I will start that this book is unneccessarily long and way too detailed in certain spots. It also took the author way too long to get to the central story line. Also the main character, Jo Beth is too much of an energetic feminist for my liking. That being said the central story line was intriguing and I wanted to find out what happened.

The only single thing I can say against this book is that it is unnecessarily long at 461 pgs.

Now for the good stuff... Virginia Lanier did not begin writing this series until she was in her 60s, after working decades in the deep South during the years of Civil Rights and good ole boy attitudes. In this, her excellent debut mystery about an outspoken amateur female detective who leads bloodhound searches for all types of missing persons, her love for and her regret about the American South emerge.

There are lots of insights into Georgia's backwoods culture, beautiful descriptions of the land, great information on training dogs to find missing children/prisoners/tourists, and nice inclusions of humor and even a touch of romance. This is an excellent, fast-paced mystery with multiple story lines that many will enjoy.

What a wonderful book with so much detail I was with the characters living with them. Would highly recommend.

What a ride! Jo Beth is sassy, brassy, & classy. What a great female lead.
The book is well-written and had a fast paced and didn't slow down. Had to make myself put it down a few times in order to sleep.
The author definitely did her research on Bloodhounds. As an owner of one of these slobbering, lovable, clumsy dogs she hit it on the "nose" with her descriptions.
I loved all the entwining stories and mysteries and that a woman stood up to that "good ole boy" attitude that is so prevalent here in the South.
Can't wait to read more.

This is the first book in Lanier's "Bloodhound Series." I loved the characters and the story. I look forward to reading more from this series.

Lots of information in these books, about search-and-rescue and other stuff.

Great heroine! I will have to find the other books.