The Recommended Reading Order
If you want to get the most out of the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series, you should read the books in order of publication. While each novel features a self-contained crime that is fully resolved by the final page, the overarching personal lives, character development, and the deep, evolving bond between Mattie and Robo span across the entire series. Reading them chronologically allows you to watch their partnership grow and witness the gradual uncovering of Mattie's mysterious, troubled past.
- Killing Trail (2015) - Mattie and Robo investigate the murder of a young girl found in the mountains, marking the first time they team up on a major homicide case.
- Stalking Ground (2016) - A missing woman's body is found in the snowy wilderness, dragging Mattie into a cold-blooded hunt for a killer stalking the mountain trails.
- Hunting Hour (2017) - The search for a missing young girl leads Mattie and Robo into a dark investigation that hits close to home for veterinarian Cole Walker.
- Burning Ridge (2018) - A body discovered on a charred mountain ridge exposes secrets that link directly to Mattie's hidden childhood trauma.
- Tracking Game (2019) - The duo hunts a killer in the Colorado high country during a massive autumn snowstorm, dealing with local tensions and dangerous wildlife.
- Hanging Falls (2020) - A search-and-rescue mission turns into a murder investigation when a body is pulled from a mountain lake, testing Mattie's professional and personal limits.
- Striking Range (2021) - While Mattie is on maternity leave, a high-stakes abduction case pulls her and Robo back into active duty to rescue a captured deputy.
- Standing Dead (2023) - Mattie goes undercover in a rugged, isolated wilderness environment to dismantle a dangerous cult and rescue a loved one.
- Gathering Mist (2024) - A mysterious death in a dense, fog-covered forest leads Mattie and Robo to confront a complicated web of local greed and family secrets.
- Dying Cry (2025) - Mattie and Robo uncover dark secrets in a tense case that forces them to push their tracking abilities to the absolute limit.
- Fighting Edge (Scheduled for September 2026) - The upcoming eleventh installment brings a new set of high-stakes challenges for the Timber Creek K-9 unit.
Why the Chronological Order Matters
Although you can pick up any individual book and enjoy it as a standalone police procedural, reading out of order will spoil significant character arcs. The series builds heavily on Mattie Cobb's internal journey—transitioning from a guarded, lonely deputy with a dark childhood to a woman who slowly learns to trust, love, and build a family. Cole Walker's family life and the maturation of Robo from a young, eager service dog to a seasoned veteran handler-canine duo also form a continuous narrative thread that makes reading chronologically highly rewarding.
What to Know Before You Start
The series takes place in the fictional town of Timber Creek, situated in the spectacular Colorado Rockies. Author Margaret Mizushima lives in Colorado and leverages her husband's background as a veterinarian to bring an exceptional level of realism to Robo's medical care, training, and police search techniques. The books offer a cozy yet thrilling atmosphere, combining realistic police work, heartwarming animal bonds, and a strong sense of small-town community. There are no official spin-offs or short stories set in this universe, meaning you can focus entirely on the main series list.