#Review - The Second Grave by Jeffrey B. Burton #Thriller #Suspense

Series:  A Chicago K-9 Thriller (#2)
Format: Hardcover, 224 pages
Release Date: February 4, 2025
Publisher: Severn House
Source: Publisher
Genre: Thrillers / Suspense

The discovery of two graves digs up past crimes and a dangerous killer trying to erase their tracks in this fast-paced K-9 thriller series set in Chicago.

Another day another find for dog trainer Cory Pratt's cadaver dogs Alice and Rex. This time a mass grave with three bodies and a second single grave over three decades old. A cold case that Cory's sibling and Chicago Police Detective Crystal have to solve fast as the killer of the four men is still out there.

While the identities of the men are determined one by one, the bodies are linked to an infamous crime that remains unsolved to this day. And with the killer trying to cover their tracks, other dangerous and lethal individuals start getting involved . . .

Figuring out what happened all those years ago while trying to minimize the current body count, Cory, Crystal, and the dogs are hot on the killer's heels. But their involvement puts them on their list and in more danger than they bargained for.

The Second Grave is the Second installment in author Jeffrey B. Burton's A Chicago K-9 Thriller series. 24-year-old Cory Pratt runs a canine training academy where he trains dogs. Cory and his cadaver dogs, Alice and Rex, are called out to search for a missing man in a local state park. While at the scene, Alice and Rex are alerted to what appears to be grave sites in the forest. When skeletal remains are unearthed, information quickly points to an unsolved crime. As the remains are identified, Cory’s sister, Detective Chicago PD Crystal Pratt, a Violent Crimes investigator, works with other detectives to find their killer.

The bodies are linked to an infamous crime that remains unsolved to this day. 30 years ago, the Crown National Bank robbery happened. One of the bank's guards was killed, and the robbers got away with millions. While the killer is trying to cover their tracks, other dangerous and lethal individuals start getting involved. Figuring out what happened all those years ago while trying to minimize the current body count, Crystal finds herself working with a former parole officer, Chuck Sims, who knew one of the victims. 

Crystal and Sims are instrumental in uncovering the identity of one of the victims. A second victim is quickly identified, and soon, someone is doing everything, including murder, to ensure the investigation does not lead to them. As Crystal gets closer to the answers she needs, Cory gets closer to becoming another victim. Cory is burned out from his dog training business and is currently attending college. He is uncertain whether he is on the right educational path. 

While not involved in the case, Cory is interested in the unfolding mystery surrounding his dogs’ discovery in the forest. Cory hasn't exactly had an easy life. He lost his parents when he was in High School. He barely graduated, and thanks to Crystal, he created Cor Canine Training Academy, which has worked with local cops and the FBI. The series is very similar to the Mace Reid series. Cory reminds me of Mace Reid. 

Cory has cadaver dogs are integral to the investigations and storylines. The story flips back and forth between the present day and 1994, with most of the story revolving around the investigation of identifying the four bodies that Cory’s dogs found in two different gravesites. The author also uses some dangerous individuals to tell her story, as well as giving readers just a little hint as to what really happened 30 years ago and who was responsible.

This is a fairly short novel so you should be able to read it in one sitting unless life gets in the way. 

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#Review - The Dead Years by Jeffrey B. Burton #Thriller #Suspense

Series: A Chicago K-9 Thriller
Format: Hardcover, 244 pages
Release Date: March 5, 2024
Publisher: Severn House
Source: Publisher
Genre: Thriller / Suspense

A serial killer, dormant for years, reawakens after viewing a Netflix docuseries depicting his string of homicides. The killer is not happy with his portrayal and no one in the cast and crew is safe! The first installment of a gripping new thriller series set in Chicago and featuring a young sibling sleuth-duo and their working dogs.

Siblings Cory and Crystal Pratt are still trying to get their lives together after a tragic accident which killed their parents years ago. The only thing that distracts them now is their jobs. With Crystal working as a newly minted detective at the Chicago Police Department and Cory owning a dog training academy with two human remains detection dogs of his own, their professional paths cross every now and then.

Crime, and especially murder, in Chicago is nothing new, but when a string of killings happen that seem to be connected to a Netflix docuseries and its cast and crew, Cory and Crystal are called in to stop the number of bodies from piling any higher.

But when the siblings start poking around the killer's business, the killer sets their sights on the pair . . . and particularly on Cory and his dogs! Will they be able to escape the fury of the serial killer or become the newest victims?

