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A Mercy Carr Mystery #2
Blind Search
Former Army MP Mercy Carr and her retired bomb-sniffing dog Elvis are back in this sequel to the page-turning, critically acclaimed A Borrowing of Bones
It’s October, hunting season in the Green Mountains—and the Vermont wilderness has never been more beautiful or more dangerous. Especially for ten-year-old Henry, who’s lost in the woods. Again. Only this time he sees something terrible. When a young woman is found shot through the heart with a fatal arrow, Mercy thinks that something is murder. But Henry, a math genius whose autism often silences him when he should speak up most, is not talking.
Now there’s a murderer hiding among the hunters in the forest—and Mercy and Elvis must team up with their crime-solving friends, game warden Troy Warner and search-and-rescue dog Susie Bear, to find the killer—before the killer finds Henry. When an early season blizzard hits the mountains, cutting them off from the rest of the world, the race is on to solve the crime, apprehend the murderer, and keep the boy safe until the snowplows get through.
Inspired by the true search-and-rescue case of an autistic boy who got lost in the Vermont wilderness, this mystery is a compelling roller coaster ride through the worst of winter—and human nature.
It’s October, hunting season in the Green Mountains—and the Vermont wilderness has never been more beautiful or more dangerous. Especially for ten-year-old Henry, who’s lost in the woods. Again. Only this time he sees something terrible. When a young woman is found shot through the heart with a fatal arrow, Mercy thinks that something is murder. But Henry, a math genius whose autism often silences him when he should speak up most, is not talking.
Now there’s a murderer hiding among the hunters in the forest—and Mercy and Elvis must team up with their crime-solving friends, game warden Troy Warner and search-and-rescue dog Susie Bear, to find the killer—before the killer finds Henry. When an early season blizzard hits the mountains, cutting them off from the rest of the world, the race is on to solve the crime, apprehend the murderer, and keep the boy safe until the snowplows get through.
Inspired by the true search-and-rescue case of an autistic boy who got lost in the Vermont wilderness, this mystery is a compelling roller coaster ride through the worst of winter—and human nature.
Audiobook
First published November 5, 2019
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About the author
Paula Munier
27 books628 followersPAULA MUNIER is the author of the bestselling Plot Perfect, The Writer’s Guide to Beginnings, Writing with Quiet Hands, and the acclaimed memoir Fixing Freddie. The first novel in her mystery series, A BORROWING OF BONES (Minotaur, 2018) was inspired by the hero working dogs she met through Mission K9 Rescue, her own Newfoundland-retriever-mix rescue Bear, and her lifelong passion for crime fiction. In her fabulous day job as Senior Literary Agent and Content Strategist for Talcott Notch Literary, she represents many great writers. Her specialties include crime fiction, women’s fiction, upmarket fiction, MG/YA, high-concept SFF, and nonfiction. She lives in New England with her family, Bear, Freddie, and a torbie tabby named Ursula.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 384 reviews
February 10, 2020
I really enjoyed A Borrowing of Bones and was interested where Munier would go with the series. This time, a woman is killed in the forest during hunting season. Was it murder? And what did a young boy, somewhere on the spectrum, see when he was out there?
Every time Elvis and Susie Bear are in the scene, they steal it. Luckily, they’re there to help young Henry. I found I was smiling a lot while listening to this, as they comforted him.
We see the beginning of some romantic thoughts in this second book.
This was an enjoyable audiobook. It moves at a good, steady pace, in a straight forward motion and it's easy to keep track of all the characters and plot lines. There are multiple storylines and quite a few possible culprits. I wasn’t crazy about the ending as it was totally unbelievable. For that reason, I've only rated it 3 stars.
October 28, 2019
I have a very soft spot in my heart for books that involve K-9 officers. I'm not sure how I missed book 1 of this series, but I jumped at the chance to read a review copy of book 2! So glad I did...I can tell this series is going to quickly become one of my favorites!
Mercy Carr is a former Army MP. Her fuzzy sidekick, Elvis, is a retired bomb sniffing dog. They team up with local game warden Troy Warner and his search and rescue dog to investigate a killing. A young autistic boy was lost in the woods and may have witnessed the murder. Someone is after the boy now, too. So, the two dogs....and their two people....have to team up to protect the boy and catch a killer.
A reader could jump into this second book without reading the first story. There are enough clues to the characters, relationships and background stories to fill in any gaps. But, I am going to backtrack and read book one, then re-read this one. I want to get the whole picture! In fact, I have the first book, A Borrowing of Bones, waiting for me at the library.
The investigation moved along at a nice pace, with plenty of clues, suspects, twists and action. There are also some secrets, past relationships and a bit of drama in the character development. I like the setting in Vermont. And several of the side characters are just awesome! Henry is an awesome character. I hope he shows up in later stories!
