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FBI K-9 #7
Still Waters
Fans of Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot will love this page-turning thriller featuring an FBI Special Agent and her search-and-rescue Labrador, as a training session in the Minnesota wilderness becomes a fight for survival . . .
Keeping their search-and-rescue skills honed isn’t just a job requirement for FBI Special Agent Meg Jennings and her Labrador, Hawk—it’s essential to saving lives. A water search training weekend in the Boundary Waters area of Minnesota has attracted participants from all levels of law enforcement, each vying to win. The races are challenging, the rivalry is intense, and Meg is already under pressure when Hawk alerts to a scent in the water—and discovers the fresh body of one of Meg’s fellow competitors.
The contest is called off, but Meg’s still feeling the heat. The victim had made an unfounded complaint about her, one that could cost Meg her job and see Hawk removed from her care. The field of suspects is daunting, and all of them are experts in throwing others off the trail. And though Meg’s team flies out to Minnesota to help uncover the truth, they’re on unfamiliar territory, pitted against a killer with the skills, and the motivation, to stay hidden in plain sight…
Keeping their search-and-rescue skills honed isn’t just a job requirement for FBI Special Agent Meg Jennings and her Labrador, Hawk—it’s essential to saving lives. A water search training weekend in the Boundary Waters area of Minnesota has attracted participants from all levels of law enforcement, each vying to win. The races are challenging, the rivalry is intense, and Meg is already under pressure when Hawk alerts to a scent in the water—and discovers the fresh body of one of Meg’s fellow competitors.
The contest is called off, but Meg’s still feeling the heat. The victim had made an unfounded complaint about her, one that could cost Meg her job and see Hawk removed from her care. The field of suspects is daunting, and all of them are experts in throwing others off the trail. And though Meg’s team flies out to Minnesota to help uncover the truth, they’re on unfamiliar territory, pitted against a killer with the skills, and the motivation, to stay hidden in plain sight…
342 pages, Hardcover
First published November 29, 2022
492 people are currently reading
12288 people want to read
About the author
Sara Driscoll
19 books940 followersSara Driscoll is the pen name of Jen J. Danna, coauthor of the Abbott and Lowell Forensic Mysteries and author of the FBI K-9s and the NYPD Negotiators. After over thirty years in infectious diseases research, Jen hung up her lab coat to concentrate on her real love—writing “exceptional” thrillers (Publishers Weekly). She is a member of the Crime Writers of Canada and lives with her husband and four rescued cats outside of Toronto, Ontario. You can follow the latest news on her books, including the FBI K-9s, at www.saradriscollauthor.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 339 reviews
November 20, 2022
Still Waters
by Sara Driscoll is the fascinating, suspenseful, and captivating seventh book in the FBI K-9 crime thriller and police procedural series. Sara Driscoll is the pseudonym for authors Jen J. Danna and Ann Vanderlaan. The book features Meg Jennings and her Labrador, Hawk as well as her co-worker Brian Foster and his German shepherd, Lacey. They’re civilian employees of the FBI’s Human Scent Response Team.
They need to keep their search-and-rescue skills sharp and that requires training. This time, they got approval for a water-search training weekend in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota. This training is combined with a three-part search and rescue timed competition. When Hawk alerts to a scent in the water and a competitor’s body is found, the suspects are law enforcement officers and those that are supporting them: pilots, divers, trainers, judges, observers, and the coordinators of the training session.
Dynamic characters and great descriptions of the area drew me in to this story. It has a deeply involved and multi-layered plot and an incredible setting. I was transported to this pristine area and felt as if I was living the events alongside the characters. With multiple viable suspects, will Meg determine who the criminal is? There is one disturbing scene in this book, but it is not described in detail.
Overall, this tense, engaging, action-packed, and exciting crime thriller gripped me from the beginning. I’m a fan of the series and looking forward to reading the next book.
Kensington Books and Sara Driscoll provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for November 29, 2022.
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My 4.6 rounded to 5 stars review is coming soon.
They need to keep their search-and-rescue skills sharp and that requires training. This time, they got approval for a water-search training weekend in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota. This training is combined with a three-part search and rescue timed competition. When Hawk alerts to a scent in the water and a competitor’s body is found, the suspects are law enforcement officers and those that are supporting them: pilots, divers, trainers, judges, observers, and the coordinators of the training session.
Dynamic characters and great descriptions of the area drew me in to this story. It has a deeply involved and multi-layered plot and an incredible setting. I was transported to this pristine area and felt as if I was living the events alongside the characters. With multiple viable suspects, will Meg determine who the criminal is? There is one disturbing scene in this book, but it is not described in detail.
Overall, this tense, engaging, action-packed, and exciting crime thriller gripped me from the beginning. I’m a fan of the series and looking forward to reading the next book.
Kensington Books and Sara Driscoll provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for November 29, 2022.
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My 4.6 rounded to 5 stars review is coming soon.
November 26, 2022
The Meg Jennings series is perfect for readers who enjoy stories with working dogs. Meg and her black lab, Hawk, are a search and rescue team. In this, the seventh in the series, Meg and Hawk have traveled to the Minnesota Boundary waters for water search training along with a competition. Brian and his GSD Lacey, are also in the competition. Things quickly go hinky during the first trial. Then, Hawk alerts to something else under the water during the second day. Im not giving anything away not stated in the blurb to say Meg becomes a suspect in a suspicious death of a fellow competitor and may end up losing Hawk.
This is a great story, with lots of detail about how the dogs work. “Driscoll” sets the scene and it’s easy to envision how the story plays out. The main characters are such wonderful people, I would love to have them as friends. It’s the outdoor equivalent of an Agatha Christie novel with a set number of suspects. At one point, Meg even says “I feel like we’re caught in an English manor mystery with a dozen suspects who could all be murderers”.
