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FBI K-9 #3
Storm Rising
FBI Special Agent Meg Jennings and her search-and-rescue K-9 companion confront the fury of nature—and the more dangerous nature of man . . .
In the wake of a devastating hurricane, Special Agent Meg Jennings and her Labrador, Hawk—invaluable members of the FBI’s Human Scent Evidence Team—have been deployed to Virginia Beach. Amid debris and the buried cries for help, the most alarming discovery is yet to come—a teenage girl hiding in the Great Dismal Swamp.
Her name is Emma—a disheveled runaway lost to the sordid underbelly of a Virginia sex-trafficking ring. Its leader has disappeared in the chaos—along with other victims. Meg joins forces with Special Agent Walter Van Cleave and uncovers a vast network of abuse rooted in some of the most influential powers in Virginia. Now as Meg’s investigation digs deeper, she’s making some very dangerous enemies. And one by one, they’re coming out of the storm to stop her.
In the wake of a devastating hurricane, Special Agent Meg Jennings and her Labrador, Hawk—invaluable members of the FBI’s Human Scent Evidence Team—have been deployed to Virginia Beach. Amid debris and the buried cries for help, the most alarming discovery is yet to come—a teenage girl hiding in the Great Dismal Swamp.
Her name is Emma—a disheveled runaway lost to the sordid underbelly of a Virginia sex-trafficking ring. Its leader has disappeared in the chaos—along with other victims. Meg joins forces with Special Agent Walter Van Cleave and uncovers a vast network of abuse rooted in some of the most influential powers in Virginia. Now as Meg’s investigation digs deeper, she’s making some very dangerous enemies. And one by one, they’re coming out of the storm to stop her.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 27, 2018
1136 people are currently reading
1465 people want to read
About the author
Sara Driscoll
17 books877 followersSara Driscoll is the pen name of Jen J. Danna, coauthor of the Abbott and Lowell Forensic Mysteries and author of the FBI K-9s and the NYPD Negotiators. After over thirty years in infectious diseases research, Jen hung up her lab coat to concentrate on her real love—writing “exceptional” thrillers (Publishers Weekly). She is a member of the Crime Writers of Canada and lives with her husband and four rescued cats outside of Toronto, Ontario. You can follow the latest news on her books, including the FBI K-9s, at www.saradriscollauthor.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 257 reviews
November 6, 2018
Book three in the FBI K-9 series. This time, Meg and Hawk are sent to Virginia Beach to help after hurricane Clay has come through. Driscoll does a great job painting the chaos of a hurricane battered coast town. I felt like I was really there. But soon, the plot veers as Meg finds a victim of a sex trafficking ring.
Driscoll does a great job with her characters. I love that Meg is a mentally healthy female protagonist with a strong family support system. Quite the rarity these days.
The story is straight forward. There’s plenty of action. I liked that the ending didn’t involve some crazy “let’s put the heroine at risk” kind of requirement. That just gets old so I applaud Driscoll for not falling into that trap. At times, the book can get a little didactic as it tries to instruct the reader about various subjects. But it didn’t bother me, as I felt I was learning something and understood why the authors were doing it. But if that sort of thing bothers you, beware.
In addition to Hawk’s involvement in the search and rescues, it turns out that like most labs, he’s a natural as a therapy dog. I enjoy this series and hope book four is in the works.
My thanks to netgalley and Kensington Books for an advance copy of the book.
November 30, 2018
Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
STORM RISING (FBI K-9 Book #3) by Sara Driscoll is another exciting addition to the FBI K-9 series. This book has Meg Jennings and her search and rescue Labrador retriever, Hawk once again embroiled in a fast-paced plot that starts as a search and rescue after a hurricane and turns into a crime thriller involving human trafficking and the underage sex-slave trade.
In the wake of Hurricane Cole, all hands are on deck for rescues around Virginia Beach. Meg, Hawk and all of her FBI team members are sent to help search for survivors. Lt. Todd Webb is sent to assist as a paramedic/firefighter so they ride down together. As they are out together, Webb spots an overturned van in a creek bed. They rush to check it out and find two young girls tied to their seats dead. Meg and Hawk take over and search for anyone who might have escaped the van.
Hawk finds Emma, a runaway entrapped in a sex-slave ring. The case is turned over to Special Agent Walter Van Cleave, but due to Emma’s connection to Meg and Hawk, he asks for their help. Van and Meg join forces and soon realize that this case is much more complicated than a small-time syndicate. This case will take Van and Meg into the lives of powerful, influential people who all believe they are above the law.
Once again, this author had me completely engrossed in her plot and characters. Meg and Hawk make an amazing team. It is interesting to learn about the training and abilities of all the dogs on this FBI team. Meg, Cara, Webb and McCord are becoming quite the human team. Meg’s family and friends all have roles to play after the hurricane and I love to see how they have become more fleshed out as the series has continued. I hope to see more of Emma in future stories, also.
This book can be read as a standalone, but the relationships of all the main characters continues to grow and you become more attached with each book so I recommend reading them in order.
Thank you very much to Kensington Books, Sara Driscoll and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC.
STORM RISING (FBI K-9 Book #3) by Sara Driscoll is another exciting addition to the FBI K-9 series. This book has Meg Jennings and her search and rescue Labrador retriever, Hawk once again embroiled in a fast-paced plot that starts as a search and rescue after a hurricane and turns into a crime thriller involving human trafficking and the underage sex-slave trade.
In the wake of Hurricane Cole, all hands are on deck for rescues around Virginia Beach. Meg, Hawk and all of her FBI team members are sent to help search for survivors. Lt. Todd Webb is sent to assist as a paramedic/firefighter so they ride down together. As they are out together, Webb spots an overturned van in a creek bed. They rush to check it out and find two young girls tied to their seats dead. Meg and Hawk take over and search for anyone who might have escaped the van.
Hawk finds Emma, a runaway entrapped in a sex-slave ring. The case is turned over to Special Agent Walter Van Cleave, but due to Emma’s connection to Meg and Hawk, he asks for their help. Van and Meg join forces and soon realize that this case is much more complicated than a small-time syndicate. This case will take Van and Meg into the lives of powerful, influential people who all believe they are above the law.
Once again, this author had me completely engrossed in her plot and characters. Meg and Hawk make an amazing team. It is interesting to learn about the training and abilities of all the dogs on this FBI team. Meg, Cara, Webb and McCord are becoming quite the human team. Meg’s family and friends all have roles to play after the hurricane and I love to see how they have become more fleshed out as the series has continued. I hope to see more of Emma in future stories, also.
This book can be read as a standalone, but the relationships of all the main characters continues to grow and you become more attached with each book so I recommend reading them in order.
Thank you very much to Kensington Books, Sara Driscoll and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC.
November 25, 2019
From a believability standpoint I found it pretty hard to buy; from Meg wrestling a large alligator with a knife to how quickly they found the people from bottom to top in a human trafficking scheme. There were numerous times early in the book where it seemed like the author downloaded facts from Wikipedia and made it a discussion between Cara and Meg...not believable dialogue to describing areas. Sometimes it felt like reading a textbook and I think facts needed to be woven in better.
