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Maddie Castle #1
The Handler
A dead police officerA department desperate for answersMaddie Castle must take on the role that nearly took her lifeShe must once again become The HandlerNEW from Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author LT Ryan with CR GrayWounded in the line of duty former K9 Handler Maddie Castle finds herself back to square one The bullet that shredded her leg took the life of her fourlegged partner The pain of recovery goes well beyond the daily physical torment she enduresTime is the supposed healer of all wounds In Castles case this hasnt proven true In a hail of gunfire she lost not only a. Thank You for Your Interest in Our Spiral Bound book from Personalized JoyCrafts TM We appreciate your consideration of our spiralbound offering available through Amazon under Personalized JoyCrafts. This edition promises an enhanced user experience designed specifically for ease of use The spiral binding ensures that the book lays flat when opened simplifying tasks like drawing coloring notetaking following recipes or simply reviewing content Spiralbound books redefine conveniencePLEASE NOTE We do not claim authorship or publish rights for this book WE ARE NOT THE AUTHOR OR PUBLISHER OF THIS BOOK All copyrighted and trademarked materials belong to their respective authors or publishers Respecting their intellectual property our source for these books is either directly from the author Amazon or authorized distributors As per the right of first sale we lawfully purchase these books and later modify the binding The original publisher or author details can typically be located within the books initial pagesOur modification involves professionally removing the initial binding and replacing it with our spiral binding This enhances the books usability for our customersShould you have any queries or feedback regarding our spiral binding process do not hesitate to contact us through our Amazon StoreWarm RegardsPersonalized JoyCrafts TM
278 pages, Paperback
Published January 9, 2023
About the author
L.T. Ryan
234 books1,558 followersL.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)
Social Media Links
Facebook (L.T. Ryan): facebook.com/LTRyanAuthor
Facebook (Jack Noble Page): facebook.com/JackNobleBooks/
Twitter: twitter.com/LTRyanWrites
Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/6151659.L_T...
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.
Social Media Links
Facebook (L.T. Ryan): facebook.com/LTRyanAuthor
Facebook (Jack Noble Page): facebook.com/JackNobleBooks/
Twitter: twitter.com/LTRyanWrites
Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/6151659.L_T...
Contact L.T. Ryan at contact@ltryan.com
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)
Social Media Links
Facebook (L.T. Ryan): facebook.com/LTRyanAuthor
Facebook (Jack Noble Page): facebook.com/JackNobleBooks/
Twitter: twitter.com/LTRyanWrites
Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/6151659.L_T...
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.
Social Media Links
Facebook (L.T. Ryan): facebook.com/LTRyanAuthor
Facebook (Jack Noble Page): facebook.com/JackNobleBooks/
Twitter: twitter.com/LTRyanWrites
Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/6151659.L_T...
Contact L.T. Ryan at contact@ltryan.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 527 reviews
November 29, 2025
A little on the slow side.
April 17, 2024
Dog sidekicks always make me nervous, so for anyone concerned about Tempest. She's lives. She's in her healing era, but she'll be fine.
I'm concerned the story is setting us up for the FMC to have 3 love interests, which is annoying. But other than that and the dumb nicknames everyone has, this was a solid read.
It's not the most complicated mystery, and I didn't expect the narrator to bark like a dog for the audiobook, but I would recommend this book for a road trip.
I'm concerned the story is setting us up for the FMC to have 3 love interests, which is annoying. But other than that and the dumb nicknames everyone has, this was a solid read.
It's not the most complicated mystery, and I didn't expect the narrator to bark like a dog for the audiobook, but I would recommend this book for a road trip.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2026
4 Stars
The Handler takes one look at Maddie Castle's already terrible situation and says, "You know what this needs? Murder, corruption, and several opportunities for this woman to make objectively terrible decisions."
Maddie is a former K9 handler trying to rebuild her life after losing both her career and her dog in the line of duty. She's broke, in pain, back in the trailer park she swore she'd never return to, and generally hanging on by a thread.
So naturally, that's when a murdered K9 officer lands squarely in her orbit.
Because apparently rock bottom was just a warm-up act.
What follows is one of those investigations where every answer immediately produces three more questions and at least one fresh reason to turn around and go home.
Maddie, however, does not appear to have a reverse gear.
This woman approaches danger with the confidence of someone who's never once considered that actions might have consequences.
"Oh, that's suspicious?"
Off she goes.
"Oh, that could be connected to dangerous criminals?"
Excellent. Let's investigate immediately.
"Oh, perhaps don't go poking around there by yourself?"
Maddie: Anyway...
Reader: No.
Maddie: Anyway...
There were multiple occasions where I wanted to sit her down with a cup of tea and a laminated list titled Reasons We Don't Chase Trouble Alone.
Would she read it?
Absolutely not.
The mystery itself kept me hooked. A murdered officer, a missing child, corruption, organised crime, secrets buried where they shouldn't be buried—every time Maddie pulled on one thread, half the jumper started coming apart.
The deeper she dug, the worse things got.
As one would expect.
The dogs, however, completely stole the show.
I'm sorry, but it's true.
The humans were out there solving crimes.
The villains were villaining.
The conspiracy was conspiring.
Meanwhile, I was emotionally invested in every K9 that wandered onto the page.
At one point my priorities became very clear:
Maddie in danger? Concerning.