Unlike many “dog stories”, the dogs actually play a major role here and figure in all of the action scenes.
Warning, there is a minor scene of dog abuse. Just a few paragraphs but enough to make my blood boil.
This would work as a stand-alone but you will miss the gist of some of the relationships as “Driscoll” doesn’t waste much time giving background spelled out in previous books.
My thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for an advance copy of this book.
This is a great story, with lots of detail about how the dogs work. “Driscoll” sets the scene and it’s easy to envision how the story plays out. The main characters are such wonderful people, I would love to have them as friends. It’s the outdoor equivalent of an Agatha Christie novel with a set number of suspects. At one point, Meg even says “I feel like we’re caught in an English manor mystery with a dozen suspects who could all be murderers”.
Unlike many “dog stories”, the dogs actually play a major role here and figure in all of the action scenes.
Warning, there is a minor scene of dog abuse. Just a few paragraphs but enough to make my blood boil.
This would work as a stand-alone but you will miss the gist of some of the relationships as “Driscoll” doesn’t waste much time giving background spelled out in previous books.
My thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for an advance copy of this book.
December 2, 2022
This new addition to the FBI K-9 series is another great story featuring the K-9 teams of Special Agent Meg Jennings and her dog, Hawk, and Special Agent Brian Foster and his dog, Lacey. In this story, the teams are participating in a water search training session in the wilds of Minnesota on federal land. What should have been a great weekend because both dogs were doing well, took a terrible turn when one of the handlers was murdered and buried in the lake far from shore. On a training mission, Hawk picked up her scent and a diver found the woman. Unfortunately, Meg had a run-in with the woman the night she disappeared and now Meg is the main suspect. Thankfully, the usual cast of characters are there for support. This is a great mystery to watch unravel as the group sorts through clues and the backgrounds of the other participants. This is an action-packed addition to this great series with danger, tension, and likable characters with a sweet little bit of news. I received a complimentary copy for the purpose of an honest review from Kensington Books through NetGalley. All thoughts are mine only.
August 22, 2022
Many thanks to Kensington Books, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Still Waters.
3.5 Stars, rounded up
Trigger Warnings:
A dog is abused
A dog dies
I'm plainly an outlier with my review and it's due to the trigger warnings. To be clear, it's not our beloved Hawk that dies or any of the dogs in the FBI's Human Scent Evidence Team. Also, the abuse is one short part of the book. Unfortunately, I'm far too sensitive when it comes to these issues and I've been unable to get them out of my head ever since reading of them. Would I have read Still Waters had I known in advance? Probably not. However! As you can see from the other reviews, I'm the only person who has even mentioned them.
Moving on to the positive aspects of the book (and there are a LOT of them), most of my favorite characters are in this book: Meg, her firefighter/paramedic/love interest, Todd, Brian and his dog, Lacey, and the reporter McCord. I love them all! It was fun meeting Todd's brothers and I hope they show up in future books.
Still Waters takes place in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota, where a SAR competition/water search weekend is taking place. Meg and Brian have signed up, hoping to get Hawk and Lacey certified in water search. It's attracted participants from all levels of law enforcement, each vying to win the competition. The races are challenging and the rivalry is intense. The contest comes to a screeching halt, however, when Hawk alerts to a scent in the water and it turns out to be the fresh body of one of Meg’s fellow competitors.
I think this is the first book of the series where Meg didn't have any "Perils of Penelope Pitstop" moments and that was a nice positive! I also learned of incels, which I had never heard of, and hope to never encounter. There was a big positive that you will need to read Still Waters to find out about...
All in all, it was a fab book, other than those pesky trigger warnings. Like I said previously, I'm the only person who has even mentioned them, so take my review with a grain of salt.
3.5 Stars, rounded up
Trigger Warnings:
A dog is abused
A dog dies
I'm plainly an outlier with my review and it's due to the trigger warnings. To be clear, it's not our beloved Hawk that dies or any of the dogs in the FBI's Human Scent Evidence Team. Also, the abuse is one short part of the book. Unfortunately, I'm far too sensitive when it comes to these issues and I've been unable to get them out of my head ever since reading of them. Would I have read Still Waters had I known in advance? Probably not. However! As you can see from the other reviews, I'm the only person who has even mentioned them.
Moving on to the positive aspects of the book (and there are a LOT of them), most of my favorite characters are in this book: Meg, her firefighter/paramedic/love interest, Todd, Brian and his dog, Lacey, and the reporter McCord. I love them all! It was fun meeting Todd's brothers and I hope they show up in future books.
Still Waters takes place in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota, where a SAR competition/water search weekend is taking place. Meg and Brian have signed up, hoping to get Hawk and Lacey certified in water search. It's attracted participants from all levels of law enforcement, each vying to win the competition. The races are challenging and the rivalry is intense. The contest comes to a screeching halt, however, when Hawk alerts to a scent in the water and it turns out to be the fresh body of one of Meg’s fellow competitors.
I think this is the first book of the series where Meg didn't have any "Perils of Penelope Pitstop" moments and that was a nice positive! I also learned of incels, which I had never heard of, and hope to never encounter. There was a big positive that you will need to read Still Waters to find out about...
All in all, it was a fab book, other than those pesky trigger warnings. Like I said previously, I'm the only person who has even mentioned them, so take my review with a grain of salt.
October 30, 2022
Still Waters is the seventh novel in Driscoll’s FBI K9 mystery series. Though it is possible to read it as a standalone, I think that I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I read at least the first book to get the “lay of the land,” and a feel for all of the players.
