When a young girl is found dead in the mountains outside Timber Creek, lifelong resident Officer Mattie Cobb and her partner, K-9 police dog Robo, are assigned to the case that has rocked the small Colorado town.
With the help of Cole Walker, a local veterinarian and single father, Mattie and Robo must track down the truth before it claims another victim. But the more Mattie investigates, the more she realizes how many secrets her town holds. And the key may be Cole’s daughter, who knows more than she’s saying.
The murder was just the beginning, and if Mattie isn’t careful, she and Robo could be next.
Suspenseful and smart, Killing Trail is an explosive debut that will have listeners clamoring for more Mattie and Robo for years to come.
Download and start listening now!
“Margaret Mizushima’s Killing Trail introduces a fine new crime-fighting team, Mattie Lu Cobb and her partner, Robo, who happens to be a dog. They’re put to the test in Timber Creek, a small town in Colorado, and the result is a satisfying mystery with a couple of cops you’re going to be glad to meet. Check it out.”
— Bill Crider, author of Between the Living and the Dead
“Mizushima does an excellent job of developing [Mattie and Robo] as characters, allowing readers to feel a personal connection to them both. Overall a great debut for an up-and-coming mystery writer.”
— RT Book Reviews (4½ stars, Top Pick!)“A deftly crafted mystery that is all the more impressive considering that Killing Trail is author Margaret Mizushima’s debut…Solidly entertaining from beginning to end.”
— Midwest Book Review“Winning heroine…Strong debut…A realistic view of how a K-9 team works, treating Robo as an important character, but never stooping to anthropomorphism. And it’s impossible not to fall in love with Robo.”
— Publisher’s Weekly (starred review)“Debut author Mizushima’s classic police procedural adds a fresh angle involving the work of K–9s. The appealing Robo knows what he’s doing, he just needs to train Mattie to trust him. Sue Henry fans will love.”
— Library Journal (starred review, debut of the month)“The interactions between Mattie and Robo will tug the heartstrings of every dog lover…Mizushima’s debut reflects both her skill as a suspense writer and her respect for animals. The shocking conclusion will stay with readers while they wait for the next story in the series.”
— Booklist (starred review)“This series kickoff…reveals just enough about ancillary characters to suggest untapped opportunities while fleshing out solid backgrounds to make a cozy cozy.”
— Kirkus Reviews“Compelling characters, both human and canine, make Killing Trail a standout first novel. Officer Mattie Cobb battles external danger and her own troubled past as she and her K-9 partner race to catch a killer. Mattie is both caring and relentless, and everyone should have a partner like Robo.”
— Bonnie Hearn Hill, author of If Anything Should Happen“A terrific debut with a refreshing detective duo—Deputy Mattie Lu Cobb and Robo, her K-9 partner! Margaret Mizushima has crafted a compelling and savvy mystery that explores the big secrets in a small western town. I was cheering on Mattie and Robo every step of the way.”
— Margaret Coel, author of The Man Who Fell from the SkyMargaret Mizushima balances writing with assisting her husband with their veterinary clinic and Angus cattle herd. Her short story “Hayhook” was published in the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers 2014 anthology, Crossing Colfax. She lives with her husband on a small ranch in Colorado, where they raised two daughters and a multitude of animals.
Nancy Wu has narrated audiobooks since 2004, winning three AudioFile Earphones Awards. A New York theater, television, and film actor, she has recorded in studios all over the world—from Italy to Switzerland to Thailand. Her credits include Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Hope & Faith, All My Children, Made for Each Other, and the Oscar-nominated film Frozen River.