Investigation falling apart? Stressful.
Dog looks remotely unhappy? RIGHT, WHO ARE WE FIGHTING?
The pacing moves quickly, the action keeps coming, and Maddie is an easy character to root for because she's equal parts stubborn, damaged, determined and occasionally incapable of recognising a bad idea when it waves a giant red flag in her face.
The suspense? Solid.
The mystery? Engaging.
The villains? A persistent nuisance.
Maddie's decision-making? Aggressively optimistic.
Overall, The Handler is a strong start to the series with plenty of suspense, an engaging heroine, and enough K9 content to keep dog lovers emotionally compromised.
Basically, if you enjoy crime thrillers, good dogs, bad blokes, and heroines who repeatedly look at danger and think, "Yeah, I can probably squeeze one more problem into my day," this is well worth picking up.
The Handler takes one look at Maddie Castle's already terrible situation and says, "You know what this needs? Murder, corruption, and several opportunities for this woman to make objectively terrible decisions."
Maddie is a former K9 handler trying to rebuild her life after losing both her career and her dog in the line of duty. She's broke, in pain, back in the trailer park she swore she'd never return to, and generally hanging on by a thread.
So naturally, that's when a murdered K9 officer lands squarely in her orbit.
Because apparently rock bottom was just a warm-up act.
What follows is one of those investigations where every answer immediately produces three more questions and at least one fresh reason to turn around and go home.
Maddie, however, does not appear to have a reverse gear.
This woman approaches danger with the confidence of someone who's never once considered that actions might have consequences.
"Oh, that's suspicious?"
Off she goes.
"Oh, that could be connected to dangerous criminals?"
Excellent. Let's investigate immediately.
"Oh, perhaps don't go poking around there by yourself?"
Maddie: Anyway...
Reader: No.
Maddie: Anyway...
There were multiple occasions where I wanted to sit her down with a cup of tea and a laminated list titled Reasons We Don't Chase Trouble Alone.
Would she read it?
Absolutely not.
The mystery itself kept me hooked. A murdered officer, a missing child, corruption, organised crime, secrets buried where they shouldn't be buried—every time Maddie pulled on one thread, half the jumper started coming apart.
The deeper she dug, the worse things got.
As one would expect.
The dogs, however, completely stole the show.
I'm sorry, but it's true.
The humans were out there solving crimes.
The villains were villaining.
The conspiracy was conspiring.
Meanwhile, I was emotionally invested in every K9 that wandered onto the page.
At one point my priorities became very clear:
Maddie in danger? Concerning.
Investigation falling apart? Stressful.
Dog looks remotely unhappy? RIGHT, WHO ARE WE FIGHTING?
The pacing moves quickly, the action keeps coming, and Maddie is an easy character to root for because she's equal parts stubborn, damaged, determined and occasionally incapable of recognising a bad idea when it waves a giant red flag in her face.
The suspense? Solid.
The mystery? Engaging.
The villains? A persistent nuisance.
Maddie's decision-making? Aggressively optimistic.
Overall, The Handler is a strong start to the series with plenty of suspense, an engaging heroine, and enough K9 content to keep dog lovers emotionally compromised.
Basically, if you enjoy crime thrillers, good dogs, bad blokes, and heroines who repeatedly look at danger and think, "Yeah, I can probably squeeze one more problem into my day," this is well worth picking up.
February 21, 2023
Looking forward to more in this series!
4.5 stars…I enjoyed this hurt/comfort themed suspense book. But rather than a romance novel this is the hurt/comfort trope between the MC and a trained K9 who loses his partner/handler. I just loved the dynamic between the two and I loved the way the relationship plays out and the symbiotic relationship.
The crime elements of the book were obvious to me from the beginning. It did not dampen my enjoyment of the book as I enjoyed watching how it all unfolded. The final crisis moment (there are several!) was tense and so satisfying to me. (But I’m kind of bloodthirsty towards the villains!)
It was a bit slow moving at the start and I wasn’t sure I was going to like Maddie. But as the story progressed and the character development kicked in I began to like her more and more. Now I am really looking forward to the next book in the series!
4.5 stars…I enjoyed this hurt/comfort themed suspense book. But rather than a romance novel this is the hurt/comfort trope between the MC and a trained K9 who loses his partner/handler. I just loved the dynamic between the two and I loved the way the relationship plays out and the symbiotic relationship.
The crime elements of the book were obvious to me from the beginning. It did not dampen my enjoyment of the book as I enjoyed watching how it all unfolded. The final crisis moment (there are several!) was tense and so satisfying to me. (But I’m kind of bloodthirsty towards the villains!)
It was a bit slow moving at the start and I wasn’t sure I was going to like Maddie. But as the story progressed and the character development kicked in I began to like her more and more. Now I am really looking forward to the next book in the series!
January 21, 2023
Who doesn't love a book about a girl and her dog. This is no exception. Strong female lead with a badass attitude. Full of twists and turns that keep you guessing til the end. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and waiting on the next book!
February 23, 2023
This had all the makings of a good book, an ex-detective and a dog with PTSD! Unfortunately it was just kind of boring all the way through. Indeed it was so boring that I had to resort to my “one-chapter-a-day-until-it’s-over” plan of survival.
