The Dead Years - (Chicago K-9 Thriller) by Jeffrey B Burton

About the Book

A serial killer, dormant for years, reawakens after viewing a Netflix docuseries depicting his string of homicides. The killer is not happy with his portrayal and no one in the cast and crew is safe! The first instalment of a gripping new thriller series set in Chicago and featuring a young sibling sleuth-duo and their working dogs.

Book Synopsis

A serial killer, dormant for years, reawakens after viewing a Netflix docuseries depicting his string of homicides. The killer is not happy with his portrayal and no one in the cast and crew is safe! The first instalment of a gripping new thriller series set in Chicago and featuring a young sibling sleuth-duo and their working dogs.

Siblings Cory and Crystal Pratt are still trying to get their lives together after a tragic accident which killed their parents years ago. The only thing that distracts them now is their jobs. With Crystal working as a newly minted detective at the Chicago Police Department and Cory owning a dog training academy with two human remains detection dogs of his own, their professional paths cross every now and then.

Crime, and especially murder, in Chicago is nothing new, but when a string of killings happen that seem to be connected to a Netflix docuseries and its cast and crew, Cory and Crystal are called in to stop the number of bodies from piling any higher.

But when the siblings start poking around the killer's business, the killer sets their sights on the pair . . . and particularly on Cory and his dogs! Will they be able to escape the fury of the serial killer or become the newest victims?

This fast-paced thriller, with insight into a serial killer's mind, is a perfect up-all-night binge-read, and a great choice if you love spirited detectives, great action - and very good dogs!

Review Quotes

This intense series opener is the first in the Chicago K-9 thrillers-- "Stop, You're Killing Me!"

This is a mighty impressive thriller . . .
Readers will take to Burton's brother-sister duo in this series launch and look
forward to more Chicago K-9 thrillers-- "Booklist"

Readers will fall in love with Alice and Rex, of course .
. . The twists and turns will keep you reading

-- "Kings River Life Magazine"

What an amazing book . . . So inventive, it's so creative . . . A lot of fun to read-- "NPR's Radio Pet Lady (Tracie Hotchner) on Dog Talk"

Another solid dog thriller from Burton, that makes good use of the dogs, the lead characters pasts, and twists you don't see coming. Fans of his previous books will enjoy this one-- "Red Carpet Crash"

The Lost grabs you with both hands and keeps you turning the pages to the very end. Burton's tremendous talent for storytelling is gripping, suspenseful, and spot on. And if you are a dog lover, this book is essential reading. I highly recommend it-- "Allen Eskens, bestselling author of The Life We Bury, on The Lost"

[A] celebration of great mystery fiction, complex characters, and a smart and loveable cadaver dog. Riveting, scary, funny, and devious as hell! Highly recommended-- "Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author, on The Keepers"

A high-octane thriller that will keep you guessing until the electrifying ending. Exceptional character development and breakneck pacing-- "Liv Constantine, bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish, on The Lost"

A thriller that's not only compelling but offers a good many chuckles along the way. The plot is wonderfully twisty. Add to the mix a pack of cadaver dogs that'll charm your socks off, a wry narrative voice, and you've got the recipe for a deliciously delightful read. You'll savor this one, I guarantee it-- "William Kent Krueger, New York Times bestselling author, on The Lost"

An intricately plotted, fast-paced story . . . For fans of K-9 mysteries-- "Library Journal on The Lost"

Burton displays a too-rare knack for keeping the heat on while moving a complex story to its finale, all the while injecting welcome jolts of humor-- "Booklist on The Lost"

Corrupt politicians, the mob, a brutal killer, and a shocking death combine in a fast-paced story of an ordinary man and his extraordinary dogs. For fans of Paula Munier's or Susan Furlong's books featuring dogs-- "Library Journal Starred Review of The Keepers"

Taut and gritty, Burton expertly weaves a narrative that begs, 'just one more page . . .'-- "J. D. Barker, New York Times bestselling author, on The Keepers"

The fast-paced, action-packed plot builds to a thrilling finale. Burton carefully crafts each dog's personality, ensuring that they, like the humans, are fully realized characters. Dog lovers are in for a treat-- "Publishers Weekly on The Keepers"

Will keep readers turning the pages. Dog lovers are in for a treat-- "Publishers Weekly on The Lost"

About the Author

Novels in Jeffrey B. Burton's critically-acclaimed Mace Reid K-9 mystery series include The Finders, The Keepers, and The Lost. His Agent Drew Cady thrillers include The Chessman, The Lynchpin, and The Eulogist. Jeff lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with his wife, Cindy, an irate Pomeranian named Lucy, and a happy galoot of a Beagle named Milo.