An FBI K-9 Novel #9
Rosepoint Publishing: Five Stars 
Book Blurb:
FBI handler Meg Jennings and her K-9 partner, Hawk, vie to rescue plane crash survivors from a Colorado mountain—and contend with a hijacker determined to escape justice.
As long as there’s hope of finding life, no mission is too dangerous for Meg Jennings and her colleagues in the FBI K-9 unit. But locating the wreckage of a hijacked private plane high in the Elk Mountains of Colorado is treacherous in a multitude of ways—some of them impossible for even a seasoned team to predict.
The plane, carrying the board of directors of Barron Pharmaceuticals, crashed on a rocky peak and was cleaved in two. Perilous weather means the rescuers have to ascend on foot, with their dogs unleashed in case of falls. It takes hours to locate the wreckage, but miraculously, Meg and Hawk find a number of passengers and crew still alive. The hijacker also survived, and has fled into the wilderness with the CEO’s son in pursuit.
As soon as day breaks, the K-9 teams set out to find both men, and the dogs quickly pick up a scent trail. Meg has used her connections with an investigative reporter to learn as much as she can about the hijacker, hoping to use it when they apprehend him. But first, they must contend with the mountain’s savage fury and an adversary who will destroy as many lives as possible rather than face justice . . .
My Review:
I really don’t remember if I discovered this series with book one or came in somewhere and decided I needed to read the rest, but I have read all in the series and never get tired of the relationship between Meg and Hawk and the other handlers and their K-9s as well.
Each could be read as a standalone and each is unique in location and mission, sometimes including support characters within the K9 community or that of her fiancé Todd Wells. He is a firefighter/emt and is experienced in rescue.
In this episode, she is joined by fellow K9 handler Brian with his dog Lacey. They are sent to the Colorado mountains to search and hopefully recover survivors of a downed corporate aircraft carrying members of Barron Pharmaceuticals. It had been hijacked and it is unknown whether or not any survived, including the hijacker.
The first problem of course is the altitude, being known as the thirteen or fourteeners, those mountains exceeding 14,000 feet. (Hubby and I climbed Mt Fuji while in Japan and at almost 12,390 feet, as tall as I’d want to go. I can tell you, it’s cold up there. We hiked it by moonlight, all night, reaching the summit at daybreak.)
“A wise man climbs Mt Fuji once, only a fool climbs it twice.” (Japanese proverb)
Besides the inclusion of those beautiful service animals, the author always includes lots of info about the locations and specific missions. This one includes mountain climbing, of course, as well as weapons, high altitude illness, and preparedness.
The episode hooks you immediately with the hijacking of the plane and continues with a fast-pace through their climb, search, perilous conditions, definitions of the skill and associated equipment. Also, strategies and care of the animals in extreme conditions.
First, it’s a nail-biter finding the crash site which then extends into the search for the hijacker and the son of the CEO who’s followed the hijacker into treacherous upper wilderness. The suspense ramps up in intensity as the team begins feeling the pace, altitude, cold, and desperate conditions.
Hard put to name my favorite book of the series, not sure I could, but this one would definitely be in an upper position and heartily recommended.
I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author and publisher through @NetGalley that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts.
Book Details:
Genre: Cozy Animal Mystery, Cozy Animal Mysteries, Police Procedurals
Publisher: Kensington Books
ASIN: B0CWB7VWSS
Print Length: 302 pages
Publication Date: November 26, 2024
Source: Publisher and NetGalley
Title Link(s):
Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
The Author: Sara Driscoll is the pen name of Jen J. Danna, coauthor of the Abbott and Lowell Forensic Mysteries and author of the FBI K-9s and the NYPD Negotiators. After over thirty years in infectious diseases research, Jen hung up her lab coat to concentrate on her real love—writing “exceptional” thrillers (Publishers Weekly). She is a member of the Crime Writers of Canada and lives with her husband and four rescued cats outside of Toronto, Ontario. You can follow the latest news on her books, including the FBI K-9s, at http://www.saradriscollauthor.com.
©2024 V Williams
Rosepoint Publishing 
Excellent review, Virginia. I love seeing those 5 stars. How cool that you and your hubby climbed Mt. Fuji. That is quite a feat and what a memory. I am really looking forward to this one, as I have read or listened to all of them as well. Sara Driscoll does a great job incorporating facts into her story, but keeping it interesting and edge of your seat.
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Thanks again, Carla. I’m definitely a fan of Ms Driscoll. She does, indeed, do a great job of infusing facts into the story without letting the storyline sag. Yes, Fuji is quite the memory. I saw a pic of it recently (late snow) and marveled at it. When we climbed it, they had stations along the trail where we stopped to warm and get a hot drink. They stamped our hiking pole there too. We kept those poles for a long time.
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