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Jo Beth Sidden "Bloodhound" Mystery #4
Blind Bloodhound Justice
This isn't the first time that Jo Beth Sidden's life has gone to the dogs. But the bloodhound trainer-turned-sleuth's latest case has a trail so cold there isn't a scent for her trusty canines to trace. Thirty years ago, two baby girls were kidnapped and their nanny murdered. The estate owner's daughter turned up safe in a nearby church. The other, the gardener's child, was never found. The man convicted of the two crimes was a vagrant who insisted he was innocent throughout the three decades he served of a life sentence. Now, he's being paroled for health reasons and Sheriff Hank Cribbs is worried his return will stir up bad blood. Turning to his best friend, Jo Beth, Hank asks for help. With her beloved blind bloodhound, the two-year-old Bobby Lee, Jo Beth must sniff out the ghosts of the past and find the truth buried deep in a swamp of cunning deceit and murderous secrets.
337 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
2 people are currently reading
203 people want to read
About the author
Virginia Lanier
10 books76 followersAn author who penned the popular "Bloodhound" series of mystery books and published her first book at age 65.
Her first book, Death in Bloodhound Red, released in April of 1995, was nominated for three literary awards: the Agatha, the Anthony, and the Macavity for the "Best First Mystery Novel in 1995."
Series:
* Jo Beth Sidden "Bloodhound" Mystery
Her first book, Death in Bloodhound Red, released in April of 1995, was nominated for three literary awards: the Agatha, the Anthony, and the Macavity for the "Best First Mystery Novel in 1995."
Series:
* Jo Beth Sidden "Bloodhound" Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 20, 2022
SPOILER ALERT
Another fascinating story of Jo Beth Siddon and her Bloodhound Inc business. She is again hosting the training of several law enforcement individuals with their new dogs. While that is happening she is called to the site of woman who disappeared from her car, the driver door left open and an empty child seat in the back. Ernestine Whitely, an extremely large woman suffering an extreme mental illness has taken Naomi Zeckermann hostage and her 11- month-old son, Andy. She knocks Naomi out on the trail and takes the boy another direction. Jo Beth and Jasmine are following and split up. Jo Beth's dog gets caught in quicksand and Deputy Rigdon saves them. They find the mother and take her to assistance. Jasmine shows up, after they could not reach her, Deputy Tom Selph has been stabbed by the Ernestine. Jo Beth knows her and goes on ahead on her own with her dog. She finds Ernestine, overcomes her through trickery, and they are finally rescued. The boy recovers.
Jo Beth then completes her investigation that Sheriff Hank Cribbs has asked for her help. Bryan Sirmons and Patricia Ann Newton have returned to the mansion that belongs to Patricia Ann. Thirty years earlier Cal Newton had died and Patricia Ann and Sirmons daughter Loretta Lynn were both kidnapped. Patricia Ann was left at the church and Loretta Lynn killed and buried. Another man was convicted and is now being released on a medical parole. He still maintains that he didn't do it. Jo Beth determines that Sirmons switched the babies. One friend had commented that the babies were so alike and Velma Nichols, the nanny had always dressed Patricia Ann in yellow. One of the few pictures that Jo Beth finds shows Sirmons holding Patricia Ann (in yellow) as if it were his daughter. He had planned an elaborate ruse to kidnap Patricia Ann and kill her substituting his daughter for Patricia Ann. He kills Velma Nichols because she could have recognized the babies. He then followed through on the plan and raised Patricia Ann, who inherited all the estate of Cal Newton, who was really his own daughter. Jo Beth forces him to confess without revealing the details so that Loretta can stay in her circumstances, keeping the estate, while Sirmons goes to prison.
Very clever and complex.
When all seems fine, Jo Beth is on her way home from an event and Bubba sees her. She lets Bobby Lee out of the car, and then crashes. When she is aware again, she is in a mud pit. Jasmine finds her with Bobby Lee's help, but Jo Beth begs her to run and hide. She realizes that Bubba has put her there, it is his property and he will return to kill Bobby Lee and Jasmine with his famous baseball bat. He does return, but Jasmine has left Jo Beth with a flashlight and her gun. She tricks Bubba to lighting up his face, and she shoots him. It is just in the knee, and he once again eludes capture before he can make up a story, have the bullet removed and avoid arrest.
Each story is as exciting and well-paced.
Another fascinating story of Jo Beth Siddon and her Bloodhound Inc business. She is again hosting the training of several law enforcement individuals with their new dogs. While that is happening she is called to the site of woman who disappeared from her car, the driver door left open and an empty child seat in the back. Ernestine Whitely, an extremely large woman suffering an extreme mental illness has taken Naomi Zeckermann hostage and her 11- month-old son, Andy. She knocks Naomi out on the trail and takes the boy another direction. Jo Beth and Jasmine are following and split up. Jo Beth's dog gets caught in quicksand and Deputy Rigdon saves them. They find the mother and take her to assistance. Jasmine shows up, after they could not reach her, Deputy Tom Selph has been stabbed by the Ernestine. Jo Beth knows her and goes on ahead on her own with her dog. She finds Ernestine, overcomes her through trickery, and they are finally rescued. The boy recovers.