However, once they moved to finding and arresting bad guys the story moved quickly and gave you the satisfaction of catching the bad guys.
However, once they moved to finding and arresting bad guys the story moved quickly and gave you the satisfaction of catching the bad guys.
November 25, 2024
Storm Rising described search and rescue efforts in the aftermath of a hurricane, and then took a bit of a left turn into human trafficking. Both issues were heartwrenching! Don't worry. Hawk was heavily involved in both parts of the book. How I love his enormous heart and amazing intelligence!
It's kind of funny how in the first two books I found myself wondering "I don't think that could really happen, could it??" Now I find myself saying "I don't care if it could really happen, or not! Bring on the next book!!!"
I could have lived without the sex scene, however. It's not as though it was explicit. But neither of the first two books included that element and I felt it was unnecessary in Storm Rising. That's just my opinion, however. I know many readers very much want that in the books they read. 😉
It's kind of funny how in the first two books I found myself wondering "I don't think that could really happen, could it??" Now I find myself saying "I don't care if it could really happen, or not! Bring on the next book!!!"
I could have lived without the sex scene, however. It's not as though it was explicit. But neither of the first two books included that element and I felt it was unnecessary in Storm Rising. That's just my opinion, however. I know many readers very much want that in the books they read. 😉
January 18, 2021
This is one of the best K9 series I have read. I really enjoy the characters, the case plots and the part the dogs get to play.
March 14, 2025
A good enough story, Meg and Hawk are sent to Virginia Beach after a hurricane for search and rescue. The window is tight before rescue turns into mostly recovery.
While investigating a partially submerged van leads to the discovery of a crime leads to Meg being farmed out to a criminal investigation and taken off the search and rescue.
Not nearly enough Hawk in this book for me, as Meg seems much too dry a character on her own to hold my interest. Not sure if l'll be continuing the series.
While investigating a partially submerged van leads to the discovery of a crime leads to Meg being farmed out to a criminal investigation and taken off the search and rescue.
Not nearly enough Hawk in this book for me, as Meg seems much too dry a character on her own to hold my interest. Not sure if l'll be continuing the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2018
In Sara Driscoll's Storm Rising (Penguin Random House 2018), Meg Jennings and her working dog, Hawk, partners on the FBI's Human Scent Evidence Team, are sent on search and rescue after a hurricane devastates Virginia Beach Virginia and surrounding areas. One of the rescues is a teenager who has been forced into the sex trade, now free only because the van her pimp was driving crashed during the storm, almost drowning all of the girls. But not him--he escapes, leaving his 'property' to certain death. Though several do die, Meg and Hawk rescue one of the girls and her friend and through Hawk, becomes the one person these youngsters feel they can trust. With their help, Meg and the FBI team hope to cut off the head of this sex trade food chain. But they must move fast because several girls are still out there and if the ringleaders find out the Feds are on to them, they will flee.
The story is filled with authentic information and protocols about the part K9s play in search and rescue. I came away feeling like I understood the process much better than before reading the story. Here's an example:
"Do not enter a structure you feel is unstable. X-code any structure you search. If you need assistance from another team or from first responders, call it in, and I’ll make sure they get to you. Now, get out there. Sunset is 20:18 tonight"
Driscoll is a talented storyteller, on a par with Mizushima's working dog stories, with a more modulated pace and a set of characters who are able to maintain a positive frame of mind and a tight circle of committed family and friends despite the work they must do and the hours they must keep.
I love dog stories and picked this from Netgalley because one of the co-stars is a dog. Driscoll does a great job characterizing Hawk and treating him with all the respect that members of the canine species deserve. Here are a few of my favorite Hawk lines:
"...his entire back end undulating with his enthusiastic tail wags."
"Hawk stood up and stretched after his nap, and then wandered over to her. “Hi, buddy. How’s my boy?” She stroked a hand down his glossy black"
"Hawk crossed his front paws and laid his head down on them with a gusty, patient sigh."
The ending is satisfying, making me eager to read the rest of this series. This is highly recommended for readers who like stories about working dogs, about natural disasters, and female protagonists.
--received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
The story is filled with authentic information and protocols about the part K9s play in search and rescue. I came away feeling like I understood the process much better than before reading the story. Here's an example:
"Do not enter a structure you feel is unstable. X-code any structure you search. If you need assistance from another team or from first responders, call it in, and I’ll make sure they get to you. Now, get out there. Sunset is 20:18 tonight"
Driscoll is a talented storyteller, on a par with Mizushima's working dog stories, with a more modulated pace and a set of characters who are able to maintain a positive frame of mind and a tight circle of committed family and friends despite the work they must do and the hours they must keep.
I love dog stories and picked this from Netgalley because one of the co-stars is a dog. Driscoll does a great job characterizing Hawk and treating him with all the respect that members of the canine species deserve. Here are a few of my favorite Hawk lines:
"...his entire back end undulating with his enthusiastic tail wags."
"Hawk stood up and stretched after his nap, and then wandered over to her. “Hi, buddy. How’s my boy?” She stroked a hand down his glossy black"
"Hawk crossed his front paws and laid his head down on them with a gusty, patient sigh."
The ending is satisfying, making me eager to read the rest of this series. This is highly recommended for readers who like stories about working dogs, about natural disasters, and female protagonists.
--received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
November 8, 2020
I’m a broken record but I really like these books. Driscoll wrote another good one here. This was a little different but still was uplifting even with such a horrible subject matter. It definitely had a satisfying resolution.
Hawk, Meg, Webb, Cara and McCord are growing closer as a team, they call it family, and the story benefits from it. While this one was not as intense from a rescue standpoint, the mystery of the case was great. Looking forward to the next one. Would love to see Driscoll write one about the Fire Service with Webb as the lead. I’m sure she could pull it off. Here’s hoping she gives it a try.
Hawk, Meg, Webb, Cara and McCord are growing closer as a team, they call it family, and the story benefits from it. While this one was not as intense from a rescue standpoint, the mystery of the case was great. Looking forward to the next one. Would love to see Driscoll write one about the Fire Service with Webb as the lead. I’m sure she could pull it off. Here’s hoping she gives it a try.
November 5, 2021
Another nice, cozy mystery. I'm not sure these actually classify as cozy, but I think of them that way. Meg and Hawk make a nice lead team. They have tons of helpers around them who stick with them through it all. I enjoyed all the realness of a hurricane's aftermath (including the gator scene!) that late evolved into a case to help solve. Great car book and I'm ready for the next one!
October 14, 2018
Being a part of the BABY BOOMER TV ERA and specifically Lassie; makes these K-9 adventure so enjoyable. In the currant news about Hurricane Michael; reading this story of the FBI rescue unit made it even more vivid. I have read all three in this series and I appreciate the Driscoll talent of REAL feeling characters along with fast moving plot. This would stand alone as a read even though I am glad I have kept up with the series in its entirety. "A copy of this book was provided by Kensington Books via Netgalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion." ANXIOUSLY AWAIT BOOK 4!
