What do you think?
Rate this book
Coyote Run #1
The Dog Thief
How far would you go to save the amazing dog you love?“Incredible! This book touched my heart and soul. ★★★★★" —Amazon Reviewer
Introducing the “touching, funny, and worth crying over” Coyote Run K-9 Search and Rescue mystery series from LIBRARY JOURNAL WOMEN'S SUMMER FICTION author Marta Acosta.
When autistic dog rehabilitator Maddie “Mad Girl” Whitney discovers a corpse on her neighbor’s ranch, she impulsively tries to drum up business by claiming that psychic abilities led her to the victim…with devastating consequences.
"Pure and heartfelt. The Dog Thief is an amazing book... Poetically powerful insight into both animal and human behavior and a satisfying ending. ★★★★★" —Amazon Reviewer
Maddie's forced to start a K-9 Search and Rescue team with her ex-girlfriend's twin, a hostile sheriff, or risk losing her beloved former military dog. She reluctantly begins reaching out to others…and finds friendship and kindness in the unlikeliest of places.
Meanwhile, the unknown killer is determined to stop the animal psychic from solving the mystery of his identity. Can she save her own life by saving the dog she loves?
In a fresh and heartfelt story, Marta Acosta brings to life a complex and beautifully flawed character. Readers will fall in love with this unconventional protagonist who defies labels and classification.
"Amazing! A gripping read that will have your heart racing from start to finish." —James Sinclair, Autistic & Unapologetic
Introducing the “touching, funny, and worth crying over” Coyote Run K-9 Search and Rescue mystery series from LIBRARY JOURNAL WOMEN'S SUMMER FICTION author Marta Acosta.
When autistic dog rehabilitator Maddie “Mad Girl” Whitney discovers a corpse on her neighbor’s ranch, she impulsively tries to drum up business by claiming that psychic abilities led her to the victim…with devastating consequences.
"Pure and heartfelt. The Dog Thief is an amazing book... Poetically powerful insight into both animal and human behavior and a satisfying ending. ★★★★★" —Amazon Reviewer
Maddie's forced to start a K-9 Search and Rescue team with her ex-girlfriend's twin, a hostile sheriff, or risk losing her beloved former military dog. She reluctantly begins reaching out to others…and finds friendship and kindness in the unlikeliest of places.
Meanwhile, the unknown killer is determined to stop the animal psychic from solving the mystery of his identity. Can she save her own life by saving the dog she loves?
In a fresh and heartfelt story, Marta Acosta brings to life a complex and beautifully flawed character. Readers will fall in love with this unconventional protagonist who defies labels and classification.
"Amazing! A gripping read that will have your heart racing from start to finish." —James Sinclair, Autistic & Unapologetic
342 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2018
2009 people are currently reading
449 people want to read
About the author
Marta Acosta
24 books570 followersMarta Acosta lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She was a feral reader, roaming the stacks of the public library.
She received a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from Stanford University and has written for the San Francisco Chronicle, the Contra Costa Times, and Spaces Magazine.
Marta lives with her husband, spawn, and their crazy dogs. An avid gardener, she likes independent films, funny novels, loud music and lively conversations.
She’s always happy to hear from readers, even the ones who point out typos.
She received a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from Stanford University and has written for the San Francisco Chronicle, the Contra Costa Times, and Spaces Magazine.
Marta lives with her husband, spawn, and their crazy dogs. An avid gardener, she likes independent films, funny novels, loud music and lively conversations.
She’s always happy to hear from readers, even the ones who point out typos.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
December 10, 2018
Maddie Whitney, aka Mad Girl is a different type of female lead. A woman whose small town finds her to be an anomaly who totally lives in a world of her own. This is due to certain behavioral/personality issues that keep her from easily making friends with people but makes her the perfect person for training/rehabbing dogs that everyone else has given up on.
Maddie is the type of character you either totally get into or who has the ability to make the reader so uncomfortable they cannot enjoy the storylines.
For me she is a representation of why one should never judge anyone else. The ticks and quirks of this fictional woman's are very realistically portrayed in a way that lead me to empathize rather than be disturbed by them.
As Maddie herself finds a way to overcome certain long held fears so does her ability to function in everyday life. It is all a matter of perspective and in her case it helps when certain naysayers in town instead become friends she can count on to have her back.
