Amy Scout runs a bookstore in Canada, in a normally sleepy town. That’s about to change. Amy needs peace and quiet, as she’s an expectant mom. In COLD CASE TRACKER, an unsolved series of crimes will rise up to create chaos in her life.

Sergeant Jackson Locke of the Ontario RCMP arrives back at his former home near Amy, to look into the recent disappearance of his sister Gemma Locke. She worked with Amy in the bookstore and went missing after a car accident.  Jackson brings his faithful four-legged partner, Hudson, a German Shepherd K9. They arrive just in time to save Amy from an abduction attempt. The adventure just gets more confusing from that point.  

Maggie K. Black has delivered someone we will cheer for, a young woman about to have her first baby. We learn that her husband was a liar and con man, who took her money and ran. That’s not Amy’s fault and she is doing her best to be a good mother. Anyone who means to do her harm has to be an outright villain. On the other hand, Jackson is not so clear-cut. While he’s now a highly trained police officer, he immediately lies to Amy. I am not at all sure I believe this situation. Jackson was a young idiot in his early teens and moved away from town, and Amy doesn’t recognise him. He gives her a false surname. Maybe the author means for us to feel ambiguous towards the officer since we hear that some other people – like Gemma – don’t place great trust in the local police.

Gemma was looking into some cold cases in the area, out of interest, and had dug up plenty about Amy’s ex that she wasn’t aware of before the marriage. I think this is a good situation to include, as we’re inclined to trust others to be who they say they are, and don’t always check up enough. The con artists are not all on the internet – where we might actually be more guarded.

The outright star of the show may be Hudson, the working dog who is called on to track, guard, grab criminals, save lives and just intimidate. He has a lovely nature around anyone introduced as a friend. While Hudson can’t resolve all problems, we see the flexibility and scope this dog gives his handler. COLD CASE TRACKER is a romantic suspense story that is lightly inspirational and could be read by anyone from teens to adults. I had a great time with this adventure, which is the first in a series called Unsolved Case Files. I’m looking out for the next one.