All in all, a very entertaining reading experience. Well-written, suspenseful and engrossing! It definitely kept my attention from start to finish.
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St Martin's Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
Mercy Carr is a former Army MP. Her fuzzy sidekick, Elvis, is a retired bomb sniffing dog. They team up with local game warden Troy Warner and his search and rescue dog to investigate a killing. A young autistic boy was lost in the woods and may have witnessed the murder. Someone is after the boy now, too. So, the two dogs....and their two people....have to team up to protect the boy and catch a killer.
A reader could jump into this second book without reading the first story. There are enough clues to the characters, relationships and background stories to fill in any gaps. But, I am going to backtrack and read book one, then re-read this one. I want to get the whole picture! In fact, I have the first book, A Borrowing of Bones, waiting for me at the library.
The investigation moved along at a nice pace, with plenty of clues, suspects, twists and action. There are also some secrets, past relationships and a bit of drama in the character development. I like the setting in Vermont. And several of the side characters are just awesome! Henry is an awesome character. I hope he shows up in later stories!
All in all, a very entertaining reading experience. Well-written, suspenseful and engrossing! It definitely kept my attention from start to finish.
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St Martin's Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
October 15, 2019
Love this series! Great characters, especially the search dogs. Compelling plot.
April 3, 2021
4.5 stars
December 8, 2019
I really don't like Mercy. The entire plot is based on poor police work and amazing intuition. Only Mercy knows that there's a child missing and even then they find him within a very short period of time. Nobody else noticed the marks in the snow and of course they never said a word about it, just took off and found him. Mercy goes through everyone's rooms and belongings which the regular police cannot do and magically figures out the case. The police man is a self-absorbed character, just to make Mercy look like a hero.
Then... the very childish ending. IMO, there has never even been a first date..... yet she's ticked that he didn't tell her that he's simply separated??? In today's world... this is shocking??? Did she ask, nope just threw a teenager hissy and walked out.
The premise is excellent, the secondary characters interesting, the execution.... not so much.
Then... the very childish ending. IMO, there has never even been a first date..... yet she's ticked that he didn't tell her that he's simply separated??? In today's world... this is shocking??? Did she ask, nope just threw a teenager hissy and walked out.
The premise is excellent, the secondary characters interesting, the execution.... not so much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2019
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this arc.
I have read A Borrowing of Bones -- the 1st Mercy & Elvis book and enjoyed it. I looked forward to this read as well. I love dog stories (they don't need walking like my dogs do), and Elvis is very much a character and real part of these stories. As is Susie Bear... Mercy and Troy are likeable as well, but it's the older gals in this story that stole the show for me, Patience & Lillian. Blind Search very much felt like one almost all the way through -- a complex collection of crimes to be figured out. It moved at a fast pace, slowed down only by a couple of snow storms (snow?? in Vermont?, who knew) Several new characters were added into Northshire and I'd like to see more of them in future books.
I'd also like to see more in-depth character development and fewer details of clothing, furniture, high-end automobiles, etc.
3.5 stars rounded up.
I have read A Borrowing of Bones -- the 1st Mercy & Elvis book and enjoyed it. I looked forward to this read as well. I love dog stories (they don't need walking like my dogs do), and Elvis is very much a character and real part of these stories. As is Susie Bear... Mercy and Troy are likeable as well, but it's the older gals in this story that stole the show for me, Patience & Lillian. Blind Search very much felt like one almost all the way through -- a complex collection of crimes to be figured out. It moved at a fast pace, slowed down only by a couple of snow storms (snow?? in Vermont?, who knew) Several new characters were added into Northshire and I'd like to see more of them in future books.
I'd also like to see more in-depth character development and fewer details of clothing, furniture, high-end automobiles, etc.
3.5 stars rounded up.
July 18, 2020
I enjoyed the first book but this was too convoluted and unbelievable. The dogs are great, my main reason for reading and so was Henry. However, the editing was horrible (too vs. two, many missing articles, etc.) and the author’s research is lacking: moose and elk are not the same animal; no one hunts deer with a .22 and if they did it would bounce off its hide not kill it; owners and trainers of sophisticated working dogs would never feed their animals so much people food. And finally, Mercy’s tantrum at the end is a slap in the face to any intelligent female. How can someone be so smart and immature at the same time?
May 28, 2020
Deducted 2 stars; 1 star for editing. I'll normally give a pass to these, but this book had too many for me. I got fed up with the multiple editing errors when the new character Yolanda is named before the MC, or anyone else in the story, even meets her and is introduced.