The dogs were beautifully inserted into scenes where they took center stage and the mystery/suspense aspects proved to be very well orchestrated as well.
The family/friends relationships angles were among my favorites as Maddie grew into herself along with their help and efforts of her own to make the process smoother as the story took place.
Although this is a contemporary rather than a paranormal it is still done with the author's signature flair which I was pleased to enjoy throughout the read.
Maddie is the type of character you either totally get into or who has the ability to make the reader so uncomfortable they cannot enjoy the storylines.
For me she is a representation of why one should never judge anyone else. The ticks and quirks of this fictional woman's are very realistically portrayed in a way that lead me to empathize rather than be disturbed by them.
As Maddie herself finds a way to overcome certain long held fears so does her ability to function in everyday life. It is all a matter of perspective and in her case it helps when certain naysayers in town instead become friends she can count on to have her back.
The dogs were beautifully inserted into scenes where they took center stage and the mystery/suspense aspects proved to be very well orchestrated as well.
The family/friends relationships angles were among my favorites as Maddie grew into herself along with their help and efforts of her own to make the process smoother as the story took place.
Although this is a contemporary rather than a paranormal it is still done with the author's signature flair which I was pleased to enjoy throughout the read.
January 21, 2018
Marta Acosta remains one of my all time favorite authors, a position she earned when I read her series Casa Dracula. I find this series to be a terribly good gauge for choosing friends on GR. If you don't find Casa Dracula charming, poignant and funny we won't have the right chemistry. And Marta's books are all about chemistry.
There are no vampires in The Dog Thief, but a story with an awkward beginning and an awkward heroine. Maddie comes to the table with a comprehensive array of social issues and I found it as difficult to discern her POV as her friends and community did. We all fumble to impose explanations for her oddness and she was never savvy enough to dispel misconceptions. As we get to know the heroine and also see her in her element, we understand, empathize and read all cues.
I was so impressed with Marta's dog training and dog care information in this story. I am a dog lover and part of animal rescue and fostering effort. Dogs come in and out of my life and I so enjoyed Marta's compassionate and well done portrayal of gifted care provider and pack leader.
Perhaps dogs shouldn't have been a highlight...but they were. The human characters were equally captivating as Marta always offers such strongly detailed and nuanced characters. I found each person vivid and intricate.
The ending is so hopeful and warm. It's strength took a four star book to five. I am a bit teary and I hope there is more Maddie and Ollie in our future.
There are no vampires in The Dog Thief, but a story with an awkward beginning and an awkward heroine. Maddie comes to the table with a comprehensive array of social issues and I found it as difficult to discern her POV as her friends and community did. We all fumble to impose explanations for her oddness and she was never savvy enough to dispel misconceptions. As we get to know the heroine and also see her in her element, we understand, empathize and read all cues.
I was so impressed with Marta's dog training and dog care information in this story. I am a dog lover and part of animal rescue and fostering effort. Dogs come in and out of my life and I so enjoyed Marta's compassionate and well done portrayal of gifted care provider and pack leader.
Perhaps dogs shouldn't have been a highlight...but they were. The human characters were equally captivating as Marta always offers such strongly detailed and nuanced characters. I found each person vivid and intricate.
The ending is so hopeful and warm. It's strength took a four star book to five. I am a bit teary and I hope there is more Maddie and Ollie in our future.
Want to read
August 8, 2018💝FREE on Amazon today (8/8/2018)!💝
April 22, 2018
lovely, awkward and true. review soon!
March 25, 2018
I really do not know what to think. I read reviews but did not find any humor in this book. I found it confusing. Guess it is not for me.
November 2, 2018
Must Read
A compassionate book about an autistic woman and her ways of coping with her disability. Let's be clear, the author does not say that Maddie is autistic. But, having 3 nephews and a grandson on the spectrum, I have insight into that behavior. At any rate, Maddie uses dogs as a way to cope with her disability. People think she's an animal psychic and she doesn't correct them. She just states her beliefs as though they are spoken to her by the animal. She unwittingly uncovers a body while walking home. This leads to complications with the sheriff and unwanted attention from the media.
