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Jo Beth Sidden "Bloodhound" Mystery #3
A Brace of Bloodhounds
With the help of her treasured bloodhounds, hard-nosed sleuth Jo Beth Siddon uncovers a ring of marijuana growers and follows a dangerous trail that takes her through the Okefenokee Swamp
422 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
173 people want to read
About the author
Virginia Lanier
10 books76 followersAn author who penned the popular "Bloodhound" series of mystery books and published her first book at age 65.
Her first book, Death in Bloodhound Red, released in April of 1995, was nominated for three literary awards: the Agatha, the Anthony, and the Macavity for the "Best First Mystery Novel in 1995."
Series:
* Jo Beth Sidden "Bloodhound" Mystery
Her first book, Death in Bloodhound Red, released in April of 1995, was nominated for three literary awards: the Agatha, the Anthony, and the Macavity for the "Best First Mystery Novel in 1995."
Series:
* Jo Beth Sidden "Bloodhound" Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
January 22, 2021
I totally enjoyed this story. There’s lots of action and interesting characters.
Setting: small town SE GA near Okefenokee
Swamp.
And the wonderful bloodhound dogs are scene stealers.
Jo Beth Sidden is a master dog trainer and the main character.
Setting: small town SE GA near Okefenokee
Swamp.
And the wonderful bloodhound dogs are scene stealers.
Jo Beth Sidden is a master dog trainer and the main character.
June 24, 2022
SPOILER ALERT
I cannot put these stories down. Once again Jo Beth Sidden, owner of Bloodhounds, Inc. is up to her neck in search and rescue, training of future handlers, and looking for the reason a woman was murdered by a local judge, with whom Jo Beth has a less that good relationship. After all, when she was married to Bubba (who is still stalking her with the intent to kill her) she was enlisted to serve at one of his father's parties for the good ol' boys. Judge Sanford McAlbee got sick all over the food and other guests. Ordered by the father-in-law to clean it up, she refuses vehemently in strong language, and Judge McAlbee slaps her. In her four-inch heels, she hikes up her skirt and lands an intended balls kick instead gets him in the knee. She leaves the party recognizing her marriage is over and she has made two enemies.
She is visited by the woman's daughter who has a letter written by her mother telling her that is she ends up dead it will not be an accident. That the Judge will have killed her for something she knows about his life. Jo Beth finally remembers that she did know Calara Ainsley, though only briefly as she the housekeeper take the stinking and passed out judge on that fateful occasion. She keeps Gillian at the compound, and later asks her boyfriend Chief Jonathan Webber to take her back to north Georgia when he leaves the next day for protection. They get her a position helping his nephew who has just had twins and is frantic with a three-year-old as well.
Jo Beth then is pulled into a search for a five-year-old, Peter Powell, who was abducted from a campground. She later finds him tied up and covered with branches to hide him. She and Sheriff Hank Cribbs set a trap to determine who did it. To help with the search she has her assistants call Leroy Moore, her best friend, who she only sees occasionally. (His wife folds to the gossip of the community and refuses to let Jo Beth see him any longer, though she is their middle daughter's godmother. Jo Beth loves Leroy like a brother. She misses his hugely. Her calling him to the search puts him in the sights of Bubba, who later beats him nearly to death. Jackie threatens that is Jo Beth sees him ever again she will take the girls and disappear so that Leroy will never see them again. She tells Jo Beth is Leroy dies and Jo Beth comes to the funeral, Jackie will kill her. She has lost her friend permanently now.) The dogs lead them back to one of Josh Powell's best friends. She is later called to find two bank robbers. She is helped by a blind child, with a nasty mother, who hears the robbers come out. She wins him over by introducing him to Bobby Lee, her blind and talented bloodhound puppy. He points her to the car they first tried to use but would not start and then the one they used. Farley will later come to the compound regularly to spend time with Bobby Lee. They follow the trail left by the two drunks who robbed the bank for drinking money and are later found blind drunk. Another event shows the skill and quick thinking of our heroine, when she confronts a bull alligator of twelve feet going after the puppies. Guzman had come running admitting he was scared. She gets the charging animal with two out of three shots, and Donnie and Wayne claim the hide. (They will present gifts to one and all at Mother's Day, wallets they'd made from the hide.)
