cover image Wolf’s Clothing: A Moriah Dru/Richard Lake Mystery

Wolf’s Clothing: A Moriah Dru/Richard Lake Mystery

Gerrie Ferris Finger. Bold Venture, $12.95 trade paper (280p) ISBN 978-1-985757-62-2

The abduction of police dog Buddy, who’s nabbed in a carefully planned heist, kicks off Finger’s awkwardly plotted seventh mystery featuring PI Moriah Dru and Det. Lt. Richard Lake of the Atlanta PD (after 2016’s American Nights). The trail starts at the School for Military & Police K-9s, where vet tech Brad Sanders apparently provided the drugs that sedated Buddy beforehand, but Liam Bridge’s police dog, Jed, provides another clue when he smells Buddy’s scent on the estate of Liam’s neighbor, Warner Erskine. Moriah and Richard soon become immersed in the Wolves of Atlanta case, in which two investment firm partners—Warner’s brother, Mitchell, and Daniel Garian—pulled a Ponzi scheme on their clients. After their financial skullduggery came to light, Daniel was murdered, Mitchell was convicted of the crime, and $50 million of their clients’ assets disappeared. Finger provides an appealing look at the world of police canines, but Buddy’s dognapping is basically forgotten once the focus shifts to the fraud and murder case. Finger fans will hope for better next time. (July)