There are a number of characters in this particular novel due in part to the setting at a K9 competition. It was a little distracting. But once I was able to identify the primary players, the narrative started to move smoothly. I do think that the character distraction would have been avoided had I read the first novel, though.
The characters are well developed. And even though I haven’t read Driscoll’s prior novels, I did get a good sense of each character’s personality and in my “mind’s eye,” their looks and stature. I did take an instant liking to the primary characters of Meg, her teammate Brian, and of course their K9 companions Hawke and Lacey. I thoroughly enjoyed their interactions on their assigned missions.
The plot is pretty much a straightforward whodunnit. There were a couple of twists but nothing really noteworthy. But there’s enough action and adventure in the novel that kept me on the edge of my seat. I didn’t quite get the motives of the perpetrator though, and I wasn’t about to backtrack to see if and what I missed. There were a number of suspects but it wasn’t too difficult to determine the guilty party.
Overall, Still Waters is a great read. I’ll more than likely want to read Driscoll’s future FBI K9 mysteries. Four great stars.
I received a digital ARC from Kensington Books through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
There are a number of characters in this particular novel due in part to the setting at a K9 competition. It was a little distracting. But once I was able to identify the primary players, the narrative started to move smoothly. I do think that the character distraction would have been avoided had I read the first novel, though.
The characters are well developed. And even though I haven’t read Driscoll’s prior novels, I did get a good sense of each character’s personality and in my “mind’s eye,” their looks and stature. I did take an instant liking to the primary characters of Meg, her teammate Brian, and of course their K9 companions Hawke and Lacey. I thoroughly enjoyed their interactions on their assigned missions.
The plot is pretty much a straightforward whodunnit. There were a couple of twists but nothing really noteworthy. But there’s enough action and adventure in the novel that kept me on the edge of my seat. I didn’t quite get the motives of the perpetrator though, and I wasn’t about to backtrack to see if and what I missed. There were a number of suspects but it wasn’t too difficult to determine the guilty party.
Overall, Still Waters is a great read. I’ll more than likely want to read Driscoll’s future FBI K9 mysteries. Four great stars.
I received a digital ARC from Kensington Books through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
June 19, 2023
5 Stars. This was Driscoll’s best K-9 book yet and the ones before were outstanding. They really found jeopardy in this one and had to fight for more than ever. The mystery was good to the very end. I’m ready right now for the next one. I’m caught up now. I don’t enjoy waiting...
August 2, 2022
4.5 stars I loved this book from start to finish. This is this 7th instalment in the wonderful FBI K-9 Series. If you have not read this series I suggest you find book 1 now and put away some time.
Meg an FBI canine agent and her K9 rescue dog Hawk are in the Boundary Waters National forest learning new skills alongside other K9 agents and their dogs. The whole event and Meg's life is thrown into turmoil when a fellow competitor is found murdered and Meg finds herself at the top of the suspect list.
This book is really well written. The tension builds slowly and then it does not let up until the very end. I was no where near figuring out who the murderer as let alone the reason for the murders.
If you love a great mystery with compelling characters do yourself favour and look these books up,
Thanks to Netgalley the author and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book.
Meg an FBI canine agent and her K9 rescue dog Hawk are in the Boundary Waters National forest learning new skills alongside other K9 agents and their dogs. The whole event and Meg's life is thrown into turmoil when a fellow competitor is found murdered and Meg finds herself at the top of the suspect list.
This book is really well written. The tension builds slowly and then it does not let up until the very end. I was no where near figuring out who the murderer as let alone the reason for the murders.
If you love a great mystery with compelling characters do yourself favour and look these books up,
Thanks to Netgalley the author and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book.
November 29, 2022
Having read all the other books in this series, I had been waiting to read this one too, and I wasn't disappointed :)
Meg and Hawk head off for a training exercise in the middle of the wilderness, along with Brian and Lacey, Meg's partner Todd, his brothers and Brian's husband, who all come along to do some fishing and/or relaxing by the fire.
Unfortunately for Meg, things do not run smoothly, to say the least and there is a person who ends up dead, with fingers pointed at Meg! She has to untangle the web of lies that surround the person who dies and it is a nasty one indeed.
As much as I enjoyed the murder sub-plot, my interest in this series is always the dogs, and the relationships they have with their humans. Therefore, I could have done with more of those interactions (although, to be fair, it probably will never be enough for me, bring it on!).
Trigger warning: there is a a short paragraph describing animal abuse which was awful :( If you are particularly sensitive, you may want to avoid or skim that part. I finished the book yesterday and that passage is still in my head today.
All in all though, a great book!
4.5 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books.
Meg and Hawk head off for a training exercise in the middle of the wilderness, along with Brian and Lacey, Meg's partner Todd, his brothers and Brian's husband, who all come along to do some fishing and/or relaxing by the fire.
Unfortunately for Meg, things do not run smoothly, to say the least and there is a person who ends up dead, with fingers pointed at Meg! She has to untangle the web of lies that surround the person who dies and it is a nasty one indeed.
As much as I enjoyed the murder sub-plot, my interest in this series is always the dogs, and the relationships they have with their humans. Therefore, I could have done with more of those interactions (although, to be fair, it probably will never be enough for me, bring it on!).
Trigger warning: there is a a short paragraph describing animal abuse which was awful :( If you are particularly sensitive, you may want to avoid or skim that part. I finished the book yesterday and that passage is still in my head today.
All in all though, a great book!
4.5 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books.
