Beth G. (BethG) -
Helpful Score: 2
Raine Stockton lives in a lovely small Smokey Mountains town, runs a kennel, and trains dogs. She and her former dog, Cassidy were an ace tracking team.
But Cassidy has passed on and now Raine works with a new golden, Cisco. Unfortunately, Cisco is young and not completely trained, so Raine doesn't track any more. But when a young girl is lost in the mountains and no other dog teams can get there, she and Cisco give it a try.
Cisco comes through, but Raine fail to realize it until later. Because she made a mistake and because she can't get the little girl out of her mind, she involves herself in the investigation.
So Raine and Cisco, working together, are off and tracking the lost little girl and the murderer as well, but it is going to be hard and dangerous duty.
This is a well written mystery with a good sense of place and excellent characters. The fact that several of the main characters are dogs only makes it better.
But Cassidy has passed on and now Raine works with a new golden, Cisco. Unfortunately, Cisco is young and not completely trained, so Raine doesn't track any more. But when a young girl is lost in the mountains and no other dog teams can get there, she and Cisco give it a try.
Cisco comes through, but Raine fail to realize it until later. Because she made a mistake and because she can't get the little girl out of her mind, she involves herself in the investigation.
So Raine and Cisco, working together, are off and tracking the lost little girl and the murderer as well, but it is going to be hard and dangerous duty.
This is a well written mystery with a good sense of place and excellent characters. The fact that several of the main characters are dogs only makes it better.
Kathy B. (FrenchProf) -
Helpful Score: 2
I'm dog person, so naturally, I picked this book up. This is a well written start to this series. Anyone who has a dog will relate to the feelings good and bad that the author has about her dog. This is one series that I'll definitely keep up with.
Mary H. (Ladyhawke) -
Helpful Score: 1
This is the first in a new series about Raine Stockton, a dog trainer and ex-Search & Rescue worker. She is called out in the middle of the night to search for a missing child, since there is no one else available at such short notice. Raine has to bring along Cisco, a young golden retriever, who is not 100% trained for the task. I enjoyed this book very much and am looking forward to the next in the series, which should be published in December 2006.
Marjorie H. reviewed Smoky Mountain Tracks (Raine Stockton Dog Mystery, Bk 1) on + 286 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Folks native to the Smoky Mountain community of Hanover County, North Carolina, are as much a part of the rugged landscape as timber rattlers and mountain laurel. That includes local Raine Stockton, Dog trainer.Raine knows the woods as well an anyone could, but she gave up her search and rescue work after a tragic loss. Now she reluctantly returns to active duty to help find a mother and six-year old girl have been kidnapped and taken deep into the forest.
Janet S. (poodledogs) reviewed Smoky Mountain Tracks (Raine Stockton Dog Mystery, Bk 1) on + 244 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I really like this new dog search & rescue series. The main character is well developed and the big city lawyer who is a dog psychic is a nice addition (and I suspect a strong story plot for future books!). Look for the new book in the Fall.
Bonnie A. (ladycholla) -
Helpful Score: 1
Really liked this first book by her about Raine Stockton and Cisco. Great story.
Penny T. (iluvmysteries) reviewed Smoky Mountain Tracks (Raine Stockton Dog Mystery, Bk 1) on + 431 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I'm a big fan of Virginia Lanier's bloodhound series. This is a great start to a new series involving search dogs.
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed this first book in a new series.
Mary B. (marybeth) reviewed Smoky Mountain Tracks (Raine Stockton Dog Mystery, Bk 1) on + 37 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
If you enjoyed Marley and like mysteries, this series combines the best of both. Raine Stockton, dog trainer and part time forest ranger, owns a golden retriever who is bright, funny and only controled when he wants to be. Wonderful descriptions of the Smokey Mountains, dogs at their best and a great mystery to boot.
Sheryl S. (bibliocat) -
Helpful Score: 1
Great book for a dog lover. Good mystery. Fun read.
Helpful Score: 1
I love this series! Wonderful mysteries, believable and entertaining.
Krista C. (kacey14) -
Helpful Score: 1
This is the first in a series of mysteries that involve dog handler/trainer Raine Stockton. It's set in Smoky Mountains in North Carolina. I liked the inclusion of the dogs in the story. It wasn't the best mystery that I've ever read, but it wasn't full of blood and blatant violence. It was almost a 'cozy' type of mystery story.
I'll give the second book in the series a try just to see how she continues to work the dogs into the story, if for nothing else. I enjoyed reading some of the ins and outs of dog training while trying to solve this mystery.
I'll give the second book in the series a try just to see how she continues to work the dogs into the story, if for nothing else. I enjoyed reading some of the ins and outs of dog training while trying to solve this mystery.
Geri (geejay) -
This was a fast read. It's the first in a new series.
Shayna T. (shaynat) -
So enjoyed Smoky Mountain Tracks. Not only am I an animal lover, but this was well written and a great story line. It's now back on my bookshelf for others to request and enjoy.
Kimberly N. (kimberlyrav) -
I am totally enthralled with this series by Donna Ball. Ive found a really great mystery set. I love the characters, the main lead "Raine Stockton" is strong, funny, intelligent and doesn't take crap from anyone. I love the dogs too. She has one smart golden retriever, "Cisco".
Ive read all of the books out of order and haven't missed a thing in character development other than how far her dog has come in training to be a search and rescue dog.
I highly recommend to anyone who loves mysteries and especially if you love smart dogs!
In this book a little girl named Angel has come up missing. The cops come to Raine to give her dog a shot at finding anything connected to the little girl. They search the forest and everything seems to go wrong. The dog finds an old can of baked beans instead of what they had hoped for in evidence of the missing child. Raine falls and breaks her knee and nothing goes according to plan. What follows is a series of misadventures which turns out a great story. Loved it!
Ive read all of the books out of order and haven't missed a thing in character development other than how far her dog has come in training to be a search and rescue dog.
I highly recommend to anyone who loves mysteries and especially if you love smart dogs!
In this book a little girl named Angel has come up missing. The cops come to Raine to give her dog a shot at finding anything connected to the little girl. They search the forest and everything seems to go wrong. The dog finds an old can of baked beans instead of what they had hoped for in evidence of the missing child. Raine falls and breaks her knee and nothing goes according to plan. What follows is a series of misadventures which turns out a great story. Loved it!