This fast-paced thriller, with insight into a serial killer's mind, is a perfect up-all-night binge-read, and a great choice if you love spirited detectives, great action - and very good dogs!

Jeffrey B. Burton's The Dead Years is the first installment in the author's A Chicago K-9 Thriller series featuring a sibling sleuth-duo and their working dogs. A serial killer, dormant for years, reawakens after viewing a Netflix docuseries depicting his string of homicides. The Dead Night Killer is not happy with his portrayal and no one in the cast and crew is safe! Key Characters: Cory Pratt (23), Sole proprietor of Cor Canine Training Academy, Crystal Pratt, Detective Chicago PD Violent Crimes investigator, Alice (bloodhound), and Rex (springer spaniel).

7 years ago, The Dead Night Killer suddenly stopped killing. Nobody knows why. Except for the killer. But now the bodies are starting to pile up again. Then again, that's nothing new for Chicago. Anyone associated with the Netflix docuseries is finding themselves tracked down by the serial killer. Cory and his sister Crystal are slowly getting on with their lives after losing their parents in a freak storm. Cory still has issues and blames himself, but thankfully he has Alice and Rex to keep him from losing himself. 

The only thing that distracts them now is their jobs. Crystal has recently been minted as a detective and Cory is the one-man band who operates his own canine training academy, and now as a consultant to the Chicago P.D. But when the siblings start poking around the killer's business, the killer sets their sights on the pair and particularly on Cory and his dogs! Will they be able to escape the fury of the serial killer or become the newest victims?

The author tends to alternate each chapter from a different character including the serial killer and yet another who I won't spoil. The killer's part of the story is creepy. Seriously. But necessary to understand why after 7 years, the DNK killer chooses to pick up his killing. Burton is the writer of another K-9 series called Mace Reid K-9 Mystery. As with the previous series, Burton's dogs tend to steal the show, and thankfully Cory has both of them to keep him sane, and safe after he becomes a target of the killer. 

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#Review - The Lost (Mace Reid K-9 Mystery #3) by Jeffrey B. Burton #Mystery

Series: Mace Reid K-9 Mystery (#3)
Format: Hardcover, 288 apges
Release Date: June 28, 2022
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Source: Publisher
Genre: Mystery

A home invasion turned kidnapping at the mansion of billionaire financier Kenneth J. Druckman brings Mason “Mace” Reid and his cadaver dog, Vira, to this wealthy northern suburb of Chicago. Druckman was assaulted, left behind while his wife and young daughter were taken for ransom.

Brought to the scene by the FBI, Reid specializes in human remains detection, and Vira is the star of his pack of cadaver dogs he’s dubbed The Finders. After Vira finds the dead body of the mother, former supermodel Calley Kurtz, everyone is on high alert to find Druckman’s missing daughter before the five-year-old disappears forever. But the trail Vira finds on the property’s dense woodlands leads right back to Druckman himself.

With the help of Detective Kippy Gimm, Reid and Vira must race against the clock. Nothing is as it appears to be . . . and the red herrings could be lethal. 

The Lost is the third installment in author Jeffrey B. Burton's Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series. Key Characters: Mace Reid, specializes in human remains detection. He trains dogs called the Finders to hunt for the dead. Chicago Police Detective Kippy Gimm who has been involved in recent escapades with Mace and has risen in the ranks of the Chicago Violent Crimes Unit. Special Agent Len Squire has become a friend of Mace's thanks to his Finders and what they've done over the course of this series. Vera, Golden Retriever who seems to have preternatural ability of linking a missing or dead person to the killer.

Mace, Kippy Gimm, and Vira are called out to the estate of billionaire financier Kenneth J. Druckman by Special Agent in Charge Len Squires where a home invasion and robbery has turned into a kidnapping. Druckman claims that several men broke into his home, stole all his valuables, and kidnapped his former supermodel wife Calley Kurtz and their 5 year old daughter Eleanor aka Scarf Druckman. After Vira locates Calley, Mace once again senses that Vera knows what really happened, and Kenneth may not be as innocent as you want to believe.

This time the complex plot involves scheming billionaires, deceit, kidnapping, murder, stolen jewels, and more. There are chapters from other characters as well to fill in the blanks as to what has happened before Mace, Vera and Kippy got involved. One of the things the book does do, is go back in time a few weeks, before bringing all key characters together for a twisted ending. We also get an interesting dynamic in that Vira has found Kippy to be trust worthy, and she also latches on to Scarf (aka Eleanor) when the little girl is found. 