November 23, 2022
Every time I read a book in Sara Driscoll’s F.B.I. K-9 series I fall completely into the world of its story. I am all in, trying to keep pace in a high action story where danger is never far away. The combination of human handlers and their canine partners is thrilling to see, or read about, in how it works. The trust between them is essential, and it pays off in saving lives. Meg Jennings and her Labrador, Hawk, are part of the FBI’s Human Scent and Evidence Team out of Washington, D.C. Meg and Hawk partner up with Brian Foster and his canine, Lacey, in search and rescue efforts. They are called in to find survivors in large- and small-scale cases. Hawk and Lacey are not cadaver dogs, those that search for the dead, but it can turn out that a search and rescue ends up in a body recovery status. Time is always a crucial element in the team’s work, and in reading this series, you feel the urgency of the searches.
Still Waters takes Meg and Hawk and Brian and Lacey to the wild terrain of the Boundary Waters National Forest in Minnesota, more specifically to the waters of Lake Superior which are part of the area. Always wanting their dogs to be at the top of their game, Meg and Brian have signed up for a water skills training competition. While Hawk and Lacy are both unbeatable in their land skills, the water training is new, as is the searching for something dead. The training is the most important aspect of the weekend, but the two handlers also would love for their K-9 partners to excel in the competition part.
Along for the trip is Todd Webb, Meg’s paramedic/firefighter boyfriend, and his two firefighter brothers. Also accompanying the group for their big camp-out is Ryan, Brian’s husband. Todd has assured Meg that she will love the camping experience, with meals prepared by him and his brothers and an air mattress that she can get a great night’s rest on. It seems like the setup for a perfect weekend of spending time with her amazing K-9 partner and a group of great friends. Well, maybe not so perfect.
Both Meg, with Hawk, and Brian, with Lacey, have top results in the first day’s training, with the dogs being able to locate cadaver tissue in tubes down in the water while in a boat. However, when it comes time for the land to water trials, the competition part, Hawk seems to get confused at one point on the trail, which is completely unlike him. Lacey leads Brian to what he thinks is the top time, but when times are announced, another handler is named in first place. Brian is sure he timed himself correctly, but the judge of the competition rules against him. Something seems off in this competition right awy. The winner of the first day’s trail is Rita Pratt from the Laramie Sheriff’s Department in Wyoming. She is an arrogant, hostile person, unlike other handlers Meg has met. Meg has to step in when Pratt is berating another handler to keep the dogs from becoming agitated. Meg’s interference is not appreciated. Meg has another encounter with Pratt that evening, which will have serious consequences for Meg, maybe even causing Hawk to be taken away from her.
Pratt is discovered dead the next day when during the training session, Hawk sniffs out human remains in the water, after already finding the cadaver tissue hidden by the training crew. The F.B.I. agent who arrives to investigate the suspicious death focuses on Meg as the lead suspect, after hearing about her dust-ups with Pratt and that Meg’s dog found the body in a complex search area. It becomes apparent that Meg is going to need help beyond her supporters already there. A call to Clay McCord, her sister Cara’s boyfriend, who is an investigative reporter for the Washington Post and a call to her supervisor, Craig Beaumont assures that she will have the best people working on proving her innocence, as both men head to Meg's training location. There have been strange reactions from people concerning Pratt all weekend, but, unfortunately, Meg’s interactions are the ones most visible. The time is short and the facts are slippery in trying to ensure Meg doesn’t lose her freedom and her dog. And, Pratt’s death won’t be the only murder that weekend.
Still Waters incorporates all the successful elements of the past six books in this FBI K-9 series. The high energy of the humans and dogs working together in a clock-driven suspense plot. The bonds between humans and dogs and between humans and humans that mean the difference between life and death. The sense of community in the world of Meg Jennings, including her co-workers, her boyfriend, her family, and her friends. The settings which are different in each story, and in this story are a fascinating character on their own. The information woven throughout the story about how search-and-rescue dogs and their owners work. The story that always deals with something new, something you probably haven’t read about before. Writing that flows smoothly and puts the reader in the setting, in the situation, and in the lives of the characters. All these elements combine for a story not to be missed. Still Waters is one of my favorite reads this year in one of my favorite series every year.
Full Disclosure. I received an advanced copy of Still Waters from the author for review. I enjoyed it so much, I plan on buying a hard copy, too.
Still Waters takes Meg and Hawk and Brian and Lacey to the wild terrain of the Boundary Waters National Forest in Minnesota, more specifically to the waters of Lake Superior which are part of the area. Always wanting their dogs to be at the top of their game, Meg and Brian have signed up for a water skills training competition. While Hawk and Lacy are both unbeatable in their land skills, the water training is new, as is the searching for something dead. The training is the most important aspect of the weekend, but the two handlers also would love for their K-9 partners to excel in the competition part.
Along for the trip is Todd Webb, Meg’s paramedic/firefighter boyfriend, and his two firefighter brothers. Also accompanying the group for their big camp-out is Ryan, Brian’s husband. Todd has assured Meg that she will love the camping experience, with meals prepared by him and his brothers and an air mattress that she can get a great night’s rest on. It seems like the setup for a perfect weekend of spending time with her amazing K-9 partner and a group of great friends. Well, maybe not so perfect.
Both Meg, with Hawk, and Brian, with Lacey, have top results in the first day’s training, with the dogs being able to locate cadaver tissue in tubes down in the water while in a boat. However, when it comes time for the land to water trials, the competition part, Hawk seems to get confused at one point on the trail, which is completely unlike him. Lacey leads Brian to what he thinks is the top time, but when times are announced, another handler is named in first place. Brian is sure he timed himself correctly, but the judge of the competition rules against him. Something seems off in this competition right awy. The winner of the first day’s trail is Rita Pratt from the Laramie Sheriff’s Department in Wyoming. She is an arrogant, hostile person, unlike other handlers Meg has met. Meg has to step in when Pratt is berating another handler to keep the dogs from becoming agitated. Meg’s interference is not appreciated. Meg has another encounter with Pratt that evening, which will have serious consequences for Meg, maybe even causing Hawk to be taken away from her.