December 1, 2018
Third in the series about an FBI agent and her K-9 partner, I wouldn’t recommend starting with Storm Rising if you haven’t read the other two. On the other hand, if you have read the other two, the first couple of chapters of this one are going to come across as pure infodump of stuff you already know, which may annoy you.
After the first couple of chapters is when stuff starts to get interesting, though I have to say the plot still takes too long to get going. Driscoll spends too much time setting up her protagonist getting into the situation to uncover a human trafficking ring, and there aren’t too many points where Meg herself is in any peril (apart from a rather bizarre scene with an alligator) which makes it hard for the reader to really feel any suspense in the story.
There were parts of the story I really enjoyed, and it’s obvious the author really knows her stuff when it comes to both disaster management scenarios and K-9 handling. Unfortunately, the book overall kind of falls in between two genres while not fitting into either; there’s not enough romance for it to be a romantic suspense, and there’s not enough ‘thrill’ for it to be a thriller. Meg doesn’t seem to be personally engaged in any way apart from her righteous outrage as a law enforcement officer investigating a heinous crime, in fact she actively tries to get out of being involved and is basically pressured into it by a senior officer.
This is a hard one to rate because it had good parts and yet there were a fair few issues; at the end of the day I’d probably read other books by this author but I’d hope for them to be better than this one. Three stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.
After the first couple of chapters is when stuff starts to get interesting, though I have to say the plot still takes too long to get going. Driscoll spends too much time setting up her protagonist getting into the situation to uncover a human trafficking ring, and there aren’t too many points where Meg herself is in any peril (apart from a rather bizarre scene with an alligator) which makes it hard for the reader to really feel any suspense in the story.
There were parts of the story I really enjoyed, and it’s obvious the author really knows her stuff when it comes to both disaster management scenarios and K-9 handling. Unfortunately, the book overall kind of falls in between two genres while not fitting into either; there’s not enough romance for it to be a romantic suspense, and there’s not enough ‘thrill’ for it to be a thriller. Meg doesn’t seem to be personally engaged in any way apart from her righteous outrage as a law enforcement officer investigating a heinous crime, in fact she actively tries to get out of being involved and is basically pressured into it by a senior officer.
This is a hard one to rate because it had good parts and yet there were a fair few issues; at the end of the day I’d probably read other books by this author but I’d hope for them to be better than this one. Three stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.
August 17, 2020
FBI Special Agent Meg Jennings and her K-9 partner black lab Hawk are being dispatched to Virginia Beach for search and rescue after a hurricane. Many of the people they locate are dead which is tough on the dogs. Finding a couple of girls who made their way out of restraints in a submerged van, the story quickly segues into a sex trafficking ring.
This series is much edgier than a cozy mystery and targeted to a different audience. There's no foul language, sex scenes or graphic violence. If you are a reader who is interested in the aftermath of hurricanes, sex trafficking, or search and rescue K-9 teams, give it a try. This book is easily read as a standalone but the characters recur and I suggest you start from the first book. I liked this one least of the three I've read so far because sex trafficking is not high on my list to read about. But I do like the teamwork of Meg and Hawk, plus the other dogs and handlers.
This series is much edgier than a cozy mystery and targeted to a different audience. There's no foul language, sex scenes or graphic violence. If you are a reader who is interested in the aftermath of hurricanes, sex trafficking, or search and rescue K-9 teams, give it a try. This book is easily read as a standalone but the characters recur and I suggest you start from the first book. I liked this one least of the three I've read so far because sex trafficking is not high on my list to read about. But I do like the teamwork of Meg and Hawk, plus the other dogs and handlers.
May 3, 2019
This is a vividly written and dramatic story of a search and rescue team moving in to a shore community after flooding. They are looking for people alive or dead, and as well as both of these, they find evidence of criminal activities involving trafficked young women.
The main character is a woman FBI K9 squad member and her talented tracking dog. I recommend the read, but it's not for the tender.
I downloaded an ARC from Fresh Fiction.com. This is an unbiased review.
The main character is a woman FBI K9 squad member and her talented tracking dog. I recommend the read, but it's not for the tender.
I downloaded an ARC from Fresh Fiction.com. This is an unbiased review.
November 24, 2020
This story breaks away from the structure used in the previous two books. Instead of chasing a serial killer, they are rescuing people after a hurricane devastates the Virginia Beach region. Oh, and they trip over a sex-trafficking operation. The story is pretty linear, and the recurring cast gets more development. There are some preachy bits - even when the author has a character say "OK, that sounds preachy." - it's still preaching. Nothing controversial, just few too many words on these topics.
The final take-down is thrilling because of the complexity and the success, not due to any inherent danger.
I will read the next one.
The final take-down is thrilling because of the complexity and the success, not due to any inherent danger.
I will read the next one.
February 20, 2023
3.5 rounded up to a 4
What I like....
The bad guy is always found...so good wins
The K-9 angle
The characters are likeable
Good narrator
Hard subjects, in this case sex trafficking, but not put in a manner that highly sensitive people can't handle
Fast paced and well written
In this 3rd book, sex is implied between two main characters but not described for which I am grateful
The not so good IMO
The first two books do have some language. It is sporadic and fits the situation and the characters. Also it is seldom done and there were no F-Bombs
This 3rd book has 3 F-Bombs and they do fit the seedy character...although they were not necessary.
Overall, I really enjoy this author and her characters.
What I like....
The bad guy is always found...so good wins
The K-9 angle
The characters are likeable
Good narrator
Hard subjects, in this case sex trafficking, but not put in a manner that highly sensitive people can't handle
Fast paced and well written
In this 3rd book, sex is implied between two main characters but not described for which I am grateful
The not so good IMO
The first two books do have some language. It is sporadic and fits the situation and the characters. Also it is seldom done and there were no F-Bombs
This 3rd book has 3 F-Bombs and they do fit the seedy character...although they were not necessary.
Overall, I really enjoy this author and her characters.
August 11, 2024
Another great adventure for FBI handler Meg Jennings and her search and rescue dog, Hawk, members of the FBI Human Scent Evidence Team. Meg and Hawk are sent to Virginia after a devastating hurricane hits the east coast and Meg is hoping to find more survivors than victims. When they find a van tipped over and half submerged in a river, Meg realizes there are at least two survivors who had managed to get out of the van, and now the search is on to find them. While in the submerged van Meg finds evidence that the people in the van were very young victims of sex trafficking ring. When the FBI. Is called in on this case, and Meg and Hawks job is presumably done, the lead agent asks Meg and Hawk to stay on and help bring this ring down. And from there the case gets very tense and exciting. Another book where the amazing Hawk, takes center stage with his unique abilities.
December 23, 2020
I enjoyed most of the book, especially the search and rescue parts, although I wasn’t so convinced by the sex trafficking investigation.
At times the story feels a bit too contrived, the way new information about the traffickers appears just as they need it and also the contortions needed to keep Meg’s ‘love’ interest involved in the story.
At times the story feels a bit too contrived, the way new information about the traffickers appears just as they need it and also the contortions needed to keep Meg’s ‘love’ interest involved in the story.