The relationship between Mace and Kippy continue to develop. They are more than comfortable with each other which is a change after Mace's divorce left him discombobulated and looking for something new to liven up his life. Although this is one of those series where reading the others are not required, I highly encourage it so that you can get a better understanding about Mace and his other Finders which includes Delta Dawn, Maggie May, Billie Joe, and Sue.  

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#Review - The Keepers by Jeffrey B. Burton #Mystery #Thriller

Series: Mace Reid K-9 Mystery (#2)
Format: Hardcover, 288 pages
Release Date: June 29, 2021
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Source: Publisher
Genre: Mystery / Thriller

Mason “Mace” Reid lives on the outskirts of Chicago and specializes in human remains detection—that is, he trains dogs to hunt for dead bodies. He calls his pack of cadaver dogs The Finders, and his prize pupil is a golden retriever named Vira.

When Mace Reid and Vira are called in to search Washington Park at three o'clock in the morning, what they find has them running for their very lives. The trail of murder and mayhem Mace and CPD Officer Kippy Gimm have been following leads them to uncover treachery and corruption at the highest level, and their discoveries do not bode well for them . . . nor for the Windy City itself.  

The Keepers is the second installment in author Jeffrey B. Burton's Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series. Mason (Mace) Reid lives outside of Chicago and trains dogs with various end goals such as obedience and missing persons tracking, as well as searching for drugs and explosives. However, his specialty is training dogs in human remains detection (HRD or cadaver dogs). His dogs include Sue, Delta Dawn, Billie Joe, Maggie, May and Elvira aka Vira. 

If you've caught onto the fact that Mace loves to name his dogs after famous songs, you'd be correct. Mace's most accomplished cadaver dog is a golden retriever named Vira, who "takes the art of human remains detection to the next level the Sherlock Holmes level." Vira is truly special. She can smell the murderer’s scent on a dead body. Of course, only a few special people know this and Mace isn’t about to tell others.  

He is often called in to help the Chicago Police Department and local sheriff’s departments. His relationship with Officer Kippy Grim is that of friends who don't want to rush into any long term arrangement. Especially after Mace's ex literally walked out on him and is now marrying someone else. As the story opens, Mace and his golden retriever Vira are called to the apartment of an aging rock star named Jonny Whiting, whose head has been bashed in with a guitar. 

Vira does her Sherlock Holmes thing, and Mace and Vira help Officer Kippy Gimm and her partner Officer Dave Wabiszewki (Wabs) solve the case. After nabbing the Whiting murderer, Mace, Vira, Kippy, and Wabs get involved in another case. This one focuses on the murder of Special Prosecutor Peter Feist, who's been trying to root out corruption in Chicago. The Feist inquiry has tendrils that extend to Chicago mobsters and nefarious government officials, which makes things VERY dangerous for the investigative team.

The bad guys are exceptionally capable foes, and there's plenty of intrigue and action in the book. Although most of the novel was told from Mace’s perspective, there are a few sections that would be narrated by one or more of villains. The dark revelations of Chicago’s crime-powered leaders was interesting and likely, all too realistic. It shouldn't shock or surprise anyone by the corruption and the dark underworld of Chicago. All you have to do is go back to the times of Al Capone to see that nothing is changed, especially when prosecutors no longer do their jobs and arrest those who break the law. 

The characters are mostly carryovers from Burton’s first installment, The Finders. So in order to get the full flavor of the main actors, it is best that the reader start with the first novel in the series.

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#Review - The Finders by Jeffrey B. Burton #Mystey

Series: Mace Reid K-9 Mystery (#1)
Format: Hardcover, 288 pages
Release Date: June 30, 2020
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Source: Publisher
Genre: Mystery & Detective

The beginning of a fast-paced new series featuring a heroic golden retriever cadaver dog named Vira and her handler, Mason Reid.

Mason "Mace" Reid lives on the outskirts of Chicago and specializes in human remains detection. He trains dogs to hunt for the dead. Reid’s coming off a difficult year—mourning the death of a beloved springer spaniel as well as the dissolution of his marriage. He adopts a rescue dog with a mysterious past—a golden retriever named Vira. And when Reid begins training Vira as a cadaver dog, he comes to realize just how special the newest addition to his family truly is…

Suddenly, Reid and his prize pupil find themselves hurled into a taxing murder case, which will push them to their very limits. Paired with determined Chicago Police Officer Kippy Gimm, Mace must put all his trust in Vira's abilities to thwart a serial killer who has now set his sights on Mace himself.

 

The Finders is the first installment in author Jeffrey B. Burton's Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series. Mason "Mace" Reid lives on the outskirts of Chicago. He specializes in human remains detection. He trains dogs to hunt for the dead. Reid’s coming off a difficult year—mourning the death of a beloved springer spaniel named Amie, as well as the dissolution of his marriage, Mace finds new hope in a new resident of a local animal shelter. Rescued from a certain death by the resolute police officer Kippy Grimm, Mace immediately becomes hooked with the puppy with the sad history that he will soon be calling Elvira aka Vira.

FYI, Mace tends to name all his dogs after different songs. Example, he has a male German Shepard named Sue after a Johnny Cash song. Elvira is named after another country song. He has two other female dogs named Maggie May, and Delta Dawn. Vira is something special. She takes to cadaver training quicker than any dog that Mace has trained to this point. Vira also has a unique intelligence that she can clue Mace into a person who seems to be hiding secrets. After Mace and Vira are hugely successfully in finding the body of one of the Velvet Choker Killer’s victims, it immediately paints a target on his back, as well as Vira’s.

Everyman, what the author calls the villain, has every reason to go after Mace and Vira after they caught one of his accolades. Suddenly, Reid and his prize pupil find themselves hurled into a taxing murder case, which will push them to their very limits. Paired with Officer Kippy Gimm, Mace must put all his trust in Vira's abilities to thwart a serial killer who has now set his sights on Mace himself. Mace finds himself under constant attack by the villain and spends a whole lot of time trying to heal from various attacks.

I am not a dog person, but I love search and rescue dogs as well as those trained in HRD (Human Remains Detection.) I adore Vira. Vira has the intelligence of a higher being, and no, I am not kidding. I am hopeful that Kippy will become a series regular. I like the partnership between Kippy, and Mace, and well, yes, Vira as well. The Finders is a quick read at only 288 pages. I easily read this book in less than a day. They mystery is well done and held my attention right to the ending.

 

Chapter 1

Christine Dack was hung over.

It had been a crazy Chicago wedding weekend all right. How could it not be with her old sorority mates? Sure, even though she and Sierra had been besties from back in their AOII days at dear old Ski- U- Mah, Christine hadn’t been selected as one of Sierra’s bridesmaids. And everyone knew the reason why. After all, Christine had dated Brad for nearly half of college— their sophomore and junior years— and she knew Sierra re-mained a bit touchy on the subject. Evidently, when it came to marriage, it’s not necessarily sisters before misters or what-ever the female equivalent of bros before hoes was these days.

But it didn’t matter. Being left out of the bridesmaid parade gave Christine more time to visit with old friends, get caught up on their lives, and, especially, to drink champagne . . . and, more especially, to dance the night away.

Christine now found herself on her early- Sunday- morning trek back to Minneapolis, cruising at seventy miles per hour down I- 90 in her white pearl Miata— she had a training sem-inar to present with her boss and her boss’s boss first thing Monday— when the nausea washed over her. Christine jerked the Miata into the right lane, thanking God there was no traf-fic, no one to piss off. She’d just missed the exit ramp for Egg River and figured she needed to get to the shoulder— publically puking on I- 90, not the greatest of ways to start the day—but then spotted the blue sign signaling wayside rest and goosed the Miata. She was able to glide the ragtop into the first park-ing spot in front of the facility.

In retrospect, Christine should have caught more z’s last night, but she wanted to get home with a chunk of her Sunday afternoon to spare. Christine had prep work for Monday’s dog and pony show— a final review of the slide deck— plus laun-dry to do. Then she wanted to spend the remainder of the day vegged out in front of the TV, eating ice cream, and resting up from the crazy- festive Windy City weekend.

Christine never slept well when she’d been drinking . . . and Christine had certainly been drinking.

Toward the end of the evening, the champagne had gone down like water.

Thank God it was early and no other cars were at the rest stop. Christine didn’t need the added humiliation of fellow drivers bearing witness if she couldn’t make the restroom in time.

Champagne going down looks far more attractive than when it comes up.

