Undercover Assignment (Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit, 4)

“Human predators were good at surviving and thriving too, she thought, sometimes hiding in plain sight.”

Aside from the fact that I love Dana Mentink’s writing, the first thing that attracted me to this book was its focus on dogs. As strange as it may sound, that also made me nervous because I can’t bear to read stories in which any harm comes to the dog, even if it’s a work of fiction. Thus I both applaud and cringe when I come across a new book—or better yet, a series—that spotlights working dogs. This is the first book in the Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit series that I have read, the fourth book in the series, and it can easily be a standalone. Furthermore, for any readers who share my concerns, I’m very happy to report that the canine comes through unscathed. Admittedly, this is just about the most important part for me! While I’m familiar with service dogs, I am less well acquainted with police canines, and “Undercover Assignment” offers a glimpse into the life of a K-9 officer and her four-legged partner.

A seemingly eclectic mix of characters greet the reader within the pages of this suspenseful yet heartwarming tale. Officer Daniella Vargas finds herself at the remote Cliffside Lodge in New Mexico with her K-9 partner, Zara, posing as a nanny in order to investigate strange goings-on there while keeping owner Sam Kavanaugh’s young son, Oliver, safe. What Daniella thinks is a humiliating waste of her time soon proves to be a true mystery with real dangers, and it’s somehow connected with Sam’s late wife. In spite of their different personalities, he and Daniella share a similar predicament: they have each erected nearly impenetrable walls around themselves to protect their hearts. Strength and perseverance can become handicaps when we close off our hearts and don’t rely on God for our daily needs or allow Him to be our strength. This is just as important during our grief as it is during our joy, and it always involves stepping outside of our comfort zones, even when it doesn’t make sense, as Daniella observes: “From what she knew of Sam, he’d fight and scrap to make the best of what God had given him, just like she had.” Often, the biggest blessings come after determining to endure. What we lose might just pave the way for a blessing that we never expected, and sometimes it takes the loyalty and devotion of a dog to help us realize that.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

This story was everything I’ve come to expect from a Dana Mentink story. It was full of suspense, nicely paced action, wonderful characters, and perfectly timed pops of humor, which I love.

Daniella scared me a bit at first because I thought she might be too snarky, but I ended up really liking her. On the other hand, I loved Sam from the get go! He had been through so much and I loved how protective he was of his son, Ollie. As I usually do, I thought everyone was guilty at one point or another in the story. The mystery was different and kept me guessing until the end.

The faith thread was woven seamlessly throughout the story. This was one of my favorite quotes,

“The definition of faith, he thought. To trust, even when you don’t understand. But trusting didn’t mean it didn’t hurt, sometimes more than he could stand.”

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own. The faith thread is light.