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Art Gundersen did not make it as an agent with the Bureau of Trans-Species Affairs. But when Chief Townsend orders him out of the lab and into the mountains of northern California to collect evidence from a murder scene, Art’s happy to go. He looks forward to tromping around in the wilderness—and finds he enjoys the company of the forest technician who discovered the hiker’s corpse surrounded by sasquatch footprints.

Jerry Humboldt lives a somewhat reclusive life in the fire lookout tower. Nobody comments much on his enormous size. Or his unusually hairy feet. Then Art shows up, and Jerry is forced into some new realizations.

As Art and Jerry interact, they discover some long-past connections as well as some very present dangers. It’s a risky equation: an awkward not-agent, a virginal “wild man” of the forest, and a multiple murderer—with the Bureau’s help six hundred miles away.

173 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 22, 2022

8 people are currently reading
82 people want to read

About the author

Kim Fielding

175 books1,305 followers
Kim Fielding lives in Oregon and travels as often as she can manage. A professor by day, at night she rushes into a phone booth to change into her author costume (which involves comfy clothes instead of Spandex and is, sadly, lacking a cape). Her superpowers include the ability to write nearly anywhere, often while simultaneously doling out assistance to her family. Her favorite word to describe herself is "eclectic" and she finally got that seventh tattoo.


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5 stars
57 (39%)
4 stars
60 (41%)
3 stars
23 (15%)
2 stars
3 (2%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Profile Image for Kaity.
1,993 reviews24 followers
July 16, 2023
3.5-4 stars

These two might have taken the crown for my favorite couple! Jerry and Art 🥰

I wished the story was longer, but I know we will be seeing peaks of them in the future hopefully 🤞🏼
Profile Image for Kim.
Author 175 books1,305 followers
Read
April 29, 2022
A new Bureau story!

This one is a long novella and takes place in the 70s. Ralph Crespo makes a brief appearance, and of course we encounter Chief Townsend. But the stars are Art and Jerry, two big men with a very big problem.

This particular book was inspired partly by my travels through the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. And I've always wanted to stay in a fire lookout tower, but never have.

I'm always so pleased to be returning to this series!
Profile Image for Kathleen.
1,440 reviews140 followers
June 12, 2022
Of the nine books in this favorite series, this one is probably my least favorite. Even though I adored our two supremely likable, sweet protagonists, there was far too much tell vs. show. The brief and very exciting conflict in the second half of story was over almost before it started.
Profile Image for PaperMoon.
1,836 reviews85 followers
September 10, 2022
I confess I experienced some trepidation before embarking upon this read but TG the plot did not deteriorate into despite the mind-boggling physical description for our MCs. The romance turned out to be quite dorky-sweet in fact and I grew quite enamored with Art and Jerry. Yet another great addition to the author's paranormal Bureau of Trans-Species Affairs world.
Profile Image for Terri.
2,875 reviews59 followers
May 30, 2022
This is a sweet story, romance-wise; even though it is love at first sight, they are careful with each other and very kind, and boy did I sympathize with the distance thing. The climax was good and it ends well. I deducted stars for repetition and uninteresting details, because both bogged down the plot and sure, it fits both characters, but I don't have to like it. I'd have given it more stars had it been either more complex or shortened by reducing repeating thoughts & feelings. But I read it all, and I enjoyed the parts I enjoyed. A solid 3-star read.
Profile Image for Ami.
6,242 reviews489 followers
May 23, 2022
3.75 stars rounded up

I feel like I've been reading (almost!) all of Fielding's books under the sun... but every time she returns to the Bureau universe, I'm happy. Agents, non-human creatures, and relationship. Yep, always up on my alley.

This long novella features a non-agent though; Art Gundersen is a lab tech. An extremely valuable one because he's the ONLY lab tech in the whole Bureau HQ. He rarely goes into the field - if not at all. But this time, the Chief sends Art into the woods of Northern California, for a murder case that's more up to his alley. And there, he meets Jerry Humboldt, the forest technician who discovers the dead body.

I loved these two solitary-by-nature characters. Art and Jerry connected with their way of life, their traits... that they are always a bit awkward, a bit on the outside, more appreciative of nature than fellow people... and I thought their time in the woods were wonderful. I also liked that they had a bit of history in the beginning...

The relationship may be a little too fast. The mystery behind the murder is also solved a bit too quickly (). But in overall, I really enjoyed this one. Oh, and Ralph Crespo from Camouflaged made an appearance and I'm satisfied to know that he
Profile Image for Anna.
1,085 reviews15 followers
February 14, 2023
Wonderful!

I loved everything about this story! Beautifully written and executed of course, well edited and paced. The people and situations are so good! Every Bureau book dovetails so well with the others, and I feel I’m reading the next chapter in a history. Art and Jerry are just lovable…
Profile Image for Elena.
1,069 reviews83 followers
December 10, 2023
Gosh, how I missed this series! Why haven't I read Caught earlier...??

As usual, I really love Kim Fielding's flowing, easy and romantic writing style. She just knows how to create the cutest MCs and give them just the right words (and thoughts) to make me love them :)

And Art and Jerry were no exceptions. I clicked with them straightaway. Especially Jerry. He's such a sweet, gentle-giant kind of character. So abused and yet so positive and hopeful. So huge and yet so gentle and thoughtful.
Art's sweet, too, but in a nerdy kind of way. He's unassuming and open-minded and never judges hastily.

I really enjoyed their short time together, even more so since Jerry was so touch and love starved and Art just wanted to give him something special, and not some hurried romp in the woods.
Their tempers also fit so perfectly together, with Art's constant chattering and Jerry's quiet composure. A delightful pair, indeed!


I simply loved it!
2,850 reviews3 followers
May 25, 2022
another Fielding Winner

Rating: 4 🌈

I needed to double check the release date because of cultural references Fielding’s used in the story, but she’s stated it takes place in the 70’s , not present day. So mentions of President Carter, Mork & Mindy, and , RIP, Burt Reynolds, makes sense.

Of course, given it’s the Bureau, you just never know.

There’s all sorts of beings that are featured in Bureau stories. This time it’s sasquatch.

Kim Fielding, as she has a way of doing, gets to the heart of her character’s history and momentous occasion in the prologue. Simple, unerringly haunting, and concise.

It sticks with the reader too , following through the story, tugging at you. So when Fielding’s plot neatly threads it into place, as a reader, it’s less surprise but more just a moment of content and satisfaction.

Art Gundersen is a lovely, gentle big, very big, man. One directed into his job with the Bureau of Trans-Species Affairs by Ralph Crespo, our Dragon agent of the previous story.

He’s mostly someone who’s devoted to his lab and research until the Director asks him for assistance with a special case up in the woods. One of murder.

Jerry Humboldt is the Forestry Agent who found the hiker’s body and called for help.

Jerry is quiet, protective of his woods, and worried about the circumstances the dead hiker’s been found in. As everything points to another species having been the culprit.

Fielding’s story builds slowly around these two shy huge men , getting to know one another as they try to investigate the murder and maybe the other mysteries surrounding each other.

There’s a bit of Instant love here. But it’s so cute , and neither has had any relationship at all . So well, let’s just give them a break.

The solution to the murders and dramatic climax is a good one! Thrilling.

And it was great seeing a old friend once more.

Wonderful to dive back into the Bureau series again, I’m recommending it!

The Bureau:
Corruption #1
White Clay #2
Creature #3
Chained#4
Convicted #5
Conned #6
Caroled #7
Camouflaged #8
Caught #9
Profile Image for Nannette.
536 reviews22 followers
May 23, 2022
The Bureau of Trans-Species Affairs is a wonderful series written by Kim Fielding. Each book in the series involves a different type period and a different non-human. I was hooked on the first book, Corruption. The story was original and some mysteries left to solve. The series has continued like that. Some previous mysteries were solved, new mysteries added, and one huge mystery was still unsolved with no real clues.

Caught is book 9 of the series. It involves a lab tech who has never been out of the lab, Art. He is happy with his research and helping out beyond the scenes. Not everyone can be an exciting agent. Art is sent to Nothern California with no information other than meet Jerry the forest ranger. There are dead bodies, mysteries, and monsters. Really enjoyable story. This series has become an automatic buy for me.

#KimFielding #TheBureauofTrans-SpeciesAffairs
Profile Image for J.
3,104 reviews50 followers
May 31, 2022
4.5 stars. A really good addition to a series I've enjoyed, in fact I'd say the best so far. This one is set in the forests of Northern California and may or may not involve a bigfoot sighting. The Bureau sends one of its rookie employees to investigate the suspicious deaths of two hikers and he meets a rather large, hairy Forest Service employee who will assist him. Art, our Bureau employee, is also rather large just not quite so hairy. The two find they have "a lot in common."

Lots of adventure and some welcome looks at how some of our past Bureau subjects are fairing. A reader doesn't have to have read prior stories to know what's going on in this one but I think that they will find that Chief of the Bureau Thompson is quite the matchmaker.
Profile Image for SJ.
2,020 reviews32 followers
June 5, 2022
Cover boy looks a bit too gorgeous to be Art! Who was a lovely character in this charming book. Oh, I like Chief Townsend so much! And, Ralph Crespo, too. The other MC, Jerry, was well written and I enjoyed the interior thoughts of both men. An interesting setting and the scenes at the fire tower were enjoyable. The conversation between Art and his father in the prologue was very well written with a naturalness of the dialogue that was enjoyable.
Profile Image for Akame.
534 reviews6 followers
January 17, 2023
Cała seria bardzo mi się podobała. Opowieści były często bardzo wzruszające, wręcz smutne. Jednak wszystkie miały w sobie wiele optymizmu i nadziei. Żałuję, że to już koniec, przynajmniej na tę chwilę. O ile każda książka jest pełną historią z zakończeniem, o tyle gdzieś w tle często przewija się stwierdzenie, że agentów czeka coś niezwykłego na co muszą się przygotować, więc czytelnicy mogą liczyć na kolejne części :) Ja na pewno będę na każdą niecierpliwie czekać :D
Profile Image for Melissa Polk.
Author 11 books70 followers
October 12, 2023
I'm no longer even remotely surprised when characters in these stories just randomly proposition the other MC for sex. Not sure what that says about me--or the series. In any case, I enjoyed this one. It was short and sweet and seeing Ralph again was a delight. Also love that Grimes keeps popping up everywhere.
Profile Image for Kassu.
873 reviews22 followers
October 10, 2024
3.5⭐

I'm happy to continue the Bureau series and these guys were lovely. Kim Fielding always writes beautiful pairings. But this case or something about the story wasn't as compelling as many of the other books in this series. Could be the shorter length too after some brilliant full length novels. Still easily 3.5 though, almost a 4-.
Profile Image for Rocken.
778 reviews8 followers
May 25, 2022
Not enough romance, too much "plot". I mean by 60% there was barely one kiss, and the rest is some kind of dime store murder mystery. I really couldn't be bothered.
Also, the cover is pretty bad, the hair looks pasted on the head at a totally wrong angle. Please hire a better Photoshop guy.
3,168 reviews3 followers
May 24, 2022
I enjoy these stories. Loved Art and Jerry and the 1970's references.
3 reviews1 follower
May 25, 2022
A wonderful Bureau story

A great read, you will not ever forget Art and Jerry. Kim Fielding has outdone herself. It is my favorite story in the series that I really enjoyed.
Profile Image for Tracy.
806 reviews1 follower
May 27, 2022
Enjoyable!
Great series!
74 reviews2 followers
June 21, 2022
Cozy read

This was warm and easy read with light feeling to it despite hinted not so light character pasts. Sweet and comforting.
Profile Image for morten.
48 reviews1 follower
June 21, 2023
人間と人間でないものの物語〈Bureau〉シリーズ9作目。ほのぼのとしたお話だった。連続殺人事件や、子供時代の辛い体験のある登場人物、自分の価値を信じられていない捜査官が盛り込まれてるので、通常なら苦い読書体験になりそうなのに、ほのぼのとしてる。それは主人公2人の良心や善意、そこからくる強さで足元がぐらつかないからだと思う。Bureau職員で大きな体のArtと、さらに巨大のJerryのビジュアルも良かった。前作のヒーローも登場して嬉しい。シリーズはこれで全ての年代を扱ったので次作はどうなるんだろう。
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews

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