Winner WILLA Literary Award for Fiction, Contemporary FictionSilver Award, IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards, mysteryFinalist, Colorado Authors League, mystery Murder stalks the rugged Colorado high country–and sends Mattie Cobb on a quest to uncover the darkest secrets from her past in the sixth gripping installment of Margaret Mizushima’s Timber Creek K-9 mysteriesA deluge has flooded the high … K-9 mysteries
A deluge has flooded the high ground near Hanging Falls–but heavy rains aren’t the only menace descending on Timber Creek. While on a scouting mission to pinpoint trail damage, officer Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner Robo stumble upon a body floating at the edge of a lake. Robo catches human scent, which leads to an enigmatic forest-dweller who quickly becomes suspect number one.
With help from veterinarian Cole Walker, Mattie identifies the victim, and discovers an odd religious cult whose dress and manners harken back to the 19th century. As the list of suspects grows, an unexpected visit from members of Mattie’s long-lost family sheds new light on her childhood as they help Mattie piece together details of the fateful night when she was abducted at age two.
The tangled threads of the investigation and family dynamics begin to intertwine–but darkness threatens to claim a new victim before Mattie and Robo can track down the killers.
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“Hanging Falls,” is by far my favorite in the Timber Creek K-9 series. In the sixth book of the series, Mattie and Robo discover a young man murdered up by scenic Hanging Falls. As they start their investigation, they soon discover that someone will do anything to cover up the murder.
As a K-9 handler, I love the way Mizushima has researched K-9’s and incorporated Robo into her book as a main character. In “Hanging Falls,” Mizushima did a great job of weaving in the tension of the main mystery while also answering many long-awaited questions to Mattie’s past and the truth about her family. “Hanging Falls” was a page-turner and I couldn’t put the book down. The descriptions of Colorado will transport the reader to the rugged mountains. I was excited to see that all my favorite characters were back including Veterinarian Cole Walker who continues to assist Mattie on her investigations.
By far my favorite K-9 series! If you love dogs and mysteries, this is a must read.
I eagerly look forward to each of Margaret Mizushima’s mysteries. The descriptions of a female K-9 deputy working with her dog in rugged country have me glued to the pages, and the surrounding characters are all well drawn and realistic.
Once again, I got intrigued by the description of a book and didn’t realize I was jumping into the middle of a series until after I downloaded it. The good news is the author gives enough backstory so I didn’t ever feel lost. I was hooked right out of the gate, reading as fast as I could, not wanting to put my Kindle down.
“Hanging Falls,” book 6 in the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery Series, is a tense, gripping murder mystery, with realistic, well-developed characters and interesting, compelling subplots. It’s a rich tapestry of relationships, dangerous jobs, and alternate lifestyles that push the boundaries of law, religion and morals. I especially enjoyed Robo, the K-9 partner to Officer Matti Cobb, who is the protagonist in the story. I’m not going to give anything away, but there is so much to this story, and it goes off into a few different directions, all of them very intriguing.
I will definitely be reading more by Margaret Mizushima. She’s a fantastic writer with a broad spectrum of knowledge that make her storytelling so satisfying.
Danger , mystery, and romance await!
Join police officer Mattie Cobb and her K-9 unit police dog Robo as they investigate two murders in the rugged Colorado high country.
Does the religious cult encamped in the woods bear any connection to the two cases?
And Mattie’s complex past and family secrets give her even more to discover.
You won’t want to miss Margaret Mizushima’s Hanging Falls: A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery.
It’s a guaranteed page turner!
Officer Mattie Cobb and Wildlife Manager Glenna Dalton find the body of a man in the water near Hanging Falls. In the rough conditions, they are finally able to get the body out of the water before it is swept away. The man’s clothing leads them to a settlement of the Brothers of Salvation, a religious sect. Mattie was making plans to meet up with her newly discovered sister and grandmother when she instead she is back on the hunt with her K9 Robo. Mattie was kidnapped when she was two years-old and raised by an abusive man who she thought was her father. Mattie’s love interest, Cole Walker, is the veterinarian in the area and often aides Mattie in her investigations. Then a second body is discovered and a teenage girl goes missing. Mattie is a strong female lead used to handling whatever happens with her beloved K9. It was nice to get some answers about Mattie’s past, but she still has questions and the investigation in to her past is not over. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
K-9 Officer Mattie Cobb and veterinarian Cole Walker have fallen in love with each other and gone public with their relationship. Many times when Mattie and her K-9 partner Robo have been involved in a case the sheriff’s department has called on Cole for assistance. In this story Mattie and Robo along with Wildlife Manager Glenna Dalton find a body at Hanging Falls. Cole is part of the party sent out to recover the body. Not an easy task in the torrential rain. Mattie and the Timber Creek Sheriff’s Department have their hands full solving this murder case when another murder occurs. Are the two murders related?
