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Mace Reid K-9 Mystery #2
The Keepers
Jeffrey B. Burton's The Keepers is the next installment of the Mace Reid K9 series, featuring golden retriever cadaver dog Vira and her handler, Mason Reid.
Mason “Mace” Reid lives on the outskirts of Chicago and specializes in human remains detection—that is, he trains dogs to hunt for dead bodies. He calls his pack of cadaver dogs The Finders, and his prize pupil is a golden retriever named Vira.
When Mace Reid and Vira are called in to search Washington Park at three o'clock in the morning, what they find has them running for their very lives. The trail of murder and mayhem Mace and CPD Officer Kippy Gimm have been following leads them to uncover treachery and corruption at the highest level, and their discoveries do not bode well for them . . . nor for the Windy City itself.
The Keepers is an exciting, fast-paced mystery filled with courageous dogs you'll want to root for.
Mason “Mace” Reid lives on the outskirts of Chicago and specializes in human remains detection—that is, he trains dogs to hunt for dead bodies. He calls his pack of cadaver dogs The Finders, and his prize pupil is a golden retriever named Vira.
When Mace Reid and Vira are called in to search Washington Park at three o'clock in the morning, what they find has them running for their very lives. The trail of murder and mayhem Mace and CPD Officer Kippy Gimm have been following leads them to uncover treachery and corruption at the highest level, and their discoveries do not bode well for them . . . nor for the Windy City itself.
The Keepers is an exciting, fast-paced mystery filled with courageous dogs you'll want to root for.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published June 29, 2021
181 people are currently reading
4585 people want to read
About the author
Jeffrey B. Burton
23 books339 followersJeff's mystery/thriller, THE BOY IN THE WALL, comes out March 4, 2026. THE SECOND GRAVE came out in 2025 and THE DEAD YEARS came out in 2024 (all from Severn House).
Novels in Jeff's Mace Reid K-9 mystery series include THE FINDERS, THE KEEPERS, and THE LOST (St. Martin's Press, Minotaur).
Novels in Jeff's Agent Drew Cady mystery series include: THE CHESSMAN, THE LYNCHPIN, and THE EULOGIST. His short stories have appeared in dozens of magazines.
Born in Long Beach, California, Jeff grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota. He received his BA in Journalism at the University of Minnesota. He is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and the Horror Writers Association. He lives in St. Paul with his wife, and a goofball of a Beagle named Milo.
Novels in Jeff's Mace Reid K-9 mystery series include THE FINDERS, THE KEEPERS, and THE LOST (St. Martin's Press, Minotaur).
Novels in Jeff's Agent Drew Cady mystery series include: THE CHESSMAN, THE LYNCHPIN, and THE EULOGIST. His short stories have appeared in dozens of magazines.
Born in Long Beach, California, Jeff grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota. He received his BA in Journalism at the University of Minnesota. He is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and the Horror Writers Association. He lives in St. Paul with his wife, and a goofball of a Beagle named Milo.
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January 10, 2021
The Keepers by Jeffrey B. Burton is the second book in the Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series. Sometimes second books in a series can be a let-down, but that is not the case here. Burton has increased the potency in this novel and managed to seamlessly combine an amateur sleuth mystery with a police procedural that also highlights relationships between dogs and people.
Mason (Mace) Reid lives outside of Chicago and trains dogs with various end goals such as obedience and missing persons tracking, as well as searching for drugs and explosives. However, his specialty is training dogs in human remains detection (HRD or cadaver dogs). He is often called in to help the Chicago Police Department and local sheriff’s departments. Little did he know that when he and his golden retriever, Vira, are called in to search Washington Park that their lives are about to change. Vira seems to have an uncanny ability that borders on the paranormal in her ability to locate not just the dead bodies, but also their murderers.
Mace is a compelling and well-developed character with flaws that have led to a divorce and a job change. It was great to see some of the secondary characters show up again in this book and gain some depth. Additionally, the canines have been well-developed and their personalities came through as the story progress. They aren’t just an afterthought, but play important roles in the series. It was also great to see the relationship between Mace and Kippy develop.
The writing style is engaging, but also has an intensity to it that kept me turning the pages. At the same time, there were moments of humor that elevated the book and made Mace and his dogs come to life for me.
This story is complicated and has multiple subplots, but it’s never confusing. The overall plot was clever and kept me engrossed in the tale. Its twists and turns led to a dramatic conclusion. Like in book one, the bonds between Mace and his five dogs are the highlights of the book. Themes include murder, corruption, trust, and relationships between dogs and people as well as between people.
Overall, this was an entertaining novel and a great addition to the series. I look forward to the next book and I want to read this author’s FBI Special Agent Drew Cady mystery series starting with The Chessman. If you enjoy books where special animals play a role in a mixed genre novel, then this may be the next series for you.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Jeffrey B. Burton for an ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for June 29, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
Mason (Mace) Reid lives outside of Chicago and trains dogs with various end goals such as obedience and missing persons tracking, as well as searching for drugs and explosives. However, his specialty is training dogs in human remains detection (HRD or cadaver dogs). He is often called in to help the Chicago Police Department and local sheriff’s departments. Little did he know that when he and his golden retriever, Vira, are called in to search Washington Park that their lives are about to change. Vira seems to have an uncanny ability that borders on the paranormal in her ability to locate not just the dead bodies, but also their murderers.
Mace is a compelling and well-developed character with flaws that have led to a divorce and a job change. It was great to see some of the secondary characters show up again in this book and gain some depth. Additionally, the canines have been well-developed and their personalities came through as the story progress. They aren’t just an afterthought, but play important roles in the series. It was also great to see the relationship between Mace and Kippy develop.
The writing style is engaging, but also has an intensity to it that kept me turning the pages. At the same time, there were moments of humor that elevated the book and made Mace and his dogs come to life for me.
This story is complicated and has multiple subplots, but it’s never confusing. The overall plot was clever and kept me engrossed in the tale. Its twists and turns led to a dramatic conclusion. Like in book one, the bonds between Mace and his five dogs are the highlights of the book. Themes include murder, corruption, trust, and relationships between dogs and people as well as between people.
Overall, this was an entertaining novel and a great addition to the series. I look forward to the next book and I want to read this author’s FBI Special Agent Drew Cady mystery series starting with The Chessman. If you enjoy books where special animals play a role in a mixed genre novel, then this may be the next series for you.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Jeffrey B. Burton for an ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for June 29, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
March 9, 2021
Chicago - corruption capital of America.
Mace Reid is a cadaver dog trainer in Chicago. He’s got five dogs, but Vira, his Golden Retriever, is truly special. She can smell the murderer’s scent on a dead body. Of course, only a few special people know this and Mace isn’t about to tell others.
This is the second book in the series and the plot involves the discovery of a dead body in Washington Park. Because of Vira’s unique talent, Mace realizes there is a very high up governmental person involved in the murder. It’s a convoluted plot.
My trouble with this book was I just couldn’t buy Vira’s talent. It just beggared belief. (Checking out my review of the first book indicated a similar problem.) I did enjoy the pace of the novel and the amount of information provided on how the dogs are trained. And I always love the interactions between the dogs and their human partners.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
Mace Reid is a cadaver dog trainer in Chicago. He’s got five dogs, but Vira, his Golden Retriever, is truly special. She can smell the murderer’s scent on a dead body. Of course, only a few special people know this and Mace isn’t about to tell others.
This is the second book in the series and the plot involves the discovery of a dead body in Washington Park. Because of Vira’s unique talent, Mace realizes there is a very high up governmental person involved in the murder. It’s a convoluted plot.
My trouble with this book was I just couldn’t buy Vira’s talent. It just beggared belief. (Checking out my review of the first book indicated a similar problem.) I did enjoy the pace of the novel and the amount of information provided on how the dogs are trained. And I always love the interactions between the dogs and their human partners.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
June 29, 2021
3.5 stars
In this second book in the 'Mace Reid K-9 Mystery Series', cadaver dog trainer Mace Reid gets involved in a dangerous case. The novel works fine as a standalone.
*****
Chicago resident Mason Reid (Mace) trains cadaver dogs to search for human remains. Most of Mace's work involves helping the Chicago Police Department or local sheriffs' departments look for missing people who are presumed dead.
Mace's most accomplished cadaver dog is a golden retriever named Vira, who "takes the art of human remains detection to the next level.....the Sherlock Holmes level."
When Vira visits a crime scene she attempts to "perform some kind of forensic analysis on the various smells and odors - the scent DNA - and decipher their meaning." In other words, Vira can eke out the smell of the murderer, and when she's successful, has a kind of shaking seizure. For the most part, Mace keeps Vira's ability secret, knowing people will scoff at him.
Mace's other cadaver dogs are German shepherd Sue;
collies Delta Dawn and Maggie May;
and newbie bloodhound Bill, a puppy who's learning the ropes. Bill is cute, but he seeks out the stinkiest gunk to roll around in - like squirrel poop and old puke - and has his own private 'car wash.'
As the story opens, Mace and his golden retriever Vira are called to the apartment of an aging rock star named Jonny Whiting, whose head has been bashed in with a guitar.
Vira does her Sherlock Holmes thing, and Mace and Vira help Officer Kippy Gimm and her partner Officer Dave Wabiszewki (Wabs) solve the case. Mace and Kippy have a social relationship as well, but they're 'just friends'.....to Mace's regret. 😏
After nabbing the Whiting murderer, Mace, Vira, Kippy, and Wabs get involved in another case. This one focuses on the murder of Special Prosecutor Peter Feist, who's been trying to root out corruption in Chicago.
The Feist inquiry has tendrils that extend to Chicago mobsters and nefarious government officials, which makes things VERY dangerous for the investigative team.
The bad guys are exceptionally capable foes, and there's plenty of intrigue and action in the book.
On the lighter side, the death and destruction are occasionally lightened by Mace's humorous quips, which add a fun element to the story.
I enjoyed this entertaining thriller, and look forward to future books in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley, Jeffrey Burton, and Minotaur Books for a copy of the book.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
October 21, 2020
First of all, I am extending my thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced digital copy of this book in return for an honest review. I love the gorgeous, eye-catching cover art.
I was introduced to Mace and his cadaver dogs in the first book in the series,' The Finders'. Mace lives alone near Chicago with his pack of 5 dogs. He has a grim but fascinating job of training cadaver dogs. This book works well as a stand-alone. The first book told how he and policewoman, Kimmy, rescued Vira, a Golden Retriever from near death, and how Vira became his prize student.
The work of these dogs is to find dead bodies. The training is discussed again in this book. Cadaver dogs learn to associate the various stages a body undergoes after death by their highly proficient sense of smell. From the beginning, Vira learned so quickly to find dead bodies that she was considered a prodigy. Beyond that, Vira is thought to have special talents bordering on the paranormal.
It is possible that her sense receptors can zero in and identify traces of DNA left behind on a victim by the murderer, and react when in the killer's vicinity. I am unsure if this is a unique ability that some time will be confirmed by science or a fictional device used to propel the stories. Veri also makes an effective attack dog.
The book features two criminal cases. The first is the murder of an ageing rock star, battered to death with his guitar. After the perpetrator was identified by Veri, he confessed. This saved Mace and Kim from trying to explain the dog's special powers to the police.
The next case was a longer and more complicated one, and one I found too complex to be entirely compelling. The head of the Special Prosecutor Bureau is found brutally murdered and then one of his contacts is killed. It involved a conspiracy between the Superintendant of Police and his dishonest followers, along with the head of the Chicago mob, his sadistic, psychopathic son, and some politicians and businessmen. The Police Superintendant has a huge, brutal man who serves as his chauffer and enforcer. He threatens Mace, as well as two police officers, Kimmy and Wabs, who are investigating the murders. They are set up to look guilty with sums of illegal cash, drugs and even a dead body planted in their homes.
Mace and Kimmy must flee for their lives and go into hiding with three of the dogs. After a savage confrontation, there are injuries and arrests are made. Members of the conspiracy who remain alive face many years in prison. The charges involve murder, corruption, conspiracy, bribery and racketeering.
Recommended to anyone interested in the training and work of police dogs.
I was introduced to Mace and his cadaver dogs in the first book in the series,' The Finders'. Mace lives alone near Chicago with his pack of 5 dogs. He has a grim but fascinating job of training cadaver dogs. This book works well as a stand-alone. The first book told how he and policewoman, Kimmy, rescued Vira, a Golden Retriever from near death, and how Vira became his prize student.
The work of these dogs is to find dead bodies. The training is discussed again in this book. Cadaver dogs learn to associate the various stages a body undergoes after death by their highly proficient sense of smell. From the beginning, Vira learned so quickly to find dead bodies that she was considered a prodigy. Beyond that, Vira is thought to have special talents bordering on the paranormal.
It is possible that her sense receptors can zero in and identify traces of DNA left behind on a victim by the murderer, and react when in the killer's vicinity. I am unsure if this is a unique ability that some time will be confirmed by science or a fictional device used to propel the stories. Veri also makes an effective attack dog.
The book features two criminal cases. The first is the murder of an ageing rock star, battered to death with his guitar. After the perpetrator was identified by Veri, he confessed. This saved Mace and Kim from trying to explain the dog's special powers to the police.
The next case was a longer and more complicated one, and one I found too complex to be entirely compelling. The head of the Special Prosecutor Bureau is found brutally murdered and then one of his contacts is killed. It involved a conspiracy between the Superintendant of Police and his dishonest followers, along with the head of the Chicago mob, his sadistic, psychopathic son, and some politicians and businessmen. The Police Superintendant has a huge, brutal man who serves as his chauffer and enforcer. He threatens Mace, as well as two police officers, Kimmy and Wabs, who are investigating the murders. They are set up to look guilty with sums of illegal cash, drugs and even a dead body planted in their homes.
Mace and Kimmy must flee for their lives and go into hiding with three of the dogs. After a savage confrontation, there are injuries and arrests are made. Members of the conspiracy who remain alive face many years in prison. The charges involve murder, corruption, conspiracy, bribery and racketeering.
Recommended to anyone interested in the training and work of police dogs.
April 25, 2021
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: June 29, 2021
“The Keepers” by Jeffrey B. Burton is the second novel in the Mace Reid K9 series (the first one being, “The Finders”, which I also had the oppourtunity to read and review).
Mace Reid and his cadaver dogs are called in to investigate a murder in Washington Park, but what they find there is far more than just a dead body. Soon, Mace, his dogs and police officer Kippy Gimm are on the run from the Chicago mob, and this is one race that will only end in death. With greed, political corruption and intense mob intimidation, Mace and Kippy are forced to take on the most powerful men in Chicago, who will stop at nothing to keep their power.
Mason (Mace) Reid is a likable character, and his charming nature continues throughout the second novel. He acquires a new dog, Bill, who joins his seriously adorable brood of cadaver sniffing dogs, including Vira, who made her first appearance in the last book, as the almost psychically talented leader of the pack. Kippy returns in this novel too, and of course the romantic tension still exists between our two main characters, continuing the will-they-or-won’t-they questioning that presented itself in the first novel. The greatest characters by far, of course, are the dogs, who use their innate training and intuition to find dead bodies and essentially, save the day.
This novel has a lot of characters, including a lot of high-powered politicians and downright dirty-deed doers. Although most of the novel was told from Mace’s perspective, we did get a few sections that would be narrated by one or more of the leaders of Chicago’s seedy underbelly. It was difficult at first to sort through who was who, and exactly who was working for whom, but the dark revelations of Chicago’s crime-powered leaders was interesting and likely, all too realistic.
The ending finally provided a resolution to the will-they-or-won’t-they question between Kippy and Mace. “The Keepers” plays out like a Hollywood action movie, full of gunfire and fistfights, where the hero comes out on top. It was an engaging and gripping read, peppered with brave and adorable cadaver dogs, and I look forward to seeing more of Mace Reid in the near future.
Expected publication date: June 29, 2021
“The Keepers” by Jeffrey B. Burton is the second novel in the Mace Reid K9 series (the first one being, “The Finders”, which I also had the oppourtunity to read and review).
Mace Reid and his cadaver dogs are called in to investigate a murder in Washington Park, but what they find there is far more than just a dead body. Soon, Mace, his dogs and police officer Kippy Gimm are on the run from the Chicago mob, and this is one race that will only end in death. With greed, political corruption and intense mob intimidation, Mace and Kippy are forced to take on the most powerful men in Chicago, who will stop at nothing to keep their power.
Mason (Mace) Reid is a likable character, and his charming nature continues throughout the second novel. He acquires a new dog, Bill, who joins his seriously adorable brood of cadaver sniffing dogs, including Vira, who made her first appearance in the last book, as the almost psychically talented leader of the pack. Kippy returns in this novel too, and of course the romantic tension still exists between our two main characters, continuing the will-they-or-won’t-they questioning that presented itself in the first novel. The greatest characters by far, of course, are the dogs, who use their innate training and intuition to find dead bodies and essentially, save the day.
This novel has a lot of characters, including a lot of high-powered politicians and downright dirty-deed doers. Although most of the novel was told from Mace’s perspective, we did get a few sections that would be narrated by one or more of the leaders of Chicago’s seedy underbelly. It was difficult at first to sort through who was who, and exactly who was working for whom, but the dark revelations of Chicago’s crime-powered leaders was interesting and likely, all too realistic.
The ending finally provided a resolution to the will-they-or-won’t-they question between Kippy and Mace. “The Keepers” plays out like a Hollywood action movie, full of gunfire and fistfights, where the hero comes out on top. It was an engaging and gripping read, peppered with brave and adorable cadaver dogs, and I look forward to seeing more of Mace Reid in the near future.
June 24, 2022
The Keepers is the second book in Burton's Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series. I was extremely interested in this series because I love books about dogs, especially when they are the heroes. And in both books in this series, Burton shows just how bad-a@# dogs can be! I will say that personally, I liked the first book better. Yet having said that, this story is action packed and fast paced as well. And of course, the dogs are the star of the show! Even though I liked the first book better, I'm excited to read the next book and see where this series goes.
My thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press and Minatour Books and netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
My thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press and Minatour Books and netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 15, 2021
The Keepers, by Jeffrey B. Burton, is the 2nd book in his fast-paced mystery series (Mace Reid K-9 Mystery) featuring dog handler Mace Reid and golden retriever cadaver dog Vira.
A compelling mystery with many twists and turns involving Chicago City politics, mobsters and murder.
I love the courageous specialized search dogs!
I look forward to the next book in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
A compelling mystery with many twists and turns involving Chicago City politics, mobsters and murder.
I love the courageous specialized search dogs!
I look forward to the next book in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
December 4, 2023
This one was a great 2nd edition to the story, although the Antagonist's narrative sections were less enjoyable. He had a weird and anoyign idiom obsession and would repeatedly explain the ones he used. I think maybe author Jeffrey Burton was trying to do this to make him so, but it wasn't as fun to read. I also think the mystery was less exciting here. Serial killers are a lot more fun ;)
Vira is still the bestest girl ever! I could read about her forever!
Mace's love life continues to grow lamer. I feel bad for him, and as much as I like Kippy, maybe he needs to have an interim romance.
3.75 stars rounded up!
Vira is still the bestest girl ever! I could read about her forever!
Mace's love life continues to grow lamer. I feel bad for him, and as much as I like Kippy, maybe he needs to have an interim romance.
3.75 stars rounded up!
May 28, 2021
I love mysteries about cats and dogs, so I was excited to find and read "The Finders," the debut book in this series, last summer. I was no less excited to find this one - and even happier when, once again, I got a pre-release copy of the book to read and review (thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley). Like the first, there's plenty of nail-biting action, both on the part of the pooches and their very likable trainer, Mason "Mace" Reid. Needless to say, though, the dogs pretty much have a corner on the lovable end - any country music fan like me would be hard-pressed to resist pups with names like Delta Dawn, Elvira and Sue (yes, the latter is a boy).
They all live near Chicago, and the dogs are in demand, largely by the Chicago Police Department, for their expertise in sniffing out human remains. As this story opens, a call from the previous summer sends Mace and a couple of his best canines to a major downtown fire, where the dogs nose out a body. Subsequent investigation determines the fire to be arson and that the dead guy, a lawyer, bit the dust before he turned up as a crispy critter (i.e., he was murdered).
Back to the present, Mace's not-yet-but-hoped-for main squeeze, police officer Kippy Gimm, calls him in to help with the murder of a local musician who, shall we say, was musically challenged and lost. Then Mace and the dogs seek and find an even more prominent - and spectacularly dead - local district attorney. That, in turn, leads to suspicions of nefarious connections that reach to the highest levels of government (hey, this is Chicago, after all). But whoever the someone or someones are behind the murder, it's pretty clear an in-depth investigation won't be welcome. Mace and Kippy soon learn that the hard way, though - putting them and the dogs in mortal danger, on the run and smack dab in the middle of an episode of "Who Do You Trust?"
For sure, this one barked right up my tree, and I'm sure it will be a hit with other readers as well. Good job!
They all live near Chicago, and the dogs are in demand, largely by the Chicago Police Department, for their expertise in sniffing out human remains. As this story opens, a call from the previous summer sends Mace and a couple of his best canines to a major downtown fire, where the dogs nose out a body. Subsequent investigation determines the fire to be arson and that the dead guy, a lawyer, bit the dust before he turned up as a crispy critter (i.e., he was murdered).
Back to the present, Mace's not-yet-but-hoped-for main squeeze, police officer Kippy Gimm, calls him in to help with the murder of a local musician who, shall we say, was musically challenged and lost. Then Mace and the dogs seek and find an even more prominent - and spectacularly dead - local district attorney. That, in turn, leads to suspicions of nefarious connections that reach to the highest levels of government (hey, this is Chicago, after all). But whoever the someone or someones are behind the murder, it's pretty clear an in-depth investigation won't be welcome. Mace and Kippy soon learn that the hard way, though - putting them and the dogs in mortal danger, on the run and smack dab in the middle of an episode of "Who Do You Trust?"
For sure, this one barked right up my tree, and I'm sure it will be a hit with other readers as well. Good job!
February 20, 2021
This is the second book in this K-9 cadaver dog series about Mason Reid and his dogs and I will be keeping an eye out for future volumes. Mason and his team of dogs don’t wear a badge but when he adopted Vira he signed up for a little more than just finding bodies. Vira has a special talent - when she sniffs someone recently murdered she also catches the scent for the killer. This gives Mason the often difficult job of figuring how to prove the bad guy Vira points out did it. This story containers a side story type murder that they solve and a bigger more complicated story. Both were interesting and I love how you get chapters from the bad guys’ perspectives as I always enjoy that kind of a glimpse into the eyes of evil.
June 16, 2021
Mason (Mace) Reid is back again with his team of Human Remains Detection (HRD) dogs. This time, Mace and his partner, Kippy Gimm must prove that there is police and government corruption at the highest level. But can they do it? They are being framed for several murders and are on the run.
One thing going for Mace and Kippy is Vira’s special ability to sniff out DNA and determine the culprits. At least Mace and Kippy know the “who” in the “whodunnit.” But now they must connect all the dots and prove beyond a reasonable doubt that government officials, the police department, and the mob are all in cahoots and that they are the real perpetrators in the ghastly murders
The Keepers is the second installment of the Mace Reid series and it did not disappoint. Although the plot didn’t really involve human remains detection, it was still an interesting read with some twists.
The characters are mostly carryovers from Burton’s first installment, The Finders. So in order to get the full flavor of the main actors, it is best that the reader start with the first novel in the series.
Although I liked the government corruption angle of the story, I would have preferred that the plot involve more of the dogs’ abilities and human remains detection to determine the perpetrators.
Overall, a pretty exciting novel but I didn’t find it as good as Burton’s first — The Finders. Four rousing stars.
I received a digital ARC from Minotaur Books through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
One thing going for Mace and Kippy is Vira’s special ability to sniff out DNA and determine the culprits. At least Mace and Kippy know the “who” in the “whodunnit.” But now they must connect all the dots and prove beyond a reasonable doubt that government officials, the police department, and the mob are all in cahoots and that they are the real perpetrators in the ghastly murders
The Keepers is the second installment of the Mace Reid series and it did not disappoint. Although the plot didn’t really involve human remains detection, it was still an interesting read with some twists.
The characters are mostly carryovers from Burton’s first installment, The Finders. So in order to get the full flavor of the main actors, it is best that the reader start with the first novel in the series.
Although I liked the government corruption angle of the story, I would have preferred that the plot involve more of the dogs’ abilities and human remains detection to determine the perpetrators.
Overall, a pretty exciting novel but I didn’t find it as good as Burton’s first — The Finders. Four rousing stars.
I received a digital ARC from Minotaur Books through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
July 29, 2022
📚 Hello Book Friends! THE KEEPERS by Jeffery B. Burton is the second book in the Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series. It did not disappoint. It was filled with action and danger. Although you know who the malefactor is from the beginning, it is quite a ride to find out how Mace and his awesome dogs will survive. I cannot wait to read the third book in the series.
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May 1, 2021
Great addition to the series! I enjoyed this story - the case, characters and most certainly the dogs. While it started off just a wee bit slow for me, I soon appreciated all the information incorporated into the story and found it priceless knowledge by the end. By midway, I couldn't put it down. This one tugs at all the emotions and it's high octane most of the way. Lots of action, budding romance, and great interaction between animal & man. Highly recommended!
January 28, 2021
Mace Reid K-9 Mystery book#2
This series features golden retriever cadaver dog Vira and her handler, Mason Reid. In this second installment the duo are called in to search Washington Park in the wee hours of the day, what they find has them running for their lives.....
I haven’t read book one and in no ways was it a challenge to start at this point although I admit that book #1 is on my radar. The story stands perfectly well by itself. This is a solid, hard action mystery that grabs from the start. It is also a nice combination of an amateur sleuth mystery with a good dose of police procedural. What stands out is the relationship (love) between the handler and his dogs, this shines all through the book. The “Keepers” is very engaging and the author cleverly keeps the intensity to a high level in order to keep us flipping pages. Indeed it kept me engrossed with the many twists and turns that led to a dramatic ending.
We have two major criminal cases: one, the murder of a rock star battered to death with his guitar and second the brutal murder of the head of Special Prosecutor Bureau. These cases bring out panoply of shady characters: the head of the Chicago mob, his psychopathic son, crooked politicians and businessmen, police superintendent and multiple other bad guys....but to save the day after a savage confrontation is Mace with his sidekick Kippy and the dogs. Yep.. I rooted for the dogs...:) One plot which was put to bed fairly easily and the second simmered into an explosive boil.....very captivating.
The main characters and the support characters including the canine variety are well developed. Mace is not a superman: he drinks some, swears too much and vomits when scared but loves his dogs and his friend, CPD office Kippy Gimm is the perfect ally. I loved that the dogs weren’t just background players. They had a job to do and their training is explored...well-done.
I had the opportunity to receive this ARC from St-Martin Press via Netgalley for my thoughts, this is the way I see it.
This series features golden retriever cadaver dog Vira and her handler, Mason Reid. In this second installment the duo are called in to search Washington Park in the wee hours of the day, what they find has them running for their lives.....
I haven’t read book one and in no ways was it a challenge to start at this point although I admit that book #1 is on my radar. The story stands perfectly well by itself. This is a solid, hard action mystery that grabs from the start. It is also a nice combination of an amateur sleuth mystery with a good dose of police procedural. What stands out is the relationship (love) between the handler and his dogs, this shines all through the book. The “Keepers” is very engaging and the author cleverly keeps the intensity to a high level in order to keep us flipping pages. Indeed it kept me engrossed with the many twists and turns that led to a dramatic ending.
We have two major criminal cases: one, the murder of a rock star battered to death with his guitar and second the brutal murder of the head of Special Prosecutor Bureau. These cases bring out panoply of shady characters: the head of the Chicago mob, his psychopathic son, crooked politicians and businessmen, police superintendent and multiple other bad guys....but to save the day after a savage confrontation is Mace with his sidekick Kippy and the dogs. Yep.. I rooted for the dogs...:) One plot which was put to bed fairly easily and the second simmered into an explosive boil.....very captivating.
The main characters and the support characters including the canine variety are well developed. Mace is not a superman: he drinks some, swears too much and vomits when scared but loves his dogs and his friend, CPD office Kippy Gimm is the perfect ally. I loved that the dogs weren’t just background players. They had a job to do and their training is explored...well-done.
I had the opportunity to receive this ARC from St-Martin Press via Netgalley for my thoughts, this is the way I see it.
June 14, 2021
3.5
I didn’t enjoy this as much as the first book, but that is because a corruption plot is not as interesting as a serial killer plot to me. I’m also grading down because the author used an offensive term in the first book, (which was at the near end of the book, did nothing to further the plot so in my opinion was totally unnecessary) and the author did the exact same thing in this book at the exact same point in the book, but used a different offensive term. I don’t get it.
With that said, I still plan to continue with the series, because I love the idea of a Golden Retriever as a pivotal character and her handler. I love learning about how dogs are used in police investigations and the background on the different training, etc. While I really wish the author would stop using offensive words at the tail end of his books, I don't think it warrants never reading them again. Since I mention my dissatisfaction with him including these words in his writing, I am hoping that will do enough for anyone who considers reading this series.
I may expand upon this review, but I’m not sure yet.
Thanks to St. Martins Press, Sara Beth Harding and the author for a print review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review Date: 06/13/2021
Publication Date: 06/29/2021
I didn’t enjoy this as much as the first book, but that is because a corruption plot is not as interesting as a serial killer plot to me. I’m also grading down because the author used an offensive term in the first book, (which was at the near end of the book, did nothing to further the plot so in my opinion was totally unnecessary) and the author did the exact same thing in this book at the exact same point in the book, but used a different offensive term. I don’t get it.
With that said, I still plan to continue with the series, because I love the idea of a Golden Retriever as a pivotal character and her handler. I love learning about how dogs are used in police investigations and the background on the different training, etc. While I really wish the author would stop using offensive words at the tail end of his books, I don't think it warrants never reading them again. Since I mention my dissatisfaction with him including these words in his writing, I am hoping that will do enough for anyone who considers reading this series.
I may expand upon this review, but I’m not sure yet.
Thanks to St. Martins Press, Sara Beth Harding and the author for a print review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review Date: 06/13/2021
Publication Date: 06/29/2021
June 19, 2021
'Sweet Home Chicago!'
I really enjoy this mystery series set in Chicago, featuring Mason Reid and his team of cadaver-sniffing dogs. This particular mystery delves into the corrupt Chicago Way which is designed to keep the worker bee populace subservient. Mace's most talented dog, Vira, unwittingly lands him smack in the middle of this corruption and the powers that be are none too happy. Mace finds himself threatened and his friends endangered. But when they go after his dogs--watch out!
This is not just a cutesy dog story--there is murder and creepy bad guys and evil doers galore! The action is so intense in some parts, I actually had to close the Kindle and walk away for a bit, lol. If you are a dog lover, you'll understand what I mean. Mace's dogs have as much personality as any of the human characters do, which is saying a lot. Such loyalty and bravery!
But I should also mention that there is a little touch of awkward romance which brings some lightness to the story. Can't wait to see what happens between Mace and Officer Kippy in future books.
I received an arc of this new mystery from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.
I really enjoy this mystery series set in Chicago, featuring Mason Reid and his team of cadaver-sniffing dogs. This particular mystery delves into the corrupt Chicago Way which is designed to keep the worker bee populace subservient. Mace's most talented dog, Vira, unwittingly lands him smack in the middle of this corruption and the powers that be are none too happy. Mace finds himself threatened and his friends endangered. But when they go after his dogs--watch out!
This is not just a cutesy dog story--there is murder and creepy bad guys and evil doers galore! The action is so intense in some parts, I actually had to close the Kindle and walk away for a bit, lol. If you are a dog lover, you'll understand what I mean. Mace's dogs have as much personality as any of the human characters do, which is saying a lot. Such loyalty and bravery!
But I should also mention that there is a little touch of awkward romance which brings some lightness to the story. Can't wait to see what happens between Mace and Officer Kippy in future books.
I received an arc of this new mystery from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.
June 24, 2024
Allow me to share my top three unhinged sentences from this book:
3. "Listen, I love Vira. If she were taller and brunette, I'd ask for her paw in marriage."
2. "If I like someone, kiddo, I'll give them a few seconds to get good with God. And since dog's a reverse palindrome - you got five."
1. "If Horton can hear a Who, my dogs can smell them."
There isn't a single sentence in this book that I finish reading and think "yup, that's how a normal person talks, or acts, or thinks, or describes a situation". The characters are named Mace, Kippy, Vira (the closest thing to a normal human name is, of course, given to the dog), Wabs, Jethro, and Cordov Woods (his father named him after a cord of wood, isn't that hilarious). The villain's sociopathic idiosyncrasy (think Javier Bardem's obsession with coin flipping in No Country for Old Men) is that he loves idioms. A couple gets divorced because she watches the nanny cam footage and realizes he gives her the finger every time she turns around. A man nicknamed his wife Eggs. EGGS.
It's terrible writing, it's the biggest killer of the book, and the irony is it's backwards - everything about the plot, prose, and dialogue should be highly believable. Stephen King is so terrifying because the interdimensional clown spider eats children in a Maine small town that is otherwise entirely relatable - you can picture yourself there. The most believable aspect of this book is that an amazing dog can smell the killer after sniffing the victim - that should be the crazy part! Everything should start and end with that: what the heck is this dog's problem, what do you mean she solves murders, does sniffing hold up in court as evidence, this crime-solving dog keeps getting me into trouble. Yes those notes are at least hit in the book, but they're afterthoughts - the dog's behavior is immediately normalized. The focus is instead trying to be CSI and Tom Clancy and hot-cop-falls-for-John-Hardly (Liz Lemon made up John Hardly) all at once.
The plot is at least an improvement from the first book. The dogs play more of a role, and the action has a few more seconds to engage you before it's over. It's not good, or followable, or even legible, but it's at least... trying? I can't find the word. But there are hazy outlines of a plot you could make a fun movie around.
Should I have picked up this sequel only to give it 1 star, no. I knew what I was getting after The Finders. But I also gave that book 3 stars when it deserved maybe 2. It moves quickly, but only once you give up trying to understand or relate to the words. It's the best 1 star book I've ever read, the only one I would ever consider recommending, and hopefully the only one where I fully intend to read the sequel (whoops, can't help myself). The dogs root out corruption in Chicago that goes all the way to the top! The third book has to be Vira stopping a plot to assassinate the president, right? Or how about "dog sniffs her way into North Korea to stop Kim Jong Un from launching a nuclear missile". Can't pass that up.
3. "Listen, I love Vira. If she were taller and brunette, I'd ask for her paw in marriage."
2. "If I like someone, kiddo, I'll give them a few seconds to get good with God. And since dog's a reverse palindrome - you got five."
1. "If Horton can hear a Who, my dogs can smell them."
There isn't a single sentence in this book that I finish reading and think "yup, that's how a normal person talks, or acts, or thinks, or describes a situation". The characters are named Mace, Kippy, Vira (the closest thing to a normal human name is, of course, given to the dog), Wabs, Jethro, and Cordov Woods (his father named him after a cord of wood, isn't that hilarious). The villain's sociopathic idiosyncrasy (think Javier Bardem's obsession with coin flipping in No Country for Old Men) is that he loves idioms. A couple gets divorced because she watches the nanny cam footage and realizes he gives her the finger every time she turns around. A man nicknamed his wife Eggs. EGGS.
It's terrible writing, it's the biggest killer of the book, and the irony is it's backwards - everything about the plot, prose, and dialogue should be highly believable. Stephen King is so terrifying because the interdimensional clown spider eats children in a Maine small town that is otherwise entirely relatable - you can picture yourself there. The most believable aspect of this book is that an amazing dog can smell the killer after sniffing the victim - that should be the crazy part! Everything should start and end with that: what the heck is this dog's problem, what do you mean she solves murders, does sniffing hold up in court as evidence, this crime-solving dog keeps getting me into trouble. Yes those notes are at least hit in the book, but they're afterthoughts - the dog's behavior is immediately normalized. The focus is instead trying to be CSI and Tom Clancy and hot-cop-falls-for-John-Hardly (Liz Lemon made up John Hardly) all at once.
The plot is at least an improvement from the first book. The dogs play more of a role, and the action has a few more seconds to engage you before it's over. It's not good, or followable, or even legible, but it's at least... trying? I can't find the word. But there are hazy outlines of a plot you could make a fun movie around.
Should I have picked up this sequel only to give it 1 star, no. I knew what I was getting after The Finders. But I also gave that book 3 stars when it deserved maybe 2. It moves quickly, but only once you give up trying to understand or relate to the words. It's the best 1 star book I've ever read, the only one I would ever consider recommending, and hopefully the only one where I fully intend to read the sequel (whoops, can't help myself). The dogs root out corruption in Chicago that goes all the way to the top! The third book has to be Vira stopping a plot to assassinate the president, right? Or how about "dog sniffs her way into North Korea to stop Kim Jong Un from launching a nuclear missile". Can't pass that up.
November 2, 2020
This is not some cutesy doggie story. But, a tale of three murders. World renown rocker Jonny Whting's crumpled body with smashed in skull and missing eye lies sprawled on the kitchen floor of his posh condominium. While his famous guitar lies in ruins next to his destroyed and decomposing body. David Siskin, real estate investor from Minneapolis, lies on the floor of the Chicago office of the Investment Group .... his body crushed, almost unrecognizable with compound fractures in all his limbs ... bones hideously protruding through the skin. And, lastly .... Special Prosecutor Peter Feist's neck was not only broken, but his head was facing the wrong direction. All portend ongoing high stakes corruption at the highest level. Linking to the ongoing murder investigations is the presence of Mace Reid and his band of humans remains detection (HRD) dogs. Mace's precious golden retriever, Vira, has savant style skills. Her skill set is heightened by her ability to forensically retain the almost DNA-like scent of perpetrators ... by merely sniffing the corpse.
Jeffrey Burton effortlessly spins a convoluted narrative laced with wit and guile, escalating to a satisfying denouement. Along the ride, a myriad of threads are laid down in tantalizing details to ultimately culminate in a complex web. Burton provides a compelling storyline infused with suspense and aided by characters with complex motivations that leads to an entertaining and enjoyable read, This second book in the series is a much more complete and complex mystery and can certainly be read as a standalone. Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for
providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
Jeffrey Burton effortlessly spins a convoluted narrative laced with wit and guile, escalating to a satisfying denouement. Along the ride, a myriad of threads are laid down in tantalizing details to ultimately culminate in a complex web. Burton provides a compelling storyline infused with suspense and aided by characters with complex motivations that leads to an entertaining and enjoyable read, This second book in the series is a much more complete and complex mystery and can certainly be read as a standalone. Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for
providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
October 23, 2020
The Keepers by Jeffrey B. Burton is the second book in The Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series. I absolutely loved the first book, The Finders, so as soon as I saw that the next installment was here, I knew I had to read it. And boy did it live up to my expectations.
After establishing a history and foundation in the first book, this one starts off from the go. As before, we get plenty of suspense, mystery, intrigue, and complex plots to solve right along with Mace, Vira the amazing GR (his prize pupil in his team of search/cadaver canines), and Officer Kippy Gimm, amongst others. I loved the plot twists, the sharp edges, and the conclusion. I especially enjoy reading about the tight bonds of the highly-trained working dogs and their owner/handler. Nothing is more exciting then that.
This book, and series, has everything that a murder/mystery and police procedural book enthusiast could ask for.
This book is a great addition to this awesome series. It just keeps getting better. I cannot wait until I can hang out with the team again!
Excellent. 5/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur/St. Martin’s Press for this wonderful ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 6/29/21.
After establishing a history and foundation in the first book, this one starts off from the go. As before, we get plenty of suspense, mystery, intrigue, and complex plots to solve right along with Mace, Vira the amazing GR (his prize pupil in his team of search/cadaver canines), and Officer Kippy Gimm, amongst others. I loved the plot twists, the sharp edges, and the conclusion. I especially enjoy reading about the tight bonds of the highly-trained working dogs and their owner/handler. Nothing is more exciting then that.
This book, and series, has everything that a murder/mystery and police procedural book enthusiast could ask for.
This book is a great addition to this awesome series. It just keeps getting better. I cannot wait until I can hang out with the team again!
Excellent. 5/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur/St. Martin’s Press for this wonderful ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 6/29/21.
July 7, 2021
The Keepers
By Jeffrey B Burton
I loved the first book in the Mace Reid K-9 Mystery Series and when I saw this book available I knew I had to read it! I flew through the first book and the second installment in the series reminded me just how much I enjoyed reading this series and the emotional connection Mason (Mace) Reid had with his cadaver dogs as he helps out with the local Sheriff's Department or the Chicago Police.
I was so happy to revisit Vira - so special in the ability to track but also with a sixth sense in determining the killers as well. I just loved getting back into the mystery world of this K-9 series. Burton writes another emotionally thrilling novel that is so engaging I just could not put this book down.
I highly recommend this book and series. This was another winner!
By Jeffrey B Burton
I loved the first book in the Mace Reid K-9 Mystery Series and when I saw this book available I knew I had to read it! I flew through the first book and the second installment in the series reminded me just how much I enjoyed reading this series and the emotional connection Mason (Mace) Reid had with his cadaver dogs as he helps out with the local Sheriff's Department or the Chicago Police.
I was so happy to revisit Vira - so special in the ability to track but also with a sixth sense in determining the killers as well. I just loved getting back into the mystery world of this K-9 series. Burton writes another emotionally thrilling novel that is so engaging I just could not put this book down.
I highly recommend this book and series. This was another winner!
November 21, 2020
I love this series! As I mentioned in my review of The Finders, Jeffrey B. Burton does an extraordinary job of fleshing out the personalities of his canine characters, and integrates them into these suspense plot lines in a way that is both believable and exciting. Our human heroes, Mace and Kippy, are equally easy to root for, and I was delighted with the growth in their personal relationship in this second installment. Finally, the plot itself held my attention, especially the exciting climax. I enjoy Burton’s breezy writing style, and I have only one complaint about Mace: He really needs to start voting. ; )
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC.
April 2, 2021
Dogs and the guy who loves them! Even better, dogs that are specially trained and talented and the guy who gives back to them, defends them and is downright likable to boot!
THE KEEPERS by Jeffery B. Burton is part mystery, part human-animal relationship and devotion and completely entertaining! Moments of humor, moments of heartbreak and moments that shine through make this murder mystery one fantastic read! The main character has his issues, but the dogs steal the show as they prove that they truly are man’s best friend and excellent sleuths, too. Mace is kind of a loner, but Vira, his almost magical pup is proof that dogs are smarter than we give them credit for.
A wonderful read with a great mystery, animal heroics and dogs!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Minotaur Books! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Series: Mace Reid K-9 Mystery - Book 2
Publisher : Minotaur Books (June 29, 2021)
Genre: Mystery
Print length : 288 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
THE KEEPERS by Jeffery B. Burton is part mystery, part human-animal relationship and devotion and completely entertaining! Moments of humor, moments of heartbreak and moments that shine through make this murder mystery one fantastic read! The main character has his issues, but the dogs steal the show as they prove that they truly are man’s best friend and excellent sleuths, too. Mace is kind of a loner, but Vira, his almost magical pup is proof that dogs are smarter than we give them credit for.
A wonderful read with a great mystery, animal heroics and dogs!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Minotaur Books! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Series: Mace Reid K-9 Mystery - Book 2
Publisher : Minotaur Books (June 29, 2021)
Genre: Mystery
Print length : 288 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
June 23, 2021
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S THE KEEPERS ABOUT?
While at a police station wrapping up a case he'd helped Chicago Police to wrap up, Mace and his golden retriever, Vira, are brought along on an urgent call, the man in charge of the State Attorney's Special Prosecution Office went missing at a park around midnight.
It doesn't take long for Vira to find his body. Not long after that, while Mace is waiting to be sent home, Vira's almost impossible/might-as-well-be-supernatural abilities give Mace a reason to believe that he knows the Attorney's killer.
And Mace regrets that instantly—the man responsible isn't anyone Mace, or his police friends, want to cross. But they have no choice—which leads to them being on the run, fighting some of the more powerful men in Chicago just to survive, much less get anywhere to finding his killer.
RETURNING CHARACTERS
In The Finders, there were two uniformed officers and two police detectives involved with Mace and the investigation. This time out, it's pretty much just the two uniformed officers—Kippy Gimm and her partner Dave Wabiszewski. It's not often (at least not often enough) that non-detective officers get the focus, and it's a refreshing change of pace.
Also, while readers had enough exposure to all the police characters to be satisfied, it's nicer this time to not have your attention split and the reader can really get to know these characters better and form a closer emotional bond. If memory serves, we met Kippy before we met Mace last year, but we didn't get that much time with Wabs. It's good to have that changed.
OHH, A NEW DOG
Mace has added another dog to his pack, a three-month-old bloodhound named Billie Joe. Billie Joe isn't good for much more than comic relief at the moment, but I'm sure within a book or two, Mace'll have him trained enough that he can carry his own weight. In the meantime, he's fun to chuckle at.
There's an extended comedic break at the beginning of Chapter 21 that is great on its own—but it comes at just the right time in the book to give a little breather as the tension mounts and just before it shifts into a new gear. It's just Mace talking to his dogs, pretty much the same way that anyone with pets has done regularly. I could rea 3-4 more of those each book and it wouldn't get tired.
In the meantime, I'll just reread that scene occasionally.
THE KILLER
That's not really the best heading for this section, because there are a few killers running through these pages—and as some are acting on orders from others, who really gets that label? Anyway, I wanted to say a little about the individual who is immediately responsible for most of the deaths in the book—this isn't a spoiler really, we meet him in Chapter 1.
He is large, frightening, brutal, and efficient. He's also a very chatty guy who has a lot to say about the English language. This side of Justified's Boyd Crowder, you're not going to find a criminal as chatty as this guy. I enjoyed his little talks about English idioms more than I should have. If this guy isn't one of your favorite baddies of the year, you should rethink things.
Best of all? He's not a serial killer. I was a little afraid that after The FInders this series would be Mace and His Dogs vs. Various Serial Killers. Now that it's clear that Mace and the dogs will be dealing with a variety of criminals, I'm a bit more positive about the series as a whole.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT THE KEEPERS?
At the same time I was reading this, I was listening to an audiobook (nonfiction) about Capone and Ness during Prohibition. Listening to a thoroughly researched account of corruption in Chicago politics while reading a novel about corrupt Chicago officials, really makes the fictional feel more reality-based. I'm not saying everyone needs to go out and grab a book about Capone and Ness to fully appreciate this, I'm just saying being reminded that things may not have changed that much in almost a century adds a little something to the experience.
I loved this, I really did. I remembered liking last year's debut, I remembered most of the bigger plot points, the dogs, and so on—and remembered really enjoying the book. In less than one chapter of Mace's first-person narration, I remembered just how much I like him and his voice. I kicked myself for forgetting that part—Mace is a great protagonist for this alone.
When I wrote about The Finders last year, I said:
I'm not saying that this year—this is a superior novel that I enjoyed as much, if not more—I was again entertained and couldn't wait to find out what happened. I'm giving this the same rating without apology or disclaimer.
It was tense, it was funny, it was horrifying (on a couple of occasions), and my jaw hit the floor a few times. I still can't believe a few of the choices that Burton made, even with a few days' worth of thought. He does some risky things, swinging for the fences with this—and they absolutely worked.
You don't need to have read The Finders to appreciate The Keepers for what it is—great Crime Fiction with a strong central protagonist, some great supporting characters, and a fantastic opponent. Oh, yeah, and a bunch of great dogs. More than enough reasons to take this recommendation and run to your nearest library/bookseller with it
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S THE KEEPERS ABOUT?
While at a police station wrapping up a case he'd helped Chicago Police to wrap up, Mace and his golden retriever, Vira, are brought along on an urgent call, the man in charge of the State Attorney's Special Prosecution Office went missing at a park around midnight.
It doesn't take long for Vira to find his body. Not long after that, while Mace is waiting to be sent home, Vira's almost impossible/might-as-well-be-supernatural abilities give Mace a reason to believe that he knows the Attorney's killer.
And Mace regrets that instantly—the man responsible isn't anyone Mace, or his police friends, want to cross. But they have no choice—which leads to them being on the run, fighting some of the more powerful men in Chicago just to survive, much less get anywhere to finding his killer.
RETURNING CHARACTERS
In The Finders, there were two uniformed officers and two police detectives involved with Mace and the investigation. This time out, it's pretty much just the two uniformed officers—Kippy Gimm and her partner Dave Wabiszewski. It's not often (at least not often enough) that non-detective officers get the focus, and it's a refreshing change of pace.
Also, while readers had enough exposure to all the police characters to be satisfied, it's nicer this time to not have your attention split and the reader can really get to know these characters better and form a closer emotional bond. If memory serves, we met Kippy before we met Mace last year, but we didn't get that much time with Wabs. It's good to have that changed.
OHH, A NEW DOG
Mace has added another dog to his pack, a three-month-old bloodhound named Billie Joe. Billie Joe isn't good for much more than comic relief at the moment, but I'm sure within a book or two, Mace'll have him trained enough that he can carry his own weight. In the meantime, he's fun to chuckle at.
There's an extended comedic break at the beginning of Chapter 21 that is great on its own—but it comes at just the right time in the book to give a little breather as the tension mounts and just before it shifts into a new gear. It's just Mace talking to his dogs, pretty much the same way that anyone with pets has done regularly. I could rea 3-4 more of those each book and it wouldn't get tired.
In the meantime, I'll just reread that scene occasionally.
THE KILLER
That's not really the best heading for this section, because there are a few killers running through these pages—and as some are acting on orders from others, who really gets that label? Anyway, I wanted to say a little about the individual who is immediately responsible for most of the deaths in the book—this isn't a spoiler really, we meet him in Chapter 1.
He is large, frightening, brutal, and efficient. He's also a very chatty guy who has a lot to say about the English language. This side of Justified's Boyd Crowder, you're not going to find a criminal as chatty as this guy. I enjoyed his little talks about English idioms more than I should have. If this guy isn't one of your favorite baddies of the year, you should rethink things.
Best of all? He's not a serial killer. I was a little afraid that after The FInders this series would be Mace and His Dogs vs. Various Serial Killers. Now that it's clear that Mace and the dogs will be dealing with a variety of criminals, I'm a bit more positive about the series as a whole.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT THE KEEPERS?
At the same time I was reading this, I was listening to an audiobook (nonfiction) about Capone and Ness during Prohibition. Listening to a thoroughly researched account of corruption in Chicago politics while reading a novel about corrupt Chicago officials, really makes the fictional feel more reality-based. I'm not saying everyone needs to go out and grab a book about Capone and Ness to fully appreciate this, I'm just saying being reminded that things may not have changed that much in almost a century adds a little something to the experience.
I loved this, I really did. I remembered liking last year's debut, I remembered most of the bigger plot points, the dogs, and so on—and remembered really enjoying the book. In less than one chapter of Mace's first-person narration, I remembered just how much I like him and his voice. I kicked myself for forgetting that part—Mace is a great protagonist for this alone.
When I wrote about The Finders last year, I said:
It's possible that I'm rating this a little higher than it deserves. If I was being entirely objective, I'd probably take off a half or maybe a full star from my rating. But this isn't an objective piece, or an objective rating—this is about how much I enjoyed this, how it appealed to me, entertained me and made me want to read on. For that, it scored really high for me.
I'm not saying that this year—this is a superior novel that I enjoyed as much, if not more—I was again entertained and couldn't wait to find out what happened. I'm giving this the same rating without apology or disclaimer.
It was tense, it was funny, it was horrifying (on a couple of occasions), and my jaw hit the floor a few times. I still can't believe a few of the choices that Burton made, even with a few days' worth of thought. He does some risky things, swinging for the fences with this—and they absolutely worked.
You don't need to have read The Finders to appreciate The Keepers for what it is—great Crime Fiction with a strong central protagonist, some great supporting characters, and a fantastic opponent. Oh, yeah, and a bunch of great dogs. More than enough reasons to take this recommendation and run to your nearest library/bookseller with it
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.
November 21, 2020
The leading man in Jeffrey Burton's The Keepers (Minotaur Books 2021), second in the Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series, is Mason Reid. He is an irreverent plain spoken former cop whose tough as nails attitude cost him a marriage, a few jobs, and at least one girlfriend. But all is forgiven because he loves his four HRD (human remains detection) dogs. They are mostly hired by Chicago PD to hunt out dead bodies. The star of the series, though, isn't Reid. It's Vira, a golden retriever pup who has the extraordinary ability to smell the DNA left by killers on a dead body. Then, when it shows up on someone else, she goes into a sort of seizure--the sure sign that Mace is facing the murderer. That's not only an unusual ability. It’s never heard of. In this story, Vira and Mace are called on to help solve the murder of an aging rocker. Vira like most working dogs I know loves her job so finding the murderer proves easy enough and opens them up to another murder, this of a high powered figure in Chicago policing, this one leading someplace no one and mostly not Mason want it to go. But, they must follow the evidence and that's what gets Mason and Vira into a whole lot of trouble.
Burton has a friendly easy going way of writing. You feel like he’s talking to you, telling an interesting story, not relaying life-and-death events. And, he has a great sense of humor. Look at these:
"Yeah, I know—whenever I tell folks what I do for a living, they think I slept through Career Day in high school."
"Vira’s just Vira—a canine savant and the LeBron James of cadaver dogs, that’s all."
"...Bill [one of Mason's HRD dogs] came scampering back to me, tail spinning like a ceiling fan."
This book had some slow spots that I don't remember in the first (see my review of The Finders) but nothing to dissuade me from reading the next in the series. BTW, the final couple of scenes--they are to die for.
Burton has a friendly easy going way of writing. You feel like he’s talking to you, telling an interesting story, not relaying life-and-death events. And, he has a great sense of humor. Look at these:
"Yeah, I know—whenever I tell folks what I do for a living, they think I slept through Career Day in high school."
"Vira’s just Vira—a canine savant and the LeBron James of cadaver dogs, that’s all."
"...Bill [one of Mason's HRD dogs] came scampering back to me, tail spinning like a ceiling fan."
This book had some slow spots that I don't remember in the first (see my review of The Finders) but nothing to dissuade me from reading the next in the series. BTW, the final couple of scenes--they are to die for.
April 19, 2021
I read the first book in this series, The Finders, when it was available in 2020 and had a few reservations but was looking forward to reading the second. Now I've done that and have made the decision not to continue any further in the series. I said in my review of the first book that it looked as if the author was going to try to give the dog Vira an unusual ability and I hoped that would not happen. Unfortunately it has happened and the book has veered off into an area I'm not interested in. Also, this second book has one of the dogs in this pack sustaining a significant injury during the investigation; I was uncomfortable with that situation in the first book and was very unhappy to see that type of situation repeated in the second book as well.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press Minotaur Books for an e-galley of this novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press Minotaur Books for an e-galley of this novel.
October 22, 2020
Mace Reid trains and works with cadaver dogs. Neither he nor his family of dogs wear a badge nor police protective gear and they work alongside Chicago PD, not for it. It is not vital to have read the first in series. Here the bodies have been brutally destroyed both before and after death and there is no doubt in the reader's mind about who the murderer is, only about who hired him, but that is also revealed. Far reaching corruption is discovered at the root of it all, but the threats to Mace, his dogs, and the CPD officers he works with are just too scary. Lots of suspense, plot twists, and more. Good work!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
If anyone is interested in a nonfiction view of cadaver dogs try No Stone Unturned: The True Story of the World's Premier Forensic Investigators
by Steve Jackson (print January 1, 2002, audio May 04, 2015)
I requested and received a free ebook copy from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
If anyone is interested in a nonfiction view of cadaver dogs try No Stone Unturned: The True Story of the World's Premier Forensic Investigators
by Steve Jackson (print January 1, 2002, audio May 04, 2015)
March 17, 2022
Wow, so good! This is the second book of the series, Mace Reid and his dogs are having more tense journey to solve a mystery from a corrupt man.
The story was a little bit slow-burned for several chapters, but after that the plot changed very quickly into : "bang! run! and hide!" atmosphere.
Very engaging, gives a deeper look to the Chicago area and illustrates how street gangs work around the area (it scared me because I love Chicago even though I only visited the city once). I admire how the relationship between MC and his dogs is so close and so real (we don't deserve dogs, of course). I can’t wait for the third book!
Thank you Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the digital copy of this book.
4 ⭐️
The story was a little bit slow-burned for several chapters, but after that the plot changed very quickly into : "bang! run! and hide!" atmosphere.
Very engaging, gives a deeper look to the Chicago area and illustrates how street gangs work around the area (it scared me because I love Chicago even though I only visited the city once). I admire how the relationship between MC and his dogs is so close and so real (we don't deserve dogs, of course). I can’t wait for the third book!
Thank you Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the digital copy of this book.
4 ⭐️
November 4, 2020
Viras fluffy little soul just grips me and warms my heart... then terrifies me. I love this series so much. The incorporation of dogs into a suspense and murder story. Yes please! Nothing could be better in my world. This book is very well written with endearing characters that you get attached to. I was sad when I go to the last page because I had to say goodbye to this band of characters till the next book. It was fast paced and suspenseful and outright scary at times. This book needs to go way up there on your must read list.
July 30, 2021
When people ask Mason “Mace” Reid what he does for a living, they just do not understand why he trains dogs to hunt for the dead. Reid trains “human remains detection” dogs for the Chicago Police Department. He also testifies in court, so by necessity, he keeps detailed records of what he sees, what his dogs find, and everything of interest that happens along the way. Reid is casual, lighthearted, and informative as he talks to readers, but mostly he talks to himself and to his dogs. Alternating chapters present events and situations from other perspectives, giving a different view to the whole investigation and bringing out unsavory details that Reid does not yet know.
Readers get to know Reid and his procedures well, but readers really get to know the dogs; they are what he talks about the most. He does, however, have some significant personal issues. His ex-wife is engaged to a man Reid describes as a “Ken” doll. His past relationship with a fellow cop is on hold due to his own lack of commitment to her; their relationship, both with each other and with the dogs, evolves as the story progresses.
The focus of the story is, of course, the dogs and their intuition -- what they find or do not find. The pace is steady, and the dogs prove their ability to find what people cannot. However, a dog’s identification alone does not a conviction make, so there is much to be done to prove the identity of the killer. Reid’s life becomes complicated, and the situation deteriorates into politics at its nastiest.
“The Keepers” is a captivating story with humor, comedy, and crime. I received a review copy of “The Keepers” from Jeffrey B. Burton, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books. It has a complex story, believable characters, and, of course, the dogs. “The Keepers” is the second book in the “Mace Reid K-9 Mystery” series. I recommend that new readers go back and read the first book in the series, “The Finders.” I really liked the first book better.
Readers get to know Reid and his procedures well, but readers really get to know the dogs; they are what he talks about the most. He does, however, have some significant personal issues. His ex-wife is engaged to a man Reid describes as a “Ken” doll. His past relationship with a fellow cop is on hold due to his own lack of commitment to her; their relationship, both with each other and with the dogs, evolves as the story progresses.
The focus of the story is, of course, the dogs and their intuition -- what they find or do not find. The pace is steady, and the dogs prove their ability to find what people cannot. However, a dog’s identification alone does not a conviction make, so there is much to be done to prove the identity of the killer. Reid’s life becomes complicated, and the situation deteriorates into politics at its nastiest.
“The Keepers” is a captivating story with humor, comedy, and crime. I received a review copy of “The Keepers” from Jeffrey B. Burton, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books. It has a complex story, believable characters, and, of course, the dogs. “The Keepers” is the second book in the “Mace Reid K-9 Mystery” series. I recommend that new readers go back and read the first book in the series, “The Finders.” I really liked the first book better.
August 19, 2021
I am enjoying the Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series starring Mason (Mace) Reid and his team of cadaver-sniffing dogs. Mace lives outside of Chicago and trains dogs for various reasons and jobs, but his specialty is training dogs in human remains detection (HRD or cadaver dogs). He as his own team including his most talented dog, Vira, who as a special talent. Vira seems to have the ability to locate not just the dead bodies, but also their murderers. He is often called in to help the Chicago Police Department and local sheriff’s departments. In this story, Mace and Vira are called to a park in the Wasington area and what they find has them running for their lives. Once again, Mace is working with Chicago police officer, Kippy Gimm. Mace finds himself threatened and his friends endangered, after he is framed, but he will do whatever it takes to keep his dogs safe.
Mace is a well-developed character with flaws that have led to a divorce and a job change. He has low self-esteem, but is smart, loyal and caring. He has a heart of gold when it comes to his love of his dogs. Kippy is just beginning her career. She is also smart, determined, savvy and persistent. She and Mace work well together, but there are a few awkward moment when Mace tries to impress her. She does not want to be distracted at this point in her career, so tried to ignore the feelings that are developing between them. It will be interesting to see where that goes. This story begins a bit slow, but it doesn't take long for the tension to ratchet up. This story is full of action as Mace and Kippy run for their lives from a hitman. I will say there are a few scenes involving the dogs that are upsetting, but they are not gratuitous and very realistic, but it may upset some people. I enjoyed this story, but there was more violence than I was expecting. I will definitely continue to read this series and find out what else Mace, Kippy and the dogs get up to. I did a read/listen and thoroughly enjoyed Matt Godfrey's performance. His expression added to the tension in the story and has me on the edge of my seat. The publisher generously provided a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
Mace is a well-developed character with flaws that have led to a divorce and a job change. He has low self-esteem, but is smart, loyal and caring. He has a heart of gold when it comes to his love of his dogs. Kippy is just beginning her career. She is also smart, determined, savvy and persistent. She and Mace work well together, but there are a few awkward moment when Mace tries to impress her. She does not want to be distracted at this point in her career, so tried to ignore the feelings that are developing between them. It will be interesting to see where that goes. This story begins a bit slow, but it doesn't take long for the tension to ratchet up. This story is full of action as Mace and Kippy run for their lives from a hitman. I will say there are a few scenes involving the dogs that are upsetting, but they are not gratuitous and very realistic, but it may upset some people. I enjoyed this story, but there was more violence than I was expecting. I will definitely continue to read this series and find out what else Mace, Kippy and the dogs get up to. I did a read/listen and thoroughly enjoyed Matt Godfrey's performance. His expression added to the tension in the story and has me on the edge of my seat. The publisher generously provided a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
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