Not much time is spent on the mystery. A great deal of the book is spent on Maggie and her relationships with her sister and brother, her ex-girlfriend, and the sheriff (who is her ex's twin). The story's characters are well-written and the story is touching. In my opinion, this book is a definite 'Must Read'.
A compassionate book about an autistic woman and her ways of coping with her disability. Let's be clear, the author does not say that Maddie is autistic. But, having 3 nephews and a grandson on the spectrum, I have insight into that behavior. At any rate, Maddie uses dogs as a way to cope with her disability. People think she's an animal psychic and she doesn't correct them. She just states her beliefs as though they are spoken to her by the animal. She unwittingly uncovers a body while walking home. This leads to complications with the sheriff and unwanted attention from the media.
Not much time is spent on the mystery. A great deal of the book is spent on Maggie and her relationships with her sister and brother, her ex-girlfriend, and the sheriff (who is her ex's twin). The story's characters are well-written and the story is touching. In my opinion, this book is a definite 'Must Read'.
September 17, 2023
I loved it
I loved Maddie and all her quirks and differences. This woman, who had issues being accepted because of her differences found herself rehabilitating and training dogs. As Maddie fights her feelings of being weird, she discovers it is ok not to be the same. But, works on becoming independent and having real friends .. her pack. The other characters in the book are great as Marta Acosta develops them in her story. Just a feel good book, learning to deal with family and making a place for yourself.
I loved Maddie and all her quirks and differences. This woman, who had issues being accepted because of her differences found herself rehabilitating and training dogs. As Maddie fights her feelings of being weird, she discovers it is ok not to be the same. But, works on becoming independent and having real friends .. her pack. The other characters in the book are great as Marta Acosta develops them in her story. Just a feel good book, learning to deal with family and making a place for yourself.
January 18, 2018
Couldn't recommend more! The Dog Thief is a brilliant read, which once you pick up you will struggle to put down! Constantly shifting tone and taking you to new unexpected places with every page, the writing here is well thought through, keeping to a great pace as you work your way towards figuring out the mystery at the centre of the story.
May 12, 2023
Two-haiku review:
Socially awkward
Dog trainer and pet psychic
Stumbles on body
Really loved Maddy
Fascinating character
She's the real story
Socially awkward
Dog trainer and pet psychic
Stumbles on body
Really loved Maddy
Fascinating character
She's the real story
August 18, 2018
The Dog Thief
by Marta Acosta
I picked this book up on a free e-book list. I wasn't familiar with the author, so I wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did. In fact, I sort of disliked the main character for about the first quarter of the book. But once the story really got rolling, and the backstory of the characters became more clear, things began to fall into place. It turned out to be a delightful mystery with a surprise twist. No cliffhanger ending (worth at least one star to me!), though the door is certainly open for more adventures.
If you love novels involving animals, novels involving love lost and love found, novels featuring less than perfect characters who manage to work their way productively through life, novels involving life and death situations, and novels where early impressions turn out to be dead wrong, then this book is for you.
Great proofing and editing, wonderful flow. The characters are fully fleshed out and consistent. I will definitely be hitting Amazon to see if there are more books featuring this character, and to check out Acosta's other works.
by Marta Acosta
I picked this book up on a free e-book list. I wasn't familiar with the author, so I wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did. In fact, I sort of disliked the main character for about the first quarter of the book. But once the story really got rolling, and the backstory of the characters became more clear, things began to fall into place. It turned out to be a delightful mystery with a surprise twist. No cliffhanger ending (worth at least one star to me!), though the door is certainly open for more adventures.
If you love novels involving animals, novels involving love lost and love found, novels featuring less than perfect characters who manage to work their way productively through life, novels involving life and death situations, and novels where early impressions turn out to be dead wrong, then this book is for you.
Great proofing and editing, wonderful flow. The characters are fully fleshed out and consistent. I will definitely be hitting Amazon to see if there are more books featuring this character, and to check out Acosta's other works.
June 24, 2023
I came into this expecting K9 and I got that and so much more. The main character is autistic and struggles with many things. But she is strong, smart and excellent with dogs. Maddie doesn't do what's expected which is sometimes crazy feeling but she protects the dogs and the vulnerable people.
Maddie is hung up on a woman who she dated previously. Her twin brother is the Sheriff; she thinks he hates her. But they end up working together on search & rescue. She also has a good relationship with the new vet, Ben, thankfully, because she needs to work with the vet so it's great they get along. Maddie has a bunch of family issues with parents and siblings.
