed close to the victim, but the ex-boyfriend is a piece of work. Then he ends up dead.
Cole has some new clients. One has him do a visit of a dog he is considering buying for breeding. His kennels are very nice and the dogs are being trained. He and his wife have some teen workers who clean the dog runs and are helping with some planting at their new place.
The seller of the dog is from a town farther away, but their vet calls because he has a family emergency to have Cole do his vaccine trials with the puppies there. Cole isn't sure since it is sort of a puppy mill, but again everything is clean and well kept. He again sees some teen workers who also look young to not be in school.
The ex-boyfriend tuns up dead and all those teens are likely being trafficked. So things just continue to get more complex. Mattie and Stella do good work on gathering up enough evidence along with the FBI they have called in about the kids. It's an exciting case as they work to round up the criminals and save the children. Robo does several drug busts, then unexpectedly finds the dead ex-boyfriend, and has a big role in the takedowns.
The Timber Creek K-9 series continues to give me a great working K9 in Robo, the mystery of police investigations and rescue missions, as well as a continuing to develop family life. I hope to read many more!
September 27, 2026
Margaret Mizushima delivers a fast-paced story full of heart in Fighting Edge, the 11th book of her K-9 police procedural series.
The story begins as, performing a welfare check on a single mother in her small Colorado home town of Timber Creek, Deputy Mattie Walker discovers a body and a hysterical toddler. Before any of the questions posed by that situation can be answered, Mattie and her K-9 partner Robo uncover both drugs and possible human trafficking during a routine traffic stop. Then Mattie’s husband, veterinarian Cole Walker, stumbles into suspicious activity while caring for dogs at a puppy mill. Investigating these mysteries touches upon Mattie’s own troubled childhood, sharpens her awareness of the family responsibilities she has willingly committed to as a wife and stepmother, and stirs within her some new maternal emotions.
As the individual fragments of evidence start to look like the puzzle pieces of one big criminal conspiracy, we get to spend time with old friends Rainbow the Dispatcher, Detective Stella LoSasso, her CBI boyfriend Special Agent Rick Lawson, Sheriff McCoy, Brody, and some newer deputies. Mattie’s K-9 Robo—now almost two years into his partnership with Mattie—plays his usual pivotal role, sniffing out evidence again and again, providing deterrence in fraught situations, tracking and apprehending criminals, and providing Mattie with security and solace when she needs it. As always, Mizushima provides plenty of fascinating insider details of investigative work, such as Mattie carefully leaving a handprint on a car during a traffic stop, so the vehicle can be tied back to her if the occupants ambush her.
As the story unfolds and both of them are caught up in the investigation, Mattie and Cole scramble to balance their demanding careers with their home life, where their oldest daughter is still suffering the emotional after-effects of being held hostage a few months before.
In Fighting Edge, Mattie confronts the ugliness of racism, the evil of human trafficking, and the depravity of modern slavery. Her courageous action leads to serious injury, but with Robo on the case, she’s able to achieve justice, supported and assisted by the fellow officers she has come to trust.
A satisfying outcome reaffirms that Mattie and Robo are doing the work they were born for: keeping the bad guys from harming the world’s innocents.
The story begins as, performing a welfare check on a single mother in her small Colorado home town of Timber Creek, Deputy Mattie Walker discovers a body and a hysterical toddler. Before any of the questions posed by that situation can be answered, Mattie and her K-9 partner Robo uncover both drugs and possible human trafficking during a routine traffic stop. Then Mattie’s husband, veterinarian Cole Walker, stumbles into suspicious activity while caring for dogs at a puppy mill. Investigating these mysteries touches upon Mattie’s own troubled childhood, sharpens her awareness of the family responsibilities she has willingly committed to as a wife and stepmother, and stirs within her some new maternal emotions.
As the individual fragments of evidence start to look like the puzzle pieces of one big criminal conspiracy, we get to spend time with old friends Rainbow the Dispatcher, Detective Stella LoSasso, her CBI boyfriend Special Agent Rick Lawson, Sheriff McCoy, Brody, and some newer deputies. Mattie’s K-9 Robo—now almost two years into his partnership with Mattie—plays his usual pivotal role, sniffing out evidence again and again, providing deterrence in fraught situations, tracking and apprehending criminals, and providing Mattie with security and solace when she needs it. As always, Mizushima provides plenty of fascinating insider details of investigative work, such as Mattie carefully leaving a handprint on a car during a traffic stop, so the vehicle can be tied back to her if the occupants ambush her.
As the story unfolds and both of them are caught up in the investigation, Mattie and Cole scramble to balance their demanding careers with their home life, where their oldest daughter is still suffering the emotional after-effects of being held hostage a few months before.
In Fighting Edge, Mattie confronts the ugliness of racism, the evil of human trafficking, and the depravity of modern slavery. Her courageous action leads to serious injury, but with Robo on the case, she’s able to achieve justice, supported and assisted by the fellow officers she has come to trust.
A satisfying outcome reaffirms that Mattie and Robo are doing the work they were born for: keeping the bad guys from harming the world’s innocents.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love catching up with Maddie and Robo and the gang in Timber Creek. This series just keeps getting better and better with every installment. Yeah, I know I say that with every installment, but it’s true. This was the best installment of the series – SO FAR!!! Lol, which means Ms. Mizushima could surprise me even more with the next installment (and I hope there will be another installment).