Jo Beth then completes her investigation that Sheriff Hank Cribbs has asked for her help. Bryan Sirmons and Patricia Ann Newton have returned to the mansion that belongs to Patricia Ann. Thirty years earlier Cal Newton had died and Patricia Ann and Sirmons daughter Loretta Lynn were both kidnapped. Patricia Ann was left at the church and Loretta Lynn killed and buried. Another man was convicted and is now being released on a medical parole. He still maintains that he didn't do it. Jo Beth determines that Sirmons switched the babies. One friend had commented that the babies were so alike and Velma Nichols, the nanny had always dressed Patricia Ann in yellow. One of the few pictures that Jo Beth finds shows Sirmons holding Patricia Ann (in yellow) as if it were his daughter. He had planned an elaborate ruse to kidnap Patricia Ann and kill her substituting his daughter for Patricia Ann. He kills Velma Nichols because she could have recognized the babies. He then followed through on the plan and raised Patricia Ann, who inherited all the estate of Cal Newton, who was really his own daughter. Jo Beth forces him to confess without revealing the details so that Loretta can stay in her circumstances, keeping the estate, while Sirmons goes to prison.
Very clever and complex.
When all seems fine, Jo Beth is on her way home from an event and Bubba sees her. She lets Bobby Lee out of the car, and then crashes. When she is aware again, she is in a mud pit. Jasmine finds her with Bobby Lee's help, but Jo Beth begs her to run and hide. She realizes that Bubba has put her there, it is his property and he will return to kill Bobby Lee and Jasmine with his famous baseball bat. He does return, but Jasmine has left Jo Beth with a flashlight and her gun. She tricks Bubba to lighting up his face, and she shoots him. It is just in the knee, and he once again eludes capture before he can make up a story, have the bullet removed and avoid arrest.
Each story is as exciting and well-paced.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2019
Good enough that I'm reading another one. The problem is there are gaps in the story - as if the author thought she had explained something and didn't, but referred to it later in the book. I do enjoy the dogs being an essential part of the story.
December 20, 2017
I love the sense of place that comes through so strongly.
August 15, 2019
Just as good as the last.
June 18, 2023
Loved this one. Written much better than book 3.
November 26, 2024
Another good one in this series!
January 25, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. I just love all the stories and the thrill of learning what happened.
February 15, 2025
Super cute
March 8, 2014
I seem to be on a dog book kick right now, and it was interesting reading this book simultaneously with a Susan Conant book, as the plots are similar, with both featuring women very involved with dogs also acting as amateur sleuths with the assistance of their canine partners. However, unlike Conant's protagonist Holly Winter whose area of specialty is the dog show world, Lanier's Jo Beth Sidden trains bloodhounds especially for roles on police forces and the like and thus has actual crime-solving expertise. Lanier also takes about twice as long page-wise to lay our her plot, which limits the need to write in amazing coincidences in order to keep the book short and I feel leads to a better plot, though I gave both books the same 3 star rating, as Blind Bloodhound Justice did feel dry at times and I had trouble following along with some of the characters.
Sidden is approached by her sheriff friend, and perhaps boyfriend, Hank seeking her consult on a murder case from 30 years ago where the man convicted of the crime was just released from jail on a medical pardon, but maintains his innocence. Complicating matters is that the 2 survivors of the crime who are still alive are moving back to Georgia, where Jo Beth lives and the murder occurred and Hank is unsure how the arrival of these 3 individuals into town at the same time will go over. Hank hopes that perhaps Jo Beth can probe further into whether the man is innocent, using her bloodhounds if at all possible, and if she feels he is, then who actually killed a nanny and one of the babies she was caring for and kidnapped the other baby?
Jo Beth is a very complicated character who is running a successful business with hired help who live on her property, which is surrounded by a high-tech security system to keep out Jo Beth's crazy ex husband. So while this case is the main plot of the book, there are multiple subplots including workings of her business, other searches she and her dogs are called to, and this whole business with the ex. These subplots were easier to follow because they were concentrated over a couple chapters instead of the whole book, while it was the characters involved in the murder/kidnapping who I had trouble following.
Overall, I'd like to read more of Lanier's books in this series, as this was the book immediately before the other one of hers I've read, 'Ten Little Bloodhounds' and I wonder how the story continues, but it's not necessarily a series I'll look for anywhere outside of book exchanges and used book sales.