Then there's more plot in a murder, a missing elderly woman and an abducted child. I couldn't have enjoyed this more. There are some writing in this story which was absolutely stellar. There's also some humor.
I really enjoy K9 books and that didn't disappoint me either. There is really time spent training and working with dogs, which I love to read.
COYER June RAT
Maddie is hung up on a woman who she dated previously. Her twin brother is the Sheriff; she thinks he hates her. But they end up working together on search & rescue. She also has a good relationship with the new vet, Ben, thankfully, because she needs to work with the vet so it's great they get along. Maddie has a bunch of family issues with parents and siblings.
Then there's more plot in a murder, a missing elderly woman and an abducted child. I couldn't have enjoyed this more. There are some writing in this story which was absolutely stellar. There's also some humor.
I really enjoy K9 books and that didn't disappoint me either. There is really time spent training and working with dogs, which I love to read.
COYER June RAT
January 20, 2022
DNF: I lasted halfway through before I gave up. From the first page, I felt like I had dropped into a series halfway through. There was a lot of backstory that seemed was alluded to as if the reader should already have known it. I am not sure why I stuck with it as long as I did, TBH. The narrative didn’t flow well & I didn’t even find the protagonist terribly likable.
But the dealbreaker for me was her Cesar Milan-style dog training techniques. If I had to read about her kicking a dog in the hindquarters with her heel one more time, I was going to toss my iPad across the room.
But the dealbreaker for me was her Cesar Milan-style dog training techniques. If I had to read about her kicking a dog in the hindquarters with her heel one more time, I was going to toss my iPad across the room.
November 17, 2018
4 star
Don't go into this book expecting a mystery and you should be able to enjoy the unique MC and loveable dogs on their own merits. Also be aware the blurb goes further into the plot than it ought. I looked at it when checking I had been reasonable expecting a mystery. The MC seems credibly autistic, not that I have experience to verify it. I would read more with this MC.
Don't go into this book expecting a mystery and you should be able to enjoy the unique MC and loveable dogs on their own merits. Also be aware the blurb goes further into the plot than it ought. I looked at it when checking I had been reasonable expecting a mystery. The MC seems credibly autistic, not that I have experience to verify it. I would read more with this MC.
March 26, 2025
The mystery wasn’t really investigated, Maddie just asked questions of the Sheriff every once in a while. It was solved at 83%. The exciting end game was great but there was so much time left in the book after that. Then there was a second exciting ending scene for something completely unrelated to the plot but made nice use of the dogs.
I like the heroine, Maddie, with her unapologetic autism she refuses to label. I like that she’s openly bisexual. She misses her previous female partner and wants her back but is also interested in men. I think the autism is done really well except she’s so observant of clothing. I understand noticing the corduroy because it made a bothersome sound but she’s just too observant about their attire. But other than that, it felt right on.
I liked most of the characters and the ones I didn’t like were well created. I loved Ben. I didn’t like how the author played with their emotions. There was a lot of suspense there that I didn’t like. But he accepted and understood her completely.
Through much of it I couldn’t stand her sister who is supposed to be all supportive but keeps trying to change her. But she got better. Claire, her ex was okay. It was really painful that the MC couldn’t get the message that Claire doesn’t want her anymore.
I did have a problem with a word that was used. Not the N word but another N word. It’s fine if said by a Black person as as it is here but the author is white so it really made me uncomfortable.
I love all the dogs. How could I not love the book? I actually didn’t at first but it grew on me quickly. The dogs were awesome. I think she got Zeus rehabilitated way too fast but I like that they did showing that not all those dogs are a lost cause.
Interesting factoid (at least I think so). At one point she and a friend tell each other their favorite books about the black plague. Hers is The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis. That is my second overall favorite book of all time.
This is a real spoiler:
I want to read the next one.
The reader was really frustrating. She was good except she didn’t have very many voices. Maddie and her sister sounded exactly the same so when they were talking I didn’t know who was who. The same was true with most of the men.
I like the heroine, Maddie, with her unapologetic autism she refuses to label. I like that she’s openly bisexual. She misses her previous female partner and wants her back but is also interested in men. I think the autism is done really well except she’s so observant of clothing. I understand noticing the corduroy because it made a bothersome sound but she’s just too observant about their attire. But other than that, it felt right on.