The book summary basically introduces the different storylines. One being the murder of single mom, Jaclyn, while her baby, Emma, slept in her crib. Then there is the discovery of a child trafficking ring, and then another dead body shows up. Last, but by no means least, there is some family drama still lingering from the trauma that Cole and the kids endured from the last installment. The family is in therapy, and Maddie misses some family sessions. Suffice it to say, there’s a lot going on.
Most of the story revolves around the investigation of Jaclyn’s murder and the trafficking ring. It’s not long before connections begin to emerge between the two. There is also some drama with what is going to happen to baby Emma especially since Emma and Maddie start to develop a bond for each other. Maddie’s maternal instinct flares like we’ve never seen before, at least I haven’t. Not that she doesn’t love and adore Cole’s kids, Angela and Sophie, but it is definitely different with baby Emma.
It’s deep in the second half that the three different investigations collide and Maddie, Robo and the Timber Creek PD are joined by the state bureau that the story becomes much more intense and scarier, especially for Maddie and Robo. At one point, I scared the crap out of hubby when I suddenly screamed “NOOO!!! I can get a little emotional when something happens to my fave characters.
The continuing character development for Maddie, Cole and the kids was well done. The pacing was steady to fast, especially in the second half. The storylines were intriguing and I was engrossed in them. The writing? Well, what can I say other than “classic Mizushima”!!! Margaret Mizushima is a really good writer and storyteller. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.6 that I will be rounding up to a 5star review. I want to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #CrookedLaneBooks #Fighting Edge
The book summary basically introduces the different storylines. One being the murder of single mom, Jaclyn, while her baby, Emma, slept in her crib. Then there is the discovery of a child trafficking ring, and then another dead body shows up. Last, but by no means least, there is some family drama still lingering from the trauma that Cole and the kids endured from the last installment. The family is in therapy, and Maddie misses some family sessions. Suffice it to say, there’s a lot going on.
Most of the story revolves around the investigation of Jaclyn’s murder and the trafficking ring. It’s not long before connections begin to emerge between the two. There is also some drama with what is going to happen to baby Emma especially since Emma and Maddie start to develop a bond for each other. Maddie’s maternal instinct flares like we’ve never seen before, at least I haven’t. Not that she doesn’t love and adore Cole’s kids, Angela and Sophie, but it is definitely different with baby Emma.
It’s deep in the second half that the three different investigations collide and Maddie, Robo and the Timber Creek PD are joined by the state bureau that the story becomes much more intense and scarier, especially for Maddie and Robo. At one point, I scared the crap out of hubby when I suddenly screamed “NOOO!!! I can get a little emotional when something happens to my fave characters.
The continuing character development for Maddie, Cole and the kids was well done. The pacing was steady to fast, especially in the second half. The storylines were intriguing and I was engrossed in them. The writing? Well, what can I say other than “classic Mizushima”!!! Margaret Mizushima is a really good writer and storyteller. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.6 that I will be rounding up to a 5star review. I want to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #CrookedLaneBooks #Fighting Edge
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Another doggoned good Timber Creek police procedural
Timber Creek, Colorado, may be a small town, but it does not lack challenges for its law enforcement professionals! In one day, Deputy Mattie Walker responds to a call from a worried child care provider only to find a mother dead under suspicious circumstances and her toddler daughter crying hysterically. She then stops a speeding car intending to issue a simple traffic ticket but encounters what looks like both drug and human trafficking. It looks like she is not going to be able to spend much quiet time with her husband, veterinarian Cole Walker, and her stepdaughters Sophie and Angie! As she gets deeper into the investigation, more suspicious situations come to light, and it appears organized crime may have arrived in Timber Creek.
Fighting Edge has all the qualities readers look for in a police procedural. The techniques followed are described in interesting ways, and I picked up some thought-provoking insights. Good police investigations often have to consult outside professionals, too, and for this case Mattie gets help from her veterinarian husband (There were some interesting descriptions of Cole’s veterinary work, too.).
The characters are well drawn and believable, including my favorite character, Mattie’s 90-pound German shepherd partner Robo, who, like his human colleagues, wears a Kevlar vest on duty. Although the police investigation is certainly the centerpiece of the book, there is also an excellent presentation of ordinary life that makes the book very believable and relatable. I cared about the people in the book!
There are a number of references to events from previous books but no real spoilers. If this is your introduction to the series you can enjoy Fighting Edge without reading the others first, but after you read it I am confident you will want to read them all to hear more about Mattie and Cole and, of course, Robo!
I received an advance review copy of Fighting Edge from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books.
Timber Creek, Colorado, may be a small town, but it does not lack challenges for its law enforcement professionals! In one day, Deputy Mattie Walker responds to a call from a worried child care provider only to find a mother dead under suspicious circumstances and her toddler daughter crying hysterically. She then stops a speeding car intending to issue a simple traffic ticket but encounters what looks like both drug and human trafficking. It looks like she is not going to be able to spend much quiet time with her husband, veterinarian Cole Walker, and her stepdaughters Sophie and Angie! As she gets deeper into the investigation, more suspicious situations come to light, and it appears organized crime may have arrived in Timber Creek.
