Genre: Mystery (First in a series)
Setting: Timber Creek, Colorado
First lines: Deputy Mattie Lu Cobb liked her new partner. In fact she was quite taken with him...Large, muscular, strong and rugged, he was the only one in the department who could outrun her in a cross-country foot race. In addition to all that, he could sniff out a missing person. He was Timber Creek's new police service dog, a German Shepherd named Robo.
What I liked best: Robo! He and his human partner, Mattie, made this small-town murder mystery more interesting and fun. The rest of the book, while good, fell short of amazing for me. Still, I feel like Mizushima has all the necessary ingredients to make this a great series, and I'm very hopeful that she'll be able to better develop the rest of her characters in her next book, and make them as likeable--and her next plot as memorable--as Robo. Because he's awesome.
Happy Reading!
I've missed this one! I've read The Hunting Hour and Stalking Ground, and I adore Robo. He really is awesome!
ReplyDeleteHe's what makes me want to read the rest of the series!
DeleteHaha, love that opening. Sounds like a good book. Too bad you had to deal with the offending odor first but glad Febreeze came through. That is one of the drawbacks of library books. Probably why I try to choose books from the new shelves although that's not a guarantee of a pristine copy either.
ReplyDeleteSo true! Some of those "new" reads come back pretty hammered. :)
DeleteYikes! Dubious stains I have encountered before, but never a strong smell of cigarette smoke. But then as a former smoker, my sense of smell is probably pretty shot anyway. Glad you were able to fix the problem for both you and the next reader!
ReplyDeleteThose opening lines are great! Who wouldn't want to keep reading? I bet the first book of any mystery series is tough as the author has to balance world building with the plot and doesn't have the option (as fantasy authors do) of taking 500 pages to do it in!
If the author can develop all the elements she has in place, this'll be a really fun series. :)
DeleteOne of my peeves, too! Another solution that works pretty well: seal the book in a large Ziploc bag with a dryer sheet. I don't know how it does this, but it kind of absorbs the noxious odor.
ReplyDeleteGreat tip! I'll have to remember that one. Thanks. :)
DeleteGlad to hear the mystery was good enough to make up for the smoke smelling library book! Wow, how inconsiderate of the other library user! :( I love mysteries so I'll have to check this out. :)
ReplyDeleteI think it's a very fun premise. I'm going to try the other books in her series. :)
DeleteI never lend books to my uncle as he smokes when he's reading and they are returned in a dreadful state. He only gets what I've finished with!
ReplyDeleteOoh, yeah. That smell is awful. I mostly never lend any of my books to anyone...unless, like you said, I never want to see them again. :D
DeleteYuck, that's why I had to stop with paperbackswap. I'd send out books in great shape and in return I'd get books that were a mess or reeked of smoke. I never even thought to try Fabreeze. Thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteSometimes desperation leads to inspiration! :D
DeleteUgh. Cigarette smoke is so pervasive and so nasty. Especially on a BOOK! Glad Febreze worked. I never would have thought of using it on paper. Great life hack, Lark!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susan! :D
DeleteThat happened with me and a new Stephen King book. I went straight back to the library with it. It was horrible.
ReplyDeleteIt really ruins a book, doesn't it?
DeleteI don't think I've come across a library book which reeks of cigarette smoke, but definitely some with ink stains or worse, food stains! (Though they're rare, which is a relief.)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a good read. And I already like Robo by the sound of it. :)
I don't run into too many library books that smell of cigarette smoke, luckily, but the times I do...whew!
Delete(And Robo is a great dog!)
I haven't read this author but it sounds good. I didn't even think you could fabreeze books, god tip, I get books sent from friends who are puffers and it is overpowering, great tip thank you xxx
ReplyDeleteLainy http://www.alwaysreading.net
I didn't know if Febreeze would work, or not, but I thought it was worth a try. :D I was careful, however, not to get the pages wet.
DeleteAh, the hazards of library books. I love my library, but I've come across books that smell of smoke, books that have food crumbs or coffee stains (or squashed-bug stains, ewww)... I didn't know you could Febreeze a book, though. I'll remember that for the future.
ReplyDeleteSquashed bugs? I haven't run into that yet, thankfully.
DeleteI am glad you were able to tame that smell so you could enjoy the book, Lark. Robo sounds like a great character.
ReplyDeleteHe is. I can't wait to read about him again. Only, I hope the smoker hasn't been there before me. :)
DeleteOMG, I didn't think about that! If the smoker also likes the series you may need to stock up on Febreeze! Or put the books on hold so you get them first!
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