Assessment:
Plot: This debut novel has something for a variety of readers: adventure, a grand setting, training dogs, and outdoor gear surrounding a fast-paced mystery and a nightmarish past. Carter does not shy away from the needed details about the dogs or the unnecessary attributes of the Colorado setting. While intriguing, these details can slightly slow down the action throughout the novel.
Prose: Carter uses natural language to explain the dogs and their instincts. She manages to tackle many elements of the story with ease and has set the reader up for a new mystery to ensue.
Originality: Including plenty of information about training dogs and a grand Colorado setting that calls for adventure is refreshing.
Character/Execution: The female protagonist is sharp and quick-witted. She knows how to deal with dogs and people while working hard to put her past behind her. She tackles problems head-on, proving herself to be a solid role model for victims of trauma. The dogs will win over all readers with the ability to help solve a mystery as well as calm victims.
Date Submitted: May 22, 2022
Action-Packed and a Thrill a Minute
"Veronica Kildare has relocated and changed her career. She trains dogs to be guards, drug/disease sniffers, and more. When Dr. Randy Jeffers disappears and bad guys make another appearance in her life, Veronica doesn’t back down. With her dog, Leda next to her Veronica sets out to find Dr. Jeffers and elude the bad guys.
The author, Tracy Carter, crafts an action-packed adventure blended smoothly with mystery and hope. The storyline is polished and clever. The character development is well done and complete. By the end of the book, I felt connected to the characters and cheering them on. The plot twists she devised are smooth and deliberate. Carter did an excellent job of making the story feel authentic and realistic through dialogue and rich imagery.
The narrator, 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 was spot-on. Alyssa Baumann added to my enjoyment of this story!
I enjoyed this story. It was well-written, engaging and the narrator was the right fit!
There were no issues with the production or quality of this audiobook."
"When the star expert witness in a high-profile murder case goes missing, dog trainer Veronica Kildare and her Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Leda, are on the case. With a gorgeous setting in the Colorado wilderness; a relatable protagonist with a troubled past; crisp, clear writing; and a deftly handled twist near the end, Tracy Carter's mystery, Dogged Pursuit, is a debut to watch for."
—Connie Berry, USA Today best-selling and Agatha-nominated author of The Kate Hamilton Mysteries
"The search for a missing scientist challenges the mettle of a dog trainer and her stellar Chesapeake Bay Retriever in this mystery/adventure that takes readers deep into Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park...Carter's articulately composed series opener, which gradually picks up steam as it heads toward a dramatic finale, is packed with engaging extras beyond the adventure itself...A mystery with a nice mix of tenderness, humor, and excitement." — Kirkus Reviews