1 star for the killer of Alice and the bizzare ending. Unbelievable killer, thrown in almost as an afterthought, and then what do I say about the temper tantrum MC throws...
How about - I stayed up for that??
Not sure I'll continue with the series.
1 star for the killer of Alice and the bizzare ending. Unbelievable killer, thrown in almost as an afterthought, and then what do I say about the temper tantrum MC throws...
How about - I stayed up for that??
Not sure I'll continue with the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2020
Sadly, my love for Elvis (and for the little boy, Henry) wasn't enough to save this book for me. I liked the first ¾ of the book but the last ¼ was ridiculous. I felt as though Mercy had become a magician, pulling plot solutions out of her hat. It was so convoluted and improbable! I'm disappointed.
November 14, 2019
I enjoyed Paula Munier's first K-9 book featuring Mercy, Afghanistan veteran and she bought over a bomb search dog, Elvis back to the States. The characters are farther define. I had been looking for the next book, it doesn't disappoint and it held my attention.
It is the first day of hunting season in Vernon and Henry, an autistic boy sees a murder committed and as he fled the scene he becomes lost. Mercy and the Game Warden, Troy and their dogs search for Henry who does not speak after he is located. An unseasonably winter storm occurs to make actions more difficult. Elvis and Suzie Bear develop a relatIon with Henry. The twists and turns this book takes will keep you awake until you finished it. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND SERIES.
It is the first day of hunting season in Vernon and Henry, an autistic boy sees a murder committed and as he fled the scene he becomes lost. Mercy and the Game Warden, Troy and their dogs search for Henry who does not speak after he is located. An unseasonably winter storm occurs to make actions more difficult. Elvis and Suzie Bear develop a relatIon with Henry. The twists and turns this book takes will keep you awake until you finished it. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND SERIES.
July 3, 2023
I did enjoy this a although it took me forever to read. I finally had a day where I was forced to sit still and here I am. Still loved Elvis and Susie Bear. Enjoying the slow burn of Mercy and Troy’s relationship. The mystery was pretty good too! Three and a half stars.
August 24, 2024
This book was great for a road trip with different age passengers. It intrigued and held the interest of my husband and myself as well as our two thirteen-year-old granddaughters. I wanted to get them off their phones at least part of the time and they enjoyed the mystery, and the characters as voiced by the narrator, Kathleen McInerney. I look forward to continuing the series. You gotta love a little boy and protective dogs as well as the slow burn attraction between Mercy and Troy.
Henry is nine-years old and quite the escape artist. This morning, he evades the housekeeper and is the witness to a murder in the lovely October Vermont wilderness while on a random ramble. Henry is autistic and a true math genius, but thia is more than he can handle and he shuts down and refuses to speak of what happened. He only responds to former MP Mercy's dog, Elvis, and Game Warden Troy's dog, Honey Bear.
Mercy and Troy now must find the killer, but an early blizzard and an elitist hunting party make that task more difficult, especially with a police detective who is more interest in the crease on his pants than finding a killer. Poachers and gun runners are baddies Troy has to apprehend, but are thy the murderers?
Henry is nine-years old and quite the escape artist. This morning, he evades the housekeeper and is the witness to a murder in the lovely October Vermont wilderness while on a random ramble. Henry is autistic and a true math genius, but thia is more than he can handle and he shuts down and refuses to speak of what happened. He only responds to former MP Mercy's dog, Elvis, and Game Warden Troy's dog, Honey Bear.
Mercy and Troy now must find the killer, but an early blizzard and an elitist hunting party make that task more difficult, especially with a police detective who is more interest in the crease on his pants than finding a killer. Poachers and gun runners are baddies Troy has to apprehend, but are thy the murderers?
February 24, 2020
1. Very poor editing. Nobody caught that the word “too” was used instead of “two” even though the word “also” was a couple of words further along in the sentence. Oh, and here’s a quote for you: “Elkhounds... ... originally bred by Vikings, were arguably the fiercest bear-hunting dogs in the world. Not to mention wild boar and the elk that graced their name—-known here on this continent as moose.” No. Elk and Moose are NOT THE SAME ANIMAL no matter what continent they are on.
2. The Shakespeare quotations Mercy is always spouting just seem out of place, kind of shoehorned in because the author wants them there, not because they make sense in the story.
3. What absolute honking ridiculousness was the solution to this mystery?! The most unbelievable wackiness I may have ever read.
4. Butlers and two adult children borne of accidental pregnancies and poachers and gun-runners and billionaires and an ex-army squatter and an autistic child and a giant aggressive black bear all running around in the same patch of woods in southern Vermont all at the same time? Yikes. Not to mention all the crimes being committed! Arson, murder, the aforementioned poaching and gun-running, blackmail...