Jo Beth and Jasmine begin the search for the secret that Judge McAlbee has on his extensive property. Jasmine breaks her leg and Jo Beth sprains her wrist in the first attempt. Then Donnie Ray Carver, her videographer has to accompany her on subsequent searches. In the beginning they meet Pilter Phelps, a old man walking beside the road because his truck has broken down. Giving him a ride home they determine there are foreigners (Spanish speaking) in the area of Possum Crick that speed around and are nasty. They are looking for an immigrant camp. When they find it, it a meth lab, they take pictures and go to Hank and others to set up a raid. Some of the law enforcement refuse to participate when they find out it is the judge. She also has to pull some strings and make some threats to get the Chief Justice of the Tenth District, Constance Dalby, to issue a warrant.
Hank and Jo Beth are captured, they escape. The rest of the large group get lost when Jo Beth and Hank cannot be found. They are finally connected up. Jo Beth goes after Circe who ran away and has not found Jo Beth. She knows that Circe has gotten hung up and will need other dogs to find her. The others go after the drug makers. The raid is successful. Jo Beth has called the Judge to tell of her knowledge that Gillian is his daughter, knowing that he will not like others finding out he has damaged his lineage of which he brags. He commits suicide.
Jo Beth had sent a "dear john" letter to Jonathan after Leroy is beaten up, believing it is just a matter of time until Bubba goes after him. Jonathan later convinces her to stay together as lovers, only to have him tire of the commute to see her, and find another widow with two little children. She reluctantly lets him go. Gillian decides to pursue her claim on the judge's estate. Jo Beth arranges for a fix of Pilter Phelps truck, and then finds two hound puppies at the pound to replace the one the drug gang had killed. She had to work a story to get around the Southern pride against charity.
Once again the tale is filled with fascinating information on the dogs (she is faced with putting down two puppies who are declining rapidly from hip dysplasia) and the culture of the deep south. And the descriptions of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness Area are so vivid you can feel the heat, the bugs, the cottonmouth that lays across her legs on a stakeout of the immigrant camp, and smell the sloughs and flowers that surround her life. The compassionate, strong and flawed character of jo Beth is riveting. It is brilliant writing.
I cannot put these stories down. Once again Jo Beth Sidden, owner of Bloodhounds, Inc. is up to her neck in search and rescue, training of future handlers, and looking for the reason a woman was murdered by a local judge, with whom Jo Beth has a less that good relationship. After all, when she was married to Bubba (who is still stalking her with the intent to kill her) she was enlisted to serve at one of his father's parties for the good ol' boys. Judge Sanford McAlbee got sick all over the food and other guests. Ordered by the father-in-law to clean it up, she refuses vehemently in strong language, and Judge McAlbee slaps her. In her four-inch heels, she hikes up her skirt and lands an intended balls kick instead gets him in the knee. She leaves the party recognizing her marriage is over and she has made two enemies.
She is visited by the woman's daughter who has a letter written by her mother telling her that is she ends up dead it will not be an accident. That the Judge will have killed her for something she knows about his life. Jo Beth finally remembers that she did know Calara Ainsley, though only briefly as she the housekeeper take the stinking and passed out judge on that fateful occasion. She keeps Gillian at the compound, and later asks her boyfriend Chief Jonathan Webber to take her back to north Georgia when he leaves the next day for protection. They get her a position helping his nephew who has just had twins and is frantic with a three-year-old as well.
Jo Beth then is pulled into a search for a five-year-old, Peter Powell, who was abducted from a campground. She later finds him tied up and covered with branches to hide him. She and Sheriff Hank Cribbs set a trap to determine who did it. To help with the search she has her assistants call Leroy Moore, her best friend, who she only sees occasionally. (His wife folds to the gossip of the community and refuses to let Jo Beth see him any longer, though she is their middle daughter's godmother. Jo Beth loves Leroy like a brother. She misses his hugely. Her calling him to the search puts him in the sights of Bubba, who later beats him nearly to death. Jackie threatens that is Jo Beth sees him ever again she will take the girls and disappear so that Leroy will never see them again. She tells Jo Beth is Leroy dies and Jo Beth comes to the funeral, Jackie will kill her. She has lost her friend permanently now.) The dogs lead them back to one of Josh Powell's best friends. She is later called to find two bank robbers. She is helped by a blind child, with a nasty mother, who hears the robbers come out. She wins him over by introducing him to Bobby Lee, her blind and talented bloodhound puppy. He points her to the car they first tried to use but would not start and then the one they used. Farley will later come to the compound regularly to spend time with Bobby Lee. They follow the trail left by the two drunks who robbed the bank for drinking money and are later found blind drunk. Another event shows the skill and quick thinking of our heroine, when she confronts a bull alligator of twelve feet going after the puppies. Guzman had come running admitting he was scared. She gets the charging animal with two out of three shots, and Donnie and Wayne claim the hide. (They will present gifts to one and all at Mother's Day, wallets they'd made from the hide.)