Pratt is discovered dead the next day when during the training session, Hawk sniffs out human remains in the water, after already finding the cadaver tissue hidden by the training crew. The F.B.I. agent who arrives to investigate the suspicious death focuses on Meg as the lead suspect, after hearing about her dust-ups with Pratt and that Meg’s dog found the body in a complex search area. It becomes apparent that Meg is going to need help beyond her supporters already there. A call to Clay McCord, her sister Cara’s boyfriend, who is an investigative reporter for the Washington Post and a call to her supervisor, Craig Beaumont assures that she will have the best people working on proving her innocence, as both men head to Meg's training location. There have been strange reactions from people concerning Pratt all weekend, but, unfortunately, Meg’s interactions are the ones most visible. The time is short and the facts are slippery in trying to ensure Meg doesn’t lose her freedom and her dog. And, Pratt’s death won’t be the only murder that weekend.
Still Waters incorporates all the successful elements of the past six books in this FBI K-9 series. The high energy of the humans and dogs working together in a clock-driven suspense plot. The bonds between humans and dogs and between humans and humans that mean the difference between life and death. The sense of community in the world of Meg Jennings, including her co-workers, her boyfriend, her family, and her friends. The settings which are different in each story, and in this story are a fascinating character on their own. The information woven throughout the story about how search-and-rescue dogs and their owners work. The story that always deals with something new, something you probably haven’t read about before. Writing that flows smoothly and puts the reader in the setting, in the situation, and in the lives of the characters. All these elements combine for a story not to be missed. Still Waters is one of my favorite reads this year in one of my favorite series every year.
Full Disclosure. I received an advanced copy of Still Waters from the author for review. I enjoyed it so much, I plan on buying a hard copy, too.
March 29, 2024
I really enjoy Sara Driscoll's FBI K-9 series. This is the 7th book and I love how she keeps them fresh. Every book is a different kind of case, with many recurring characters, but always some new ones as well. It is important to keep Hawk's and Meg's skills sharp, so they are attending a water search training weekend in the Boundary Waters area of Minnesota. It turns out that it is also a competition and some handlers will do whatever they have to do in order to win. While out on one of the runs, Hawk alerts to a scent in the water. With Meg interpreting the winds and Hawk's reaction, she leads the team to recover a dead body. Unfortunately, it is the body of one of the competitors, one that Meg had an altercation with. Meg had caught her abusing her dog and was planning on filing a complaint. Before she got the chance, the victim turned the tables and said it was Meg who was abusing Hawk. Those who know her and work with her know it is unfounded, but others do not. Not only is she now the main suspect, but she is in danger of having Hawk taken from her.
I really enjoyed Still Waters. It had all the characters I loved, except for Meg's sister. There were a lot of suspects to research and an impartial group of investigators is brought in. In order to make sure he appears impartial to the nth degree, he homes in on Sara and doesn't really investigate anyone else. It is up to Meg and her team as well as friends to find the real killer. I enjoyed the change of setting from Washington DC to Minnesota and the wooded, secluded area. The characters are very well developed and have a closeness that only comes from working together for so many years. Although this is the 7th book in the series, you can read it as a standalone, but will miss the character and team development. This was an action packed story, with suspense and intrigue. There is one scene where a dog is abused, but it is not described in detail and the dog is not seriously injured. It also plays an important part of the plot. Overall, I enjoyed this wonderful crime thriller/suspense mystery and recommend not only this book, but the series. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed it. Susan Bennett is not one of my favourite narrators, but she does a fine job with this book.
I really enjoyed Still Waters. It had all the characters I loved, except for Meg's sister. There were a lot of suspects to research and an impartial group of investigators is brought in. In order to make sure he appears impartial to the nth degree, he homes in on Sara and doesn't really investigate anyone else. It is up to Meg and her team as well as friends to find the real killer. I enjoyed the change of setting from Washington DC to Minnesota and the wooded, secluded area. The characters are very well developed and have a closeness that only comes from working together for so many years. Although this is the 7th book in the series, you can read it as a standalone, but will miss the character and team development. This was an action packed story, with suspense and intrigue. There is one scene where a dog is abused, but it is not described in detail and the dog is not seriously injured. It also plays an important part of the plot. Overall, I enjoyed this wonderful crime thriller/suspense mystery and recommend not only this book, but the series. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed it. Susan Bennett is not one of my favourite narrators, but she does a fine job with this book.
December 1, 2022
What should have been a fun working vacation trip turned bad quick for Meg and Hawk and those with her. I loved seeing the training that they were doing out in the water and how quickly Meg and Hawk picked it up. The land course seemed to be a little more troubling for Meg and Brian, turns out it wasn't their fault. I was stunned with what Meg witnessed with one handler, what a POS that person was, yet they didn't deserve what happened to them or their dog.
Things got dicey at this point, Meg tried to help, but she was quickly shut down, as she should have been, but things could have been handled in a better way. By the end of the book, it was crazy what really happened and why! On a happier note, Meg can go home now with new skills and some happy news to share.
Things got dicey at this point, Meg tried to help, but she was quickly shut down, as she should have been, but things could have been handled in a better way. By the end of the book, it was crazy what really happened and why! On a happier note, Meg can go home now with new skills and some happy news to share.
November 18, 2022
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
Our Mary Sue is practicing finding scents underwater with her dog in preparation for a big competition between dog handlers. One of the dog handlers is an obnoxious jerk, and is offed soon enough. Of course, our plucky heroine is the prime suspect.
The solution doesn't seem to really fit the puzzle. Still, it was trendy 3 years ago, I guess.
Really, I'd give this one 2.6 stars, but I rounded it up. The series gets rave reviews, but it doesn't seem to merit them.
Our Mary Sue is practicing finding scents underwater with her dog in preparation for a big competition between dog handlers. One of the dog handlers is an obnoxious jerk, and is offed soon enough. Of course, our plucky heroine is the prime suspect.
The solution doesn't seem to really fit the puzzle. Still, it was trendy 3 years ago, I guess.
Really, I'd give this one 2.6 stars, but I rounded it up. The series gets rave reviews, but it doesn't seem to merit them.
July 15, 2022
Meg Jennings, search and rescue dog handler for the FBI's Human Scent Evidence Team, finds trouble even when she’s not on a job. In Sara Driscoll's ninth in the FBI K9 series (Kensington Books 2022), she and her canine partner, Hawk, are in a remote part of Minnesota as part of a contest designed to hone Hawk's water search skills so he is qualified to find bodies on land and in water. Scents are planted underwater and in hidden places on land by those running the contest. Hawk not only finds these, but one they didn’t plan on--the body of another competitor, a handler Meg had fought with. Because the handler's last act before her murder was to turn Meg in for abusing her dog Hawk, Meg becomes the prime suspect, theory being Meg was angry enough about being exposed to kill her. With the authorities aligned against her, she gathers her own team--her fire fighter partner, her sister's journalism researcher boyfriend, and her search and rescue partner--to find the truth.
This is another fast moving thriller about Meg and her dog partner. As usual, Driscoll includes lots of details on how scent dogs find their quarry. I’ve read most o this series and this is my favorite so far.
This is another fast moving thriller about Meg and her dog partner. As usual, Driscoll includes lots of details on how scent dogs find their quarry. I’ve read most o this series and this is my favorite so far.
July 17, 2023
Still Waters is set in the boundary waters of Minnesota. The location intrigued me from the beginning. Meg Jennings and her dog, Hawk, and her fellow FBI team member Brian Foster and his dog, Lacey, are at the boundary waters for a water search training/competition. Representatives from various US law enforcement agencies and their dogs are also at the competition.
Hawk excels at his task, not only for the training, but he also leads his team to the body of one of the fellow LEO competitors just hours after a confrontation with Meg.
To keep the lead investigator from settling on Meg as the prime suspect because of her run-in with the deceased, she is aided in unraveling the mystery by her teammates and friends. This story has interesting scenery, well-developed characters, suspense, and intrigue. There is a closed loop of suspects, so danger and tension remain throughout.
This is the seventh book in the series, but the first one I have read. While it would have been nice to have read the others first, I didn't miss anything in the story by not having read them. I will go back and read others in this series as I enjoyed reading this book very much.
I received a complimentary copy for the purpose of an honest review from Kensington Books. All thoughts are mine alone.
Hawk excels at his task, not only for the training, but he also leads his team to the body of one of the fellow LEO competitors just hours after a confrontation with Meg.
To keep the lead investigator from settling on Meg as the prime suspect because of her run-in with the deceased, she is aided in unraveling the mystery by her teammates and friends. This story has interesting scenery, well-developed characters, suspense, and intrigue. There is a closed loop of suspects, so danger and tension remain throughout.
This is the seventh book in the series, but the first one I have read. While it would have been nice to have read the others first, I didn't miss anything in the story by not having read them. I will go back and read others in this series as I enjoyed reading this book very much.
I received a complimentary copy for the purpose of an honest review from Kensington Books. All thoughts are mine alone.
November 12, 2022
SO glad to have had the opportunity to read this book. I was not familiar with the series but will look into getting books 1-6. I found the story well written, fast paced, and interesting true to life characters. I did not miss a day reading it until it was finished.
January 9, 2023
Excellent series! I have had the luxury of reading them all back-to-back. Now I have to eagerly wait, like everyone else, for the next book to be published. Bummer. But, it will be so worth the wait!
August 10, 2022
Still Waters is thrilling and exciting right from the start. I've loved every book in this FBI K-9 series, but I think this one is the best book yet!
Hawk is amazing the way he picks up so quickly on learning a new skill, one that will allow him and his human partner, Meg, to become even more valuable as a SAR team. Unfortunately, the celebration is short-lived as Meg is pegged as the number one suspect in the murder of a competitor.
Meg witnessed this competitor abusing her dog and stepped in to protect the dog. Before she can file a formal complaint, however, the competitor filed a false complaint about her abusing Hawk which puts her job and her ownership of Hawk in jeopardy.
Not ones to sit around and wait for newbie FBI agent to do his job, Meg, Brian, Todd, Clay and Craig set out to find the real killer and clear Meg of any suspicions.
The backdrop centers around a competition and training in the Minnesota wilderness, involving other law enforcement handlers and their canine partners plus the supporting staff of trial judge and observers, divers, boat pilots and trainers. No one is allowed to leave the campground, including the killer.
When a second dead body of another competitor is discovered, things really don't look good for Meg, but this time she has Craig standing up for her and the confidence that her partner, her family and friends are with her and she'll never be alone no matter what happens.
The conclusion will leave you absolutely breathless. It's powerful and dramatic; it will have you reading way past midnight because you just can't stop turning the pages. Hawk and Lacey have always worked well together, but they put into play a new skill they've learned to take down the bad man.
Still Waters has all the feels, thrills, and the camaraderie that we've grown to love in the other books in this series. I think it goes even deeper in this book.
I am so thankful to the author for winning an advance copy of this book. I can't wait for the next one in this exciting series!
Hawk is amazing the way he picks up so quickly on learning a new skill, one that will allow him and his human partner, Meg, to become even more valuable as a SAR team. Unfortunately, the celebration is short-lived as Meg is pegged as the number one suspect in the murder of a competitor.
Meg witnessed this competitor abusing her dog and stepped in to protect the dog. Before she can file a formal complaint, however, the competitor filed a false complaint about her abusing Hawk which puts her job and her ownership of Hawk in jeopardy.
Not ones to sit around and wait for newbie FBI agent to do his job, Meg, Brian, Todd, Clay and Craig set out to find the real killer and clear Meg of any suspicions.
The backdrop centers around a competition and training in the Minnesota wilderness, involving other law enforcement handlers and their canine partners plus the supporting staff of trial judge and observers, divers, boat pilots and trainers. No one is allowed to leave the campground, including the killer.
When a second dead body of another competitor is discovered, things really don't look good for Meg, but this time she has Craig standing up for her and the confidence that her partner, her family and friends are with her and she'll never be alone no matter what happens.
The conclusion will leave you absolutely breathless. It's powerful and dramatic; it will have you reading way past midnight because you just can't stop turning the pages. Hawk and Lacey have always worked well together, but they put into play a new skill they've learned to take down the bad man.
Still Waters has all the feels, thrills, and the camaraderie that we've grown to love in the other books in this series. I think it goes even deeper in this book.
I am so thankful to the author for winning an advance copy of this book. I can't wait for the next one in this exciting series!
November 30, 2022
A great read, a fbi k-9 book. Meg and Hawk. Are on a new training adventure. Strange happenings, bodies, and mayhem. Love the trainings are descriptive, friendships and the training of animals, a fast read,
August 2, 2022
I Love this series and its characters! This book is no different and is set in the wilderness at a SAR competition where Meg and Hawk are working on his water skills. He's really good and Meg is learning too. When Hawk smells something additional to what he's already supposed to have found, the discovery puts every competitor in danger most of all Meg.
Read what happens when Meg's freedom and Hawk's ownership is in jeopardy. Will her team, McCord, Todd and others be able to save her and Hawk?
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Read what happens when Meg's freedom and Hawk's ownership is in jeopardy. Will her team, McCord, Todd and others be able to save her and Hawk?
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 24, 2022
FBI canine agent Meg, a search and rescue dog (Hawk) handler for the FBI's Human Scent Evidence Team, her fellow agent Brian and his dog Lacey, as well as several other teams from around the US, and Meg's boyfriend Todd (and his firefighter brothers) are up in the northern Boundary Waters of Minnesota on frigid Lake Superior for a training session. There is some friction. but most of it centers on one handler who proves to be a real piece of work. Then her body is found on the second morning and Meg is in the frame. Wild! Nerve wracking suspense when they had to rappel down a steep cliff to get to another body and other things. Add in that one of the group (not law enforcement) is an investigative journalist for the Washington Post and you begin to see some possibilities. A real thrill ride this! Loved it!
At the beginning of each chapter is a definition of a useful word in specific terminology.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Canadian author
At the beginning of each chapter is a definition of a useful word in specific terminology.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Canadian author
November 26, 2022
Meg Jennings and her dog, Hawk along with Brian Foster and his dog, Lacey along with assorted family and friends, are in the Boundary Waters National Forest. Meg and Brian are civilian employees of the FBI's Human Scent Response Team and this is a working weekend for them. They will be competing and training in underwater scent detection. Finding the planted scent sample is the goal but Meg gets way more than training when Hawk detects a cadaver 80 feet down. When the diver investigates it turns out that the body is that of one of the attendees, one who Meg had an altercation with about how the woman treated her dog. It isn't long before the police focus on her as the prime suspect. If the police don't expand their investigation to find the real killer, Meg could end up fired from the FBI, have Hawk taken away and landing in prison. That gives Meg, Brian and the rest of their family and friends ample motivation to find the real killer - fast.
(Trigger warning: the dispute between Meg and the dead woman was over dog abuse. Meg witnessed it, reported it and the woman turned the tables and accused Meg of abuse. Add to that a dog dies - not Hawk or Lacey - and though it is a short scene, I want readers to know that I was skipping it as soon as I encountered it.)
The mystery involves fascinating information on human remains detection, K-9 teams and partnerships which I enjoyed very much. The cast of characters is large as just about anybody attending the training competition is suspect and motives abound. If you like mysteries involving K-9 working dogs this is a series to add to your must read list.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
(Trigger warning: the dispute between Meg and the dead woman was over dog abuse. Meg witnessed it, reported it and the woman turned the tables and accused Meg of abuse. Add to that a dog dies - not Hawk or Lacey - and though it is a short scene, I want readers to know that I was skipping it as soon as I encountered it.)
The mystery involves fascinating information on human remains detection, K-9 teams and partnerships which I enjoyed very much. The cast of characters is large as just about anybody attending the training competition is suspect and motives abound. If you like mysteries involving K-9 working dogs this is a series to add to your must read list.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
January 12, 2025
This is book #7 in this fabulous series. Meg Jennings and her K-9 partner, Hawk, are with the FBI search and rescue unit. Meg and her partner, Brian and his dog Lacey, are paired up often to do search and rescues. In this book they are sent to the Boundary Waters in Minnesota for a competition. They will be learning, with their dogs, in learning water rescue. Hawk and Lacey catch on amazingly fast at understanding what they are to do. When Hawk unexpectedly picks up the scent of a human deep in water. The person is another contestant in the trials and she has been murdered, also her dog is missing.
Very well written story of tracking down the murderer with their skills as handlers and their K-9 partners. I have learned so much of the skills of these amazing dogs while reading this series.
I live in Minnesota and was very intrigued by this story taking place in my state. I know a lot about the Boundary Waters area, but seeing I won’t do wilderness camping, miles away from civilization, I have never been there.
An excellent addition to this series.
Very well written story of tracking down the murderer with their skills as handlers and their K-9 partners. I have learned so much of the skills of these amazing dogs while reading this series.
I live in Minnesota and was very intrigued by this story taking place in my state. I know a lot about the Boundary Waters area, but seeing I won’t do wilderness camping, miles away from civilization, I have never been there.
An excellent addition to this series.
November 6, 2022
I have purchased and read FBI K-9, #1 through #6 because I won this book. I loved reading this book. Meg & Hawk & Todd & Brian & Lacy & Ryan. Such good reading. I also liked the recipes for cooking over an open fire. The suspense was so good and I would never have thought about who the murderer was! Love the dog handling, I find it very interesting! I had to finish another book before beginning this one - I won this one from Goodreads - Giveaway! I received it 11/1/2022 so I did pretty good reading it - a page-turner! When I received this book I also received another one - which is the first time I have had that happen - "that Dangerous Energy" by Aya de Leon which I will be reviewing later after I read it.
September 6, 2023
The book takes place in Boundary Waters Canoe Area Superior National Forest, Minnesota, where Search dog teams from police and FBI units hold a training and competition gathering to test their skill against each other. FBI agent Meg Jennings soon finds herself as a suspect in two murders. Meg’s team and her dog, Hawk, work with her to sort out the clues so she can prove her innocence. The story takes many twists as the team searches for the reasons behind the deaths, so they can uncover the real culprits. I enjoyed the fast-paced book and what is required to be a search dog handler. My wife did win the book as part of a Goodreads giveaway, and I decided to read it first! Many thanks to Goodreads. The opinions of this review are my own.
September 13, 2022
Meg Jennings and her K-9 Partner Hawk along with fellow K-9 Handler Brian and his dog Lacey think they are just spending a weekend camping with friends and learning new water detection skills in the Boundary Waters National Forest. Of course it’s never quite that simple for Meg and Hawk. The competition is fierce between all participating K-9 law enforcement attendees. There seems to be some underlying tension between some of the participants but Meg, Brian and the dogs are just there to learn. That is until things go off the rails and one of the competitors is found murdered. Thanks to an unfortunate encounter Meg had with the dead woman, she finds herself fighting to prove her innocence. It takes all the skills of Meg and her own personal team – her boyfriend Todd, his brothers, Brian’s husband Ryan as well as her sister’s journalist/master researcher partner McCord to make the connections needed to root out who the actual killer was.
As usual another fast paced, highly detailed book from Sara Driscoll. The book takes the reader to some dark places but as usual our heroes prevail. I love the family connection the main characters have with each other and how Meg, as strong a character/woman as she is, knows when she needs to ask for and rely on those who love her to get through.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As usual another fast paced, highly detailed book from Sara Driscoll. The book takes the reader to some dark places but as usual our heroes prevail. I love the family connection the main characters have with each other and how Meg, as strong a character/woman as she is, knows when she needs to ask for and rely on those who love her to get through.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 15, 2023
This is my first go around with this Author's books. I may say that after delving into this K9 murder mystery, I was pleasantly surprised by it. The flow of the book, the solidness of the characters, makes for an easy, want to continue to read book. I know there are other, longer detailed book reviews out there, but if you like a good murder mystery (not one but two murders in this book), you love dogs, and have respect for law enforcement and firemen ;) this is as good as any place to start. Really enjoyed. I only went 4 stars since I was getting the lay of the land so to speak, but will be reading her other books.
January 9, 2023
I am never disappointed with the books in this series. I just love the characters, the dogs and the FBI team. I've even "grown" used to the change in narrators, from awesome Angela Dawe (who flawlessly performed the first 5) to Susan Bennett (who could use a little more characterization in her different voices). I did miss MC Meg's sister Cara in this entry and the Washington DC location (where I am a native). However, I am 100% certain Cara will be included in the next one and the team will be back home.
Story: 5 stars
Narration: 4 stars
Story: 5 stars
Narration: 4 stars
May 26, 2024
What an interesting mystery. I have not read any other books in the the series and I think it was fine for me. I figured out the story line but maybe it would've help a bit to read book 1. I enjoyed the dogs in this book and the relationship they had with the handlers. I am an animals lovers so this book was good in this way for me. The story was a little slow but I picked it up and enjoyed the book. It was interesting enough to keep me wanting to read more. Thank you to Kensington Books, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an ARC copy of Still Waters.
February 11, 2023
Loved this one -- all the action takes place in one setting, over the course of a long weekend. Seventh in the series, and it might be a standalone if not for the number of recurring characters and backstories alluded to.
I have read the other books in the series, so the family members and teammates were familiar to me, but there were enough other characters/suspects for me to feel like I should have been keeping notes (which one was he again?). Still, I love to "visit" with Meg and Hawk.
I have read the other books in the series, so the family members and teammates were familiar to me, but there were enough other characters/suspects for me to feel like I should have been keeping notes (which one was he again?). Still, I love to "visit" with Meg and Hawk.
September 7, 2022
I love this series and this book does not disappoint. It brings all my favorite characters together for a weekend of camping. Meg and Brian are involved with some new tracking techniques with peers from other agencies/units and their K9s. They are all signed up for a competition that ends up going south on the second day. Luckily Meg has others there to help out while waiting for the rest of her support team. With everyone's help they figure out who they are looking for and what happened. Never a dull moment for this group.
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