I liked most of the characters and the ones I didn’t like were well created. I loved Ben. I didn’t like how the author played with their emotions. There was a lot of suspense there that I didn’t like. But he accepted and understood her completely.
Through much of it I couldn’t stand her sister who is supposed to be all supportive but keeps trying to change her. But she got better. Claire, her ex was okay. It was really painful that the MC couldn’t get the message that Claire doesn’t want her anymore.
I did have a problem with a word that was used. Not the N word but another N word. It’s fine if said by a Black person as as it is here but the author is white so it really made me uncomfortable.
I love all the dogs. How could I not love the book? I actually didn’t at first but it grew on me quickly. The dogs were awesome. I think she got Zeus rehabilitated way too fast but I like that they did showing that not all those dogs are a lost cause.
Interesting factoid (at least I think so). At one point she and a friend tell each other their favorite books about the black plague. Hers is The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis. That is my second overall favorite book of all time.
This is a real spoiler:
I want to read the next one.
The reader was really frustrating. She was good except she didn’t have very many voices. Maddie and her sister sounded exactly the same so when they were talking I didn’t know who was who. The same was true with most of the men.
November 9, 2023
A dog trainer, a murder, and an unexpected love; but is the dog trainer psychic?
This book is the first in the Coyote Run Mystery series about Maddie Whitney who rescues, trains and boards dogs in the town of Coyote Run. While never actually stating it, Maddie appears to be partially autistic.
After rescuing a stray dog called Ghost with 2 pups, Maddie and her dog, Bertie, a retired military search and rescue dog, take a short cut through a neighbor’s field, when Bertie gets a whiff of something rotten in the air. Allowing Bertie to take the lead, Maddie discovers a poorly buried body.
The story then goes into a long sequence describing Maddie’s relationships with the town people, her family, the sheriff and the new town vet. She also gets a reputation as a dog psychic helping to get more clients for her business.
As the story develops Maddie is called by the sheriff to help rescue a dog called Zeus during a drug raid, help find an elderly woman with Alzheimer’s, and find a 6-year-old boy who went missing during the town’s Fall celebration.
The story features Bertie and Zeus as the main characters in these rescues, but the story is more about Maddie and her relationships with the other people of the town, which causes the story to drag at certain points. I would have preferred more action featuring the dogs.
This book is the first in the Coyote Run Mystery series about Maddie Whitney who rescues, trains and boards dogs in the town of Coyote Run. While never actually stating it, Maddie appears to be partially autistic.
After rescuing a stray dog called Ghost with 2 pups, Maddie and her dog, Bertie, a retired military search and rescue dog, take a short cut through a neighbor’s field, when Bertie gets a whiff of something rotten in the air. Allowing Bertie to take the lead, Maddie discovers a poorly buried body.
The story then goes into a long sequence describing Maddie’s relationships with the town people, her family, the sheriff and the new town vet. She also gets a reputation as a dog psychic helping to get more clients for her business.
As the story develops Maddie is called by the sheriff to help rescue a dog called Zeus during a drug raid, help find an elderly woman with Alzheimer’s, and find a 6-year-old boy who went missing during the town’s Fall celebration.
The story features Bertie and Zeus as the main characters in these rescues, but the story is more about Maddie and her relationships with the other people of the town, which causes the story to drag at certain points. I would have preferred more action featuring the dogs.
August 13, 2018
Although not stated explicitly, it becomes obvious fairly quickly that the protagonist is autistic, with many of the behaviors associated with autism. Because she understands dogs so well, her neighbors consider her to be psychic and are in awe of her while scornful of her oddities. Maddie is not a protagonist that is easy to like or identify with and you have to be willing to stick with the book to find the satisfying conclusions. There is a murder mystery here, a romance, dog training tips, environmental discussions, and a wonderful arc to the story of Maddie and her dogs as she and her family and friends all make adjustments to each other. My one quibble is that this may not be a stand-alone novel and a few loose ends are left dangling. (What happened to Raymond? To the gun safe?) I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who is a bit tired of the formulaic "cozies" and want something with a bit of spice and other issues in the protagonist.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2020
A wonderful read with all the highs and lows of real life as well as some real world references that made me smile, sing/hum with the characters or outright laugh at....as well as one reference which was almost prophetic considering the world of 2020.