Jo Beth and Jasmine begin the search for the secret that Judge McAlbee has on his extensive property. Jasmine breaks her leg and Jo Beth sprains her wrist in the first attempt. Then Donnie Ray Carver, her videographer has to accompany her on subsequent searches. In the beginning they meet Pilter Phelps, a old man walking beside the road because his truck has broken down. Giving him a ride home they determine there are foreigners (Spanish speaking) in the area of Possum Crick that speed around and are nasty. They are looking for an immigrant camp. When they find it, it a meth lab, they take pictures and go to Hank and others to set up a raid. Some of the law enforcement refuse to participate when they find out it is the judge. She also has to pull some strings and make some threats to get the Chief Justice of the Tenth District, Constance Dalby, to issue a warrant.
Hank and Jo Beth are captured, they escape. The rest of the large group get lost when Jo Beth and Hank cannot be found. They are finally connected up. Jo Beth goes after Circe who ran away and has not found Jo Beth. She knows that Circe has gotten hung up and will need other dogs to find her. The others go after the drug makers. The raid is successful. Jo Beth has called the Judge to tell of her knowledge that Gillian is his daughter, knowing that he will not like others finding out he has damaged his lineage of which he brags. He commits suicide.
Jo Beth had sent a "dear john" letter to Jonathan after Leroy is beaten up, believing it is just a matter of time until Bubba goes after him. Jonathan later convinces her to stay together as lovers, only to have him tire of the commute to see her, and find another widow with two little children. She reluctantly lets him go. Gillian decides to pursue her claim on the judge's estate. Jo Beth arranges for a fix of Pilter Phelps truck, and then finds two hound puppies at the pound to replace the one the drug gang had killed. She had to work a story to get around the Southern pride against charity.
Once again the tale is filled with fascinating information on the dogs (she is faced with putting down two puppies who are declining rapidly from hip dysplasia) and the culture of the deep south. And the descriptions of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness Area are so vivid you can feel the heat, the bugs, the cottonmouth that lays across her legs on a stakeout of the immigrant camp, and smell the sloughs and flowers that surround her life. The compassionate, strong and flawed character of jo Beth is riveting. It is brilliant writing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2020
Fifteen or twenty years ago, I discovered this series and read all I could find at the time, pre-Amazon and reliant on whatever our library had. I recently came across this one that a friend was clearing out and, unbelievably, it was the next in the series after the ones I had read before! Set in several imaginary counties in south Georgia, the heroine raises bloodhounds and helps local law enforcement with search and rescue. Well written and interesting, the abilities of bloodhounds are more fascinating than I imagined, and this book was as enjoyable as I recall the others being. The only thing I wish is that I had reread at least the first one, as I walked into a cast of characters I couldn't recall from over a decade ago!
November 17, 2022
These books are marvelous with one exception.
That damn insecure, foolish, petty, stupid, hateful character, Jackie. I really hope the author writes her having some kind of Scrooge salvation story line. UGH. Her problem isn’t the friendship between Jo Beth and Leroy; her problem is she’s selfish, stupid, insecure, and listens to petty twits who have nothing better to do than tear other people down. Annoying!
That damn insecure, foolish, petty, stupid, hateful character, Jackie. I really hope the author writes her having some kind of Scrooge salvation story line. UGH. Her problem isn’t the friendship between Jo Beth and Leroy; her problem is she’s selfish, stupid, insecure, and listens to petty twits who have nothing better to do than tear other people down. Annoying!
August 30, 2022
As usual, this author puts me right there in southern Georgia with her bloodhounds and crazy life.
This series was recommended to me and I love it. I am sad to see that the author passed away a while ago. I hope her family realized how great an author she was.
This series was recommended to me and I love it. I am sad to see that the author passed away a while ago. I hope her family realized how great an author she was.
July 9, 2018
Very enjoyable. Fast paced, informative, interesting characters, even if some were a bit stereotypical.
October 7, 2022
This was a good story, but I felt like there had been a previous book that I should have read first. Also, Jo Beth needs to quit smoking.
June 16, 2023
I liked the book, but it didn't talk about the cliff hanger from the previous book and wrapped up with after thoughts in the last few pages.
April 13, 2024
I love these books so much. I'm not sure how many times I've read the series, they're that good.
May 28, 2024
I loved this Series every book was better than the one before!
December 9, 2024
5 Stars
January 23, 2025
This is the third in the series. I enjoy reading all the stories about search and rescue. I am about to start #4.
September 10, 2024
I love the hounds. These are fun mysteries with a lot of "dog stuff". Any dog lover should enjoy these.
July 11, 2009
Jobeth Sidden is the owner-operator of a search and rescue business, with numerous bloodhounds, kennels for breeding and raising new pups, a whole slew of rescue teams, and lots of other employees/friends thrown in. Jobeth's excursions often take her into the depths of the Okefenokee Swamp, near her home and business in southern Georgia. The author gives many details of the wildlife, vegetation, and terrain of the swamp during Jobeth's frequent search missions. I also really enjoy the interactions between Jobeth and her animals, and the character development is good; Jobeth is spunky, independent, caring, and has a good sense of humor. This is the third in the series, and in this one Jobeth is pitted against a judge who may be guilty not only of murder but of running a methamphetamine lab on his land at the edge of the swamp. At the same time Jobeth must always be on guard for the danger posed not only to her but also to anyone close to her by her ex-husband, Bubba, who is a huge malicious violent presence lurking in the background.
This author died in 2003, so this series has a definite end in sight, but is well worth reading.
This author died in 2003, so this series has a definite end in sight, but is well worth reading.
July 13, 2014
This is my second Bloodhound book, and it’s a reasonable sequel to The House on Bloodhound Lane. Still decent writing and interesting characters; but again I felt the plotting could be tightened a bit. After a bit of analysis, I realized that what I meant by that feeling was that it was a little too much like real life. There isn’t one case here: there are at least three—a kidnapping, a bank robbery, and a corrupt judge, and they overlap some. Plus Jo Beth’s psycho ex shows up to beat a friend of hers almost to death (with no witnesses, so he’s not going back to prison on the strength of the attack). Plus complications in the love lives of three of our regular characters.
I got to the end of A Brace… and thought, “Two books and no dead bodies (except two perfectly straightforward suicides). What kind of mysteries are these?”—completely forgetting the murder mentioned on the back cover. True, it doesn’t get investigated as such, but it’s the starting point for the overarching case of the book.
I got to the end of A Brace… and thought, “Two books and no dead bodies (except two perfectly straightforward suicides). What kind of mysteries are these?”—completely forgetting the murder mentioned on the back cover. True, it doesn’t get investigated as such, but it’s the starting point for the overarching case of the book.
gave-up-on
September 2, 2012I really tried to get into this one; but it seems the story line has petered out for me. While I read the first few hundred pages, it was a struggle; I literally had to force myself to read. So, I give up; I say uncle. I can't relate to the main character: she's a major feminist, and while I consider myself to be on the liberal end of things and rather self-assure and femininally aware, I don't get my panties in a twist whenever anyone dares offer to help me carry something in. This made JoBeth more than annoying to me, because I find people like that to be criminally hostile.
While I like the plot lines offered so far in all of the Bloodhound books I've gotten through, the side-stories and inbetween-y anecdotes that have basically no connection to the main story sorta drag it all out for me. I just got tired of wading through it all, I guess.
Sorry. A for Effort.
While I like the plot lines offered so far in all of the Bloodhound books I've gotten through, the side-stories and inbetween-y anecdotes that have basically no connection to the main story sorta drag it all out for me. I just got tired of wading through it all, I guess.
Sorry. A for Effort.
July 31, 2012
Jo Beth Sidden is an interesting character with all kinds of flaws that she often is not aware of them!
She has an affinity with the bloodhounds she breeds & trains for various tasks. She has let them become more important to her than human relationships...who can't relate to that sometimes?
She ran up against one of the local power-brokers in her community in this book, and she won for the underdog again. In the mean-time she helped rescue the child of a friend and one of her friends became a target.
I enjoy learning about the various search, detection and rescue skills that bloodhounds can be used for.
She has an affinity with the bloodhounds she breeds & trains for various tasks. She has let them become more important to her than human relationships...who can't relate to that sometimes?
She ran up against one of the local power-brokers in her community in this book, and she won for the underdog again. In the mean-time she helped rescue the child of a friend and one of her friends became a target.
I enjoy learning about the various search, detection and rescue skills that bloodhounds can be used for.
May 7, 2014
PROTAGONIST: Jo Beth Sidden, bloodhound owner/tracker
SETTING: Georgia
SERIES: #3 of 6
RATING: 3.25
WHY: It's been several years since I read the earlier 2 books in the series, and I doubt that I will continue further. As always, the information on bloodhounds is fascinating. But the appeal of the protagonist steadily diminished as I read the book. She's bitchy and bossy and I didn't enjoy spending time with her as the focus. There are a lot of sub-plots woven into the book. One involves an abducted child; another the suspicious death of a judge's housekeeper; another the discovery of a meth lab on the judge's property. A lot of implausible actions on the part of Sidden.
SETTING: Georgia
SERIES: #3 of 6
RATING: 3.25
WHY: It's been several years since I read the earlier 2 books in the series, and I doubt that I will continue further. As always, the information on bloodhounds is fascinating. But the appeal of the protagonist steadily diminished as I read the book. She's bitchy and bossy and I didn't enjoy spending time with her as the focus. There are a lot of sub-plots woven into the book. One involves an abducted child; another the suspicious death of a judge's housekeeper; another the discovery of a meth lab on the judge's property. A lot of implausible actions on the part of Sidden.
February 9, 2012
Book #29 read in 2005
I really enjoy this series very much. However, this book was not as good as the first two, in my opinion. There were so many storylines going on at one time, and I felt more time could have been devoted to the immigrant, meth lab story. I am still looking forward to the next in the series.
I really enjoy this series very much. However, this book was not as good as the first two, in my opinion. There were so many storylines going on at one time, and I felt more time could have been devoted to the immigrant, meth lab story. I am still looking forward to the next in the series.
July 18, 2016
I was on the verge of calling it quits with this series but now plan to read the fourth book. The main plot seemed a bit secondary and the ending got both convoluted and a bit unreal. But the characters are fun and the preview for book four whet my appetite for more. Four stars is generous but three didn't seem to give enough credit!
April 5, 2016
A lot of details about running a kennel of working bloodhounds, which makes a good story in itself ... There are plenty of other subplots, including a couple of search jobs preceding the search at the center of the main plot. The relationships among the characters and the mores of southern life are other interesting features of the book.
December 31, 2008
Another fun read in the series. I'm wondering why she keeps reloading six bullets every time she goes out. She so rarely shoots anything and never mentions unloading them... This one includes investigating the judge, a meth lab, an illegitimate birthright, and Jonathan.
October 11, 2011
This is another good story in this series. JoBeth is asked to investigate a murder by the victim's daughter. She uses her amateur sleuthing skills, her bloodhounds and her friends to help solve the mystery. The book is a good read and maintains a lively pace.
March 3, 2014
Really enjoyed this. Bobby Lee is a perfect example of a bloodhound. The way the author describes him and the other bloodhounds is just flawless. I can relate so much with my 11 month old bloodhound, Clara. Very fun!
July 1, 2025
I love this series. I haven’t read it I. Years so I get to read it new again this time! I still love it!
May 10, 2012
Yawn. Lost all interest half way thru. Not my thing. Goodness knows I tried.
December 17, 2008
I really enjoyed the protagonist in this series, and even though I'm not a big dog lover, I found the bloodhound training to be fascinating.
March 31, 2011
lots of action, of course
June 17, 2011
They're all really good...
January 4, 2012
Never finished it. My husband like it though.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews