Dogged Pursuit (A Veronica Kildare K-9 Mystery) by Tracy Carter

Gold Medal winner in the 2023 Readers' Favorite International Book Award Contest in the Fiction-Animals genre! The debut book in the Veronica Kildare K-9 Mystery series opens with escalating suspense and intensifies into a resilient fight for survival. With its engaging combination of canine and human personalities, thrilling plot, and gorgeous Colorado backdrop, "Dogged Pursuit" will appeal to dog lovers, outdoors enthusiasts, and mystery lovers alike.Veronica Kildare cannot believe her luck – being shot at, again, by the bad guys. The sound, the feel of the bullet, and the hatred resonate for more than just the transitory moment of impact. She has relocated to a new state, but brutality has rampaged into this life as well. As the survivor of a senseless act of violence in her former life, Veronica struggles to recover from the lingering physical and emotional scars by working as a dog handler near Boulder, Colorado. Empowered by her intense bond with her search and rescue and drug detection dog, Leda, she finally begins to shake off the pain of her past. Then Veronica is drawn into the puzzling search for a scientist who has vanished near Rocky Mountain National Park. Dr. Randy Jeffers has inexplicably disappeared on the eve of his testimony in the high profile murder trial of a pro basketball player and the police are baffled. As Veronica and Leda traverse rugged Roosevelt National Forest in a desperate search testing the limits of their abilities, it is not initially clear who has targeted Dr. Jeffers, or why. But it becomes shockingly obvious that someone will stop at nothing to silence him forever. The kidnappers with murder on their mind have guns, but Veronica has Leda and her own blossoming resilience as her weapons in their struggle for survival.  (Summary via Goodreads)

Dogged Pursuit by Tracy Carter will have readers on the edge of their seats.  I very seldom want to jump ahead to the end of the story to see what happens, I like to enjoy everythng the story and author have to give, but boy, was I tested with this story !!!

In Dogged Pursuit readers are introduced to main character Veronica Kildare.  Veronica had a very traumatic experience in Ohio so her father moves them to Colorado and helps her set up their new lives.  Veronica starts her own dog handling and obedience training business and is doing real well.  Her and her dog, Leda, are being called for more and more cases and their latest will test them to their limits !!

Veronica's friend Tim, who works for the Boulder County Sheriff's Department asks Veronica and Leda to assist in a missing person's case.  A scientist, Dr. Randy Jeffers, has gone missing after talking to his wife and telling her he is going for a hike in the Rocky Mountain Natonal Park.  Dr. Jeffers is scheduled to be a witness in a high profile case regarding a famous basketball player who is accused of murdering his wife.   Veronica and Leda are asked to try to locate him in the park.

Not only does Veronica have her own business to run, dogs to train, but she has also taken on a new employee.  Michael came into her life when she saw a dog being attacked and he helped save the dog.  When Veronica learns that Michael is sleeping in a cot in the back of a business because he aged out of foster care, she immediately takes him home and sets him up in the apartment in the training building.  Michael becomes a great asset for Veronica so that she can focus on the Jeffers case. 

Readers will fall in love instantly with everything in this book and story !!  You will love the relationships, Veronica's business and what she and Leda do.  You will also love the suspense of the story and will be shocked at the outcome of parts !!!  I highly recommend grabbing your copy and getting lost in this book ... I also recommend having a mug of hot cocoa on the table next to you and a furry companion by your side.