Christine made herself throw up in the women’s room. Ac-tually, she only had to picture herself putting a finger down her throat when her mostly liquid wedding feast came gushing up like an uncapped oil well. Afterward, when Christine was done washing her hands and face and neck, she forced herself to take a long drink from the fountain to hydrate and get her body fluids back in whack.


She hoped the H2O would stay down.

Oh God, Christine thought, am I still drunk?

Could I get a DUI even after six hours of choppy sleep?Christine bought a 7UP out of the vending machine, twisted the cap off, and sipped as much as she could handle, which was maybe a quarter of a cup. Perhaps she could burp her way back to sobriety. She went outside and noticed a black van that had pulled in next to her Miata was now backing up to depart. Christine figured she must have been indisposed for quite awhile if the black van guy had arrived after her, done his business, and was now exiting the facility.

The driver caught sight of Christine standing in front of the entrance and waved a hand.

Sometimes she got that from guys, but today Christine felt anything but attractive.

Then she spotted a tow truck parked at the far end of the lot. A lone figure sat behind the wheel. Christine couldn’t make out the driver’s features at this distance, but could tell he was staring at his smartphone, probably trying to pinpoint exactly where some stranded motorist was calling in from.

She took another hit off the 7UP and watched as an old- time station wagon pulled into the spot just vacated by black van guy. Four doors opened and a family popped out— a young couple and two kids that screamed early grade school.

Christine stepped off to the side of the walkway— out of smelling distance, although she hoped the 7UP had altered the aroma and fragrance of her breath. She also hoped the air had cleared in the women’s restroom.

She’d been fortunate that there’d been no other vehicles, especially cars full of females, when she’d pulled into the Egg River rest stop. And that none had arrived right on her heels. Christine knew that for a fact as when she’d knelt in her stall before the toilet— between long bouts of disposing of what ap-peared to be everything she’d ever drunk in her life— she’d peeked under the stall.

No other feet.

Thank God.

Christine, a minor hiking enthusiast, noticed a sign boast-ing of a half- mile nature walk that encircled the facility. Per-fect. She could sip the rest of the twenty- ounce 7UP, breathe in some fresh air—i f the air off I- 90 could be considered fresh— and belch like a prize sow. No one would hear her and, if her unsettled stomach went into round two, she could always add her biodegradable two- cents to the foliage and shrubbery of this particular area of Illinois. This strolling detour might also help Christine sober up, keep her from being pulled over, and keep her from having to call in from some northern Illinois detox center, absenting herself from her Monday- morning pre-sentation.

Christine bypassed the sidewalk, cut across the lawn to where the trail began, when the memory of what happened at the end of last night struck her with the impact of a freight train.

Oh Christ. Oh Christ. Oh Christ.

Christine cringed. Her heart caught in her throat. She almost threw up again, more from her recollection than from nausea. Christine remembered sneaking out of the Ritz- Carlton banquet room in order to use the ladies’ restroom down one of the hotel’s hallways. On her way out, she’d caught Brad's eye.

They both smiled as though in on a shared secret.

And when she came out of the ladies’ room, there stood Brad, waiting for her.

“I’ve missed you,” he said.

Without saying a word Christine walked over, placed finger-tips on his cheek, leaned up, and kissed him on the lips. Their tongues touched. She felt his breath in her mouth.

After several seconds of quiet intimacy Christine had left Brad standing there, stuttering in her wake, and headed back down the Ritz- Carlton hallway— at the end of which stood her old sorority bestie . . . Sierra . . . dressed in white, hands on hips, tears in her eyes.

She had walked past her old friend without so much as blinking or any other hint of recognition, as though Sierra wasn’t even there, and strode quickly toward the elevator atrium, and on up to her room.

Christine felt sick in more ways than one as she began her nature hike. So horrified at the remembrance she didn’t look back, and she didn’t notice the driver step out from the tow truck and follow in a direct line behind her.

Had she, Christine may have noticed a few simple details. The man was Caucasian. Middle- aged. Five-f oot- nine or -ten. Maybe a hundred and sixty or seventy pounds. Brown hair, receding hairline. A minor paunch if any.

Generic- looking.

Forgettable.

Average in every aspect of the word, Christine may have observed.

Hell, Christine may have said, as far as I know, he could be everyman.

Christine Dack never made her training presentation Monday morning in Minneapolis.

Two weeks later her Mazda Miata showed up in Milwaukee.

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