Fighting Edge has all the qualities readers look for in a police procedural. The techniques followed are described in interesting ways, and I picked up some thought-provoking insights. Good police investigations often have to consult outside professionals, too, and for this case Mattie gets help from her veterinarian husband (There were some interesting descriptions of Cole’s veterinary work, too.).
The characters are well drawn and believable, including my favorite character, Mattie’s 90-pound German shepherd partner Robo, who, like his human colleagues, wears a Kevlar vest on duty. Although the police investigation is certainly the centerpiece of the book, there is also an excellent presentation of ordinary life that makes the book very believable and relatable. I cared about the people in the book!
There are a number of references to events from previous books but no real spoilers. If this is your introduction to the series you can enjoy Fighting Edge without reading the others first, but after you read it I am confident you will want to read them all to hear more about Mattie and Cole and, of course, Robo!
I received an advance review copy of Fighting Edge from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5/5 stars: This is Mizushima's eleventh entry in the Timber Creek K-9 series which is a Police Procedural Mystery. Featuring a Colorado sheriff's deputy, with her K-9 partner, as she finds herself investigating several isolated incidents, a routine welfare check uncovers a murder, a traffic stop reveals drugs and suspected human trafficking and suspicious activity, reported by her veterinarian husband, at a dog kennel, that all point to Organized crime having infiltrated her rural mountain community. As she, her team and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation investigate the three crimes, they'll find that every clue seems to lead to more questions and each answer only brings them closer to greater danger. Does she and her law enforcement partners have what it takes to shut down this criminal ring before it claims more victims? And could its next victim be someone she loves?
With plenty of twists and turns, Mizushima writes a gripping fast-paced investigative tale that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the final reveal. I really like how the Mizushima's plot unfolds and the deft way everything weaves together so effortlessly. Mizushima's writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable with a great secondary cast that's well crafted and uniquely voiced. While this is mainly single POV, it also includes a minimal secondary POV.
Mizushima touches on some tough and very serious topics; so take care and check the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Killing Trail. This is a favorite series; Highly recommend!
I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
With plenty of twists and turns, Mizushima writes a gripping fast-paced investigative tale that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the final reveal. I really like how the Mizushima's plot unfolds and the deft way everything weaves together so effortlessly. Mizushima's writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable with a great secondary cast that's well crafted and uniquely voiced. While this is mainly single POV, it also includes a minimal secondary POV.
Mizushima touches on some tough and very serious topics; so take care and check the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Killing Trail. This is a favorite series; Highly recommend!
I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
September 8, 2026
Dangerous criminals come to Timber Creek!
Dangerous elements have moved into the small mountain community of Timber Creek, Colorado. Deputy Mattie Walker and her K-9 partner, Robo, run smack into them during a routine speeding stop. Fearing that the young boy with the drug runner is in danger, she takes him into protective custody. During a wellness check earlier, Mattie had discovered the body of a young mother. When the Sheriff’s department investigates both crimes, they uncover a criminal network.
Margaret Mizushima is excellent at describing how a canine unit works. Especially the dangers and vulnerabilities they face when they're out on point on a search. The story has a thrilling chase scene, tense, exciting moments and escalates to a dangerous finale. It has the warmth of a cozy mystery set in a close-knit community. The county sheriff’s team backs each other up and relies on their individual strengths.
Mattie’s family is struggling to recover from the trauma experienced in the previous book. Her stepdaughter Angie and her husband, Cole, are feeling it the most. Mattie has found a loving family, but as with all families, they have issues to deal with. I find it refreshing to see real life reflected in their day-to-day interactions. Fighting Edge is an intense mystery about human trafficking. Mattie finds her emotions triggered by the plight of the children.
This was a thoughtful treatment of human trafficking, with a satisfying conclusion to the mystery. If only human trafficking could be solved in the real world as well. Fighting Edge is a gripping read with intense action but also some heartwarming moments. Fans of K-9 mysteries will enjoy this one.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for access to an advanced reader copy.
Dangerous elements have moved into the small mountain community of Timber Creek, Colorado. Deputy Mattie Walker and her K-9 partner, Robo, run smack into them during a routine speeding stop. Fearing that the young boy with the drug runner is in danger, she takes him into protective custody. During a wellness check earlier, Mattie had discovered the body of a young mother. When the Sheriff’s department investigates both crimes, they uncover a criminal network.
Margaret Mizushima is excellent at describing how a canine unit works. Especially the dangers and vulnerabilities they face when they're out on point on a search. The story has a thrilling chase scene, tense, exciting moments and escalates to a dangerous finale. It has the warmth of a cozy mystery set in a close-knit community. The county sheriff’s team backs each other up and relies on their individual strengths.
Mattie’s family is struggling to recover from the trauma experienced in the previous book. Her stepdaughter Angie and her husband, Cole, are feeling it the most. Mattie has found a loving family, but as with all families, they have issues to deal with. I find it refreshing to see real life reflected in their day-to-day interactions. Fighting Edge is an intense mystery about human trafficking. Mattie finds her emotions triggered by the plight of the children.