Our heroine, Maddie, shows that judging a book by its cover is never the right option. Maddie, or Mad Girl as some call her, is on the autistic spectrum and relates better with dogs than people. While I can see how this book may be disconcerting to some it shines a much needed light on an area of society and the way growing up withe a sibling like Maddie can cause problems.
With her ability to read a dogs behaviour Maddie, who has already 'rescued' Bertie then 'rescues' Zeus, both of whom are trained tracker dogs. While teaching the local sherrif to be Zeus's handler they get their first search and rescue.
The characters are well developed and diverse. Each with their quirks .
Our heroine, Maddie, shows that judging a book by its cover is never the right option. Maddie, or Mad Girl as some call her, is on the autistic spectrum and relates better with dogs than people. While I can see how this book may be disconcerting to some it shines a much needed light on an area of society and the way growing up withe a sibling like Maddie can cause problems.
With her ability to read a dogs behaviour Maddie, who has already 'rescued' Bertie then 'rescues' Zeus, both of whom are trained tracker dogs. While teaching the local sherrif to be Zeus's handler they get their first search and rescue.
The characters are well developed and diverse. Each with their quirks .
October 28, 2021
This is the first book I have read by this author. To be honest, when I first started reading the book, I wanted to stop and say “forget this one”. I kept reading on b/c I knew there were dogs in this story and the main character, Maddie loved dogs. The story grew on me. Maddie grew on me as well as all the other characters. I am not one who likes to read about homophobic relationships so Claire and Maddie’s affair was a turn off.
I must admit that I liked the book very much despite my initial judgements. This book developed its characters and there definitely were drama, excitement, and intrigue. I couldn’t figure out who killed that lady at the beginning of the book. As the book neared its ending a kidnapped boy appears in the story! I knew deep down Zeus old find the boy. Whoohoo for Zeus! I had an inkling about Maddie and Oliver. It had a good/happy ending. I probably will read book #2.
I must admit that I liked the book very much despite my initial judgements. This book developed its characters and there definitely were drama, excitement, and intrigue. I couldn’t figure out who killed that lady at the beginning of the book. As the book neared its ending a kidnapped boy appears in the story! I knew deep down Zeus old find the boy. Whoohoo for Zeus! I had an inkling about Maddie and Oliver. It had a good/happy ending. I probably will read book #2.
July 10, 2018
Awkward, honest and a joy to behold!
It easy to be fooled by a cleverly phrased blurb and led into thinking you're heading for a party but you're really getting neutered, but this is the promised party. At times funny and chaotic and then touching and messy. I think the book would make the start of a wonderful series, each character brings more questions to ponder and desires to know more and yet more again! The story rambled wonderfully through tough issues and sad experiences but still kept you in that happy place to provide a wonderful escape. I don't think any review would be thorough without a negative aspect and the only ones I can see are some errors in sentence structures and the end felt a little rushed compared to the leisurely journey through the rest of the book!
It easy to be fooled by a cleverly phrased blurb and led into thinking you're heading for a party but you're really getting neutered, but this is the promised party. At times funny and chaotic and then touching and messy. I think the book would make the start of a wonderful series, each character brings more questions to ponder and desires to know more and yet more again! The story rambled wonderfully through tough issues and sad experiences but still kept you in that happy place to provide a wonderful escape. I don't think any review would be thorough without a negative aspect and the only ones I can see are some errors in sentence structures and the end felt a little rushed compared to the leisurely journey through the rest of the book!
October 10, 2022
So much to say about this book:
1. Writing: sharp and clear which is quite wonderful as the plot and characters are so complex.
2. Dialogue: sooo smart, especially Maddie, with a lot of snark, sarcasm and deep emotion.
3. Relationships: humdinger difficult
4. Maddie's problematic, puzzling and knotty behaviors (on the autism scale?) are revealed through her behavior (physically, emotionally, and inner musings) and dialogue with others, not only told by the author. I think it is a very tough thing to do. It amazed me and delighted me and had me squirming and slapping my forehead with the palm of my hand too many times. Just wow.