5. Troy and Mercy grin at each other a lot. Nothing else happens, despite the author telling us every now and then that they want it to. Oh, and Mercy’s reaction to finding out that Troy is still technically married (to a cartoonish evil seductress, apparently) is to yell at him, not let him explain, then run off and roar loudly at a bear (really!).
Okay, now I’m making myself laugh. I actually enjoyed parts of it. The middle section with Mercy and Elvis taking care of Henry and getting chased by the SUV on the dirt road, and the arson attempt was exciting, but the last 50 pages was just too wackadoo and the story needs a lot of work to be believable.
2. The Shakespeare quotations Mercy is always spouting just seem out of place, kind of shoehorned in because the author wants them there, not because they make sense in the story.
3. What absolute honking ridiculousness was the solution to this mystery?! The most unbelievable wackiness I may have ever read.
4. Butlers and two adult children borne of accidental pregnancies and poachers and gun-runners and billionaires and an ex-army squatter and an autistic child and a giant aggressive black bear all running around in the same patch of woods in southern Vermont all at the same time? Yikes. Not to mention all the crimes being committed! Arson, murder, the aforementioned poaching and gun-running, blackmail...
5. Troy and Mercy grin at each other a lot. Nothing else happens, despite the author telling us every now and then that they want it to. Oh, and Mercy’s reaction to finding out that Troy is still technically married (to a cartoonish evil seductress, apparently) is to yell at him, not let him explain, then run off and roar loudly at a bear (really!).
Okay, now I’m making myself laugh. I actually enjoyed parts of it. The middle section with Mercy and Elvis taking care of Henry and getting chased by the SUV on the dirt road, and the arson attempt was exciting, but the last 50 pages was just too wackadoo and the story needs a lot of work to be believable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2020
Top-notch mystery/thriller. In the second of this excellent series, Mercy Carr and Elvis, her dog, have settled back in Vermont dealing with PTSD and their mutual loss during their last tour in Afghanistan. A woman is murdered in the woods by a bow and arrow, and a small boy, autistic, goes missing in the woods wearing only his batman pjs. Twists aplenty and wonderfully drawn characters. Highly recommended!
October 29, 2019
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.
I LOVED Borrowing of Bones which was the first book in the Mercy & Elvis Mysteries series. I was thrilled to see a new installment was coming out soon and to be able to read it. I love the mysteries and also the working dogs in the story. Mercy has left the military and lost her fiance who was Elvis' partner in K9 work. They are both dealing with their grief and making a new life. Mercy was an MP and is a key to investigations in the series.
Blind Search was somewhat different than Borrowing of Bones. Mercy worked more on her own than with the game warden, Troy, and the dogs were also less in the plot. Troy and the dogs were still involved but not as much. The romance also was brought up by other characters but they spent almost no time together and it didn't progress. Mercy works for Daniel, again really, and the whole have vs. have-not is on display quite a bit.
I enjoyed the continued world building and character development. I love the townspeople and Henry and hope we continue to see them in future books. There were some exciting new additions to the local community. Some of the bad guys, and Harrington, seem to be just black, with no shades of gray. I'd prefer them more complex when they are in multiple books.
I hope the rich vs. ordinary thing is just part of Mercy's settling between her parent's/ Daniel's world and the regular folks, being able to include both aspects in her life. She may not be able to change the way her parents want to control her but find a compromise where she doesn't have to shut them out of her life. Then again, they may not be salvageable.
I look forward to more. I hope the dogs will be even more involved, actually working. Of course, the people development is also important. But I love the dogs!
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I LOVED Borrowing of Bones which was the first book in the Mercy & Elvis Mysteries series. I was thrilled to see a new installment was coming out soon and to be able to read it. I love the mysteries and also the working dogs in the story. Mercy has left the military and lost her fiance who was Elvis' partner in K9 work. They are both dealing with their grief and making a new life. Mercy was an MP and is a key to investigations in the series.
Blind Search was somewhat different than Borrowing of Bones. Mercy worked more on her own than with the game warden, Troy, and the dogs were also less in the plot. Troy and the dogs were still involved but not as much. The romance also was brought up by other characters but they spent almost no time together and it didn't progress. Mercy works for Daniel, again really, and the whole have vs. have-not is on display quite a bit.
I enjoyed the continued world building and character development. I love the townspeople and Henry and hope we continue to see them in future books. There were some exciting new additions to the local community. Some of the bad guys, and Harrington, seem to be just black, with no shades of gray. I'd prefer them more complex when they are in multiple books.