This was a thoughtful treatment of human trafficking, with a satisfying conclusion to the mystery. If only human trafficking could be solved in the real world as well. Fighting Edge is a gripping read with intense action but also some heartwarming moments. Fans of K-9 mysteries will enjoy this one.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for access to an advanced reader copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 Stars
Fighting Edge is another outstanding addition to the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series. Margaret Mizushima has a real gift for weaving fascinating real-world detail into her stories without ever slowing the pace. Topics such as human trafficking are handled with depth and authenticity, giving readers valuable insight while never feeling like an information dump—a balance that many authors struggle to achieve.
The action is relentless from beginning to end, with multiple investigations intertwining to create genuine tension and suspense. I found myself completely invested, torn between racing through the pages to discover how everything would come together and deliberately slowing down because I didn’t want my time with Mattie, Robo, and the rest of the Timber Creek team to end. That’s the mark of a truly engaging read.
As always, the character development is one of the series’ greatest strengths. After eleven books, these characters feel like old friends, and their relationships continue to evolve in believable and satisfying ways. Robo, in particular, remains one of my favourite K-9 partners in crime fiction.
While Fighting Edge can certainly be enjoyed as a standalone mystery, I would wholeheartedly recommend reading the series from the beginning. The first ten books provide so much richness to the characters and their relationships, making this latest instalment even more rewarding. New readers won’t be disappointed if they start at book one—and long-time fans will find Fighting Edge another exceptional entry in an already fantastic series.
Fighting Edge is another outstanding addition to the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series. Margaret Mizushima has a real gift for weaving fascinating real-world detail into her stories without ever slowing the pace. Topics such as human trafficking are handled with depth and authenticity, giving readers valuable insight while never feeling like an information dump—a balance that many authors struggle to achieve.
The action is relentless from beginning to end, with multiple investigations intertwining to create genuine tension and suspense. I found myself completely invested, torn between racing through the pages to discover how everything would come together and deliberately slowing down because I didn’t want my time with Mattie, Robo, and the rest of the Timber Creek team to end. That’s the mark of a truly engaging read.
As always, the character development is one of the series’ greatest strengths. After eleven books, these characters feel like old friends, and their relationships continue to evolve in believable and satisfying ways. Robo, in particular, remains one of my favourite K-9 partners in crime fiction.
While Fighting Edge can certainly be enjoyed as a standalone mystery, I would wholeheartedly recommend reading the series from the beginning. The first ten books provide so much richness to the characters and their relationships, making this latest instalment even more rewarding. New readers won’t be disappointed if they start at book one—and long-time fans will find Fighting Edge another exceptional entry in an already fantastic series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Deputy Mattie Walker and her dog Robo are called to do a welfare check and find a young mother dead on her couch with her two-year-old Emma crying in her crib. With drug paraphernalia left in the house the cause of death looks clear but still suspicious. And it seems Emma saw her mother's death but can't speak clearly enough to tell the police what happened.
Meanwhile, veterinarian Cole Walker is seeing a new patient at his clinic. He's doing a pre-purchase check of a rottweiler that Bret Beaty is interested in purchasing for breeding. He and his family are still getting over an attack in which he and his teenage daughter were held at gunpoint in his clinic.
Then Mattie makes a routine traffic stop and encounters what looks like a trafficking situation to her. Robo uncovers a cache of drugs in the car's spare tire which gives her a reason to arrest the driver and retain the scared teen who is with him.
The young mother had been a victim of trafficking until she managed to escape and start a new life in Colorado. Now, it looks like her past has caught up with her and trafficking is finding its way to small town Colorado.
This was another exciting episode in the Timber Creek K-9 mysteries. I love the relationship between Mattie and her K-9 Robo. I also like her growing closeness with her new husband Cole and Cole's two daughters.
Meanwhile, veterinarian Cole Walker is seeing a new patient at his clinic. He's doing a pre-purchase check of a rottweiler that Bret Beaty is interested in purchasing for breeding. He and his family are still getting over an attack in which he and his teenage daughter were held at gunpoint in his clinic.
Then Mattie makes a routine traffic stop and encounters what looks like a trafficking situation to her. Robo uncovers a cache of drugs in the car's spare tire which gives her a reason to arrest the driver and retain the scared teen who is with him.
The young mother had been a victim of trafficking until she managed to escape and start a new life in Colorado. Now, it looks like her past has caught up with her and trafficking is finding its way to small town Colorado.
This was another exciting episode in the Timber Creek K-9 mysteries. I love the relationship between Mattie and her K-9 Robo. I also like her growing closeness with her new husband Cole and Cole's two daughters.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Read the full review on Rosepoint Publishing.
The protagonist is Deputy Mattie Walker, of course, but the star (at least for me) is Robo, the German Shepherd.
This installment starts right off with a welfare check of a young mother who is found dead with her toddler crying nearby. As always, however, these K-9 stories are layered in between Mattie’s home life. The family recently underwent a collective trauma for which they are now consulting a therapist.
I love the parts where not only Robo, but Cole (her veterinarian hubby) are used in her police investigations and procedures are often explained.
The author has a talent for storytelling, describing her well-developed characters and tackling topical issues such as human trafficking as well as domestic issues. The people seem real. The pacing doesn’t waver or slow and the plot builds tension and suspense as each episode thread is tackled.
