Sunday, June 14, 2020

No Man's Land by Sara Driscoll

 Urbexing:  Urban exploration, usually of abandoned or nearly inaccessible man-made structures.

From the blurb:
"For Meg Jennings and her K-9 companion, Hawk, exploring the ruins of a deserted building is an exciting way to sharpen their skills without the life-or-death stakes they face as part of the FBI's Human Scent Evidence Team. But deep in the echoing rooms of an abandoned asylum, Hawk finds the body of an elderly woman. The victim couldn't have made her way into the derelict building on her own. Before forty-eight hours pass, Meg learns of more cases of elders found dead in neglected urban structures.

There's not enough evidence to link the deaths--yet. But Meg scents a pattern, and when she gets word of another senior gone missing, she and Hawk don't hesitate. Meg is sure a murderer is hunting the elderly, and she can prove it if she can just find a connection. It will take the expert coordination of her whole team, along with help from Clay McCord and Todd Webb, to uncover the means, let alone a motive. And to stop someone who has operated in the dark for so long, Meg will need to risk more than she has to give . . ."

My thoughts:
This is a fun series that just keeps getting better with each book. My favorite parts, of course, are all the ones involving Meg's dog, Hawk, and his work as an FBI search-and-rescue dog. In this one, he and Meg have to search several old and abandoned buildings, which made for some very interesting and suspenseful settings. I also loved how the author included urbexing terms and definitions at the beginning of every chapter. Who knew urbexing was even a thing?

The mystery in this one is unique and compelling. I really enjoyed watching Meg and the others figure it out.

And those interesting friends and co-workers of Meg's? They're one more reason I keep reading this series. I like how Meg's sister, Cara, and Clay McCord, a Washington reporter, add insight (and some mad research skills) in helping Meg solve her cases. And I really like Meg's interactions with Todd Webb, her fire-fighter boyfriend. They make a good team. And it's because of these relationships, and how they grow and change over time, that it's best to read this series in order, starting with the first book, Lone Wolf.

Happy Reading!




33 comments:

  1. Love books with working dogs! Will be checking out Lone Wolf--thanks, Lark. :)

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    1. Lone Wolf is good...but all her successive books in the series have been even better. Happy reading. :)

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  2. I've never heard of urbexing before!

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    1. I hadn't either until I read this book...but apparently it's a thing. :)

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  3. Ooh this sounds interesting! And I love that term- Urbexing. :)

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    1. Isn't that great? It sounds like a fun thing to do, too. :)

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  4. That sounds fun and a great mystery.

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  5. I've never heard of urbexing, but what an interesting thing to do! This series sounds really good. I'm going to add it to my TBR list.

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    1. I didn't love the first book, but each book that has followed has gotten better and better, which is a good thing in a series, don't you think? :)

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  6. There can never be too many books with faithful hounds!

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  7. This sounds like such a great series. I love books that feature working dogs. I've never heard of urbexing before, but it sounds like a cool activity. :)

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    1. Doesn't it sound cool? This series seems to get better with each book. :)

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  8. I have yet to understand why I haven't made time for this series. I mean, come on DOG! Plus it sounds really good and your review really makes me want to pick it up NOW!

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    1. I can't believe you haven't tried this series yet either! ;D

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  9. I don't know if they called it "urbexing" or not, but I remember reading a couple of years ago that European tourists were fascinated by the guided tours of the abandoned portions of Detroit that then looked like something left over from the end of the world. I remember seeing pictures from inside some abandoned businesses that looked as if everyone had just walked away and never come back after the previous day's business was done there. Very spooky looking...and I was tempted to drive up there for a self-guided tour of my own.

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    1. I would take a tour like that! It sounds very cool.

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  10. Glad to hear this series is getting better as each book goes. And who can resist a book featuring a search-and-rescue dog? ;)

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  11. I need to try this series after reading this -- I started a different series similar to this, but it wasn't what I hoped, but the idea of someone working with a dog like this has stuck with me. Great review!

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    1. I love books that include search-and-rescue dogs...especially the ones that are well-written. :)

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  12. This sounds exactly like my kind of read! A mystery, a dog and a fire-fighter? Sold! I'll check out Lone Wolf. :)

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    1. This does have all the elements I love in a book. :)

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  13. I want to meet Hawk! This sounds like a great series, Lark. I am glad you continue to enjoy it.

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    1. He's such a great dog! One of my favorite bookish dogs. :)

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  14. It sounds like a great series! Maybe a shade too dark for me, but I may give them a try anyway.

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    1. The nice thing about this series is that it doesn't dwell on the dark parts, and it's never graphic or gory. Just fast-paced and compelling.

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  15. I am so bad at figuring out mysteries but you have my attention with the word dog!

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    1. I did not come close to figuring out this mystery, but I enjoyed going along for the ride as the characters did. :) And I love their dogs!

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  16. I thought I commented but what happened was I read your review and then got lost down an internet rabbit hole looking up urbexing and specifically The Skeleton Hotel in Brazil...OOPS. Not something I want to do but a great premise for a novel, obviously!

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    1. Now I have to google The Skeleton Hotel and get lost in my own rabbit hole. ;D

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