Sidden is approached by her sheriff friend, and perhaps boyfriend, Hank seeking her consult on a murder case from 30 years ago where the man convicted of the crime was just released from jail on a medical pardon, but maintains his innocence. Complicating matters is that the 2 survivors of the crime who are still alive are moving back to Georgia, where Jo Beth lives and the murder occurred and Hank is unsure how the arrival of these 3 individuals into town at the same time will go over. Hank hopes that perhaps Jo Beth can probe further into whether the man is innocent, using her bloodhounds if at all possible, and if she feels he is, then who actually killed a nanny and one of the babies she was caring for and kidnapped the other baby?
Jo Beth is a very complicated character who is running a successful business with hired help who live on her property, which is surrounded by a high-tech security system to keep out Jo Beth's crazy ex husband. So while this case is the main plot of the book, there are multiple subplots including workings of her business, other searches she and her dogs are called to, and this whole business with the ex. These subplots were easier to follow because they were concentrated over a couple chapters instead of the whole book, while it was the characters involved in the murder/kidnapping who I had trouble following.
Overall, I'd like to read more of Lanier's books in this series, as this was the book immediately before the other one of hers I've read, 'Ten Little Bloodhounds' and I wonder how the story continues, but it's not necessarily a series I'll look for anywhere outside of book exchanges and used book sales.
December 19, 2012
I actually enjoy these books, which (I think) are published only in paperback. They are several notches above many hardbound mysteries coming out these days.
In this one, Jo Beth is asked to look into a 30-year-old child kidnapping and murder. The man who was sentenced for the crime has been released from prison on medical grounds and moved back to the area; he has mainained his innocence obstinately for 30 years.
Of course she figures out the knot at the center of this puzzle while at the same time running a training week for several K9 officers and running a couple of rescue operations of her own, one of which involves a carjacking and a crazy swamp woman.
The book ends, very weakly, with her ex-husband's latest attempt at torturing her to death where she nearly dies in a swamp.
Aside from that, the book was satisfying. I may have to just go on and read the rest of these.
In this one, Jo Beth is asked to look into a 30-year-old child kidnapping and murder. The man who was sentenced for the crime has been released from prison on medical grounds and moved back to the area; he has mainained his innocence obstinately for 30 years.
Of course she figures out the knot at the center of this puzzle while at the same time running a training week for several K9 officers and running a couple of rescue operations of her own, one of which involves a carjacking and a crazy swamp woman.
The book ends, very weakly, with her ex-husband's latest attempt at torturing her to death where she nearly dies in a swamp.
Aside from that, the book was satisfying. I may have to just go on and read the rest of these.
April 21, 2016
Very good puzzle to solve and Jo Beth and her Bloodhounds are up for the challenge.
I enjoy mysteries, I enjoy good stories that have excellent roles for dogs and their human handlers. This has both. Toss in a SOB ex-husband in the deep south, law enforcement and undue influence from the SOB's family...you have a good foundation for several books.
I SO wish there were more books in this series.
I enjoy mysteries, I enjoy good stories that have excellent roles for dogs and their human handlers. This has both. Toss in a SOB ex-husband in the deep south, law enforcement and undue influence from the SOB's family...you have a good foundation for several books.
I SO wish there were more books in this series.
July 8, 2008
It's been a few years since I've read Virginia Lanier. I loved her series and miss her work, since she passed away a few years ago. After a brief hiatus, it's good to be back to continue with the series. I'll be reading one more this year and finish up with the last two next year, though out of order. A good read for a mystery.
August 18, 2010
I still love this series; in this one Jo Beth is trying to solve a 30 year old murder case, and trudging through the Okefenokee Swamp in search of a mother and her baby, who may in the company of a kidnapper/murderer. The descriptions of the swamp, as well as the beloved Bloodhounds, are great.
July 11, 2008
Still good, but it's getting a little farfetched that JoBeth is asked to investigate a crime.
November 5, 2008
Great south Georgia mystery. We'd all want one of those amazing Bloodhounds, if they didn't drool so much.
December 17, 2008
I really enjoyed the protagonist in this series, and even though I'm not a big dog lover, I found the bloodhound training to be fascinating.
January 1, 2009
Yet another fun read. This one finds our heroine tracking down a 30 year old mystery and meeting some fun characters who I hope to meet in the next book. Hank's still around and hoping.
October 21, 2009
Don't waste your time on this one!
March 21, 2011
read this series several years ago and really enjoyed it- the back story about the author is wonderful too- never wrote anything until she was over 60.
March 31, 2011
fast, scary
August 4, 2016
I really enjoyed this series but then I am a a dog lover and to make it a mystery as well really was great. I have the last book and am reading it now.
March 7, 2014
I love loved this book and sweet Bobby Lee.
January 22, 2016
Loved this series, bloodhounds used for search and rescue, good characters, good situations, great read. I was sad when the author passed.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews