The Coyote Run K-9 Mystery series by Marta Acosta features Maddie “Mad Girl” Whitney. This unconventional heroine finds plenty of adventure and she always has a canine sidekick. The first book, The Dog Thief, pairs her with an ex-military Belgian Malinois whose handler was killed in action. Maddie has a PhD in criminology and her autism gives her a unique outlook that helps her solve crimes, often before the police! This book series beautifully portrays the human/dog bond as well as the dog/dog bond. The human partnerships and friendships are also realistically depicted. The series takes place in the East Bay, where the author lives, giving them a fun, local flavor. There are three Coyote Run books to date but another is scheduled to be released before the end of the year. This is a wonderful series that our reviewer gives a rating of five out of five bones!
