Burning Ridge, book 4 of the Timber Creek K-9 mystery series, tells the story of Mattie and Robo–canine detective and canine partner–as they trace the events leading up to a burned corpse in the mountains. As usual, love interest Cole (Mattie’s, not Robo’s) plays an important part in the novel. In book 4, Mattie struggles with her past as a foster child and survivor of abuse and looks forward to reconnecting with her brother. Cole is there to offer support to her and, later, to Robo.

Once Burning Ridge hits the midpoint, action abounds. As a result, I read late into the night to finish the book, my heart pounding all the while. The author is able to weave lush wilderness details into a suspenseful mystery. The reader feels herself transported up the rugged mountain, swaying on the back of the roan gelding Mountaineer with Mattie,Timber Creek detective and canine handler (who is more than a little afraid of horses), in pursuit of the miscreant who has torched a body.

Much of the opening, however, felt a bit filter-y with large swathes of back story and the narrator informing the reader of characters’ feelings rather than having the characters feel them. For instance, when a friend asks Mattie if she has been in touch with her brother–clearly an emotionally charged moment–the distant narrator inserts itself with “Although Mattie didn’t like to share information about her family, Stella had become a trusted friend, and Mattie felt safe with her.” That’s a moment when I wanted to be close, right there inside Mattie’s head. Instead, it felt as if one of those old-time voice-over narrators had walked onto the scene.

As in the other Timber Creek K-9 books I’ve read, Robo is the star. Whenever he’s on stage, you just want to press your nose into his ruff and never let go. He is sweet and tough, depending on which side of the law, or rather, which side of Mattie you stand on. Their bond is almost uncanny in its devotion and ferocity. Another character who achieves a stellar performance is Cole, Mattie’s love interest. Speaking of love interest, readers who wish to avoid steamy sex scenes would do well with this book. There are many longing glances, a few hugs, and fewer kisses–and I think all of those are on the cheek. Cole is patience personified. He gives Mattie space to work on her personal issues of abandonment and estrangement. He understands the hectic and sometimes dangerous aspects of her job, and while he worries about her, he provides support. His relationship with Robo deepens in this book, and that was heart-warming.

The two weaknesses of the book are the sometimes distancing “telling” narration and the backstory “info dump.” Both of these occur mainly in the beginning of the novel. Once the scenes begin rolling, the reader is in good hands. The novel’s strengths include the engaging characterization of Robo and Cole, the crisp action scenes, and the beautiful, layered imagery of the surrounding mountains and burn.

I recommend this book for readers of Robert Crais’s Scott and Maggie series, and Barbara Nickless’s Sydney and Clyde canine police thrillers. Margaret Mizushima’s Timber Creek series is lighter and somewhat less graphic, however.

I received a copy of Burning Ridge from the author via Netgalley.