After their parents' deaths in a tragic accident years ago, siblings Cory and Crystal Pratt live in the family home, and their working lives sometimes intertwine. Crystal is a detective in the Chicago Police Department, and Cory has two human remains detection dogs as well as a dog training academy.
Both are called in when a string of recent murders seems to be connected to a Netflix documentary, but when the pair begin investigating, the killer focuses on stopping them.
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I have enjoyed previous books by Jeffrey B. Burton. He has a knack for creating irreverent, sympathetic characters and pairing them with working dogs-- always a potent combination in my book. Although the same framework is present here, I found The Dead Years to be less satisfying.
The story is told from Cory Pratt's perspective, and I liked this twentysomething's voice. However, I found his angst over the deaths of his parents a bit of a yawn. (Why do so many characters in mysteries have parents who died tragically?) His canine partners, Alice the bloodhound and Rex the springer spaniel, did their jobs well, and Cory's sister, Crystal, is the more logical, grounded one of the pair.
The serial killer in The Dead Years is a bit different, resurrecting his reign of terror after becoming incensed over his portrayal in a Netflix documentary, and he also plays a role in Cory's dreams. Readers learn the killer's identity before Cory and Crystal do, but once they do know, it's a race to the finish.
I did enjoy this book. It's all there: fast pace, engaging story, sympathetic characters, but I have to admit that it felt as if I'd read it all before. Even a winning formula can become tired.
The Dead Years by Jeffrey B. Burton
eISBN: 9781448312405
Severn House © 2024
eBook, 224 pages
Thriller, #1 Chicago K-9
Rating: C+
Source: Net Galley