I hope the rich vs. ordinary thing is just part of Mercy's settling between her parent's/ Daniel's world and the regular folks, being able to include both aspects in her life. She may not be able to change the way her parents want to control her but find a compromise where she doesn't have to shut them out of her life. Then again, they may not be salvageable.
I look forward to more. I hope the dogs will be even more involved, actually working. Of course, the people development is also important. But I love the dogs!
November 21, 2021
Blind Search
3 Stars
Mercy Carr and her Belgian Malinois, Elvis, team up once again with Game Warden Troy Warner and his Newfie, Susie Bear, in pursuit of a killer. This time Mercy finds the body of a young woman pierced through the heart by an arrow. The situation is compounded by the fact that the only witness to the crime is a 9-year-old autistic boy
Although well-written with engaging characters, this follow-up to A Borrowing of Bones does not completely resonate.
As with the first book, the mystery involves numerous characters and threads and it is not always easy to keep track, especially while listening to the audiobook. Some of the plot elements are predictable, and the eventual reveal of the killer is almost an afterthought to the twists and turns of the case.
The inclusion of unnecessary angst at the end is annoying. Mercy's reaction to is way over the top. Hopefully, this will be a small blip on the romance front and the next book will resolve the issue satisfactorily. Time will tell...
Finally, Kathleen McInerney's narration is wonderful and earned the book an extra star.
3 Stars
Mercy Carr and her Belgian Malinois, Elvis, team up once again with Game Warden Troy Warner and his Newfie, Susie Bear, in pursuit of a killer. This time Mercy finds the body of a young woman pierced through the heart by an arrow. The situation is compounded by the fact that the only witness to the crime is a 9-year-old autistic boy
Although well-written with engaging characters, this follow-up to A Borrowing of Bones does not completely resonate.
As with the first book, the mystery involves numerous characters and threads and it is not always easy to keep track, especially while listening to the audiobook. Some of the plot elements are predictable, and the eventual reveal of the killer is almost an afterthought to the twists and turns of the case.
The inclusion of unnecessary angst at the end is annoying. Mercy's reaction to is way over the top. Hopefully, this will be a small blip on the romance front and the next book will resolve the issue satisfactorily. Time will tell...
Finally, Kathleen McInerney's narration is wonderful and earned the book an extra star.
May 14, 2020
Blind Search by Paula Munier was another complicated mystery with characters who are beginning to be favorites. Mercy and Elvis are great partners and I enjoyed watching both of them begin to come out of their shells. Mercy has opened her home to a teen and her baby that she helped rescue in the previous book and she is training Elvis in Search and Rescue. This story is packed with more than one mystery to solve, a child who is very special, twists that take the reader back into the past to understand the characters' dynamics and a touch of romance that has a long and rocky road to go because a "lie of omission is still a lie". It will be interesting to see where Ms. Munier takes us on the next adventure.
August 19, 2019
Intriguing mystery with a good Vermont winter background. Interesting and likable characters--mostly--and fun repartee. With a complicated group of suspects. What? Who? But disappointing ending. Some sort of cliff hanger? I am not as interested now.
March 4, 2020
I really like the niche genre of game warden mysteries. One can learn so much about the natural resources in a state from these books. This particular series takes place in the Green Mountains of Vermont. Although it is the second in the “Mercy Carr Series,” I hadn’t read the first, but the author ably fills readers in on all we need to know.
Mercy Carr is a former Army MP who served in Afghanistan. Her fiancé was killed there, and Mercy brought his bomb-sniffing dog Elvis back with her to the States. In the previous book, Mercy and Elvis helped solve a crime with Troy Warner, a Vermont game warden, and his dog Susie Bear. Susie Bear is an air-scent tracker - that is, a dog that specializes in blind searches.
This book begins in the woods when Henry Jenkins, 9, an autistic child, becomes traumatized after seeing a murder. He hid in a remote abandoned cabin. Mercy and Troy found Henry when they set out to investigate that same murder, and Elvis and Susie Bear helped calm the child and get him back to his father, Ethan.
Unfortunately, Ethan is one of the suspects in the murder, since the body is that of his girlfriend, Alice, an architect working in the area. Other suspects include the members of the hunting party of which Ethan was a part. All of them were guests of Daniel Feinberg, a billionaire who owned most of the forest in the area. Although Mercy would not ordinarily have been part of the effort to locate the murderer, Daniel hired her to help. He saw that Troy had his hands full with poachers, and no one liked or respected the Vermont State Police detective, Kai Harrington, put in charge of the case.
Much of the plot revolves around Henry, who is unable to say what he witnessed. Henry also needs to be protected; the murderer obviously has an interest in eliminating anyone who saw the crime. Another plot strand concerns the growing attraction between Mercy and Troy, but Troy has some baggage Mercy doesn’t know about.