It’s a series where each book can be read as a standalone, and also as an old friend when read from the beginning as they progress.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own.
The protagonist is Deputy Mattie Walker, of course, but the star (at least for me) is Robo, the German Shepherd.
This installment starts right off with a welfare check of a young mother who is found dead with her toddler crying nearby. As always, however, these K-9 stories are layered in between Mattie’s home life. The family recently underwent a collective trauma for which they are now consulting a therapist.
I love the parts where not only Robo, but Cole (her veterinarian hubby) are used in her police investigations and procedures are often explained.
The author has a talent for storytelling, describing her well-developed characters and tackling topical issues such as human trafficking as well as domestic issues. The people seem real. The pacing doesn’t waver or slow and the plot builds tension and suspense as each episode thread is tackled.
It’s a series where each book can be read as a standalone, and also as an old friend when read from the beginning as they progress.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love series where the characters continue to grow and develop and change, and the Timber Creek K-9 series does a great job with this. The book acknowledges the events in previous stories, and has the characters dealing with the fallout of those events. If you haven't read any of these books yet, start with the first one and enjoy watching the characters as they grow.
Or you can just start with this book. You don't have to know the background to appreciate the characters and the story here!
Deputy Mattie Walker and her K-9 partner Robo start off the book dealing with two crimes. One is a murder, with the only witness a toddler who can't really verbalize what she saw. The other is a traffic stop that arouses Mattie's suspicions and leads her to suspect human trafficking.
Then Mattie's veterinarian husband is asked to certify the health of a dog about to be bred. He's excited about the possibility of lots of new work coming from these new customers, but he soon begins to wonder if everything is aboveboard in these kennels.
Margaret Mizushima does a great job of pulling all of these strings together in the book, and leading Maggie, Cole, and Robo to the solution of the various crimes and coverups they encounter. This book does a great job of mixing police procedural with family drama. Highly recommend.
I received an ARC from NetGalley.
Or you can just start with this book. You don't have to know the background to appreciate the characters and the story here!
Deputy Mattie Walker and her K-9 partner Robo start off the book dealing with two crimes. One is a murder, with the only witness a toddler who can't really verbalize what she saw. The other is a traffic stop that arouses Mattie's suspicions and leads her to suspect human trafficking.
Then Mattie's veterinarian husband is asked to certify the health of a dog about to be bred. He's excited about the possibility of lots of new work coming from these new customers, but he soon begins to wonder if everything is aboveboard in these kennels.
Margaret Mizushima does a great job of pulling all of these strings together in the book, and leading Maggie, Cole, and Robo to the solution of the various crimes and coverups they encounter. This book does a great job of mixing police procedural with family drama. Highly recommend.
I received an ARC from NetGalley.
September 8, 2026
A crime thriller with a dog? Say no more!
When Deputy Mattie Walker discovers a young mother dead during a routine welfare check, a much bigger investigation begins to unfold. A frightened teenager, drugs, suspected human trafficking and suspicious activity at local kennels soon reveal that organised crime has found its way into the rural mountain community of Timber Creek.
I picked this one because there was a dog in it and I love German Shepherds, I was immediately sold. 😂🐕 And I absolutely loved Robo, Mattie's K-9 partner.
And the important question for fellow animal lovers: the dog does not die! 🐕❤️
What I didn't realise when I choose this ARC is that it is book 11 in the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series! 🤦♀️ So I definitely missed out on a lot of Mattie and Robo's character development by starting this far into the series.
That said, I still found it easy enough to follow and enjoyed the story. The pacing was good, and the human trafficking storyline added an interesting and darker element to the investigation. There were plenty of different crimes and threads to bring together, which kept things moving, and I particularly enjoyed the K-9 aspect of the story.
Would I read more? Yes! I’m definitely going to pick up the next instalment—and perhaps go back to the beginning of the series at some point too. 📚🐕
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When Deputy Mattie Walker discovers a young mother dead during a routine welfare check, a much bigger investigation begins to unfold. A frightened teenager, drugs, suspected human trafficking and suspicious activity at local kennels soon reveal that organised crime has found its way into the rural mountain community of Timber Creek.
I picked this one because there was a dog in it and I love German Shepherds, I was immediately sold. 😂🐕 And I absolutely loved Robo, Mattie's K-9 partner.
And the important question for fellow animal lovers: the dog does not die! 🐕❤️
What I didn't realise when I choose this ARC is that it is book 11 in the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series! 🤦♀️ So I definitely missed out on a lot of Mattie and Robo's character development by starting this far into the series.
That said, I still found it easy enough to follow and enjoyed the story. The pacing was good, and the human trafficking storyline added an interesting and darker element to the investigation. There were plenty of different crimes and threads to bring together, which kept things moving, and I particularly enjoyed the K-9 aspect of the story.
Would I read more? Yes! I’m definitely going to pick up the next instalment—and perhaps go back to the beginning of the series at some point too. 📚🐕
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Newly Married Mattie Walker and K-9 Robo Still Have Their Fighting Edge
Fighting Edge is the latest in Margaret Mizushima’s acclaimed K-9 mystery procedural series. Set in the small but growing rural Colorado town of Timber Creek, Deputy Mattie Walker and her canine companion, the redoubtable Robo, answer a typical welfare check and discover a brutal murder. A routine traffic stop finds Mattie discovering that the murder is linked to other criminal activity like drugs and maybe even human trafficking. Meanwhile, Mattie’s new husband, veterinarian Cole Walker, gets a large puppy mill operation as a new client. Cole notices school-age young people working there and even suspects trafficking.
Each clue adds to the picture of the criminal activity, and Mattie and the other officers of the Sheriff’s Department are faced with the conclusion that organized crime has infiltrated Timber Creek. Meanwhile, Cole and Mattie are weathering the struggles of their new blended family.
Margaret Mizushima pulls all the plot threads together expertly. Her deft and straightforward writing style makes Fighting Edge another great mystery thriller, and another worthy entry in the Timber Creek K-9 series.
Walt Boyes
Editor at Large Misti Media LLC
Editor, Writers and Publishers News
Fighting Edge is the latest in Margaret Mizushima’s acclaimed K-9 mystery procedural series. Set in the small but growing rural Colorado town of Timber Creek, Deputy Mattie Walker and her canine companion, the redoubtable Robo, answer a typical welfare check and discover a brutal murder. A routine traffic stop finds Mattie discovering that the murder is linked to other criminal activity like drugs and maybe even human trafficking. Meanwhile, Mattie’s new husband, veterinarian Cole Walker, gets a large puppy mill operation as a new client. Cole notices school-age young people working there and even suspects trafficking.
Each clue adds to the picture of the criminal activity, and Mattie and the other officers of the Sheriff’s Department are faced with the conclusion that organized crime has infiltrated Timber Creek. Meanwhile, Cole and Mattie are weathering the struggles of their new blended family.
Margaret Mizushima pulls all the plot threads together expertly. Her deft and straightforward writing style makes Fighting Edge another great mystery thriller, and another worthy entry in the Timber Creek K-9 series.
Walt Boyes
Editor at Large Misti Media LLC
Editor, Writers and Publishers News
September 8, 2026
Fighting Edge, the eleventh book in the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series by Margaret Mizushima, is a fast paced, on the edge of your seat story .... just like the previous ten books were.
In Fighting Edge main character Deputy Mattie Walker starts her day on a routine welfare check for a young mother and her infant daughter which ends up a homicide investigation. Then before she can wrap her head around that a routine traffic stop leads to a drug bust and a questionable relationship between the occupants.
Between these two instances Mattie, her K-9 dog Robo and the rest of her team will be lead down a rocky and emotional road.
Then there is Mattie's veterinarian husband Cole who takes on a new client to check a dog for breeding purposes and that turns into so much more and may tie into Mattie's cases.
The Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series is a great series, it has so much for readers to fall in love with. As soon as you open one of the books, you will struggle to stop reading. This is a series that you will continually be saying "one more chapter" until there are no chapters left.
And with Fighting Edge there are so many rocky situations as well as exciting moments that you will be along for the ride and unable to stop.
In Fighting Edge main character Deputy Mattie Walker starts her day on a routine welfare check for a young mother and her infant daughter which ends up a homicide investigation. Then before she can wrap her head around that a routine traffic stop leads to a drug bust and a questionable relationship between the occupants.
Between these two instances Mattie, her K-9 dog Robo and the rest of her team will be lead down a rocky and emotional road.
Then there is Mattie's veterinarian husband Cole who takes on a new client to check a dog for breeding purposes and that turns into so much more and may tie into Mattie's cases.
The Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series is a great series, it has so much for readers to fall in love with. As soon as you open one of the books, you will struggle to stop reading. This is a series that you will continually be saying "one more chapter" until there are no chapters left.
And with Fighting Edge there are so many rocky situations as well as exciting moments that you will be along for the ride and unable to stop.
September 18, 2026
A new case (by one of my favorite authors) for Deputy Mattie Walker (one of my favorite characters) to solve. She is called, along with her K9 Robo, for a wellness check on a local woman. Mattie finds the woman deceased and her young daughter, Emma, crying. Caring for the child, while beginning the investigation, will lead her to an earlier time in the deceased woman’s life. Mattie’s husband, Cole, is a local veterinarian with two young daughters. He is called to deal with a large Rhodesian Ridgeback in need of inoculations. While at the barn, he notices young children assisting in the care of the animals. Knowing that his two daughters are in school, he’s concerned as to why these children aren’t. On her way back to the station, Maddie stops a vehicle for speeding and ends up taking the man and young boy to the station after Robo alerts on drugs. When she questions the young boy, it will lead her to a possible case of child trafficking, but is there any connection to the young mother’s death? Fast paced action, with a strong female lead and danger as Mattie won’t rest until the guilty are found and the innocent protected. WOW! I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)
September 23, 2026
Another exciting installment
Sheriff's Deputy Mattie Walker and Robo are back in Timber Creek, Colorado. They get called out on a welfare check for a young mother and find the mother dead and her two year old daughter crying uncontrollably in her crib. This just starts Mattie's day out on a bad note because after leaving the little girl at her babysitter's, Mattie then does a traffic stop where she realizes there's more than speeding to worry about.
As the day progresses she's shocked to discover that what she considered to be big city crime has come to their small community including human trafficking, murder, and drug running. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the FBI Human Trafficking Task Force are called in to aid the Sheriff's Department investigations.
Meanwhile, Mattie's husband, veterinarian Cole Walker, is called out on some calls that tie in to the investigations that Mattie and her team are making.
I really enjoy this series. I love the working relationship that Mattie has with Robo. And I liked this storyline and the different characters. I'm already looking forward to the next adventure.
I received this Digital Review Copy from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley. Thank you.
Sheriff's Deputy Mattie Walker and Robo are back in Timber Creek, Colorado. They get called out on a welfare check for a young mother and find the mother dead and her two year old daughter crying uncontrollably in her crib. This just starts Mattie's day out on a bad note because after leaving the little girl at her babysitter's, Mattie then does a traffic stop where she realizes there's more than speeding to worry about.
As the day progresses she's shocked to discover that what she considered to be big city crime has come to their small community including human trafficking, murder, and drug running. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the FBI Human Trafficking Task Force are called in to aid the Sheriff's Department investigations.
Meanwhile, Mattie's husband, veterinarian Cole Walker, is called out on some calls that tie in to the investigations that Mattie and her team are making.
I really enjoy this series. I love the working relationship that Mattie has with Robo. And I liked this storyline and the different characters. I'm already looking forward to the next adventure.
I received this Digital Review Copy from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley. Thank you.
October 19, 2026
Eleven books into a series, and it's clear there's something special here. This is a well-written, chilling mystery featuring two main point-of-view characters, Mattie and Cole, a married couple still working through their relationship and past traumas while investigating a crime that left a two-year-old as the only witness.
The mystery itself is excellent, touching on difficult subjects like organized human trafficking and the fear and desperation of those trapped in such situations. I particularly appreciated how the story explored the ways victims can be made to fear law enforcement, leaving them afraid to speak out even when help might be available.
Robo, the police K9, is a fantastic addition to the team, with his own personality, excitement, and needs. He's written not simply as a tool for solving crimes, but as a living, breathing character who needs food, water, play, and attention. He plays a significant supporting role, particularly in Mattie's story.
I'm so glad I picked up this book. Even coming into the series at book eleven, I found myself invested in Mattie and Cole's relationship and curious about everything they've been through to get here. I'm definitely interested in going back and discovering their story through the previous ten books.
The mystery itself is excellent, touching on difficult subjects like organized human trafficking and the fear and desperation of those trapped in such situations. I particularly appreciated how the story explored the ways victims can be made to fear law enforcement, leaving them afraid to speak out even when help might be available.
Robo, the police K9, is a fantastic addition to the team, with his own personality, excitement, and needs. He's written not simply as a tool for solving crimes, but as a living, breathing character who needs food, water, play, and attention. He plays a significant supporting role, particularly in Mattie's story.
I'm so glad I picked up this book. Even coming into the series at book eleven, I found myself invested in Mattie and Cole's relationship and curious about everything they've been through to get here. I'm definitely interested in going back and discovering their story through the previous ten books.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fighting Edge
Margaret Mizushima
September 08, 2026
Getting up at dawn to start her detective duties in Timber Creek, Mattie Walker drives to a welfare check on a young mother. The daycare provider has called in to say that her client has not arrived or called in. No one answers the locked door however she hears the baby crying. That takes her to the back of the house where she finds the door unlocked. Entering on a security alert she finds the toddler standing in her crib crying. Checking further she discovers her mother lying dead on the couch. This starts many activities that are discovered by the police force and Mattie’s husband Cole, the local veterinarian.
Fighting Edge will be published on September 08, 2026 by Crooked Lane Books. I was able to read and review Mizushima’s 11th novel in the Timber Creek K-9 Series via NetGalley. As I am quite a fan of her writing, I have read all of this series (so far). Fighting Edge is a page-turner that kept me involved throughout the novel. Her writing keeps the readers on the brink wondering what Matte will encounter next. Do Enjoy!
Margaret Mizushima
September 08, 2026
Getting up at dawn to start her detective duties in Timber Creek, Mattie Walker drives to a welfare check on a young mother. The daycare provider has called in to say that her client has not arrived or called in. No one answers the locked door however she hears the baby crying. That takes her to the back of the house where she finds the door unlocked. Entering on a security alert she finds the toddler standing in her crib crying. Checking further she discovers her mother lying dead on the couch. This starts many activities that are discovered by the police force and Mattie’s husband Cole, the local veterinarian.
Fighting Edge will be published on September 08, 2026 by Crooked Lane Books. I was able to read and review Mizushima’s 11th novel in the Timber Creek K-9 Series via NetGalley. As I am quite a fan of her writing, I have read all of this series (so far). Fighting Edge is a page-turner that kept me involved throughout the novel. Her writing keeps the readers on the brink wondering what Matte will encounter next. Do Enjoy!
October 30, 2026
SPOILER ALERT
Deputy and K-9 handler Mattie Walker responds to a welfare check and finds a woman dead and her toddler wailing. It seems that Emma saw her mother killed and gives some minimal indication of what she saw, in 2 year old language. "Audie Beebee" did something to her mother. With Robo, her German Shepherd at her side Mattie and her team will follow evidence and search for the persons who killed Jaclyn Reynolds. At the same time Mattie will become very attached to Emma.