The characters? Meh…The plot?…slow. The dog?…cool but she really doesn’t do much until the end. Just not a compelling book.
The characters? Meh…The plot?…slow. The dog?…cool but she really doesn’t do much until the end. Just not a compelling book.
January 26, 2023
Excellent work
Maddie, was a police officer who got hurt and lost her partner who was a dog. Her live in Ox was also a cop. She didn't do well after it happened and lost her way.. Between not being a cop anymore and losing her best friend and partner, she became addicted to painkillers. She lost Ox as well and was spiraling downhill. She opened a private eye business and things weren't great. A case came up with a teen she helped in the past and she helps his Mom find him. It gets dicey as he witnessed a murder of a cop or did he?
Maddie, was a police officer who got hurt and lost her partner who was a dog. Her live in Ox was also a cop. She didn't do well after it happened and lost her way.. Between not being a cop anymore and losing her best friend and partner, she became addicted to painkillers. She lost Ox as well and was spiraling downhill. She opened a private eye business and things weren't great. A case came up with a teen she helped in the past and she helps his Mom find him. It gets dicey as he witnessed a murder of a cop or did he?
October 2, 2023
This author has several series going, and I had tried one of the others about five years ago and didn't care for it. That applies to this other series I have just sampled in reading the first of this series featuring a female cop / dog handler. The dog handling aspect I did find interesting, but the personal life and policing did not appeal. I had forgotten I had tried one of his series previously so maybe I will remind myself here to give it up now.
Amazon "Prime Reading"
Amazon "Prime Reading"
April 16, 2024
So it wasn’t a bad book after all. Not a 5 star but almost a 4…
Maddie is a PI/ former cop trying to help a Mom get her kid out of a jam but winds up getting into a mixer case. She has to take on retraining a dead cops police dog during all this.
It was an entertains book, not too long that I got bored with it and the chapters are fairly short.
Maddie is a PI/ former cop trying to help a Mom get her kid out of a jam but winds up getting into a mixer case. She has to take on retraining a dead cops police dog during all this.
It was an entertains book, not too long that I got bored with it and the chapters are fairly short.
December 12, 2023
There’s a dog. The dog plays an important role in this private detective story, and Maddie Castle immediately gains my sympathy when I know she loved her dog. She loves her neighbor’s dog. And soon she might love the rather fierce, possibly dangerous police dog whose handler has just died.
All this feeds into a mystery as the hunt for the killer progresses. Meanwhile Maddie needs paid work, and a former client is looking for her missing son. Maddie may be struggling after losing her job due to injury, but it turns out she cares a lot about people as well as dogs, and soon the reader is eager to see her rescue herself as well as those she’s called to help.
The end is satisfying, following well-hidden clues, and feels just right. And Maddie’s a great protagonist with a great sense for what’s good rather than simple rights and wrongs.
Disclosure: I’d enjoy reading more about this character… and her dog.
All this feeds into a mystery as the hunt for the killer progresses. Meanwhile Maddie needs paid work, and a former client is looking for her missing son. Maddie may be struggling after losing her job due to injury, but it turns out she cares a lot about people as well as dogs, and soon the reader is eager to see her rescue herself as well as those she’s called to help.
The end is satisfying, following well-hidden clues, and feels just right. And Maddie’s a great protagonist with a great sense for what’s good rather than simple rights and wrongs.
Disclosure: I’d enjoy reading more about this character… and her dog.
October 14, 2024
A thoroughly enjoyable quick read.
This book follows a former K-9 officer going through difficult personal, professional, and physical challenges, and all while investigating another officer’s death. It was easy to become invested in the mystery of the case, along with Maddie’s struggles and to root for her to overcome so many things that would have taken most people down. This also an excellent book for dog lovers, as the K-9 component in this book plays an integral role throughout. I was left wanting to read the next in series to see where Maddie’s life takes her next.
This book follows a former K-9 officer going through difficult personal, professional, and physical challenges, and all while investigating another officer’s death. It was easy to become invested in the mystery of the case, along with Maddie’s struggles and to root for her to overcome so many things that would have taken most people down. This also an excellent book for dog lovers, as the K-9 component in this book plays an integral role throughout. I was left wanting to read the next in series to see where Maddie’s life takes her next.
December 1, 2023
Female wounded warrior and dogs-what's not to love?
The Handler is a series starter of L.T. Ryan, C.R Gray. The authors are new to me and were reccommended when i did a google search for books featuring K-9 mysteries. What sealed the deal for me was the main character,Maddie Castle. Maddie is a dog handler who is has suffered the ultimate loss, her K-9 partner is killed in the line of duty, and Maddie loses her police career due to injury sustained at the same time.
Maddie is the perfect flawed main character, who like most of us, struggles to conquer her demons, in the same slow and tedious way it happens in reality. Her character is well-developed and easy to relate to. Though I admit Maddie's transformation was almost too real at times. I couldn't put this book down as I was dying to know what was going to happen next, at the same time I was crying over the realism the authors wrote about. Given the depth of sensitivity and understanding of PTSD, addiction, survivors guilt and depression with which the author's wrote, I am sure I am not the only one who could relate to Maddie's torment.