Evaluation: This is an engaging story with appealing characters. The author does a good job portraying Henry’s autism, with detail and compassion. The fact that the search takes place in a blinding blizzard - adding another meaning to the title - with dangerous poachers out roaming the woods, adds tension and urgency to the story. I definitely want to follow up with this series.
Mercy Carr is a former Army MP who served in Afghanistan. Her fiancé was killed there, and Mercy brought his bomb-sniffing dog Elvis back with her to the States. In the previous book, Mercy and Elvis helped solve a crime with Troy Warner, a Vermont game warden, and his dog Susie Bear. Susie Bear is an air-scent tracker - that is, a dog that specializes in blind searches.
This book begins in the woods when Henry Jenkins, 9, an autistic child, becomes traumatized after seeing a murder. He hid in a remote abandoned cabin. Mercy and Troy found Henry when they set out to investigate that same murder, and Elvis and Susie Bear helped calm the child and get him back to his father, Ethan.
Unfortunately, Ethan is one of the suspects in the murder, since the body is that of his girlfriend, Alice, an architect working in the area. Other suspects include the members of the hunting party of which Ethan was a part. All of them were guests of Daniel Feinberg, a billionaire who owned most of the forest in the area. Although Mercy would not ordinarily have been part of the effort to locate the murderer, Daniel hired her to help. He saw that Troy had his hands full with poachers, and no one liked or respected the Vermont State Police detective, Kai Harrington, put in charge of the case.
Much of the plot revolves around Henry, who is unable to say what he witnessed. Henry also needs to be protected; the murderer obviously has an interest in eliminating anyone who saw the crime. Another plot strand concerns the growing attraction between Mercy and Troy, but Troy has some baggage Mercy doesn’t know about.
Evaluation: This is an engaging story with appealing characters. The author does a good job portraying Henry’s autism, with detail and compassion. The fact that the search takes place in a blinding blizzard - adding another meaning to the title - with dangerous poachers out roaming the woods, adds tension and urgency to the story. I definitely want to follow up with this series.
July 13, 2020
I did not enjoy this book as much as the first one in this series, though it was still interesting enough to keep reading. Troy and his Newfie-Lab mix Susie Bear (ugh, hate that name) are absent much more than in the first book, which disappoints me, and while Feinberg plays a larger role in this book than in the last book, he still comes across as a very flat character. He’s rich, smart, even compassionate, but he just seems like he is made of molded rubber rather than flesh and bone.
Both of these first two books excel in the author’s ability to write strong canine characters without making them cutesy or anthropomorphized. But, as a dog lover—and a reader—I am troubled by the lack of verisimilitude in the dogs’ diets: in both books they are constantly fed human food like pizza, pot roast, fully dressed burgers w buns, French fries, French toast. No dogs should eat like that, but search and rescue dogs are highly trained, extreme athletes who go on difficult, demanding missions, often trekking through woods for hours or even days, and who have complex nutritional needs which couldn’t possibly be fulfilled by a constant diet of people food. This may seem like a fussy complaint to folks who don’t live with dogs, but it troubles me also as a reader who would like to put faith in the constructed world upon which this narrative is based, but who keeps being reminded of its artifice by elements like this.
Both of these first two books excel in the author’s ability to write strong canine characters without making them cutesy or anthropomorphized. But, as a dog lover—and a reader—I am troubled by the lack of verisimilitude in the dogs’ diets: in both books they are constantly fed human food like pizza, pot roast, fully dressed burgers w buns, French fries, French toast. No dogs should eat like that, but search and rescue dogs are highly trained, extreme athletes who go on difficult, demanding missions, often trekking through woods for hours or even days, and who have complex nutritional needs which couldn’t possibly be fulfilled by a constant diet of people food. This may seem like a fussy complaint to folks who don’t live with dogs, but it troubles me also as a reader who would like to put faith in the constructed world upon which this narrative is based, but who keeps being reminded of its artifice by elements like this.
March 18, 2021
3.5 stars. Here's a little background on this series: Mercy Carr is former military police and was shot in Afghanistan. Her fiancee died there and she takes care of Elvis, his K-9 dog with PTSD. Elvis is a bomb sniffing Belgian shepherd; he's pretty good at tracking too. Mercy's grandmother Patience is a veterinarian. Vermont Game Warden Troy Warner plays prominently in the story with his K-9 dog Susie Bear.
In this story, it's opening day of hunting season. A dead woman is found in the woods, killed with an arrow to the heart. A young boy, autistic Henry, may be the only witness. As someone else is killed in the same manner, it's up to Mercy and Troy to figure out what happened and keep Henry safe.
