A Bone to Pick: The Second Novel in the XK9 "Bones" Trilogy

by Jan Gephardt

Too valuable to kill? Oh, but that was then.XK9 Rex was bio-engineered and cyber-enhanced to be the most perfect law enforcement canine ever created. Transmondian spymaster Col. Wisniewski thought he could turn him into the most perfect weapon.But Rex had other plans. Wisneiwski couldn’t bend him to his will. The Colonel would have killed any other dog, but Rex was too valuable. Instead, Rana Station paid a literal fortune to add him and his XK9 Pack to the Orangeboro Police Department.Now Rex and his Pack are working detectives on the trail of a criminal gang that blows up spaceships – and Rana Station has recognized XK9s as uplifted sapient beings. That means it’s illegal to buy them, so they’ve stopped paying that literal fortune. And this gives Col. Wisniewski a new license to kill.How far must Rex go, to dodge his old enemy’s deadly intent and also crack the case?

624 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 15, 2021

Reviews

[Tory Shade · Rating 5 out of 5]

The mystery deepens and love prevails

Book 2 of the trilogy brings on more info about both the good guys and the bad guys. Lots of regen in store!

Looking forward to the 3rd book and maybe more aliens. In some ways, XK9s are more like dogs than one realizes.

[Shana Pare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rockin'!

This series continues to please me, and hope that Book Three comes soon. This book was filled with drama, adventure, fear and overcoming huge obstacles. I highly recommend.

[Susan Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sentient status has been granted to a team of physically and mentally enhanced canines, while a sale of the dogs to a police department, is being conducted. It is deemed illegal for sentient beings to be sold, the sale is therefore declared void and the dogs are offered full citizenship. The team continue employment with the Orangeboro Police department and are hard at work, trying to identify the person or persons responsible for exploding a space ship, as it left the space station’s dock. During their investigations, the dogs are spied on, shot at by both firearms and dangerous tranquillisers and face other dangers. The book is full of action, intrigue, drama and a lot of humour, while the story is told through the eyes of the dogs and their handlers.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic read. It was really hard to put it down of a night, but I wanted to make it last as long as I could. Love to read the adventures of Rex, Shady, and the rest of the XK9 gang. I will be eagerly awaiting the third book in this series. If you do not read this series, you are missing out on a great read.

[Brice Ligget · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun second book

The writing is not amazing, but talking space dogs makes it worth the read. I feel like the partner aspects of the human/dog paring has gone by the wayside. Its hard to tell just where the author expects it to go.

[Pat Schieber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want an XK9! Great stories and the best characters. The author has dogs, there can be no doubt. Any dog lover will LOVE these books. [edit]

[Brandee · Rating 2 out of 5]

The human relationship stuff really slowed down the plot.