March 14, 2022
This was the third book in the series. FBI handler Meg and her dog Hawk are dispatched to a hurricane ravaged area for rescue and recovery. They got more than what they bargained for when they discovered a sex trafficking van transporting young teenage girls, two who drowned. The story line is solid. I just expected that Meg would get captured, shot at, or something traumatic in this story. I would recommend it.
January 2, 2023
Another excellent one in this incredible series.
November 6, 2018
Loved this! Review to follow!
November 29, 2019
Having just adopted a rescue dog, I have a special affinity for a story in which a rescue dog is a main character. Storm Rising is the third book in the F.B.I. K-9 series by Sara Driscoll, and it takes us on another harrowing adventure where humans and animals rely on one another to safely navigate disasters, man-made and natural. Meg Jennings and her dog partner Hawk are part of the FBI’s Human Scent Evidence Team, performing search and rescue of people wherever a disaster strikes and they are called. The call this time is to the Virginia Beach area after a hurricane has smashed through with winds and storm surge strong enough to wipe houses off their foundations. It will be the job of FBI K-9 team to find survivors who failed to heed the evacuation warning. It’s a stressful job, with the highs of finding a live target and the lows of being too late to help.
Accompanying Meg on the drive from D.C. to Virginia Beach is her boyfriend Todd Webb, who is a firefighter/paramedic assigned to his D.C. team also called in to help the hurricane victims. While Meg joins her fellow handlers and their dogs, including her best friend Brian and his dog Lacey, to search houses still standing and in water for life, Todd goes to a hospital to evacuate aging patients not moved ahead of the storm. The painstaking process of going from house to house and checking for survivors is a dangerous one, and Driscoll takes readers into the heart of it by describing the steps taken before, during, and after a rescue. The trust of authenticity is established, which is so important to a reading experience.
When the job shifts to Norfolk, Meg and Todd once again share a ride to the area. On their way, Todd catches sight of an overturned van in the flooded marshlands of the Elizabeth River, just off the highway, and they stop to investigate, checking for anyone who might be left in the van needing rescue. What they find is a horror story. The driver is long gone, but two young girls dressed in sexually suggestive outfits are dead, left dangling from restraints in the van. However, there are signs of at least one more girl who escaped. It doesn’t take much time for Meg and Todd to realize they have stumbled onto a sex trade operation, and authorities are called in.
Time is of the essence, and Meg jumps right into an area called The Great Dismal Swamp to search for the girl who is probably injured and needs their help. Two girls are eventually found, one injured and one in fear for her life. The first one is taken to the hospital, and the second one, Emma, to a safe place where she bonds with Meg as a person she can trust and Hawk as a measure of comfort. With Emma’s reliance on Meg, it’s a natural step for Meg to join SAC Walter Van Cleeve in the ensuing investigation of the seedy business that has ripped Emma and many other young girls from a normal life into one of darkness and abuse. Also joining in the fight to bring justice to these girls is Clay McCord, a Washington Post reporter, who is a friend of Meg’s and Meg’s sister’s boyfriend. With his contacts, inroads can be easier made into the seedy places they must go. The crime network that they must crack is full of well-kept secrets, so it will be a challenge to find and punish those at the top of this evil business.
This book covers so much, but it is at its core a story of rescue. The part that trained dogs play in disaster rescue is fascinating, and the loyalty between handler and dog is felt keenly in Sara Driscoll’s descriptions of their interactions and care for one another. The issue that captivates our attention in this particular story, that of the sex slave trade, is handled without any graphic description of any sort. It is the emotional toll of the victims we are made aware of, that pulls at our hearts, and makes the issue appear as the urgent problem that it is. Rescuing innocents from this dire fate is a compelling incentive to bring down those who profit from it. Storm Rising is not only a great piece of storytelling; it is an important read for awareness.
I was fortunate to receive an ARC of Storm Rising from the author, and I have given a fair and honest review of the book.
Accompanying Meg on the drive from D.C. to Virginia Beach is her boyfriend Todd Webb, who is a firefighter/paramedic assigned to his D.C. team also called in to help the hurricane victims. While Meg joins her fellow handlers and their dogs, including her best friend Brian and his dog Lacey, to search houses still standing and in water for life, Todd goes to a hospital to evacuate aging patients not moved ahead of the storm. The painstaking process of going from house to house and checking for survivors is a dangerous one, and Driscoll takes readers into the heart of it by describing the steps taken before, during, and after a rescue. The trust of authenticity is established, which is so important to a reading experience.
When the job shifts to Norfolk, Meg and Todd once again share a ride to the area. On their way, Todd catches sight of an overturned van in the flooded marshlands of the Elizabeth River, just off the highway, and they stop to investigate, checking for anyone who might be left in the van needing rescue. What they find is a horror story. The driver is long gone, but two young girls dressed in sexually suggestive outfits are dead, left dangling from restraints in the van. However, there are signs of at least one more girl who escaped. It doesn’t take much time for Meg and Todd to realize they have stumbled onto a sex trade operation, and authorities are called in.
Time is of the essence, and Meg jumps right into an area called The Great Dismal Swamp to search for the girl who is probably injured and needs their help. Two girls are eventually found, one injured and one in fear for her life. The first one is taken to the hospital, and the second one, Emma, to a safe place where she bonds with Meg as a person she can trust and Hawk as a measure of comfort. With Emma’s reliance on Meg, it’s a natural step for Meg to join SAC Walter Van Cleeve in the ensuing investigation of the seedy business that has ripped Emma and many other young girls from a normal life into one of darkness and abuse. Also joining in the fight to bring justice to these girls is Clay McCord, a Washington Post reporter, who is a friend of Meg’s and Meg’s sister’s boyfriend. With his contacts, inroads can be easier made into the seedy places they must go. The crime network that they must crack is full of well-kept secrets, so it will be a challenge to find and punish those at the top of this evil business.
This book covers so much, but it is at its core a story of rescue. The part that trained dogs play in disaster rescue is fascinating, and the loyalty between handler and dog is felt keenly in Sara Driscoll’s descriptions of their interactions and care for one another. The issue that captivates our attention in this particular story, that of the sex slave trade, is handled without any graphic description of any sort. It is the emotional toll of the victims we are made aware of, that pulls at our hearts, and makes the issue appear as the urgent problem that it is. Rescuing innocents from this dire fate is a compelling incentive to bring down those who profit from it. Storm Rising is not only a great piece of storytelling; it is an important read for awareness.
I was fortunate to receive an ARC of Storm Rising from the author, and I have given a fair and honest review of the book.
December 1, 2018
http://openbooksociety.com/article/st...
Storm Rising
FBI K-9 #3
By Sara Driscoll
ISBN 9781496704467
Saradriscollauthor.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
The heart-pounding thriller of a series continues as FBI Special Agent Meg Jennings and her search-and-rescue K-9 companion confront the fury of nature—and the more dangerous nature of man . . .
In the wake of a devastating hurricane, Special Agent Meg Jennings and her Labrador, Hawk—invaluable members of the FBI’s Human Scent Evidence Team—have been deployed to Virginia Beach. They have their work cut out for them. Amid graveyards of debris, and the buried cries for help, the search and rescue operation begins. The most alarming discovery is yet to come—a teenage girl hiding in the Great Dismal Swamp. Shaken by the storm, she has reason to be scared. But this young survivor is terrified of so much more.
Her name is Emma—a disheveled runaway lost to the sordid underbelly of a Virginia sex-trafficking ring. Its leader has disappeared in the chaos—along with other victims. With so much evidence, and so many witnesses, seemingly washed away, Meg joins forces with Special Agent Walter Van Cleave to ensure no further harm comes to their vulnerable charge. They soon discover that this is no small-time localized syndicate. Its branches are rooted in some of the most influential powers in Virginia. Now as Meg’s investigation digs deeper, she’s making some very dangerous enemies. And one by one, they’re coming out of the storm to stop her. (from Goodreads)
Review:
There are not enough adjectives to describe how much I like this novel! It is 3rd in the FBI K-9 series, and the best to date. When Meg and Hawk are out on a search and rescue mission in the aftermath of a hurricane, they come upon a different kind of search and rescue. The change in Meg’s duties makes this a fabulous, heart-rending, satisfying thriller, with a ripped-from-the-headlines feel for two overwhelming challenges in our country today.
FBI Special Agent Meg Jennings and her K-9 partner, Hawk, are deployed to Virginia Beach in the wake of Hurricane Cole’s destruction on the Atlantic coast. While she and other members of her team hope this is truly a search and rescue mission, it turns into a part rescue, part recovery. Her firefighter and paramedic boyfriend Todd is deployed to help the short-handed paramedic crews. Her sister Cara is dating Washington Post investigative journalist Clay McCord; he is already in North Carolina following the hurricane. Cara remains at home, feeling as if she isn’t contributing to the rescues, but she is caring for her dog and Todd’s as well as helping owners train their dogs.
After navigating the wreckage that includes fires, homes washed away, and power outages, the team Meg is on is sent to Norfolk and Chesapeake. Todd is riding shotgun with her as he will aid the firefighters there. In route, Todd sees a van caught up in the Elizabeth River, tossed on its side and partially submerged. What she sees when she gets into the van begins the rage and horror that fuels her work for the next several days. It appears to have been a sex trafficker’s van. Two young girls died, strapped in and unable to free themselves from wristbands to help each other. One wristband is broken, several others empty; Meg assumes that at least one if not several girls are out on the run.
The girls that Hawk leads Meg to, and the horrifying stories Emma tells after rescue from the Great Dismal Swamp, lead her into a world that she wished didn’t exist. But it does – and she is temporarily under the leadership of Special Agent in Charge Walter Van Cleave, who has worked human trafficking cases for nearly a decade without losing heart for those in need. Emma receives comfort from Hawk and builds a rapport with Meg. As a result, she will help the FBI take down the people in charge of the trafficking ring, but only if Meg and Hawk stay with her through interviews. Meg learns more than she wanted to know about trafficking, especially of pre-teens and young teens. She and Van Cleave find the assistance of Clay and his many contacts in this ugly quagmire invaluable if they give him an exclusive story when the case is brought to fruition, as he and Meg have worked before. Todd also proves to be a valuable member of the team that includes Hawk, Meg’s second heart dog, and Cara, whose ability to solve complex puzzles is a priceless asset. The challenges they face includes a group of influential men in the area who just might not be who they seem, yet finding the top of the pyramid is a challenge they might not meet in time to prosecute the little guys on the way.
Meg is the most three-dimensional of the novel; I enjoy getting to know her more in each book. She is a strong, courageous woman who can feel the fury of injustices and have empathy for the victims she and Hawk find. When receiving accolades, she is humble enough to deflect them to Hawk as being the real hero. I think she has a winning match with Todd; while we continue to learn about him, his heart is evident throughout. Cara’s appearances are few but mighty. Journalist Clay McCord is someone well-suited to Cara. Their love for dogs and his work with Meg on other cases brought Cara and Clay together, and I look forward to getting to see more of Cara in future novels. We learn a little about Emma throughout the novel, but she has many wounds from her family and the traffickers to heal from. I hope we get to learn more about her, also.
This is a breathtaking, fast-paced novel. The plot is tight and finely-executed with twists that frequently change the course of the investigation. I was invited in from the first page and my attention held throughout. I appreciate that Meg is not a character unaffected by her work; noting that she has a bit of PTSD when hearing and seeing a drone searching out survivors makes her more human. I also appreciate how much the story became so much more than working the aftermath of a hurricane. Not only does it show the many facets of rescue or recovery after a natural disaster, but it shows the needs of the first responders. We see how men, women, and children get trapped in sex and slave labor trafficking and how its perpetrators are in all levels of society. This is very well-written, and it is evident that the author has done extensive research. I highly recommend Storm Rising to everyone who has appreciated this series so far, those who find search and rescue K-9 officers/ agents interesting, and thrillers about the FBI and some of their specialized work. I can’t wait for their next adventure!
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Storm Rising
FBI K-9 #3
By Sara Driscoll
ISBN 9781496704467
Saradriscollauthor.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
The heart-pounding thriller of a series continues as FBI Special Agent Meg Jennings and her search-and-rescue K-9 companion confront the fury of nature—and the more dangerous nature of man . . .
In the wake of a devastating hurricane, Special Agent Meg Jennings and her Labrador, Hawk—invaluable members of the FBI’s Human Scent Evidence Team—have been deployed to Virginia Beach. They have their work cut out for them. Amid graveyards of debris, and the buried cries for help, the search and rescue operation begins. The most alarming discovery is yet to come—a teenage girl hiding in the Great Dismal Swamp. Shaken by the storm, she has reason to be scared. But this young survivor is terrified of so much more.
Her name is Emma—a disheveled runaway lost to the sordid underbelly of a Virginia sex-trafficking ring. Its leader has disappeared in the chaos—along with other victims. With so much evidence, and so many witnesses, seemingly washed away, Meg joins forces with Special Agent Walter Van Cleave to ensure no further harm comes to their vulnerable charge. They soon discover that this is no small-time localized syndicate. Its branches are rooted in some of the most influential powers in Virginia. Now as Meg’s investigation digs deeper, she’s making some very dangerous enemies. And one by one, they’re coming out of the storm to stop her. (from Goodreads)
Review:
There are not enough adjectives to describe how much I like this novel! It is 3rd in the FBI K-9 series, and the best to date. When Meg and Hawk are out on a search and rescue mission in the aftermath of a hurricane, they come upon a different kind of search and rescue. The change in Meg’s duties makes this a fabulous, heart-rending, satisfying thriller, with a ripped-from-the-headlines feel for two overwhelming challenges in our country today.
FBI Special Agent Meg Jennings and her K-9 partner, Hawk, are deployed to Virginia Beach in the wake of Hurricane Cole’s destruction on the Atlantic coast. While she and other members of her team hope this is truly a search and rescue mission, it turns into a part rescue, part recovery. Her firefighter and paramedic boyfriend Todd is deployed to help the short-handed paramedic crews. Her sister Cara is dating Washington Post investigative journalist Clay McCord; he is already in North Carolina following the hurricane. Cara remains at home, feeling as if she isn’t contributing to the rescues, but she is caring for her dog and Todd’s as well as helping owners train their dogs.
After navigating the wreckage that includes fires, homes washed away, and power outages, the team Meg is on is sent to Norfolk and Chesapeake. Todd is riding shotgun with her as he will aid the firefighters there. In route, Todd sees a van caught up in the Elizabeth River, tossed on its side and partially submerged. What she sees when she gets into the van begins the rage and horror that fuels her work for the next several days. It appears to have been a sex trafficker’s van. Two young girls died, strapped in and unable to free themselves from wristbands to help each other. One wristband is broken, several others empty; Meg assumes that at least one if not several girls are out on the run.
The girls that Hawk leads Meg to, and the horrifying stories Emma tells after rescue from the Great Dismal Swamp, lead her into a world that she wished didn’t exist. But it does – and she is temporarily under the leadership of Special Agent in Charge Walter Van Cleave, who has worked human trafficking cases for nearly a decade without losing heart for those in need. Emma receives comfort from Hawk and builds a rapport with Meg. As a result, she will help the FBI take down the people in charge of the trafficking ring, but only if Meg and Hawk stay with her through interviews. Meg learns more than she wanted to know about trafficking, especially of pre-teens and young teens. She and Van Cleave find the assistance of Clay and his many contacts in this ugly quagmire invaluable if they give him an exclusive story when the case is brought to fruition, as he and Meg have worked before. Todd also proves to be a valuable member of the team that includes Hawk, Meg’s second heart dog, and Cara, whose ability to solve complex puzzles is a priceless asset. The challenges they face includes a group of influential men in the area who just might not be who they seem, yet finding the top of the pyramid is a challenge they might not meet in time to prosecute the little guys on the way.
Meg is the most three-dimensional of the novel; I enjoy getting to know her more in each book. She is a strong, courageous woman who can feel the fury of injustices and have empathy for the victims she and Hawk find. When receiving accolades, she is humble enough to deflect them to Hawk as being the real hero. I think she has a winning match with Todd; while we continue to learn about him, his heart is evident throughout. Cara’s appearances are few but mighty. Journalist Clay McCord is someone well-suited to Cara. Their love for dogs and his work with Meg on other cases brought Cara and Clay together, and I look forward to getting to see more of Cara in future novels. We learn a little about Emma throughout the novel, but she has many wounds from her family and the traffickers to heal from. I hope we get to learn more about her, also.
This is a breathtaking, fast-paced novel. The plot is tight and finely-executed with twists that frequently change the course of the investigation. I was invited in from the first page and my attention held throughout. I appreciate that Meg is not a character unaffected by her work; noting that she has a bit of PTSD when hearing and seeing a drone searching out survivors makes her more human. I also appreciate how much the story became so much more than working the aftermath of a hurricane. Not only does it show the many facets of rescue or recovery after a natural disaster, but it shows the needs of the first responders. We see how men, women, and children get trapped in sex and slave labor trafficking and how its perpetrators are in all levels of society. This is very well-written, and it is evident that the author has done extensive research. I highly recommend Storm Rising to everyone who has appreciated this series so far, those who find search and rescue K-9 officers/ agents interesting, and thrillers about the FBI and some of their specialized work. I can’t wait for their next adventure!
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
November 27, 2018
This K-9 search and rescue books starts off slow with lots of info-dump discussions about search and rescues and the people who stay behind when told to leave a flood prone areas.
I almost stopped reading when one rescue scene sounded too much like a scene from the movie Titanic
The book does improve when the search for Emma begins. Lots of alphabet organizations involved in the search and I did enjoy watching the various groups work together to uncover some dastardly deeds. My enjoyment of the book was no doubt less than others since I have not read the first two books in the series. I would recommend reading the books in order to understand and appreciate the relationships already formed in Storm Rising.
I won this book in a giveaway. Thanks to the author and Kensington press for the opportunity to read this novel. I will be checking out Lone Wolf and Before It’s Too Late to get my fix of the clever rescue dog, Hawk.
I almost stopped reading when one rescue scene sounded too much like a scene from the movie Titanic
The book does improve when the search for Emma begins. Lots of alphabet organizations involved in the search and I did enjoy watching the various groups work together to uncover some dastardly deeds. My enjoyment of the book was no doubt less than others since I have not read the first two books in the series. I would recommend reading the books in order to understand and appreciate the relationships already formed in Storm Rising.
I won this book in a giveaway. Thanks to the author and Kensington press for the opportunity to read this novel. I will be checking out Lone Wolf and Before It’s Too Late to get my fix of the clever rescue dog, Hawk.
December 22, 2018
Woohoo! Set in Virginia Beach, the reader is thrust on a wild ride facing loss, a search for the truth, relationships, survival, child exploitation/trafficking and a need for justice.
Wow! Wow! Wow! This is the third book in the series – I have read and loved both the previous books Lone Wolf and Before It’s Too Late so I jumped at the chance to read this #badboy! A slow build up, adds to the suspense of this novel as you just have no clue what will be happening. Poor Meg and Hawk are sent on a rescue mission to deal with the fall-out of Hurricane Cole but they stumble upon two bodies of young girls which opens a pandora’s box into the seedy underworld of child exploitation/trafficking. In a race against time and the elements, Meg works with Van Cleave to find a missing girl and bring their captor to justice. I loved the plot of this story – and the authors really do know their stuff when it comes to K9 search & rescue as well as everything else! I personally enjoyed the opening of each chapter which explained certain techniques or rules – I am a knowledge seeker and this just made me squeal with delight!
Character-wise, I have to say the mention of Deuce did choke me up a bit as we know how much Meg LOVED Deuce. Those who haven’t read the series, may not understand this fully, but you definitely feel the emotion whenever Deuce is mentioned and credit to the authors for giving readers just enough information to catch up on the previous stories without leaving those who have read the books overwhelmed. It had been awhile, so the refresher worked perfectly for me. In fact, I loved every character in this novel- I was thrilled that Cara and McCord had their part – I have a soft spot for McCord and had originally hoped he and Meg would hit it off (ha ha) but equally glad that her sister has found her match. Love, Love, Love Clay and we see things develop further on this front too. And Van Cleave was the typical G-man – in it to catch the bad guy, down-to-earth and determined – I had wavered when we first met him, but glad it was just me! And I have to mention Emma – strong-willed and vulnerable, she has been through hell and back – I just wanted to wrap her up. So well written!
In a nutshell, would I recommend this book? Oh that would be an absolute HELL YEAH from me. I simply adore this series! BOOM! – Thrilling, fascinating and absolutely unputdownable – I raced through the pages of this superb read! #GottaLoveHawk – he is one of my favourite characters as the authors bring him to life with such a realism, every time something places him at risk, my heart leaps into my throat! Can’t wait to see what happens next!
Wow! Wow! Wow! This is the third book in the series – I have read and loved both the previous books Lone Wolf and Before It’s Too Late so I jumped at the chance to read this #badboy! A slow build up, adds to the suspense of this novel as you just have no clue what will be happening. Poor Meg and Hawk are sent on a rescue mission to deal with the fall-out of Hurricane Cole but they stumble upon two bodies of young girls which opens a pandora’s box into the seedy underworld of child exploitation/trafficking. In a race against time and the elements, Meg works with Van Cleave to find a missing girl and bring their captor to justice. I loved the plot of this story – and the authors really do know their stuff when it comes to K9 search & rescue as well as everything else! I personally enjoyed the opening of each chapter which explained certain techniques or rules – I am a knowledge seeker and this just made me squeal with delight!
Character-wise, I have to say the mention of Deuce did choke me up a bit as we know how much Meg LOVED Deuce. Those who haven’t read the series, may not understand this fully, but you definitely feel the emotion whenever Deuce is mentioned and credit to the authors for giving readers just enough information to catch up on the previous stories without leaving those who have read the books overwhelmed. It had been awhile, so the refresher worked perfectly for me. In fact, I loved every character in this novel- I was thrilled that Cara and McCord had their part – I have a soft spot for McCord and had originally hoped he and Meg would hit it off (ha ha) but equally glad that her sister has found her match. Love, Love, Love Clay and we see things develop further on this front too. And Van Cleave was the typical G-man – in it to catch the bad guy, down-to-earth and determined – I had wavered when we first met him, but glad it was just me! And I have to mention Emma – strong-willed and vulnerable, she has been through hell and back – I just wanted to wrap her up. So well written!
In a nutshell, would I recommend this book? Oh that would be an absolute HELL YEAH from me. I simply adore this series! BOOM! – Thrilling, fascinating and absolutely unputdownable – I raced through the pages of this superb read! #GottaLoveHawk – he is one of my favourite characters as the authors bring him to life with such a realism, every time something places him at risk, my heart leaps into my throat! Can’t wait to see what happens next!
July 26, 2021
Storm Rising is number three in the FBI K-9 series. Even though this book can be read as a standalone, the relationships of all the main characters continues to grow and develop with each book, so I recommend reading them in order. Special Agent Meg Jennings and her Labrador, Hawk along with other members of the FBI’s Human Scent Evidence Team, have been deployed to Virginia Beach in the midst of a hurricane. They are able to find people trapped in their homes, sometimes to rescue them, other times to recover bodies. When they find a van in the Great Dismal Swamp, along with some dead teenagers handcuffed inside they realize a couple of people have escaped. With Hawk finding two girls who are scared and injured, they realize that they have stumbled upon a sex trafficking operation. The leader has escaped, but Meg does not want to just turn over the investigation to someone else, so she works with Special Agent Walter Van Cleave to uncover a network that includes some powerful men.
Meg continues to be a wonderful protagonist. She is a mentally healthy female protagonist with a strong family support system. So many of our female law enforcement characters have so much baggage that this is nice to see. I like the team of Meg and Hawk along with others who help and support her such as Cara, Webb and McCord. This story takes them down some dark roads and brings them face to face with some very scary and psychopathic characters, those who do not care about human life at all. Hawk is such a great character. In addition to Hawk’s involvement in the search and rescues, it turns out that like most labs, he’s a natural as a therapy dog. He saves the day more than once. This is a well written story with some twists and a lot of tension. There was also a lot of education for me in this story, learning about the training and abilities of all the dogs on this FBI team. Another winning story for me and I am looking forward to see what is next for Meg and Hawk along with their team, friends and family. I have been enjoying the FBI K-9 series by Sara Driscoll. I have been listening to the audiobooks from my library and they are well done by Recorded Books. Angela Dawe is the narrator for this series and I enjoy her performances a lot. Her smooth reading voice perfectly fits this chilling story. She gives each of the characters their own distinct, appealing voices including the males. I often have an issue with female narrators doing male voices, but this was not problem with Dawe’s lower range for the males in the story. I found her reading was well-paced and very enjoyable.
Meg continues to be a wonderful protagonist. She is a mentally healthy female protagonist with a strong family support system. So many of our female law enforcement characters have so much baggage that this is nice to see. I like the team of Meg and Hawk along with others who help and support her such as Cara, Webb and McCord. This story takes them down some dark roads and brings them face to face with some very scary and psychopathic characters, those who do not care about human life at all. Hawk is such a great character. In addition to Hawk’s involvement in the search and rescues, it turns out that like most labs, he’s a natural as a therapy dog. He saves the day more than once. This is a well written story with some twists and a lot of tension. There was also a lot of education for me in this story, learning about the training and abilities of all the dogs on this FBI team. Another winning story for me and I am looking forward to see what is next for Meg and Hawk along with their team, friends and family. I have been enjoying the FBI K-9 series by Sara Driscoll. I have been listening to the audiobooks from my library and they are well done by Recorded Books. Angela Dawe is the narrator for this series and I enjoy her performances a lot. Her smooth reading voice perfectly fits this chilling story. She gives each of the characters their own distinct, appealing voices including the males. I often have an issue with female narrators doing male voices, but this was not problem with Dawe’s lower range for the males in the story. I found her reading was well-paced and very enjoyable.
October 3, 2018
4 stars
FBI Special Agent Meg Jennings and her scent/search & rescue dog Hawk are called out to a hurricane search & rescue for the Carolinas and Virginia. Pleased that she will be traveling with her boyfriend Todd Webb a firefighter and paramedic. Her sister Cara lives with Meg and her boyfriend is reporter Clay McCord. Clay happens to be in the area reporting on the storm as well.
Meg and Hawk begin the heartbreaking yet rewarding (sometimes), task of looking for survivors and those who did not make it. The people are those who ignored the evacuation orders, for they didn’t want to leave their homes open to the looters that unfortunately follow every disaster.
They make several rescues and then when driving to a new area, Todd notices a van overturned in the river. Inside, they find two bodies of very young girls dressed totally inappropriately. It is clear that they are being sold in the sex trade. There are a couple of places where it looks like some of the girls might have gotten away.
Hawk and Meg follow the scents and find one young girl under some bleachers. Wary at first, they convince her to let them take her to the hospital. She has a compound fracture of her leg which is why she couldn’t go any farther. She had another girl with her named Emma. Hawk and Meg set out to find Emma. Her trail leads through the Great Dismal Swamp – perfect name for the place, by the way. They locate her being attacked by an alligator.
Meg hooks up with SAC Walter “Van” Van Cleave and together they convince Emma that she can trust them – especially Hawk. Emma has formed quite an attachment to Hawk.
What follows is an investigation in which Meg, Hawk, Todd, Van and Clay join together to nab a sex-trafficking ring. Some of the leaders are very high level. But the raids go off beautifully.
This is a very well written and plotted novel. I like very much the relationship between Meg and her partner Hawk. He is a wonderful dog who has an absolutely great and compassionate handler. The book is filled with tense moments and action as the search for the girls and later the apprehension of the bad guys is carried out.
I want to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books/Kensington for forwarding to me a copy of this wonderful book for me to read, enjoy and review.
FBI Special Agent Meg Jennings and her scent/search & rescue dog Hawk are called out to a hurricane search & rescue for the Carolinas and Virginia. Pleased that she will be traveling with her boyfriend Todd Webb a firefighter and paramedic. Her sister Cara lives with Meg and her boyfriend is reporter Clay McCord. Clay happens to be in the area reporting on the storm as well.
Meg and Hawk begin the heartbreaking yet rewarding (sometimes), task of looking for survivors and those who did not make it. The people are those who ignored the evacuation orders, for they didn’t want to leave their homes open to the looters that unfortunately follow every disaster.
They make several rescues and then when driving to a new area, Todd notices a van overturned in the river. Inside, they find two bodies of very young girls dressed totally inappropriately. It is clear that they are being sold in the sex trade. There are a couple of places where it looks like some of the girls might have gotten away.
Hawk and Meg follow the scents and find one young girl under some bleachers. Wary at first, they convince her to let them take her to the hospital. She has a compound fracture of her leg which is why she couldn’t go any farther. She had another girl with her named Emma. Hawk and Meg set out to find Emma. Her trail leads through the Great Dismal Swamp – perfect name for the place, by the way. They locate her being attacked by an alligator.
Meg hooks up with SAC Walter “Van” Van Cleave and together they convince Emma that she can trust them – especially Hawk. Emma has formed quite an attachment to Hawk.
What follows is an investigation in which Meg, Hawk, Todd, Van and Clay join together to nab a sex-trafficking ring. Some of the leaders are very high level. But the raids go off beautifully.
This is a very well written and plotted novel. I like very much the relationship between Meg and her partner Hawk. He is a wonderful dog who has an absolutely great and compassionate handler. The book is filled with tense moments and action as the search for the girls and later the apprehension of the bad guys is carried out.
I want to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books/Kensington for forwarding to me a copy of this wonderful book for me to read, enjoy and review.
November 29, 2018
Storm Rising by Sara Driscoll
An FBI K-9 Novel #3
Exciting read from beginning to end! Thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read more in this series!!!
Meg Jennings has been called out after a hurricane to locate survivors. Taking her canine partner with her she and Hawk have some exceptionally harrowing finds before the main story even begins. When Todd Webb, firefighter and paramedic, sees a van tipped over in water along the road he has Meg pull over to see what is what. Finding two young girls dead in the van they soon realize there is more to this than an accident related to a hurricane. Meg and Hawk head out to find a trail that may lead to others that were in the van hoping to find one or more alive. That stop by the road leads to a HUGE investigation into a human trafficking ring dealing in young women with fingers in a variety of other revenue sources.
Following the threads to a satisfactory ending in which the bad guys are caught is the frosting on the cake. What is the cake? The main characters that have become the core of this series. Meg and Hawk are a team that is difficult to beat. The people she works with seem stellar. Her sister Cara and Washington Post reporter McCord (the man Cara is dating) add so much to each book. Her parents are there to round out the group. And, in this book we met Van Cleave – an FBI agent working in human trafficking that is THE person you would want on your team both as a friend and a professional.
The writing was superb and kept me entertained and on the edge of my seat waiting to see how the story would unfold. I loved the educational tidbits at the beginning of each chapter and found them something I looked forward to reading and learning from.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
An FBI K-9 Novel #3
Exciting read from beginning to end! Thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read more in this series!!!
Meg Jennings has been called out after a hurricane to locate survivors. Taking her canine partner with her she and Hawk have some exceptionally harrowing finds before the main story even begins. When Todd Webb, firefighter and paramedic, sees a van tipped over in water along the road he has Meg pull over to see what is what. Finding two young girls dead in the van they soon realize there is more to this than an accident related to a hurricane. Meg and Hawk head out to find a trail that may lead to others that were in the van hoping to find one or more alive. That stop by the road leads to a HUGE investigation into a human trafficking ring dealing in young women with fingers in a variety of other revenue sources.
Following the threads to a satisfactory ending in which the bad guys are caught is the frosting on the cake. What is the cake? The main characters that have become the core of this series. Meg and Hawk are a team that is difficult to beat. The people she works with seem stellar. Her sister Cara and Washington Post reporter McCord (the man Cara is dating) add so much to each book. Her parents are there to round out the group. And, in this book we met Van Cleave – an FBI agent working in human trafficking that is THE person you would want on your team both as a friend and a professional.
The writing was superb and kept me entertained and on the edge of my seat waiting to see how the story would unfold. I loved the educational tidbits at the beginning of each chapter and found them something I looked forward to reading and learning from.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
October 9, 2018
At first this one seemed pretty straight forward, a hurricane coming, people not leaving, the powers that be need to make sure everyone is all right in the aftermath, search and rescue dogs being a vital part of things. Easy, right? Sure, until a van is found with dead girls, young girls, chained into it. The first and only thought is sex trafficking, but also, what about those that got away.
The discovering of the van lead Meg and Hawk on a wild goose chase, one where they are able to save a couple girls, then get sucked into the investigation due to a connection to one of the girls. As the investigation digs deeper the ring of bad guys is expanded, going in place none of them thought. I did love how a couple of the bad guys were arrested at the end, right in the middle of their work place, a big interruption.
The ending had me smiling, loved how one of the girls is getting a new start, she couldn't be in a better spot!
The discovering of the van lead Meg and Hawk on a wild goose chase, one where they are able to save a couple girls, then get sucked into the investigation due to a connection to one of the girls. As the investigation digs deeper the ring of bad guys is expanded, going in place none of them thought. I did love how a couple of the bad guys were arrested at the end, right in the middle of their work place, a big interruption.
The ending had me smiling, loved how one of the girls is getting a new start, she couldn't be in a better spot!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2020
Meg Jennings works with K-9 Search and Rescue. She and her dog Hawk go wherever they are needed. They are sent down to an area ravaged by a hurricane to search for bodies. A few days into it, they discover a little girl who is a victim of sex trafficking. This puts them on the trail of the traffickers and they start searching.
I felt like the mystery was too basic. I mean, the sex traffickers was a great idea. But the mystery was a little too neat. Every time they needed something, they got it. There were no arguments for warrants, or hold ups. And if a character through up some red tape, they were able to just plow right through it.
Also the book explained the obvious too much. "Hurricanes bring a lot water." "And that's bad because people aren't prepared for it." "Right." It didn't skirt that line of teaching new things while also letting us be smart.
I felt like the mystery was too basic. I mean, the sex traffickers was a great idea. But the mystery was a little too neat. Every time they needed something, they got it. There were no arguments for warrants, or hold ups. And if a character through up some red tape, they were able to just plow right through it.
Also the book explained the obvious too much. "Hurricanes bring a lot water." "And that's bad because people aren't prepared for it." "Right." It didn't skirt that line of teaching new things while also letting us be smart.
October 21, 2020
"Storm Rising" is a suspense/mystery. This book is the third in a series, but you don't need to read the previous books to understand this one. The characters were engaging, complex, and reacted realistically to events. Meg and her K9 partner worked to find flood victims and then track down two victims of sex trafficking who escaped after an accident. After that, the dog didn't do much tracking but Meg helped with the investigation. At the beginning, the suspense came from the danger to everyone due to the storm damage. In the second half, the suspense was trying to track down and stop the human trafficking ring before they hurt anyone else.
There was a fair amount bad language. There were no descriptive sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this suspenseful novel.
There was a fair amount bad language. There were no descriptive sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this suspenseful novel.
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