The support characters were also well-written,and perfect for Maddie's journey. Yet, they were as always, trumped by the character of Tempest, the K-9 who lost a partner in the line of Duty. While there is a love interest developing in the background, it is the healing relationship between woman and dog that takes center stage. My love for service and working dogs and woman who struggle to find out who they are in a world turned upside down by tragedy,made this book, this series, a Must Read.
I can't forget to mention that The Handler is a thriller- suspense novel. The twists and turns throughout this plot made it impossible to put this book down. It was definitely,exciting in a hanging by a thread, edge of your seat suspense way. At times things looked hopeless for Maddie and Tempest. Then when the situation was hopeless and I was ready to give up and declare there would be mo HEA for Maddie, a hail Mary play was executed and the tension eased.The Handler was well worth the late nights and sleep deprivation I had while I read this book.
The Handler was such a great book, I immediatelystarted the second book and today ordered book three. This book and the subsequent series is well worth the time and money it takes to read it! Pick up your own copy and fall in love with Maddie Castle and her dog Tempest.
The Handler is a series starter of L.T. Ryan, C.R Gray. The authors are new to me and were reccommended when i did a google search for books featuring K-9 mysteries. What sealed the deal for me was the main character,Maddie Castle. Maddie is a dog handler who is has suffered the ultimate loss, her K-9 partner is killed in the line of duty, and Maddie loses her police career due to injury sustained at the same time.
Maddie is the perfect flawed main character, who like most of us, struggles to conquer her demons, in the same slow and tedious way it happens in reality. Her character is well-developed and easy to relate to. Though I admit Maddie's transformation was almost too real at times. I couldn't put this book down as I was dying to know what was going to happen next, at the same time I was crying over the realism the authors wrote about. Given the depth of sensitivity and understanding of PTSD, addiction, survivors guilt and depression with which the author's wrote, I am sure I am not the only one who could relate to Maddie's torment.
The support characters were also well-written,and perfect for Maddie's journey. Yet, they were as always, trumped by the character of Tempest, the K-9 who lost a partner in the line of Duty. While there is a love interest developing in the background, it is the healing relationship between woman and dog that takes center stage. My love for service and working dogs and woman who struggle to find out who they are in a world turned upside down by tragedy,made this book, this series, a Must Read.
I can't forget to mention that The Handler is a thriller- suspense novel. The twists and turns throughout this plot made it impossible to put this book down. It was definitely,exciting in a hanging by a thread, edge of your seat suspense way. At times things looked hopeless for Maddie and Tempest. Then when the situation was hopeless and I was ready to give up and declare there would be mo HEA for Maddie, a hail Mary play was executed and the tension eased.The Handler was well worth the late nights and sleep deprivation I had while I read this book.
The Handler was such a great book, I immediatelystarted the second book and today ordered book three. This book and the subsequent series is well worth the time and money it takes to read it! Pick up your own copy and fall in love with Maddie Castle and her dog Tempest.
January 28, 2023
I read the prequel (title: Maddie Castle), so I had a good idea of Maddie Castle's back story. As a K9-handler police officer, Maddie is injured working a serial murder case. The injury forces her off the police force and into the role of a private investigator. After multiple personal losses, Maddie has a tough time pulling herself out of an emotionally dark place. Pain killers and booze threaten to send her down the same sad path as her mother.
Maddie Castle's first real case as a PI puts her in the crosshairs of murderous drug dealers and some bad cops.
I found the characters real and believable. Even cops - and former cops - aren't perfect. The heroes of the story are the dogs. Overall, I loved the mystery and twist at the end. l'm looking forward to the sequel.
Maddie Castle's first real case as a PI puts her in the crosshairs of murderous drug dealers and some bad cops.
I found the characters real and believable. Even cops - and former cops - aren't perfect. The heroes of the story are the dogs. Overall, I loved the mystery and twist at the end. l'm looking forward to the sequel.
January 11, 2024
Great Read
I was recommended this author via Facebook. I was informed that this series was one that would be hard to put down. It's true. I almost read this in one sitting. I definitely recommend this author to anyone who loves a good book.
I was recommended this author via Facebook. I was informed that this series was one that would be hard to put down. It's true. I almost read this in one sitting. I definitely recommend this author to anyone who loves a good book.
April 24, 2024
Wonderful murder mystery with a police dog
The training and respect of the police dog added so much love and twists to the story. Reading dog signals is an art. You must listen, and each dog has an individual language.
The training and respect of the police dog added so much love and twists to the story. Reading dog signals is an art. You must listen, and each dog has an individual language.
March 7, 2025
I think this series is going to be great. This author is amazing and she never disappoints when she writes a book. This book was very heartfelt and exciting at the same time. Can’t get any better than that.
April 1, 2026
This was a quick, easy read. I enjoyed the story, but felt it moved kind of slow.
January 26, 2024
I was hesitant about this because of the mixed first person/third person and the kind of confusing timelines at the beginning. But once it got going, it WENT.
January 17, 2023
An intriguing police plot that keeps you guessing
Love this new character, Maddie Castle, who is strong and smart yet fallible as humans are.
Maddie is recovering from a gunshot wound seriously injuring her knee & causing her addiction to painkillers, grief from her police dog also getting shot & dying, and a breakup from her long- time detective boyfriend, Ox. Now a P.I., Maddie lives in a trailer while trying to get her business going.
She gets involved in a police case when a cop is killed and she’s asked to help protect the 14 yr old witness while also re- training the deceased cop’s service dog, Tempest. The case gets complicated when more people are killed, drug deals are questioned, then Ox is shot as he investigates.
Love this new character, Maddie Castle, who is strong and smart yet fallible as humans are.
Maddie is recovering from a gunshot wound seriously injuring her knee & causing her addiction to painkillers, grief from her police dog also getting shot & dying, and a breakup from her long- time detective boyfriend, Ox. Now a P.I., Maddie lives in a trailer while trying to get her business going.
She gets involved in a police case when a cop is killed and she’s asked to help protect the 14 yr old witness while also re- training the deceased cop’s service dog, Tempest. The case gets complicated when more people are killed, drug deals are questioned, then Ox is shot as he investigates.
November 17, 2023
Easy read, some good twists, compelling story. Enjoyed enough to buy book 2!
July 29, 2025
I read this book on the recommendation of a friend who was about to start book 7 of the series. I thought the premise sounded interesting, so I gave it a shot. It got a solid 3 stars, which means "I like it."
Pros:
- The dog! I am not a big dog person in real life, but Tempest won me over immediately. The parts of the book that focused on her training, etc. were very interesting.
- I'm sorry to say, but the "mafia drug don", Simeon Gunn, was probably one of my favorite characters. As with most books, the bad guys always seem to have the most dimensions to them, even when they're secondary characters.
- Maddie didn't annoy me as much as I had feared. Rarely is there a modern book published with a strong female character who isn't unrealistic, over-the-top, or just plain irritating. I liked her vulnerability and her relationship with the dogs.
Cons:
- It was so obvious who was the killer very quickly. Not only was the character foreshadowed to death, the cues from the dog would have clued me in, and I'm not even a trained dog handler.
- Ox...right off the bat...what a controlling jerk. I also didn't appreciate that it took us most of the book to find out why their relationship was so bad (although it was easy to guess). I hate being strung along with little clues when the payoff is so common.
- I don't like the feeling I'm getting from Maddie that she is of the "lone wolf" variety who will constantly annoy me with her need to make everything about her under the guise of protecting others. We'll see...
Overall, it was a decent first book and I am flowing naturally into Book 2 with high hopes that this series lets each book stand alone despite using the same characters.
Pros:
- The dog! I am not a big dog person in real life, but Tempest won me over immediately. The parts of the book that focused on her training, etc. were very interesting.
- I'm sorry to say, but the "mafia drug don", Simeon Gunn, was probably one of my favorite characters. As with most books, the bad guys always seem to have the most dimensions to them, even when they're secondary characters.
- Maddie didn't annoy me as much as I had feared. Rarely is there a modern book published with a strong female character who isn't unrealistic, over-the-top, or just plain irritating. I liked her vulnerability and her relationship with the dogs.
Cons:
- It was so obvious who was the killer very quickly. Not only was the character foreshadowed to death, the cues from the dog would have clued me in, and I'm not even a trained dog handler.
- Ox...right off the bat...what a controlling jerk. I also didn't appreciate that it took us most of the book to find out why their relationship was so bad (although it was easy to guess). I hate being strung along with little clues when the payoff is so common.
- I don't like the feeling I'm getting from Maddie that she is of the "lone wolf" variety who will constantly annoy me with her need to make everything about her under the guise of protecting others. We'll see...
Overall, it was a decent first book and I am flowing naturally into Book 2 with high hopes that this series lets each book stand alone despite using the same characters.
June 2, 2023
I'm not sure exactly how this book got into my library, but I'm glad I found it. I wasn't sure if I had read this author before and went back and realized that I actually had read all of the Jack Noble series. After reading this summary, I was definitely interested.
I enjoyed this book quite a lot. We just got a new Siberian Husky puppy a few months ago, so I was doubly excited to read a book with a K9 character(s) in it. This book did not disappoint on that front.
We are introduced to the character of Maddie Castle after the worst months of her life. The story seems to start kind of in "the middle" in terms of the timeline. After finishing this book, I realized that there was a "prequel" already out that gave us the backstory regarding what happened to Maddie. It wasn't a full length story, but it definitely had some heft to it. I think it was around 170 pages. I HIGHLEY recommend finding and reading the prequel. It helps to fully solidify the events happening in the first and second books.
Maddie is asked to help to save and train a K9 dog whose handler (and police officer) was shot and killed during an ambush attack. The dog was also injured and has reacted to everything by becoming aggressive - too aggressive to be able to go home safely with a family. Tempest is just what Maddie needs to help her focus change from her own situation to becoming a savior for a dog in need.
Of course, there is a killer out there that needs to be found.
Fun, fun, fun......
I enjoyed this book quite a lot. We just got a new Siberian Husky puppy a few months ago, so I was doubly excited to read a book with a K9 character(s) in it. This book did not disappoint on that front.
We are introduced to the character of Maddie Castle after the worst months of her life. The story seems to start kind of in "the middle" in terms of the timeline. After finishing this book, I realized that there was a "prequel" already out that gave us the backstory regarding what happened to Maddie. It wasn't a full length story, but it definitely had some heft to it. I think it was around 170 pages. I HIGHLEY recommend finding and reading the prequel. It helps to fully solidify the events happening in the first and second books.
Maddie is asked to help to save and train a K9 dog whose handler (and police officer) was shot and killed during an ambush attack. The dog was also injured and has reacted to everything by becoming aggressive - too aggressive to be able to go home safely with a family. Tempest is just what Maddie needs to help her focus change from her own situation to becoming a savior for a dog in need.
Of course, there is a killer out there that needs to be found.
Fun, fun, fun......
November 23, 2024
Wounded in the line of duty, former police K9 handler Maddie Castle lost more than her career when a bullet shredded through her leg, she lost her beloved four legged partner, her marriage and everything she valued in her life – including her health. Trying to piece everything back together by working as a PI she’s barely making ends meet and struggles daily to push past the pain – physical and emotional. When a K9 handler from her previous unit is gunned down, Castle lets herself get talked into retraining Tempest, to try and rehabilitate the devastated K9. Simultaneously she’s looking for a missing teenage boy, only to discover there’s a lot more to both cases than she had ever considered.
I’m an absolute sucker for military or police procedurals with four legged co-stars and I was thrilled to find this book was an exceptional addition to my regular roster. This is a new to me author, and the first in a new to me series so I was fairly cautious about giving it a go. I was about half way through when I put the book down and eagerly ordered the next in the series. I also did a quick search online to reassure myself this is still an ongoing series. I was really impressed with both the writing – which was a style I enjoyed – and with the plot and pacing.
As the first book in this series, there is a bit of background and character introduction which I enjoyed and helped me get a good feel and comfort with the world and main characters. By about a quarter of the way in the main plot threads were starting to interweave together in both a realistic and logical manner and even though there were some twists I felt it all worked together really cohesively and wasn’t over the top nor was it all a bunch of coincidences that felt pat or too contrived.
While it took a while for the action to really get rolling – I do feel this should appeal to readers who like a more police procedural style of novel as well as those who like a bit more action. There was plenty going on in this book and I enjoyed watching it all come together. I felt a particular strength in this book was none of the characters were clearly all good or all bad. Maddie is our heroine so clearly good, but she’s got both emotional scars and baggage to work through as well as some drug dependency. In a similar manner Simeon Gunn is clearly a “bad guy”, being the main drug source in their small area, and yet he is adamant none of his network sell to or recruit kids, and show proper respect to others in the community. So I really enjoyed how the characters were very clearly multi-layered and not two dimensional “good” or “bad”.
Readers who enjoy their mysteries with complicated characters, a good pace and plots that interweave together should find this book well worth a try, and particularly readers who enjoy animal side-kicks should be very satisfied with this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next in the series. Recommended.
I’m an absolute sucker for military or police procedurals with four legged co-stars and I was thrilled to find this book was an exceptional addition to my regular roster. This is a new to me author, and the first in a new to me series so I was fairly cautious about giving it a go. I was about half way through when I put the book down and eagerly ordered the next in the series. I also did a quick search online to reassure myself this is still an ongoing series. I was really impressed with both the writing – which was a style I enjoyed – and with the plot and pacing.
As the first book in this series, there is a bit of background and character introduction which I enjoyed and helped me get a good feel and comfort with the world and main characters. By about a quarter of the way in the main plot threads were starting to interweave together in both a realistic and logical manner and even though there were some twists I felt it all worked together really cohesively and wasn’t over the top nor was it all a bunch of coincidences that felt pat or too contrived.
While it took a while for the action to really get rolling – I do feel this should appeal to readers who like a more police procedural style of novel as well as those who like a bit more action. There was plenty going on in this book and I enjoyed watching it all come together. I felt a particular strength in this book was none of the characters were clearly all good or all bad. Maddie is our heroine so clearly good, but she’s got both emotional scars and baggage to work through as well as some drug dependency. In a similar manner Simeon Gunn is clearly a “bad guy”, being the main drug source in their small area, and yet he is adamant none of his network sell to or recruit kids, and show proper respect to others in the community. So I really enjoyed how the characters were very clearly multi-layered and not two dimensional “good” or “bad”.
Readers who enjoy their mysteries with complicated characters, a good pace and plots that interweave together should find this book well worth a try, and particularly readers who enjoy animal side-kicks should be very satisfied with this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next in the series. Recommended.
February 13, 2023
What a Combo!
A dirty cop, a drug dealer with morals, an addict ex-cop, and one damaged K-9. Wow. This thriller has all the ingredients for a great read and follows through.
Maddie is a fascinating character. She loved being a K-9 cop. It was her calling, her world. Until the night her life changed forever. Now she lives alone in a "tin can" and drives a ratty car, hoping she'll get another PI gig before her rent is due. She's allowed her disability to victimize her, and she loathes herself for it. The person that stares back at her in the mirror these days is not the woman she is. She just doesn't seem to have the right gear to pull herself out of this mire.
Maddie isn't the only character worthy of attention here. Her ex, Ox, is a pretty intense guy with communication issues. Then there's the childhood best friend that just moved in next door to Maddie. Bentley is pretty much the antithesis of Ox. In fact, the only thing they have in common is that they're both adult males, and they both love Maddie. Oh, that drug lord I mentioned-- the one with "morals." Yep. I know. He's a drug dealer leading a shady life, but he has his own moral code that he not only sticks to, he expects those who work for him to abide by it as well. That's different.
It's hard to say whether I was more captivated by the characters or the storyline. Both areas are well done and thought-provoking. The plot is well-paced and balanced with intensity and wit. The K-9, Tempest, displays as much personality and emotion as the other characters and is definitely a force within the cast. She's also aptly named.
This series is, without a doubt, a winner for any fans of crime thrillers, suspense reads, or street justice novels. There are dirty cops, great cops, thugs, and people with their own sense of right and wrong here. One thing is obvious: justice will be served. It just might not be done through the legal system.
A dirty cop, a drug dealer with morals, an addict ex-cop, and one damaged K-9. Wow. This thriller has all the ingredients for a great read and follows through.
Maddie is a fascinating character. She loved being a K-9 cop. It was her calling, her world. Until the night her life changed forever. Now she lives alone in a "tin can" and drives a ratty car, hoping she'll get another PI gig before her rent is due. She's allowed her disability to victimize her, and she loathes herself for it. The person that stares back at her in the mirror these days is not the woman she is. She just doesn't seem to have the right gear to pull herself out of this mire.
Maddie isn't the only character worthy of attention here. Her ex, Ox, is a pretty intense guy with communication issues. Then there's the childhood best friend that just moved in next door to Maddie. Bentley is pretty much the antithesis of Ox. In fact, the only thing they have in common is that they're both adult males, and they both love Maddie. Oh, that drug lord I mentioned-- the one with "morals." Yep. I know. He's a drug dealer leading a shady life, but he has his own moral code that he not only sticks to, he expects those who work for him to abide by it as well. That's different.
It's hard to say whether I was more captivated by the characters or the storyline. Both areas are well done and thought-provoking. The plot is well-paced and balanced with intensity and wit. The K-9, Tempest, displays as much personality and emotion as the other characters and is definitely a force within the cast. She's also aptly named.
This series is, without a doubt, a winner for any fans of crime thrillers, suspense reads, or street justice novels. There are dirty cops, great cops, thugs, and people with their own sense of right and wrong here. One thing is obvious: justice will be served. It just might not be done through the legal system.
June 1, 2023
FABULOUS DOG/INTERESTING HUMANS
Murder mysteries are not my favorite genre, but I'm a total sucker for any book that has a primary dog character. I have particularly liked several other series based on working dogs. What doesn't usually work out for me is the human characters are just too "speshul" and I can't relate. And, with each series I've previously tried, the plots with each book wind away from the great working dog at the same time they drag me into a boring human romance.
The Handler has made a great start. Both Maddie (ex cop PI) and Tempest (narcotics police dog) are talented, but not "speshul". In fact, both those girls are traumatized and physically and emotionally injured. Maddie felt really genuine to me; her emotional responses, her thinking, her reactions all made sense to me. And, the explanations of what was going in Tempest's mind and what she needed for recovery was so interesting. This isn't the kind of mystery that leaves you hanging. Most of the book, you are given the clues as the PI gets them and the conclusion is fairly obvious. But there is still one twist at the end and a moment when Tempest is key to the whole resolution and that was quite satisfying. There are some hints about future romance, but nothing in this book. I HOPE HOPE HOPE that Ryan and Gray will steer clear of the romantic elements or at least don't let that become what drives the story in future books. Romance as a plot driver puts the humans front and center and that destroys all the fun K-9 training and problem-solving. Authors, you've created a great dog character here, don't let her get lost in the future!
Katie Hagaman did a fine job with narration and is the narrator for Book 2 so I've picked up Tracking Justice and hope for the same quality story I found in The Handler.
Murder mysteries are not my favorite genre, but I'm a total sucker for any book that has a primary dog character. I have particularly liked several other series based on working dogs. What doesn't usually work out for me is the human characters are just too "speshul" and I can't relate. And, with each series I've previously tried, the plots with each book wind away from the great working dog at the same time they drag me into a boring human romance.
The Handler has made a great start. Both Maddie (ex cop PI) and Tempest (narcotics police dog) are talented, but not "speshul". In fact, both those girls are traumatized and physically and emotionally injured. Maddie felt really genuine to me; her emotional responses, her thinking, her reactions all made sense to me. And, the explanations of what was going in Tempest's mind and what she needed for recovery was so interesting. This isn't the kind of mystery that leaves you hanging. Most of the book, you are given the clues as the PI gets them and the conclusion is fairly obvious. But there is still one twist at the end and a moment when Tempest is key to the whole resolution and that was quite satisfying. There are some hints about future romance, but nothing in this book. I HOPE HOPE HOPE that Ryan and Gray will steer clear of the romantic elements or at least don't let that become what drives the story in future books. Romance as a plot driver puts the humans front and center and that destroys all the fun K-9 training and problem-solving. Authors, you've created a great dog character here, don't let her get lost in the future!
Katie Hagaman did a fine job with narration and is the narrator for Book 2 so I've picked up Tracking Justice and hope for the same quality story I found in The Handler.
May 11, 2026
4.5
The Handler by L.T. Ryan and C.R. Gray blends a compelling police procedural with an emotional core that took surprise.
At the center is Maddie Castle, a former K-9 handler still navigating the physical and emotional fallout of a line-of-duty shooting that ended her career, leaving her with a disability, and took her partner. Now working as a PI, Maddie is pulled back into the world she loved when she’s asked to help rehabilitate a traumatized police dog while looking into a cop’s murder.
That dog is Tempest, and honestly, she’s the heart of this story for me.
Tempest isn’t a prop or a cute sidekick. She’s grieving, fearful, and deeply scarred after losing her handler, and watching Maddie slowly, patiently earn her trust was incredibly moving. Their bond builds in small, believable steps, and as a dog lover, those moments made my heart soar.
The mystery itself is engaging and well-paced, with a nice balance between suspense and character work. Some parts unfold more slowly, but it gives the emotional beats room to land and makes the payoff feel earned.
If you love crime fiction with complex protagonists, emotional healing arcs, and a truly meaningful human–dog partnership, this is a series starter worth picking up. I came for the mystery but I stayed for Maddie and Tempest.
A true standout debut in the Maddie Castle series that has me itching to pick up the next book!
The Handler by L.T. Ryan and C.R. Gray blends a compelling police procedural with an emotional core that took surprise.
At the center is Maddie Castle, a former K-9 handler still navigating the physical and emotional fallout of a line-of-duty shooting that ended her career, leaving her with a disability, and took her partner. Now working as a PI, Maddie is pulled back into the world she loved when she’s asked to help rehabilitate a traumatized police dog while looking into a cop’s murder.
That dog is Tempest, and honestly, she’s the heart of this story for me.
Tempest isn’t a prop or a cute sidekick. She’s grieving, fearful, and deeply scarred after losing her handler, and watching Maddie slowly, patiently earn her trust was incredibly moving. Their bond builds in small, believable steps, and as a dog lover, those moments made my heart soar.
The mystery itself is engaging and well-paced, with a nice balance between suspense and character work. Some parts unfold more slowly, but it gives the emotional beats room to land and makes the payoff feel earned.
If you love crime fiction with complex protagonists, emotional healing arcs, and a truly meaningful human–dog partnership, this is a series starter worth picking up. I came for the mystery but I stayed for Maddie and Tempest.
A true standout debut in the Maddie Castle series that has me itching to pick up the next book!
July 21, 2023
This is a solid police/crime book with the added attraction of having a German Shepherd Dog, Tempest, as a protagonist. Maddie Castle was a cop, and a dog handler, who was seriously injured on duty, resulting also in the loss of her canine partner. The latter experience caused serious psychological damage, almost more severe than the knee injury that brought her to drug dependency and the loss of her job. Now a PI, Maddie is asked to try to rehabilitate a canine partner of another cop killed in the line of duty. The dog, Tempest, has become dangerous and unpredictable, in part due to the trauma of losing her human and also due to the laxity of discipline of her former partner, leaving her obedience less than predictable. Maddie takes on Tempest, as well as a promise to the widow to find out who really killed her husband. Set in a small town environment where everyone knows everyone, Maddie has to navigate her changed life with her former fiance still on the police force and still in love with her, the return of her childhood best friend to town, and her growing dependency on opiates to deal with her emotional and physical pain. A believable plot, well drawn characters and solid writing makes this a really engaging read.
February 26, 2024
The Handler is the first in the Maddie Castle series. Maddie had been a police officer until an incident left her wounded and her K9 partner dead. Now she’s a PI and a dog trainer, still dealing with physical ailments that have her addicted to painkillers. After the murder of a police officer, she’s asked to help rehabilitate his now aggressive K9. At the same time, she’s helping a young man, a former client, after he witnesses something involved in that killing.
Maddie is a complex, fully fleshed out character. We learn her backstory, especially her prior marriage, in bits and pieces about what led up to her present day situation intermingled with the current investigation.
The sections involving dog training were excellent. Dog owners could actually pick up a few pointers. And, of course, a highlight of the book is watching the growing bond between Maddie and Tempest.
The police procedural was solid, with several red herrings. I will definitely seek out the second in the series. I appreciated that Ryan and Gray didn’t feel the need to have a romantic component.
I listened to this and was impressed by Katie Hagaman’s narration.
Maddie is a complex, fully fleshed out character. We learn her backstory, especially her prior marriage, in bits and pieces about what led up to her present day situation intermingled with the current investigation.
The sections involving dog training were excellent. Dog owners could actually pick up a few pointers. And, of course, a highlight of the book is watching the growing bond between Maddie and Tempest.
The police procedural was solid, with several red herrings. I will definitely seek out the second in the series. I appreciated that Ryan and Gray didn’t feel the need to have a romantic component.
I listened to this and was impressed by Katie Hagaman’s narration.
September 8, 2023
it was that morality was never black and white. People who never had to deal with the trials and tribulations of the worst of civilization could think in that linear fashion, and no harm followed. In a situation like this?
I loved this anti-hero protagonist.
The main character, Maddie, resigned from the police force due to physical and mental trauma. She starts a private detective business in the town where she was born and raised.
Some of her childhood friends are shady characters. She helps people in a world that is not so black and white. This setting makes her actions less predictable and the story more intriguing.
Her only reliable partner is Tempest, a police dog who has her own personality and story. Maddie is a skilled trainer, and the book also focuses on how she gains the dog's trust. If you appreciate dog training elements, you'll like it.
I love the characters and the attention to detail on the dogs. The story is unpredictable and emotionally satisfying. I'm heading straight to the second one.
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