Hanging Falls by Margaret Mizushima is the sixth book in her Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series. This was a very exciting read. I couldn’t put the book down. The story is fast-paced and loaded with action scenes. I enjoyed reading about Mattie getting to meet members of her long-lost family. This brings her joy and some closure. I have loved this entire series. Ms. Mizushima is an excellent storyteller
I’m a big fan of Mattie Cobb and her K-9 dog Robo, and Hanging Falls, book number six in the Timber Creek K-9 series did not disappoint. As a matter of fact, I like this book best of all because we got a deeper glimpse into Mattie’s background and met new family members I believe Mattie had thought she’d never see again. This was a heartwarming development for a character whose backstory has been pretty rough, leading to Mattie’s problem forming new relationships with the folks in her life that she wants to love. The mystery plot is excellent, as always, and the writing topnotch. This whole series is highly recommended. I read this book for free via Net Galley.
Hanging Falls (Timber Creek K-9 Mystery #6) by Margaret Mizushima is another case for Deputy Mattie Cobb and her partner Robo. I could not stop reading the story once I started! I really enjoy this series of mysteries and the character of Mattie Cobb. There is a family mystery of her past which runs concurrently during each of the books. Mattie is planning a vacation to meet her long lost sister and grandmother. She is excited and very nervous, but hopes to get closer to finding answers about her missing mother.
As Mattie and Robo are scouting the trail conditions with Glenna and Moose in the Colorado mountainous forest they discover a body caught within the rushing water at the bottom of Hanging Falls. After Mattie secures the body from washing away, she notices they are being watched from the top of the rim. I won’t post spoilers, but finding one body leads to another murder in this same area.
The story artfully weaves together the events of two murders, assistance from vet Cole Walker, questions about a new polygamist group, and a horrible life-threatening injury that happens to Robo. I was not ready for the story to end and I am looking forward to the next book in this series!
Publication Date: September 8, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
5 stars
Mattie Cobb, police officer, and her canine partner Robo are on a run in the woods with her friend and game warden
Glenna and her dog Moose. The dogs discover a man’s body tangled in some branches in a river. Mattie thinks she sees someone watching her and Glenna from atop the ridge. She and Robo hike up and she easily arrests the man as he is absolutely terrified of Robo.
Mattie is supposed to go to meet her sister and her grandmother for the first time the next morning. But she now feels obligated to assist with this new case. When she calls her sister to let her know that she needs a couple more days to work, her sister surprises her by saying that she and her grandmother will drive to her instead. Unsure, but Mattie says okay anyway. They hit it off famously – and she learns much about her childhood.
As part of the investigation, Mattie and her boyfriend veterinarian Cole meet a group of men, women and children who live together on an old ranch. They have an assortment of animals, so they will be using Cole’s services from time to time. There is so much more going on at that place than happy families.
The case escalates and gets more complicated. Cole and Mattie’s families both get involved.
I love Ms. Mizushima’s writing!. Her characters are so colorful and real. I really like Mattie and Cole and I also like that the author writes about their family lives as well. I got more of a sense of who they were as people. Her transitions are seamless and the writing flows. The book reads quickly since the pages just fly by. Very well done, Ms. Mizushima.
I want to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for forwarding to me a copy of this absolutely delightful book for me to read, enjoy and review.
I like this series and was glad to read this book. Mattie is a local sheriff’s deputy in a small town in Colorado and Robo is her K9 partner. This time they are looking for the murderer of not just one man but two!
Mattie and Robo were out hiking with Glenna, a park ranger and her dog, Moose when they found a dead body near Hanging Falls. It doesn’t take long to find out that the man was a member of a religious cult that recently moved into the area.
Checking all the suspects, Mattie visited the religious “family” where she learned the religious cult was polygamists. This was something I couldn’t get my head around. I have never been a fan of cult stories but do believe we are free to practice religion freely. Polygamy, not so much.
We heard about Mattie’s relationship with Cole and his girls, AND meet the family Mattie lost as a child.
This was an interesting book and if you like the series, you should definitely read it. I am glad I did, even though some things in it weren’t for me.
While out checking for trail damage, officer Mattie Cobb and her K9 partner come across a dead near Hanging Falls. Mattie soon identifies the man with the help of local vet, Cole Walker and that leads them to an odd religious group that dresses in an old fashioned manner. And as the mystery around the murder deepens, Mattie is also surprised by a visit from long lost family members. Can she separate work and family now?
I’ve really enjoyed this series and this book is no exception. It’s a riveting thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat while the mystery keeps you guessing. The book’s well-written with well-rounded characters, both those you like and those you don’t. I’m very eager for more from this series and hope another book will be released soon. I highly recommend both book and series which I suggest you read in order.
Mattie Cobb and her K9 assistant Robo discover a dead body near Timber Creek in the floodwaters from recent heavy rains. He is clothed in hand stitched pants and a word has been carved on his chest. Pay. A new religious cult has taken residence in the open space near Timber Creek, their strange dress and ways have upset some towns people. Cole Walker the local veterinarian will help investigate.
Mattie’s long lost sister and abuela come to visit and give Mattie new information about her past.
As the list of suspects grows, Mattie and Robo are in danger.
Margaret Mizushima’s eloquent descriptions of the Colorado Rockies put me back in the state I called home for 20 years. I fell in love with her characters and can’t wait to read the series from the start.
Excellent 6th addition to the Timber Creek K-9 series
I really enjoy this series by author Mizushima. First of all it has an incredible dog in it, and second, it takes places in Colorado, a favorite place of mine.
I’m not sure whether Hanging Falls is based on the actual Hanging Lake in Colorado. It is a beautiful location that was threatened by wildfire earlier this summer but miraculously survived. Hanging Falls sounds beautiful too as described.
Deputy Mattie Cobb, a county Sheriff’s Deputy, is back in this sixth book in the series with her wonder K-9 German Shepherd dog, Robo.
She is scheduled for vacation time to go meet some newly found family members but must put that on hold when she and a local district wildlife manager and her dog find a body uncovered by some flood waters.
The investigation leads the Sheriff’s department to check into some newly arrived residents of the Timber Creek community and soon the danger ramps up.
Maggie’s romance is at the forefront of the story and so are the background issues with her family.
You don’t have to read the other books in this series to appreciate this one but it helps. I highly recommend this mystery series.
I received this book from Crooked Lane Books through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.
Mattie Cobb is looking forward to meeting the grandmother and sister she didn’t know she had. An ancestry DNA test alerts her to the fact that a family member is searching for her and she plans to drive from Colorado to California to meet them. She’s both elated and terrified at the prospect. Soon that has to take a back seat when she and her K9 partner, Robo and her park ranger friend, Glenna and her dog Moose find a drowned body at Hanging Falls. Then things get very interesting. Mattie and others from the sheriff’s department begin their investigation and it leads them to a local cult. I don’t want to say more for fear of spoilers. I will say that the tension is great, the setting is perfect, there are twists, turns and red herrings to keep the reader guessing and I enjoyed it from page one to the end.
Mattie and her new found family, her boyfriend, Cole and his family dynamics and the cult family – they all come together to make for a very good mystery. As for reading the series in order, well I’m in the camp that says read from book one but if you don’t mind where you start a series, this one will work fine as a stand alone.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
I pre-order each Mattie and Robo book the minute I’m allowed to and I haven’t been disappointed yet! They grab me by the eyeballs and refuse to let go until the end. The writing is clever and thrilling. I’m transported to the high country and left breathless until the bad guy is brought to justice. Way to write fantastic fiction!
Action Packed K-9 Murder Mystery
This action packed K-9 murder mystery is part of a series. I have not read the prior books in the series yet I never felt lost. The author is very good at sharing just enough of the past to explain the current events, but not give away too much of prior books. I plan on reading those prior books as well as the rest of the series, because there is a story arc concerning our heroine that is going to take the entire series to complete. The story takes place in a small town in the Colorado Rockies. The book starts off with a bang and doesn’t really let up until the end. What a great book! This is not a cozy mystery by any means. It is also a clean mystery that shouldn’t cause any nightmares. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
HANGING FALLS by Margaret Mizushima is the sixth book in the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series. This has become one of my favorite police procedural series. It is set in and around a small town in the mountains of Colorado.
While this is the sixth book in the series and there are references to events and people that were in previous ones, the novel still worked well as a standalone. In this one Deputy Mattie Cobb, her canine partner Robo, local district wildlife manager, Glenna Dalton and her Rhodesian ridgeback are hiking to Hanging Falls. Heavy rains have impacted the trail and the falls. Once they get to the falls, they find a body floating in the water below the falls. With this start, the book is off and running.
Mattie and her K-9 partner Robo and the other members of the sheriff’s department begin an investigation that has a lot of twists and turns and some red herrings. As usual, Maggie’s boyfriend, veterinarian Cole Walker, helps with the investigation. The characters are appealing and the writing is compelling, engaging and entertaining. The plot is clever, intriguing and very realistic.
I was immediately drawn into the investigation and the lives of Mattie, Robo, Cole and many of the other residents of Timber Creek, Colorado. I enjoyed visiting with my relatively new friends. I believe the fact that the author and her husband run a veterinary clinic and live on a small ranch in Colorado helped with the visualization of the area. Themes include police investigations, murder, a religious cult, horse training, family relationships and dynamics, changing relationships and much more. There are some serious themes in this novel that I won’t reveal due to spoilers.
This is the second book that I have read about Mattie, Robo and Cole; and I can’t wait to read other books in this series. If you are a dog lover or just enjoy an engaging and suspenseful mystery, I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books, Margaret Mizushima and Net Galley for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
Excellent mystery! This sixth book in the Timber Creek K-9 series is a fabulous continuation of the series. Two men are dead, a colony of possible polygamists have moved in, a farrier and a vet pharmaceutical rep, both of questionable character, are making the rounds, the relationship between Cole and Mattie continues to grow with a bit of push back from Cole’s teen-age daughter, and Mattie is reunited with her sister and grandmother whom she hadn’t seen since she was two. It is fast moving and intense, a bit emotional, and a definite page-turner. I loved it and can’t wait for more!