Entertaining.

First off I want to say thx Goodreads & Putnam- I received this advanced readers copy through First Reads! On to the review...I was glad to see that Ryder and Grace are back. I read the earlier book Stranded first and really enjoyed it so Im glad to see they are getting a bigger part and their own series! I think the plot was good and the pacing was on target. The story didnt have alot of redundancy which I like. It also had enough action and suspense and if you like dogs, then you' should fall in love with Grace and the other search & rescue dogs. I havent really come across that many books that focused on search & rescue dogs with mystery & action thrown in so its a nice change I think and Im sure the series will go over well because of it.

Synopsis ~

New York Times– and internationally bestselling author Alex Kava’s thrilling new series introducing Ryder Creed, ex-marine turned K9 search-and-rescue dog trainer as he teams up with fan-favorite FBI profiler Maggie O’Dell.

 

 

Ryder Creed and his dogs have been making national headlines. They’ve intercepted several major drug stashes being smuggled through Atlanta’s airport. But their newfound celebrity has also garnered some unwanted attention.

 

When Creed and one of his dogs are called in to search a commercial fishing vessel, they discover a secret compartment. But the Colombian cartels’ latest shipment isn’t drugs. This time, its cargo is human. To make matters worse, Creed helps one of the cartel’s drug mules escape—a fourteen-year-old girl who reminds him of his younger sister who disappeared fifteen years ago.

 

Meanwhile, FBI agent Maggie O’Dell is investigating a series of murders—the victims tortured, killed, and dumped in the Potomac River. She suspects it’s the work of a cunning and brutal assassin, but her politically motivated boss has been putting up roadblocks.

By the time she uncovers a hit list with Creed’s name on it, it might be too late. The cartel has already sent someone to destroy Creed and everyone close to him.

 

But Creed and his dogs have a few surprises in store on their compound in Florida. Will it be enough to stop a ruthless cartel determined to remove the thorn in its side once and for all?

 

My Thoughts ~ 

Breaking Creed is the first in an all new series featuring Ryder Creed. Ryder and his dogs are famous for their search and rescue efforts and one dog in particular, Grace (an adorable Jack Russell Terrier), is featured prominently in this story – and was by far my most favorite character. 

 

Maggie O’Dell is very much front and center in this story and although her newest case and the one that Ryder is working on seem totally unrelated, the two meet up to join forces in an effort to stop the “Iceman” from killing anymore seemingly innocent people. 

 

This story had such an intense, nail-biting plot that had so much going on, I was wondering how the author was going to bring it all together – but she did and I loved it!  From a serial killer with an obsession for all things bugs, a Colombian drug cartel and the horrors of child trafficking, this book will keep you guessing ‘what next?’ throughout.  I loved Creed’s dogs and really look forward to ‘seeing’ them in future works by the author.

 

Although I am a big fan of Alex Kava, it’s been a few years since I have read anything written by her, but Breaking Creed reminded me of just how good her books are and what a talented author she is.

 

This was my first book by Alex Kava, and it won't be my last. Breaking Creed is the first novel in the new Ryder Creed series. Kava's Maggie O'Dell (from the series with the same name) is also in this book. Even though I haven't read the other series, there was no problem with reading this new book. Ryder, however, does appear in one of Maggie's stories, ending not long before this one begins.

 

The star of this series is Ryder, a former Marine turned dog handler. As an Army veteran and Army wife, I love novels with a military theme that are done well. While the military itself wasn't at the center of this book, it's touch is felt throughout and it was done well.

 

Ryder and Maggie were facsinating main characters. Although this series centers on Ryder, their individual stories were equally important and they wove together nicely. The two characters came at the central plot from different angles and it made for a truly engrossing story with so many twists and turns. Just as important to the story were the supporting characters, especially Jason and his friends. They were former military and, as such, I related to their stories in different ways. I thought that the nod to veterans and the problems they often face was extremely well-handled and done so in a way that not only shined a bit of a light on it, but also gave hope.

 

What I also found interesting was that Ryder's dogs were almost as fully created characters as were the humans, with personalities and stories of their own. Grace is the main dog and she reminded me of my Noelani, so I had a special love for her!

 

Things to love...

 

--The subplots that really added depth to the story.
--The veterans and their stories.
--The dogs with individual personalities.

 

My Recommendation

 

I love action novels with a military/government theme and this book fit the bill. So much intrigue and mystery and I loved that I was kept guessing! Great read!

I was so excited when I discovered I had been accepted to read this book. I had read the first one, Stranded and loved the story about Ryder Creed and his dogs. And it did not disappoint!

I will say, the story started off a little slow and kind of jumped around, but then there were a bunch of characters that had to be introduced. So just keep that in mind because when the story starts unfolding you will definitely be on a ride! With Maggie in Virginia and Ryder in Florida, you wonder what in the heck these two subplots have to do with each other. No way will you be able to figure this one out.

A warning however, if you have issues with insects, scorpions and snakes, beware they play an integral part in the story. And it's not pretty.

Thank you Penguin/Putnam and Net Galley for providing me with an e-galley in exchange for my review.