A Veronica Kildare K-9 Mystery, Book 1
Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Date Published: March 22, 2023
Narrator: Alyssa Baumann
Run Time: 11 hours, 4 minutes
"An action-packed adventure blended smoothly with mystery and hope.... The character development is well done and complete.... The plot twists...are smooth and deliberate. Carter did an excellent job of making the story feel authentic and realistic through dialogue and rich imagery. It was well-written, and engaging and the narrator was the right fit!.... Alyssa Baumann captured and projected the personality of Veronica perfectly. She is very adept at projecting emotions and situations in a clear and intense manner. The excitement and energy she brought to the book were spot-on." — AudioBookReviewer
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.
What is the
hardest part of writing your books?
For me, the
most difficult part is probably describing scenery. My former home of Colorado
is gorgeous and it takes a real knack to adequately convey the beauty that
surrounds you in that state. Mary Stewart is one of my favorite mystery
authors. She can give you the shimmering heat of Greece, the vision of the
birds, and the colors of the flowers in a few succinct sentences. You actually
feel like you have walked into that scene. I am a work in progress when it
comes to setting a mood.
Also, I have
to remind myself to not overload readers with information on obedience training—even
though it is a passion of mine!
What songs
are most played on your Ipod?
It won’t come
as a shock to people who have read DOGGED PURSUIT, but I am a huge George
Thorogood fan—and incorporate “Bad to the Bone” as often as possible. I listen
to him and Bob Seger continuously. I just saw George Thorogood in concert last
week, bringing my total number of his concerts to over twenty! I play the
Eagles’ greatest hits when I am researching for my books as well. “Take It Easy”
is a huge personal favorite and I have the photo of me standing on a corner in
Winslow, AZ to prove it!
Do you have
critique partners or beta readers?
I do have
beta readers because your friends and family don’t always feel comfortable
telling you what needs refinement. I also have an eclectic bunch of friends,
who work as veterinarians, sheriff’s deputies, environmental scientists, and
medical professionals whom I grill when I need confirmation or clarification on
certain research points. And I have an excellent professional copy editor.
My critique
partner is also a veterinarian and she is writing a terrific book right now, showcasing
the experiences of a zoo veterinarian, and her unfolding understanding of her
power and connection with animals as a woman approaching middle age.
What book are
you reading now?
I just finished
reading THE LAVA WITCH by Debra Bokur, which is book three in her Dark Paradise
mystery series set in Hawaii. It was awesome, with wonderful characters and
vivid descriptions. She has an incredible ability to set the stage and make you
“see” and feel what her characters are experiencing. Her main character reminds
me of Veronica, my main character, in terms of her determined demeanor and competence.
How did you
start your writing career?
I began
writing DOGGED PURSUIT in 2020 (after YEARS of thinking about writing the first
book in a mystery series involving lots and lots of dogs, and the varied jobs
they can be trained to do). I have worked as an obedience trainer and also trained
dogs in agility and rally, so I chose to have Veronica transition to a job as a
professional dog trainer after a tragedy in her personal life.
My best
friend, who had listened to me describe the plot and characters of DOGGED
PURSUIT to her over twenty years of hiking together around Ohio, Utah,
Colorado, and New Mexico, kindly told me to just get on with writing it. So I
did. (And she now “gets” to read each and every draft.)
I love
reading a thrilling mystery series myself, and following the characters as each
book is published. I aspire to write a series focused on dogs and dog training that
will hopefully enthrall readers for years to come!
Tell
us about your next release.
LAWYERS,
DOGS, AND MONEY, the second book in the Veronica Kildare K—9 Mystery Series,
will be released at the end of 2023.
LAWYERS, DOGS, AND MONEY highlights Veronica's natural
affinity for training dogs—including peanut allergy alert and prison contraband
sniffing dogs—and her passion for locating missing people. As the book unfolds, she joins her search and rescue
partner, a deputy sheriff for Boulder County, in trying to ascertain the source
of threats against Kadri Ilves, a co-worker of Sgt. Donovan's daughter at a
high-end import/export business. The woman being targeted is a native of
Estonia and has a long history of advocating for social justice issues.
Veronica's
father assists the investigation by researching Kadri's background, including
her work to end racial disparity in prison sentencing, and legal claims she has
filed relative to disputed lands in Estonia—a cause which may have put her in
the crosshairs of the California branch of the Russian mafia. The book
concludes with a stunning showdown involving all the main characters, and a
shocking final twist related to the central mystery.
About the Author
Tracy Carter graduated from the University of Glasgow, Scotland with a master's degree in history. Her lengthy career as a legal assistant has included stints at international law firms and prosecutors' offices, followed by jobs as the horse identifier at two thoroughbred racetracks — all while training dogs in obedience and rally. She lives near Cleveland, Ohio, with her husband and Llewellin Setter (aka the diva).
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