Scent of Murder

By Cynthia G. Alwyn

Brenna Scott is the founder of a volunteer search team in Sacramento, California, a group of people with their specially trained dogs ready when needed. When a series of children go missing, however, the team is pitted against an especially clever and deeply evil opponent. Brenna is horrified when the kidnapper makes contact with her via email. As the disturbing game escalates in intensity, children continue to disappear, and the search dogs keep their noses to the ground. Everyone hopes the canine crime fighters will turn up a clue before it's too late. These amazing animals proceed with loyalty and dedication and their training and talents prove instrumental in solving these horrendous crimes.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 031226559X
• ISBN13: 9780312265595
• Release Date: July 2001
• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.7" x 1.2" x 5.7"

Customer Reviews

I just finished my 7th reading ...

This is an excellent suspense novel that draws you into the life of Brenna Scott and her K-9 search and rescue team. I picked up this book on a bargain rack and upon opening it was immediately drawn into a life touched by sadness, comfort, laughter and hope. If you are a dog lover, as I am, you'll shed tears, but you'll also smile at the mental pictures drawn by Cynthia Alwyn's pen of the bond between trainer and dog; you'll also live the suspense of the search and rescue. This is a wonderful book and I am anxiously awaiting the next.

Superb!

The author obviously knows her subject matter, which is not always the case with some authors who try to write dogs into their books. Couldn't put this one down, and I found myself slowing down towards the end because I didn't want to close the book. More, more!

First class!

As an avid mystery lover and dog lover, this book was truly a welcome find. The mystery stands very well on its own. The dog information is factual and fascinating. The characters are compelling and I look forward to meeting them again in future books. Alwyn should be proud of this book!

Wonderful

Wonderful story! Interesting use of a serial killer/kidnapping story and the use of human-canine search and rescue dogs. Knowing the author's love of dogs, a dog lover can't help but enjoy the story also. I have bought copies to give to nieces and nephews.

A winner

In Seattle, Brenna Scott and her German Shepherd "Brie" are part of a team searching for missing four-year-old Zoe Hendricks. Brie, an expert scent discriminator, follows an olfactory path that leads her and Brenna to the abductor. However, the kidnapper tosses the child into the nearby rushing water. Brie jumps in after her, followed by Brenna. They rescue Zoe, but Brie dies. The kidnapper escapes, but later evidence points to the gambling problems of Zoe's father as the cause.As Brenna mourns the loss of one of her "girls," an abduction in her home base of Sacramento occurs. With her other canine "Feather" and other members of the Culpepper Investigations search and rescue team, they find the child, but he is dead. Brenna somehow senses the kidnapper is the Seattle abductor who somehow followed them south. What she soon will learn is Gideon is playing a deadly game with her.SCENT OF MURDER uses an interesting serial killer/kidnapping story line to focus on the partnership of human-canine search and rescue teams. That aspect is a two edged sword. By doing this, debut author Cynthia G. Alwyn provides an insightful fresh look into the mystery. At the same time, the depth of the teaming slows down the who-done-it. Still, with three-dimensional characters including the dogs and a strong main plot, many readers will fully relish this novel and want more stories starring Brenna, Feathers, and the other team members.Harriet Klausner