Romantic suspense with dogs? Sign me up. This Idaho search and rescue story featuring Malcolm Colton and his part shepherd, part hound Pace, continues a series called The Coltons of Owl Creek. COLTON’S K-9 RESCUE is the twelfth book, but it’s important to note that it focuses on a couple of characters, so a new reader can join the tale. 

Giselle Dowling, who has made a living by ghostwriting but got sickened by powerful celebrities, has retreated to a mountainside cabin. During a storm, she finds Malcolm outside with his tracking dog Pace. His ranch is not too far away and he is trying to home in on a miscreant in the woods. At first the two talk far too much, I think, when they should be getting in and dry and bandaging Malcolm’s injured hand. Maybe they talk to cover awkwardness. Malcolm used to date Giselle’s sister, Kate, and hoped to marry her. She was killed in a freak boating accident on a lake. The reckless boat's driver was never found.

Running through this series, we learn a cult leader and con artist called Markus Acker – sometimes falsely styling himself Reverend – has been responsible for various deaths, and the Colton family has suffered losses. Maybe this time he will be caught, or maybe he will escape again despite law enforcement’s best efforts.  Malcolm suggests it’s too dangerous for Giselle to stay alone up here, especially when a tree falls on her vehicle. He offers her shelter at the ranch. The dog training kennels are not far away and a small beagle puppy is in need of some extra attention. Giselle takes on Scarlett, who starts to respond well.

This is a family saga, with cousins I hadn’t met coming out of the woodwork for a party, and cheerful phone calls. Despite the swell of people getting on with their lives, Malcolm and Giselle both feel trapped by the events by the lake and don’t see a way forward while there is no justice served. As close as either of them was to Kate, the accident was over three years ago, and I would have thought they had learned to live with it. Moping slows down the middle of the story but serves as a reminder that victims are left from every crime. I was pleased with the action and events, but the emphasis is not on the trained dogs in this case.

Colleen Thompson has written this instalment of the linked series by different writers. COLTON’S K-9 RESCUE is an exciting, outdoorsy tale, well worth the read. I would be interested to pick up more books by this author.