The investigation will reveal that Jaclyn had been trafficked at one point, and that she had apparently seen someone from her past that scared her and caused her to try to hide from the person at her place of work. She had a former boyfriend that she had dropped, who was abusive and stalking, and another at work that was interested. But the presence of young persons working at a local Rottweiler raising farm and farming enterprise and other interests appears to be connected to another human trafficking gang.
Another fascinating story of Mattie and her family, and the encroachment of criminal activity in their formerly quiet community.
Deputy and K-9 handler Mattie Walker responds to a welfare check and finds a woman dead and her toddler wailing. It seems that Emma saw her mother killed and gives some minimal indication of what she saw, in 2 year old language. "Audie Beebee" did something to her mother. With Robo, her German Shepherd at her side Mattie and her team will follow evidence and search for the persons who killed Jaclyn Reynolds. At the same time Mattie will become very attached to Emma.
The investigation will reveal that Jaclyn had been trafficked at one point, and that she had apparently seen someone from her past that scared her and caused her to try to hide from the person at her place of work. She had a former boyfriend that she had dropped, who was abusive and stalking, and another at work that was interested. But the presence of young persons working at a local Rottweiler raising farm and farming enterprise and other interests appears to be connected to another human trafficking gang.
Another fascinating story of Mattie and her family, and the encroachment of criminal activity in their formerly quiet community.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2026
What an amazing read! The book is filled with suspense and adventure from the first to the last page. We step right into a mysterious death, an investigation takes you off into mysterious happenings.This book swirls you into a crime scene a dead mother with her baby girl Emma in another room all alone. Mattie Walker is there with her K-9 Robo to do what she can to solve the mystery. Mattie finds herself drawn into the case with several mysteries to solve, possible child trafficking, as well as really dangerous situations. Together with others from the Timber Creek Sheriff's office they have a bit of a run against time to solve the murder investigation that turns into several cases one after another. The book was so good and entertaining it was suspenseful, with Robo also doing his part in helping Mattie nail the criminals. I enjoyed the K-9 bits with Mattie, and the extensive canine stories all along in the storytelling.
I'm grateful to have read this book and, I can definitely recommend it to those who are looking for a suspenseful mystery.
Charlotte N
I'm grateful to have read this book and, I can definitely recommend it to those who are looking for a suspenseful mystery.
Charlotte N
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Fighting Edge" is a K9-detective mystery. It's the 11th in a series. You can understand this book without reading the previous ones, and this book didn't spoil the previous mysteries.
It's a clue-based mystery. There was suspense, especially near the end, due to danger to the good guys and the trafficked teens. The main characters were likable and complex, and they reacted realistically to events. They came across as real people, and I cared about what happened to them. Mattie and Robo (her talented k9) and the sheriff’s department worked to solve the murder and uncover the possible human trafficking group. Mattie struggled with fulfilling her family responsibilities while also doing her job.
The crime scenes were not described in gory detail. There were no sex scenes. The was occasional use of bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this interesting mystery.
I received a free ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
It's a clue-based mystery. There was suspense, especially near the end, due to danger to the good guys and the trafficked teens. The main characters were likable and complex, and they reacted realistically to events. They came across as real people, and I cared about what happened to them. Mattie and Robo (her talented k9) and the sheriff’s department worked to solve the murder and uncover the possible human trafficking group. Mattie struggled with fulfilling her family responsibilities while also doing her job.
The crime scenes were not described in gory detail. There were no sex scenes. The was occasional use of bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this interesting mystery.
I received a free ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
September 18, 2026
I had the opportunity to learn about Fighting Edge, and the book immediately stood out as a gripping new installment in the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series, combining law-enforcement suspense, K-9 partnership, organized crime, human trafficking, and multiple intersecting investigations. As the eleventh book in the series, it also benefits from an established readership while offering a fresh case involving Deputy Mattie Walker and her K-9 partner, Robo. With 230 Goodreads ratings, 46 written reviews, and a 4.63 average rating, the book has already generated substantial reader engagement since its publication on September 7, 2026. The Amazon edition you shared also has a 4.8 out of 5 rating from 187 reviews, giving the title another strong layer of visible reader response. This creates a valuable opportunity to build on that early momentum and extend the book’s reach among mystery, suspense, crime, and K-9 fiction readers.
October 12, 2026
I always enjoy the stories of Mattie and her highly trained police dog Robo. This one does take a dark turn when Mattie is asked to do a wellness check and finds a young woman dead and a toddler crying in her crib who says Auntie BeeBee hit her mother and now she is asleep. After taking care of this matter, she heads out hoping to attend a counseling session with her new family, but instead, pulls over a car for speeding and discovers a spare tire full of drugs and a teenaged Mexican boy who is being trafficked as a farm laborer. Something ugly has come to Timber Creek, but how to root it out? Meanwhile, her veterinarian husband is called out vaccinate dozens of puppies at two high class puppy mills. He, too, notes the youthful workers at both places wearing old clothes and afraid to talk to him. When it is found out that the murdered woman was once a victim of sexual trafficking, the two cases merge. In the usual exciting ending, Robo tracks the culprit over rough terrain to save not just one child but many. So nice to see Mattie, who also had an abusive childhood, loving and trusting her new family.
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