I read the first book in this series, A Borrowing of Bones, a year ago. For me, the only book better than a good mystery is a good mystery with dogs in it. The author described the beauty of Vermont woods well. I liked the gentleness and protectiveness with Henry. I especially liked the parts where the dogs bonded with Henry and took care of him. The characters were all great, as usual, and I thought the book got better as it went along. I've already got the next book in the series on reserve at the library.
In this story, it's opening day of hunting season. A dead woman is found in the woods, killed with an arrow to the heart. A young boy, autistic Henry, may be the only witness. As someone else is killed in the same manner, it's up to Mercy and Troy to figure out what happened and keep Henry safe.
I read the first book in this series, A Borrowing of Bones, a year ago. For me, the only book better than a good mystery is a good mystery with dogs in it. The author described the beauty of Vermont woods well. I liked the gentleness and protectiveness with Henry. I especially liked the parts where the dogs bonded with Henry and took care of him. The characters were all great, as usual, and I thought the book got better as it went along. I've already got the next book in the series on reserve at the library.
November 26, 2019
I enjoyed the first book in the series so I was eager to continue with Mercy and Elvis in the second book. There are other synopsis of the book so I will write about what I like about the series. First of all the characters-Mercy, Elvis (bomb sniffing canine), Suzie Bear (search and rescue canine) Troy(game warden) and all the other wonderful characters in Mercy's life. They are strong and interesting. Henry, a young boy, plays a major role in the plot.
I enjoy the scenes with the dogs the most and they are main characters in the book. There were a lot of threads plus events from the past being looked at on so with all the characters and themes it was a bit confusing.
Vermont was a terrific location. The reader even goes through a blizzard with the characters. We go along for searches in the Vermont woods. I would love to go to The Vermonter for one of Lilian's hamburger: great characters, wonderful location, of course the dogs! Only downside for me was all the threads and how they came together at the end. It was maybe a little too complicated and perhaps a little unbelievable.
I enjoy the scenes with the dogs the most and they are main characters in the book. There were a lot of threads plus events from the past being looked at on so with all the characters and themes it was a bit confusing.
Vermont was a terrific location. The reader even goes through a blizzard with the characters. We go along for searches in the Vermont woods. I would love to go to The Vermonter for one of Lilian's hamburger: great characters, wonderful location, of course the dogs! Only downside for me was all the threads and how they came together at the end. It was maybe a little too complicated and perhaps a little unbelievable.
November 16, 2019
As good as the first in the series.
October 25, 2019
"Blind Search" is a mystery/suspense novel. It's the second book in a series. You don't need to read the previous novels to understand this one, and this novel didn't spoil the whodunit of the previous novel.
The characters were engaging, complex, and acted in realistic ways. The mystery was complex since things were happening at the same time which may or may not have been connected: two murders, illegal hunting, gun smuggling, and more. Mercy and her talented service dog, Elvis, were hired by her billionaire neighbor to track down clues and protect their only witness, an autistic boy who isn't talking about what he saw. She worked with U.S. Game Warden Troy Warner and his search and rescue dog since he had the right to investigate and arrest when it came to several of their leads. The suspense remained high since several people were after the boy and other suspects simply didn't want to get caught doing other illegal activities.
There was occasional use of bad language. There was no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this novel to people who enjoy canine mysteries and suspense.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley.
The characters were engaging, complex, and acted in realistic ways. The mystery was complex since things were happening at the same time which may or may not have been connected: two murders, illegal hunting, gun smuggling, and more. Mercy and her talented service dog, Elvis, were hired by her billionaire neighbor to track down clues and protect their only witness, an autistic boy who isn't talking about what he saw. She worked with U.S. Game Warden Troy Warner and his search and rescue dog since he had the right to investigate and arrest when it came to several of their leads. The suspense remained high since several people were after the boy and other suspects simply didn't want to get caught doing other illegal activities.
There was occasional use of bad language. There was no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this novel to people who enjoy canine mysteries and suspense.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley.
November 5, 2019
Love this series - the people and the dogs
I just finished re-reading the first book in this series A BORROWING OF BONES and I'm glad I had this book ready to dive into next. I really encourage people to read the first book before this one. You will miss a lot of background and a great book if you don't.
Retired military MP Mercy Carr and her bomb searching dog Elvis are back along with Vermont Fish and Game Warden Troy Warner and his search and rescue dog Susie Bear.
They end up getting involved in a billionaire's hunting party (it's now Autumn and hunting season in Vermont), murder, a lost autistic boy, poaching, and a whole different cast of characters.
I loved the dogs, as always. I wish our dogs were half as smart. I loved Henry's story. He is autistic and he's never lost - people just can't find him.
This was a mystery that kept me guessing and I liked that. It ended on a bit of a cliffhanger so at least I know the author plans more books in this excellent series. I just hope we don't have to wait too long to read it.
I highly recommend this book to mystery lovers and dog lovers and anyone that enjoys a well-written book.
I received this book from Minotaur Books through Edelweiss and Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.
I just finished re-reading the first book in this series A BORROWING OF BONES and I'm glad I had this book ready to dive into next. I really encourage people to read the first book before this one. You will miss a lot of background and a great book if you don't.
Retired military MP Mercy Carr and her bomb searching dog Elvis are back along with Vermont Fish and Game Warden Troy Warner and his search and rescue dog Susie Bear.
They end up getting involved in a billionaire's hunting party (it's now Autumn and hunting season in Vermont), murder, a lost autistic boy, poaching, and a whole different cast of characters.
I loved the dogs, as always. I wish our dogs were half as smart. I loved Henry's story. He is autistic and he's never lost - people just can't find him.
This was a mystery that kept me guessing and I liked that. It ended on a bit of a cliffhanger so at least I know the author plans more books in this excellent series. I just hope we don't have to wait too long to read it.
I highly recommend this book to mystery lovers and dog lovers and anyone that enjoys a well-written book.
I received this book from Minotaur Books through Edelweiss and Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.
January 7, 2021
Terrific story. Mercy is a strong heroine who doesn’t realize she is heroic. Elvis is wonderful.
February 14, 2021
Kind of a slow burn, but wow those twists at the end. Great book.
September 4, 2020
The book cover was the first point of interest for me, then the setting, and the search and rescue element made me choose this book. I wasn't riveted, but I became engrossed in the story and the murder mystery. As with any community based story, there were a lot of characters to keep track of, but I managed. This was probably because I have not read book one in this series. I loved prime-number-counting Henry, and Mercy is an extremely likable protagonist. I rooted for her and Troy to step things up a notch. As I mentioned, as one of the "leaf peepers" the author referred to in this story, I connected with the Vermont setting and really enjoyed it. It was fun to have the trope of super rich person hosting a group of privileged people in his home where not one, but two of the guests wind up dead. Dead in an untraditional way with bows and arrows. I enjoyed how Mercy pieced together the clues and finally, with this readers expected "great flare" announced why the people were killed and by whom. A good surprise and one that made sense. I also enjoyed the amount of time spent describing two very important characters in this book - Elvis and Susie Bear - the rescue dogs. Though I did worry about the amount of human food they were fed. Pizza! This was a unique story told in a good solid way, and I'm glad I read this book.
September 9, 2025
I didn’t find myself nearly as involved with this second go around of Mercy and crew. It felt wholly disconnected from the things that made the first book at least a bit charming. The attention to character is lacking, dropping fun ancillary characters in favor of new suspects we are never allowed to know deeper than their suspicions. Troy’s narrative is dropped entirely, and Mercy’s inner life is sacrificed for the central plot, which feels wholly underbaked.
That’s nothing to say of the writing, which feels bloated and repetitive, severely in need of grammatical edits and narrative focus. A timeline of events from the past was way too hard to follow, and it consistently felt like an older writer trying to write characters in a voice she was not never had been in touch with. Also it felt like saying the word “autism” was weirdly taboo to the characters and the writer, and when it’s the central mark of once of your biggest characters/plot devices, that’s wildly disappointing.
I wasn’t offended viscerally by the book, which is why it’s rated fairly well for a book I didn’t really care for and am not likely to continue on with, series wise.
That’s nothing to say of the writing, which feels bloated and repetitive, severely in need of grammatical edits and narrative focus. A timeline of events from the past was way too hard to follow, and it consistently felt like an older writer trying to write characters in a voice she was not never had been in touch with. Also it felt like saying the word “autism” was weirdly taboo to the characters and the writer, and when it’s the central mark of once of your biggest characters/plot devices, that’s wildly disappointing.
I wasn’t offended viscerally by the book, which is why it’s rated fairly well for a book I didn’t really care for and am not likely to continue on with, series wise.
July 26, 2022
Bella storia con al centro un bambino che secondo me è autistico, sebbene nessuno lo dica mai. Adoro i due cani! Il mistero era ben congegnato e complicato, in più ci si sono messe pure due tempeste di neve a creare suspense. Il finale mi ha intristito perché speravo in uno sviluppo positivo della storia fra Mercy e Troy, ma non mi ha sorpreso (lo avevo visto arrivare, per così dire). Non appena il libro successivo avrà un prezzo più ragionevole lo comprerò perché voglio conoscere come proseguirà la vita della protagonista.
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