5. Wrap up all the above with many intriguing tangles to figure out and a heroine probably close to a genius - again, wow.
I loved this book because the heroine was tough to easily love and worth every effort to love her.
1. Writing: sharp and clear which is quite wonderful as the plot and characters are so complex.
2. Dialogue: sooo smart, especially Maddie, with a lot of snark, sarcasm and deep emotion.
3. Relationships: humdinger difficult
4. Maddie's problematic, puzzling and knotty behaviors (on the autism scale?) are revealed through her behavior (physically, emotionally, and inner musings) and dialogue with others, not only told by the author. I think it is a very tough thing to do. It amazed me and delighted me and had me squirming and slapping my forehead with the palm of my hand too many times. Just wow.
5. Wrap up all the above with many intriguing tangles to figure out and a heroine probably close to a genius - again, wow.
I loved this book because the heroine was tough to easily love and worth every effort to love her.
September 18, 2018
Maddie is a complex character who has been dealing, since childhood, with being a slightly functioning autistic as well as confusion about her sexuality. Although she's the eldest of three, because of her special needs, she is cared for by her younger sister and despised by her brother. Add to her problems, the fact that her parents separated early on adds yet another dimension. Still, like most autistic individuals, she is brilliant in other ways and has a talent that makes her special. Once you get into it, it is hard to put down and never disappoints you even to the end. The author has developed her her characters in such a way that you feel you know each of them personally, or wish you did. If there were a higher star rating, I would have given it eagerly!
March 23, 2022
A Kindle Unlimited WOW! Well written. Wonderful character development, both human & canine, with very human characters & very loveable canine characters. Every town should be so lucky to have a Maddie. It was the kind of funny that would launch me into a loud outburst of laughter. Not sure how Ms Acosta writes of autism, and writes so well of all the reactions people have to Maddie. Very believable...as in NOT over the top...mysteries I'm already on to the next book in the series & thrilled that there will be a third soon. After I finish this series I'll go on to whatever else Ms Acosta has written. Altogether wonderful, memorable book that I didn't want to end, but couldn't seem to pace myself either. Can you tell I really loved it?!!
March 15, 2023
Maddie is different and loves her dogs and women and men and is afraid of everything
Maddie is a dog trainer and jokes about being a pet phycic. Because she understands dogs better than people. She lives with her sister and has just gave up her lover. She is mixed up and has many problems and has had since she was a child. She is working with the hot Sheriff to train him as a Search and rescue partner the motive is to save a dog the drug dealer had mistreated. They get into spats and find people and murderers. Strangely moving story about finding yourself and how to grow up finally. Finding the people you love and letting go the-ones you think you can’t do without. Letting new people into your tight world
Maddie is a dog trainer and jokes about being a pet phycic. Because she understands dogs better than people. She lives with her sister and has just gave up her lover. She is mixed up and has many problems and has had since she was a child. She is working with the hot Sheriff to train him as a Search and rescue partner the motive is to save a dog the drug dealer had mistreated. They get into spats and find people and murderers. Strangely moving story about finding yourself and how to grow up finally. Finding the people you love and letting go the-ones you think you can’t do without. Letting new people into your tight world
January 13, 2019
Everyone is different and thats OK
I Thoroughly enjoyed this book.. It moves right along and is full of unexpected happenings. I believe ( but it never is said, that the main character is an Autistic Savant, And she is especially gifted in working with dogs particularly those with problems. There are many instances in this story that are sad but just as many are funny. I'm looking forward to reading the authors other books, which appear to be on altogether unusual topics!
it is never stated the main character is an autistic sevant with an afinity to dogs being her special gift.
I Thoroughly enjoyed this book.. It moves right along and is full of unexpected happenings. I believe ( but it never is said, that the main character is an Autistic Savant, And she is especially gifted in working with dogs particularly those with problems. There are many instances in this story that are sad but just as many are funny. I'm looking forward to reading the authors other books, which appear to be on altogether unusual topics!
it is never stated the main character is an autistic sevant with an afinity to dogs being her special gift.
March 30, 2023
Anytime there is a dog or dogs involved I look forward to reading the book.
This book was so much more!
The characters are complex and flawed making their participation in the story so much more interesting and fun to read.
The information shared is well researched and very informative. I really learned things I did not know about dog training and search and rescue with those dogs.
This is a great book to curl up with and immerse yourself in and is guaranteed to keep you reading to the end.
(I read it in a day).
Recommend this author as a terrific story teller who has brought characters to life with her descriptive writing style.
This book was so much more!
The characters are complex and flawed making their participation in the story so much more interesting and fun to read.
The information shared is well researched and very informative. I really learned things I did not know about dog training and search and rescue with those dogs.
This is a great book to curl up with and immerse yourself in and is guaranteed to keep you reading to the end.
(I read it in a day).
Recommend this author as a terrific story teller who has brought characters to life with her descriptive writing style.
May 15, 2023
I ended up loving this book...but it definitely took a while for me to get into it. The reader is thrust into Maddie's life abruptly & consequently, there are a lot of references that aren't explained until down the road a bit. I felt disoriented & confused during the first portion of the book...but as things leveled out, things began to make sense. I'm looking forward to re-reading this now that I've finished all 3 books.
An excellent mystery, a joy to experience the deep dive into dog knowledge and a great lesson in finding your own place based on personal strengths, in spite of physical issues.
An excellent mystery, a joy to experience the deep dive into dog knowledge and a great lesson in finding your own place based on personal strengths, in spite of physical issues.
October 7, 2024
Maddie Whitney, a specialist in dog rehabilitation and training for those with autism, feels alienated by her community until the discovery of a body in the forest propels her into the spotlight. After proclaiming herself an animal psychic on television, Maddie and her sister Kenzie use their newfound fame to increase their earnings. However, their celebrity status also disturbs a murderer. When the local Sheriff needs a Search and Rescue team, he sets his sights on Maddie's cherished dog, Bertie. To safeguard Bertie, Maddie agrees to train the Sheriff and assist in rescue efforts, inadvertently provoking the murderer further.
January 31, 2026
What A Surprise
As I began reading this book, I did not like the main character and doubted I would finish it. Boy, was I wrong. Maddie was simply more complex than most of the characters I’ve “met” through my love of reading. Now I look forward to following her adventures in the other books based in Coyote Run. My only criticism regards the editing of the book…it allowed too many typos and grammatical errors to make to print. That’s a disservice to a talented author like Ms. Acosta. She has a gift for developing characters and plots that demand a reader’s full attention and praise.
As I began reading this book, I did not like the main character and doubted I would finish it. Boy, was I wrong. Maddie was simply more complex than most of the characters I’ve “met” through my love of reading. Now I look forward to following her adventures in the other books based in Coyote Run. My only criticism regards the editing of the book…it allowed too many typos and grammatical errors to make to print. That’s a disservice to a talented author like Ms. Acosta. She has a gift for developing characters and plots that demand a reader’s full attention and praise.
February 22, 2018
I love reading Marta Acosta's books because I just adore being in the worlds that she creates. Her worlds tend to be quirky, smart, funny, and full of excitement. The Dog Thief is no exception. I found I didn't want to put the book down or step out of the small town of Coyote Run. My two criticisms were: I found one aspect of the plot a bit muddy, and there were many copy-editing errors in the e-book version I read. But otherwise, The Dog Thief was a joy to read. The protagonist was vibrant, thoughtful, smart, and brought a unique perspective. More than the plot itself, it was just a pleasant experience to read this book. I look forward to Marta Acosta's next book!
December 5, 2020
Must Love Dogs
An animal trainer is considered odd in the small town where she and her sister reside. Probably on the spectrum, Maddie loves her dogs and grieves her break up with the sheriff's sister. But she quickly becomes the focus when she stumbles across a dead body. This will lead her into unchartered territory personally, professionally and romantically.
This book is too talky for my taste. Maddie is bright but not especially likable. The story unfolds leisurely with the mystery taking a back seat to Maddie's personal life and quirks. It is okay.
An animal trainer is considered odd in the small town where she and her sister reside. Probably on the spectrum, Maddie loves her dogs and grieves her break up with the sheriff's sister. But she quickly becomes the focus when she stumbles across a dead body. This will lead her into unchartered territory personally, professionally and romantically.
This book is too talky for my taste. Maddie is bright but not especially likable. The story unfolds leisurely with the mystery taking a back seat to Maddie's personal life and quirks. It is okay.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews