A college girl is found dead A grieving mother searching for answers Castle sets out to uncover the truth Tracking Justice comes at a cost
When a college girl is found dead, the investigation leaves a distraught mother in a desperate quest to find out what happened. Dissatisfied with the conclusion drawn by police, she continues to hunt for the truth behind her daughter's untimely death.
Retired K9 handler Maddie Castle is brought in to assist the family. With the help of her partner Tempest, Castle finds a lead. She begins to peel back the layers, and discovers the evidence points to murder. Proving it will take all of Castle's investigative effort. Surviving the fallout comes at a price.
With Tempest at her side, Castle is on the trail of a murderer who's willing to stop at nothing to keep the truth from being exposed. If she can solve the case, it will be the biggest payday to date. But the cost for Tracking Justice comes at price. And if she's not careful it could be her life.
Join Maddie Castle and her K9 Tempest on their latest heart-pumping adventure.
L.T. RYAN is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author. The new age of publishing offered L.T. the opportunity to blend his passions for creating, marketing, and technology to reach audiences with his popular Jack Noble series.
Living in central Virginia with his wife, the youngest of his three daughters, and their three dogs, L.T. enjoys staring out his window at the trees and mountains while he should be writing, as well as reading, hiking, running, and playing with gadgets. See what he's up to at ltryan.com.
BOOKS IN THE JACK NOBLE SERIES The Recruit (prequel short story) The First Deception (prequel) Noble Beginnings A Deadly Distance Thin Line Noble Intentions When Dead in Greece Noble Retribution Noble Betrayal Never Go Home Noble Judgment Never Cry Mercy Deadline End Game
BOOKS IN THE BEAR LOGAN SERIES Ripple Effect Blowback Takedown Deep State (coming January, 2020)
BOOKS IN THE CLARISSA ABBOT SERIES Beyond Betrayal
BOOKS IN THE MITCH TANNER SERIES The Depths of Darkness Into the Darkness Deliver Us From Darkness (coming soon)
Contact L.T. Ryan at contact@ltryan.com About the Author L.T. RYAN is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author. The new age of publishing offered L.T. the opportunity to blend his passions for creating, marketing, and technology to reach audiences with his popular Jack Noble series.
Living in central Virginia with his wife, the youngest of his three daughters, and their three dogs, L.T. enjoys staring out his window at the trees and mountains while he should be writing, as well as reading, hiking, running, and playing with gadgets. See what he's up to at ltryan.com.
I'm enjoying this series, but I'm gonna need Tempest to start wearing more safety gear. The stress of her safety is getting to me.
I do wish these mysteries were more mysterious. In this book and the last one, as soon as they introduce the perp, you're like "oh that's the killer." It's like an episode of SVU where there's only one real suspect.
And I know this is probably a me thing that speaks to my own issues, but I think I like the mafia boss with a warped code of ethics more than the paramedic widower who offers to cosign for a car for her. And I know Ox (such a dumb nickname for Lennox) lost part of his lung, but I feel like it wasn't enough.
When you read an L. T. Ryan book you are always in for the "long haul" to not stop but to continue on. He keeps you from house work. No sleep and at work you keep your hand on your electronic device so you can read and hide that you are not actually working but watching in your mind what she will do next. If I were to guess this is the author's ultra ego at work. I can only imagine what he looks like in a dress or tights running to catch the bad guy. In other words I am hooked.
She’s a “hero” former police officer, shot and disabled on the job for a reasonably large police department- yet she’s broke, no health insurance, no physiotherapist….
That’s unlikely. Unless a police department (and its city) was in fact bankrupt, an officer forced to retire because of on-the-job injury, especially in the circumstances described, would receive a full pension, plus medical care paid for. So we are left with a mystery, why is Maddie broke? Why can’t she get medical care? Physiotherapy … a hero cop, shot, on the job…
I'm really liking this series. So far, I've read the first two books and then I went and found the prequel (hint - you need to sign up for the Author's website to get the free download). Honestly though, it would have been much better to have read the prequel before reading books 1 and 2. I read the prequel before book 2 and it made that book much more enjoyable. Just a thought....
This book continues on Maddie's journey and we follow along as she is hired by a mother whose daughter recently passed away. The police rule it a suicide and/or a drug overdose and the mom knows that there is no way that makes sense. Unfortunately, the audio version of this book was not out yet (I found out that it actually came out like 1 or 2 days after I read the book...bummer.) so I ended up reading the eBook version.
I liked this book better than the first book because we get to see some real progression from Maddie in terms of character development. She is pulling herself out of the pit that she was in and things seem to be heading in the right direction.
I enjoyed her burgeoning friendship with her next door neighbor Bentley (or I guess it would be more accurate to say their "re-connection") and Maddie getting to better know his young teenage daughter. It goes without saying that I really loved her new canine companion, the ex K9 police dog Tempest. The storyline was interesting and it kept me guessing.
Here's hoping that the next book has Maddie and Bentley deciding to move their relationship to another level. *fingers crossed*
A terrific story featuring characters I cared about. Had to knock off one star for the innumerable dangling constructions and misused or misspelled words. I'll read more, but I hope the author either gets a better editor or listens to the editor's suggestions.
I've read multiple L.T.Ryan books, which are co-written by other people. This series isn't too bad, some times I've had to re-read a passage as it's disjointed, but overall, I'm enjoying it.
More Tempest less Maddie, less whining about being a recovering opioid addict. Less soulful brown puppy eyes from her wannabe boyfriend. Tempest has trauma too but basically gets a collar yank. More tracking.. each book just keeps recycling her knee and drugs. I would love to read more of a crime drama with Tempest being the star.
While this is a good plot, it deviates from his prior thriller series with too much interpersonal fluff. Mr. Ryan should ditch his co-writer and get back to what he’s been good at writing thrillers.
Love the Themes Here This is shaping up to be another great series from L.T. Ryan et al. Maddie Castle is a former K-9 cop who lost her career, her physical and mental strength, and her K-9 companion in one horrific night. She's on the road to recovery, but it's a long journey and she's had to medically retire from the force. She's got a couple of amazing partners, though, to help her out.
Tempest is a former K-9 who also lost her partner. Her PTSD from that event washed her out of service and nearly resulted in her being put down. However, iron sharpens iron, and Maddie saw something in Tempest that they shared. Working with Tempest was the catalyst for Maddie to start getting her act together. They've been helping each other; piece by piece and day by day. Maddie's also been able to lean on her best friend from childhood, Bentley, who's suffered his own rounds with tragedy. He and his adorably smart pre-teen daughter live next door and have become daily companions for Maddie and Tempest.
Then there's Ox. Awesome name. Really interesting character. He was Maddie's fiance on the night her life changed forever. Shortly after, she discovered that he cheated on her- with another cop. He completely regrets his impetuous action and will do anything to get her back. Maddie has let him partially back into her life as a friend only. Her trust issues come honestly, and she isn't going to forget his betrayal.
All of these characters shine in this novel, book two of the series. Now working as a private investigator, Maddie has been hired by a top-notch lawyer who doesn't believe the "official" version of her daughter's death. There's no way she OD'd as a form of suicide in her mind. It's left to Maddie to find the truth. It doesn't take long for her to realize that someone is stalking her, and they want her out of the picture. What follows is a tight storyline with suspense, intrigue, betrayal, and hard truths that no parent wants to face.
The characters have quickly worked their way into my mind and endeared themselves to me. I can't help but want Maddie and Tempest to succeed. I can't help but like the remarkable near-perfection that is Bentley and his daughter. I can't help but feel empathy for Ox, who knows he screwed up and finds himself unable to fix it. I'm eagerly waiting for more from these authors and this cast!
I ignored the dangling fragment sentences and constant inappropriate use of possessive apostrophes when describing plurals (Gunn's vs Gunns). However, Book 2 really starts to go overboard with incomplete sentences and thoughts. I get that I'm supposed to be inside Maddie's head, but the author needs to pick a lane. Either we're inside her head and thinking consistently jumbled, incomplete thoughts, or we're not. Switching back and forth is tiresome and distracting.
The mystery in this one has a slightly smaller cast of characters than Book 1, which I was grateful for. I don't enjoy feeling like I need to make a flowchart to keep track of who is suspected of what. To be honest, the premise itself was awful. There is no way a police department or investigator would ever think that a person just OD'ed on ecstasy of all things. That whole part was just dumb. Either it's a major red flag or it isn't. It feels like a plot point that everyone would jump on and try to figure out the mystery behind vs. the "shrug, of course it was an overdose" nonsense that seemed to be everyone's default reaction.
I'd been hoping to see a little less of Ox, or at least less of Ox's personality, but he seemed to get even worse in this book. Bentley, who was a good best friend, is starting to feel like an annoyance-next-door due to Maddie's constant inner monologue about how she may or may not feel about him.
I would love a little more Tempest in the story. Either make her a main character or make her an almost-invisible sidekick...but choose something. She is barely visible until Maddie needs her to go tackle someone or growl at someone that everyone should know is cagey.
Finally, I get that Maddie has a bad knee and I get that she went through some addiction issues and had a bad childhood. But will we soon start seeing that she is growing past that, or will each book keep rehashing it? For a character who is meant to be written so tough, she sure spends a lot of time in the books with internal whining, questioning, and rage.
Despite all that, I am gamely moving on to book 3.
Private investigator Maddie Castle is called in to investigate the sudden death of a college aged girl. While the police have closed the case as an accidental overdose, the young girl’s mother is convinced her daughter couldn’t have committed suicide nor accidentally overdosed. As Maddie peels back the layers of the nineteen year old’s death, things quickly become murky and Maddie is positive the mother is correct and this is no ordinary overdose but something far more suspicious. Can Madder and her K9 Tempest answer their questions before their time runs out?
I greatly enjoyed the first book in this series and found this to also be a really strongly plotted and written mystery/suspense novel. While the book stands well on it’s own I admit the history weaving around the main characters made a lot more sense to me having read the first book. The plot and characters around the murder of the young girl, however, were all clearly defined in this book and absolutely can be picked up with just this story.
I also really enjoyed how the plot was more complicated and layered than I originally expected. While I guessed part of the plot right near the start, there were a few twists I absolutely wasn’t expecting and hadn’t managed to guess until they were unveiled. While not an overly complicated murder mystery I did feel this was a solid story and I greatly enjoyed the characters and K9 as well. I thought the action was well paced and realistic, and I felt it certainly helped make the plot feel like it was moving along at a good clip.
Readers who enjoy dog-related mysteries or PI style of books should really find this series enjoyable. I’m looking forward to reading the next book.
All the characters in this series are well-developed and relatable. But it is Maggie and Tempest that keep that keep me coming back to this series. Her struggles with PTSD, addiction and grief, make her seem real. In Tracking Justice, Maggie has begun a transformation. I love the realism the author has infused in Maggie character arc. Her snarky banter with her neighbor and best friend, Bentley. And her love for Tempest, her support dog, is so loveable. I can't get enough of the two characters.
The combination of a woman PI story with a K-9 support dog story and the emotional and spiritual growth of the main character is wonderfully done. The mystery and suspense is off the charts exciting. There are more twists and turns in the plot than a carnival ride! I never figured out who the villain was until Maggie put the whole case together at the very end. Tracking Justice was entertaing and captivating. I am all ready to dive into the next book of the series! The best part is it is available on Kindle Unlimited so no waiting for a sale to pick up the series!
Pick up the second book of the Maddie Castle series, Tracking Justice. I guarantee you will be impressed.
This is my first book to read about Maddie Castle. It didn’t take long to know the characters and the k9 Tempest. Maddie is an ex cop now PI. A high powered lawyer loses her daughter to a drug suicide. But she doesn’t believe that’s the case. No one seems to believe her so she hired Maddie Castle to find the murderer. Maddie investigates the scene and senses something is not right; it not suicide. The rest of the book is about Maddie trying to figure out who is the murderer and to catch him. The book held my interest to the very end. There were some tense moments towards the end which made it quite suspenseful. I won’t reveal the ending as it will spoil it for the reader. I was surprised to learn who was the real murderer. Maddie is a strong but complicated character as many cop/veteran women are. I found this book to be very enjoyable and all the characters too. k9 Tempest has a laid back role but is a very important character in apprehending the bad guy! I don’t think I’ll go back and read book 1 which told how Maddie injured her knee and her k9 Bear died. I’ll go forward and read book #3.
What A Twisted Story and Great K-9 This is the second book of a series that sucked me in from the beginning of the first episode. This series is pretty clean with no foul language, no bedroom scenes, no gore, and little violence. Our heroine had a very hard childhood that included too many bouts in foster care. She became a K-9 handler with the police department, but that ended when a killer blew up her knee and killed her K-9. Worse, she and her fiancé broke up during her convalescence. She is currently making ends meet by being a private investigator and has the sister of the dog she lost to train as a partner. This series is best read in sequence because the people and situations are always evolving. This episode has lots of twists. The reader finds the clues along with the character. There is none of this surprise clue nonsense. In this case, our PI gets to work with her dog as they try to find a murderer without getting themselves killed in the process. I highly recommend this author and this series.
I randomly found this series and was drawn in by the police dog, but ended up staying for the other great characters.
I really enjoy the protagonist - she is a well rounded, realistic character whose past and current actions are believable, which isn’t something you can always say about books in this genre.
This second book in the series was a solid mystery/thriller in terms of plot, though you can pretty much guess how it’s going to pan out from the beginning. But it held my interest, and was an engaging audiobook to bake with.
I could probably use a little less of the love triangle stuff, but thankfully it wasn’t too unrealistic or cheesy.
Overall, a solid read, and I’ll likely pick up the third book in the series when it releases.
Book 2 in the Maddie Castle series is no disappointment, in fact, it was better than the first. I think the writing duo of Gray & Ryan should make the two person team permanent! Do yourself a favor and read the whole series.
I did have one complaint, though. I read some of the reviews for the next book in the series, Hunting Grounds, and I was so upset that a reviewer had written that $&&)?$ had died in the book and implied that another character was in trouble. I now know more than I should about the storyline, and I think when Amazon reviews what people say before publishing said review, a redaction should be made so that important parts of the story aren’t given away. It kind of ruins it for those that haven’t read the book yet.
I really enjoyed this story. It pulled me in from beginning to end and had some twists for sure. I loved watching Maddie come into herself and the new life that she is making. Bentley has been a fantastic influence for her and is giving her the supportive balance that she needed in order to make the better choices. I loved watching them get closer together and settling back into their friendship and that possibility of more throughout this story and case as they just accept each other for who they are. Maddie is relentless in her search for the truth of what happened during this case and refusing to leave it unsolved or only halfa** the job. This story was well written and flowed well and I am excited to see what happens next.
It was time for some light reading, so I turned to L. T. Ryan and C. R. Gray, and their second book in the Maddie Castle Series, “Tracking Justice.” Castle is a K9 handler who was shot in the line of duty, and is unable to pass the physical tests to remain a police officer. Thus, she earned her license as a private detective, and is hired by the Mom of a dead girl to investigate if her death was an overdose (as the police think) or a murder (as the Mom thinks). The authors combine an intriguing story, likeable characters (even Castle’s new German shepherd), the inner struggles of the main character, and even a little romance. It is only 311 pages, and it reads quickly and easily. It’s not “War and Peace,” but it is a very enjoyable read.
What a great second book for this series! This is a complete mystery that really grabbed my attention from the beginning. I enjoy watching Maddie move through her current life and seeing where she and Tempest may go. There are plenty of characters she has to go through to find the answer to her clients question.
The author does an amazing job with this story. The action, suspense and drama plus the dog are what keep my ears tuned in. I work alongside Maddie trying to figure this one out. But again I want not completely right. I listened to this on audio. Kate Hagaman does an excellent job narrating all the characters in here!
Maddie was a K9 cop, married to a cop. Then in a flash, life changed with a bullet. A serious knee injury and her K9 Bear dead. Now shes PI, living in a rundown trailer with another K9 that was so traumatized after her partner was also shot and killed that she was going to ve euthanized. Maddie decided to try and they are moving on together with a case involving a promising college student found dead in her bed at home with pills caught in her throat. Cops said it was an OD and didn't investigate so her mom hired Maddie to really find out what happened
I’ve just finished the second book in the series and, while the story is entertaining and enjoyable, they need to get a competent proofreader before putting the books out into the world. Really terrible grammar in places, misspelled words, and often parts of sentences are repeated (ex. “Dick and Jane took and Jane took Spot to the park). It’s very distracting and has a way of pulling you out of the story when you’ve become engrossed in it. Maybe it’s just an issue with the digital copy, but how hard is it to have someone read through it before making it available to consumers?
I truly enjoyed reading this. Maddie Castle is a badass, to say the least. Castle is now a private investigator with a heart of gold for truth and justice.
A mother finds her college daughter dead in her bedroom. Police quickly closed the case as a suicide. Quinn overdosed. End of story. Quinn’s mother knew in her heart that was untrue. Something wasn’t right. Castle’s determination to find Quinn’s murderer/answers is inspiring. The ending was perfect.
I’m also exited to unravel what happens between Castle and Bentley. They deserve each other.
I love her personality and that she dealt with her childhood issues rather than letting them bend her. I love her thought process when she goes into action against the bad guy, so I really enjoyed the first two books. One small bit of feedback: I thought both books tended to drag a bit at the beginning, or as the crime is being set up. Not a serious problem but I put the second book down for a day which I usually am too involved to do. Love the book. Maddie reminds me of Kinsey Milhone.
When Maddie is hired by Evelyn to find her daughter's killer, she has no idea what she is getting into. The police have ruled the death an accidental overdose, but Evelyn can't believe that, and things don't add up for Maddie either. The deeper she digs, the crazier things get and someone doesn't like where she is looking. Action packed and with more character development in this installment, I can say this is going to be a great series, too. Excellent writing and a great storyline. Highly recommend
This is a fabulous series. Very well written , interesting characters . Kept my interest throughout. Maddie , a former police officer, is a P.I. now, has very keen insight when investigating and evaluating info and clues. A young college girl has died, ruled suicide or accidental OD. Her mother doesn't agree, hires Maddie to check things out. Maddie agrees that things look suspicious. Why were the police so quick to rule out foul play ? What really happened to this young girl ? And why ?
Maddie is hired by a woman Lawyer who's college age daughter is killed. The police say she committed suicide but Mother is unconvinced. While doing an investigation as she is a Private Investigator, Maddie comes up with evidence that doesn't add up to suicide but is basically given the run around and that someone is trying to stop her investigation. Will she figure out what happened?
Just binged these two Maddie Castle books and loved them (have pre-ordered the 3rd and have his prequel novella in hand). Anyway, per the Subject-title, this is yet another series: great characters, dialogue, plot, and pace. Loved the local nature of this as well. Dialogue reminded me of Elmore Leonard: just felt like I was “listening” to the characters vs. reading the text. Well done L. T. … again :-)
Who would kill a nineteen year old girl with an overdose of pills? There are a few suspects. It is interesting and exciting for Maddie to talk with the suspects and eliminate them one by one as she investigates them. L.T. Ryan and C.T. Gray are excellently that you don't want to put the book down. Get this book and read it. You will not be sorry. Happy reading! 😊
I really enjoy the characters and storyline in these books. Tempest by far has the best part in these books! Maddie perseveres to find out what really happened to a young 18 year old college girl, whose mother is sure she did not commit suicide. I’m hoping Maddie and Bentley continue their friendship from childhood to adulthood and maybe find true happiness as partners in life in the future. Looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
Maddie is determined, tenacious, smart, fearless. She's like a dog with a bone. Following the clues Maddie agrees with the Mom and disagrees with the police. Her daughter didn't commit suicide, she was murdered. Then she was on the the hunt literally. After being shot at and nearly run over she's even more determined to prove the police are wrong and to provide closure. Lots of digging. Great job. Thank you.