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Jessica Anderson K-9 Mystery #1
Death Scent
Her first mistake was calling 9-1-1.
Drones were supposed to make life easier for Jessie and her search and rescue dogs. Instead, they've made everything a lot more complicated. Her equipment confiscated, her very freedom threatened, Jessica Anderson finds herself in the crosshairs of both law enforcement and a vicious killer when her drones discover a body on the slopes of Long Peak.
When evidence points to other victims, though, it's Jessie and her search dogs who law enforcement needs to find their remains. What nobody suspects, though, is that the killer is watching, waiting, anticipating ...ready.
Drones were supposed to make life easier for Jessie and her search and rescue dogs. Instead, they've made everything a lot more complicated. Her equipment confiscated, her very freedom threatened, Jessica Anderson finds herself in the crosshairs of both law enforcement and a vicious killer when her drones discover a body on the slopes of Long Peak.
When evidence points to other victims, though, it's Jessie and her search dogs who law enforcement needs to find their remains. What nobody suspects, though, is that the killer is watching, waiting, anticipating ...ready.
435 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 29, 2021
982 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
About the author
D.L. Keur
23 books60 followersABOUT THE AUTHOR: An author, an artist, a musician, a web designer and more, some call her a Renaissance woman. Her friends just call her Dawn.
Publishing since the 20th Century, she usually writes under pen names, because she writes, not just cross-genre fiction, but across a broad scope of genres, including paranormal, mainstream, horror, Western family saga/romance, and science fiction. Since the turn of the Millennium, she’s chosen to independently publish five, now six, books, two as E. J. Ruek, two as C. J. “Country” James, plus a two volume science fiction epic, published under the name, Aeros.
You can find her at www.DLKeur.com.
Publishing since the 20th Century, she usually writes under pen names, because she writes, not just cross-genre fiction, but across a broad scope of genres, including paranormal, mainstream, horror, Western family saga/romance, and science fiction. Since the turn of the Millennium, she’s chosen to independently publish five, now six, books, two as E. J. Ruek, two as C. J. “Country” James, plus a two volume science fiction epic, published under the name, Aeros.
You can find her at www.DLKeur.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 238 reviews
May 1, 2021
Enjoyed immensely!
I wasn't all that surprised by the quality of this book, because I've read other books by Keur written under various pen names. Even so, I was thrilled with this book! The scenes moved along rapidly taking me deeper into the mystery. Woven into the mystery is the life of such great characters being revealed in their actions, words, relating to each other, and some inner thoughts sprinkled in. I was brought into these scenes and felt these people (dogs and horses, too) with a sense of real life experiences of joy, pain, fear, and humor. I love these characters and am so looking forward to more of them. I enjoyed the parts about drones working and dogs being trained and working in attack and in search. Very interesting stuff.
Also included in the notes at the end of the book is a bit about where the author got the personalities of some of the dogs and a list of the other books written under pen names. I've signed up to be notified about the upcoming books in the series. I don't want to miss them.
I wasn't all that surprised by the quality of this book, because I've read other books by Keur written under various pen names. Even so, I was thrilled with this book! The scenes moved along rapidly taking me deeper into the mystery. Woven into the mystery is the life of such great characters being revealed in their actions, words, relating to each other, and some inner thoughts sprinkled in. I was brought into these scenes and felt these people (dogs and horses, too) with a sense of real life experiences of joy, pain, fear, and humor. I love these characters and am so looking forward to more of them. I enjoyed the parts about drones working and dogs being trained and working in attack and in search. Very interesting stuff.
Also included in the notes at the end of the book is a bit about where the author got the personalities of some of the dogs and a list of the other books written under pen names. I've signed up to be notified about the upcoming books in the series. I don't want to miss them.
November 25, 2021
I read Death Scent: A Jessica Anderson K-9 Mystery because of a recommendation and it fit perfectly with a reading challenge. This is a great book for animal lovers as Jessica Anderson, a former CSI is a dog trainer in her families business who has developed innovative methods and has hopes to work in search and rescue by using both her dogs and high tech drones.
This plan is quickly dashed when she places a 911 call. I don't want to give away any thing more of the plot, but I will say I loved her 7 dogs and her interaction with them.
I look forward to more of her series.
This plan is quickly dashed when she places a 911 call. I don't want to give away any thing more of the plot, but I will say I loved her 7 dogs and her interaction with them.
I look forward to more of her series.
April 29, 2021
When I saw this book grouped with the cozy mysteries, I groaned just a little bit. You see, I was lucky enough to be able to read the pre-publication edition.
Cozy, this is not, in my opinion. It's an exciting, unique story of a woman and her dog, and her dog, and her dog, and her dog...
No, I'm not a broken record. The strong, yet vulnerable Jessie Andersen has gathered a pack of dogs who are devoted to her and listen to what she wants them to do for her. Since they speak multiple languages (English, German, Dog), they get Jessie and Jessie gets them in return.
When Jessie Anderson had to leave her job as a police officer in Colorado because of the trauma of seeing her partner killed and being wounded herself. She couldn't be a cop any longer.
Returning home to her family's dog training facility, she realized she could continue serving and protecting while still a civilian. She already has her pack, but knows it's difficult to get certified for search and rescue dogs. She turns to technology and gets her own drones--small flying machines operated by the controller on the ground--and begins training herself to use the drones effectively.
On a test run, the drones pick up a view of a person lying still on the ground. Since the person wasn't moving and was more than two miles from her position, she calls 911 to report the possible injured person.
The Sheriff's office follows her directions to the location of the body--a dead woman--and Jessie quickly finds out that no good deed goes unpunished, as the Sheriff's department confiscates her drones and their computer controller as "evidence," since the flights are video-recorded, and the law can see what Jessie saw. Jessie's videos provide a place for law enforcement to start for evidence gathering. There's even a very blurry picture of the killer as he escapes in a red pickup!
Jessie returns to working with her dogs, and tries to find a new way forward in her plans ...without her drones.
...Well, this is a mystery, so you know that eventually Jessie and her dogs will become more deeply involved in the manhunt. Anything more would be spoilers, so I'll continue with my impressions.
This is a great start to what will be a series. I can hardly wait for the others to be released. I like Jessie a lot, and I enjoyed the unraveling of the mystery.
Some things that sets this book above the usual run of cozies. There are lots of wonderful details on the dogs, their personalities, how they are trained, and even certified for search and rescue work. This attention to detail makes this a great read much better than a standard cozy mystery with a cat or a chihuahua in a bakery. Jessie's dogs are real, their training serious, their results incredible. Jessie is an amazing woman. I suspect the author is just a little (maybe a lot) like her character. Dawn Keur can write a helluva story.
P.S. Check out Keur's other books for interesting, well-written tales.
Cozy, this is not, in my opinion. It's an exciting, unique story of a woman and her dog, and her dog, and her dog, and her dog...
No, I'm not a broken record. The strong, yet vulnerable Jessie Andersen has gathered a pack of dogs who are devoted to her and listen to what she wants them to do for her. Since they speak multiple languages (English, German, Dog), they get Jessie and Jessie gets them in return.
When Jessie Anderson had to leave her job as a police officer in Colorado because of the trauma of seeing her partner killed and being wounded herself. She couldn't be a cop any longer.
Returning home to her family's dog training facility, she realized she could continue serving and protecting while still a civilian. She already has her pack, but knows it's difficult to get certified for search and rescue dogs. She turns to technology and gets her own drones--small flying machines operated by the controller on the ground--and begins training herself to use the drones effectively.
On a test run, the drones pick up a view of a person lying still on the ground. Since the person wasn't moving and was more than two miles from her position, she calls 911 to report the possible injured person.
The Sheriff's office follows her directions to the location of the body--a dead woman--and Jessie quickly finds out that no good deed goes unpunished, as the Sheriff's department confiscates her drones and their computer controller as "evidence," since the flights are video-recorded, and the law can see what Jessie saw. Jessie's videos provide a place for law enforcement to start for evidence gathering. There's even a very blurry picture of the killer as he escapes in a red pickup!
Jessie returns to working with her dogs, and tries to find a new way forward in her plans ...without her drones.
...Well, this is a mystery, so you know that eventually Jessie and her dogs will become more deeply involved in the manhunt. Anything more would be spoilers, so I'll continue with my impressions.
This is a great start to what will be a series. I can hardly wait for the others to be released. I like Jessie a lot, and I enjoyed the unraveling of the mystery.
Some things that sets this book above the usual run of cozies. There are lots of wonderful details on the dogs, their personalities, how they are trained, and even certified for search and rescue work. This attention to detail makes this a great read much better than a standard cozy mystery with a cat or a chihuahua in a bakery. Jessie's dogs are real, their training serious, their results incredible. Jessie is an amazing woman. I suspect the author is just a little (maybe a lot) like her character. Dawn Keur can write a helluva story.
P.S. Check out Keur's other books for interesting, well-written tales.
May 8, 2021
Dogs, lots and lots of dogs. I could not keep their names straight, being lousy with names. When you read this, get more of a grip than I did, because some of the dogs are key characters. The actual human characters, of course, are quite interesting and real; Keur does character (and plot) very well. Those of you who like a strong female lead, as I do, will enjoy this very much. Keur opened my eyes to a possible real value of drones--you know, for good rather than killing.
May 1, 2021
Fantastic
I accidentally ran across this book, and it is absolutely wonderfully written. The story kept me reading all day long. There are so many books written quickly with no finesse that they are boring. This book was a beautiful breath of fresh air.
I accidentally ran across this book, and it is absolutely wonderfully written. The story kept me reading all day long. There are so many books written quickly with no finesse that they are boring. This book was a beautiful breath of fresh air.
May 3, 2021
In love with this story
I loved everything about this story and can’t wait for the next book. Characters, setting, Jessica is so talented and working through struggles.
I loved everything about this story and can’t wait for the next book. Characters, setting, Jessica is so talented and working through struggles.
November 27, 2025
So this was a new author for me, and the book has been in my TBR for some time now because it has K9's, so of course I had to give it a bash. I really enjoyed this book, which was a new take on K9 Search and Rescue operations and theme's with regards a newest K9 handler who is following, more or less in the steps of her Father and Grandfather - also K9 handlers/trainers. Jessica, is ex-CSI and suffering from PTSD, so has returned to the family fold and business, not just to mend, but also work with her beloved dogs. Jess, the newest generation, has new and modern ideas and concepts, not always readily accepted by the older two generations, but although they might not agree, the older two Anderson's, her father and grandfather, are happy to watch and see how things pan out, expecting and anticipating failure, as the old ways work, and "if it ain't broke, it don't need fixing" is kind of their belief. Rather than out and out saying No to these new fangled ideas, they give their go-ahead and dubious blessings to what, in their eyes, will be a doomed endeavor and result in total failure. I loved the dynamic of family unit and teamwork between not just the family, but the animals also, and the book was well-written and engrossing.
March 20, 2022
Maybe not the most mysterious mystery or thrilling thriller but definitely the most interesting novel I have read so far involving dogs. So many fascinating ideas and interesting characters - both human and canine.
June 19, 2021
A review of this book.
A wonderful novel for anyone who enjoys an absolutely amazing story about murder, dogs and the young woman who trains them. The people and dogs come alive as the story unfolds. You fall in love with the dogs and Jessica. The suspense is at the top of the chart. You worry about the dogs as much as the people, and by the end you are breathless with anxiety as to how it will end.
A wonderful novel for anyone who enjoys an absolutely amazing story about murder, dogs and the young woman who trains them. The people and dogs come alive as the story unfolds. You fall in love with the dogs and Jessica. The suspense is at the top of the chart. You worry about the dogs as much as the people, and by the end you are breathless with anxiety as to how it will end.
August 9, 2021
Nice read
A good whodunnit, will have to wait for the next book. I'm no patience 😊 going to have to go through the other books she has written.
A good whodunnit, will have to wait for the next book. I'm no patience 😊 going to have to go through the other books she has written.
December 17, 2021
Well worth reading
This book was well written. The characters are interesting. The dogs are amazing and smart. Dogs rock. Thank you for writing this series of books D L Keur
This book was well written. The characters are interesting. The dogs are amazing and smart. Dogs rock. Thank you for writing this series of books D L Keur
January 4, 2022
Great read
New author for me and this was a great read. I will be watching for anything else they write. Really enjoyed this book. Off to read the second in the series.
New author for me and this was a great read. I will be watching for anything else they write. Really enjoyed this book. Off to read the second in the series.
May 2, 2022
Super good book, lots of amazing dog training things I, at least, wouldn't have thought of! Very good story, never saw the ending chapters coming!
June 9, 2025
3.0 stars. Start of a new series and a new author for me. As an animal lover, this book grabbed my attention because of its focus on search and rescue dogs. Main character Jessie resigns from the Colorado sheriff's department to go back home to her family. Her family has been training search and rescue dogs
for generations. The majority of the story's main focus is Jessie and her dogs. There's also a side story that provides some suspense when Jessie' spots a possible dead body with her drone while out with her dogs. While I enjoyed the dogs and their training, I constantly felt like I was dropped into the middle of a story. The missing character details were baffling. How old is Jessie? Jessie has a criminal sibling? Where was the background on that? What happened to her mother? Was there another series that led to this one that I should've read first? Adding to that was my trouble keeping track of the many various characters, again with little, if any, details. Possibly book 2 will fill in all the blanks. 🤷♀️
for generations. The majority of the story's main focus is Jessie and her dogs. There's also a side story that provides some suspense when Jessie' spots a possible dead body with her drone while out with her dogs. While I enjoyed the dogs and their training, I constantly felt like I was dropped into the middle of a story. The missing character details were baffling. How old is Jessie? Jessie has a criminal sibling? Where was the background on that? What happened to her mother? Was there another series that led to this one that I should've read first? Adding to that was my trouble keeping track of the many various characters, again with little, if any, details. Possibly book 2 will fill in all the blanks. 🤷♀️
December 5, 2023
I have read the first five of this series one right after the other, giving them all 4 stars. (I reserve 5 stars for extremely outstanding books read in my lifetime (74 years). I give most books I enjoy 3 stars. So 4 stars is a very high rating for me.
So why am I bothering to write a review when I rarely do so? Because these books tick all the boxes for me: mystery, dogs play central role, interesting characters and relationships, romance is a very small companent AND no dogs die.
Further, they depict a world I know very little about, the mountains of Idaho.
Finally, the author is self-published so my review may make a difference in her readership.
So why am I bothering to write a review when I rarely do so? Because these books tick all the boxes for me: mystery, dogs play central role, interesting characters and relationships, romance is a very small companent AND no dogs die.
Further, they depict a world I know very little about, the mountains of Idaho.
Finally, the author is self-published so my review may make a difference in her readership.
July 12, 2022
A solid 3.5 starts. This is the first book in a 3 book series. It started out rather slow and I was hoping that it would pick up and it did. It seems Keur was able to pour more into the story as she went along, developing characters and advancing the plot.
In the beginning, I thought it a bit strange that someone would travel with 6 or 7 dogs! But as the story progressed, it became both believable and essential to the character, Jesse. I liked Jesse and each dog, as we learned about their personalities and abilities. As a dog lover, I have never witnessed pack behavior and while the story pushes those limits, I do know that canine intelligence is surprising and amazing. I also like the author's knowledge about drones and technology.
I gave it 3.5 stars because it started out slow., and lacked some elements of truly good writing, such as in the development of her characters and visual descriptions. That being said, the story provided both mystery and action and the conclusion was satisfying. It made me want to read the next in the series-so good job! I expect that Keur will continue to hone her writing skills.
In the beginning, I thought it a bit strange that someone would travel with 6 or 7 dogs! But as the story progressed, it became both believable and essential to the character, Jesse. I liked Jesse and each dog, as we learned about their personalities and abilities. As a dog lover, I have never witnessed pack behavior and while the story pushes those limits, I do know that canine intelligence is surprising and amazing. I also like the author's knowledge about drones and technology.
I gave it 3.5 stars because it started out slow., and lacked some elements of truly good writing, such as in the development of her characters and visual descriptions. That being said, the story provided both mystery and action and the conclusion was satisfying. It made me want to read the next in the series-so good job! I expect that Keur will continue to hone her writing skills.
July 18, 2022
Fantastic....A dog lover's dream book. A reader's treasure
I got it because of the dogs . I love crime thrillers. What I didn't expect but received was a reader's treasure. Characters I care about, writing enough to make me want it not to end. Plus there are more. Thank you D. l. Keur. You have the gift. Please continue to use it.
I got it because of the dogs . I love crime thrillers. What I didn't expect but received was a reader's treasure. Characters I care about, writing enough to make me want it not to end. Plus there are more. Thank you D. l. Keur. You have the gift. Please continue to use it.
July 25, 2022
I discovered this book accidentally and loved it from beginning to the end. The main character, Jessica Anderson was once a CSI but now into dog training and experimenting with drones. While testing her new “toys” she discovers a possible crime. She reports it but it causes the sheriff to take her drones away as evidence. The book tells how that one crime scene leads to many more with Jessica’s TEAM of dogs finding the parts/bodies. Jessica’s use of her dogs are unusual in that they work as a team not one on one. The new sheriff in town is skeptical of Jessica’s intelligence. The sheriff has issues himself that he has to deal with. Jessica lives with her Dad, grandparents and dogs. Her grandfather trains dogs for a living. The book has a lot of excitement and also personality drama between family members ,Jessica herself, the sheriff himself, and law enforcement, but forced to work together to find the “serial killer”.You will be surprised to find out who the killer is and I for one had no clue as I was reading who the killer was! In this book, Jessica’s dogs have a big role in hw this story evolves. There’s lots of drama and almost life and death situation towards the end. Can’t wait to start #2!
May 21, 2022
One of the best “dog books” I’ve read.
July 19, 2022
Great K9 story.
This is a fast moving and entertaining mystery combining high tech tools and great dog action plus good character development. Very enjoyable.
This is a fast moving and entertaining mystery combining high tech tools and great dog action plus good character development. Very enjoyable.
November 20, 2022
Two-haiku review:
She has seven dogs
They work together, find dead
Bodies everywhere
Exciting action
Interesting characters
I like K9 books
She has seven dogs
They work together, find dead
Bodies everywhere
Exciting action
Interesting characters
I like K9 books
July 16, 2022
Excellent book
This is a well written book, it kept me intrigued from the beginning. I love series and I'm looking forward to reading more of this one. I liked all the human characters and the dogs with their own personalities . Will also be checking out this authors other books.
This is a well written book, it kept me intrigued from the beginning. I love series and I'm looking forward to reading more of this one. I liked all the human characters and the dogs with their own personalities . Will also be checking out this authors other books.
February 10, 2024
What a great book to start a series. Jessie’s family are former military who have own and operate a very responsible dog training facility. Jessie was injured while a police officer in the line of duty. She returned to the family homestead to heal, which included her pack! She is venturing into a new method of dog search and rescue by using drones. Her first trial with the drones captured a truck leaving the area where a body is not moving. Time for o read the book for the rest of the story!
January 26, 2022
Good premise
Good look into the world of dog training especially for human remains detection. My only complaint is that the tech info for the drones is too complicated.
Good look into the world of dog training especially for human remains detection. My only complaint is that the tech info for the drones is too complicated.
June 30, 2022
Serial Killer
Love the descriptions of the k9 training, the voice commands. The idea of pack mentality being used as a tool in teaching was good.
Love the descriptions of the k9 training, the voice commands. The idea of pack mentality being used as a tool in teaching was good.
August 1, 2022
Murder and Dogs! A Win-Win
Fast paced, character driven story for fans of CSI-type fare. Well written. Can't wait to see what comes next. One word of advice. Do not start at bedtime unless you can function without sleep.
Fast paced, character driven story for fans of CSI-type fare. Well written. Can't wait to see what comes next. One word of advice. Do not start at bedtime unless you can function without sleep.
July 13, 2022
Dog Training 101
Once I was was into #1 of the Jessica Anderson mystery series, I was really into it. Very hard to put down and looking forward to the next. Learning about the different canine training and techniques was the learning part of this series. Being the first, Jessica had to let the reader know if the techniques she uses in order to use the dogs as search and find. Excellent series and first novel.
Once I was was into #1 of the Jessica Anderson mystery series, I was really into it. Very hard to put down and looking forward to the next. Learning about the different canine training and techniques was the learning part of this series. Being the first, Jessica had to let the reader know if the techniques she uses in order to use the dogs as search and find. Excellent series and first novel.
June 29, 2021
Fabulous story!
Will follow this series and can't wait for the next one. The family dynamics, both human and canine are heartwarming and I'm looking forward to Jessica developing a personal life with friend and romantic connections.
Thanks to the author for a wonderful story!
Will follow this series and can't wait for the next one. The family dynamics, both human and canine are heartwarming and I'm looking forward to Jessica developing a personal life with friend and romantic connections.
Thanks to the author for a wonderful story!
July 13, 2022
a thriller
I liked the dogs, and the family ties with the loyalties. The dogs became “real” characters. The danger of working using the pack mentality was manifest. I want to read more about Jessica and her dogs.
I liked the dogs, and the family ties with the loyalties. The dogs became “real” characters. The danger of working using the pack mentality was manifest. I want to read more about Jessica and her dogs.
May 15, 2022
Death Scent?
Jessica is an awesome K-9trainer. This is an amazing story. Landon and all of the police, FBI and law enforcement are so great! Dogs working as a pack for search and rescue is amazing if it works as depicted in this story. Great book.
Jessica is an awesome K-9trainer. This is an amazing story. Landon and all of the police, FBI and law enforcement are so great! Dogs working as a pack for search and rescue is amazing if it works as depicted in this story. Great book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 238 reviews