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Jo Beth Sidden "Bloodhound" Mystery #2
The House on Bloodhound Lane
The House on Bloodhound Lane
371 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
2 people are currently reading
253 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 - 30 of 39 reviews
October 10, 2019
This book was a choice for my Mystery Book Club and I really enjoyed it. It was a quick and easy read with really good characters. I enjoy anything Southern and also love hunting dogs and the dog Bobby Lee in this book is wonderful. This is a short series but I would like to read more books by this author.
January 3, 2026
I loved the 2nd installment in this series. The story flows so easily and I couldn't put it down without thinking I had to get back to it and keep reading 'just one more chapter'.
Jo Beth is expanding her business and things seem to be going well. Well almost since the ex-husband has been released early again, and she must constantly look over her shoulder.
While JoBeth is running her seminar, and meeting a handsome LEO, a businessman goes missing. According to the rumor, he has been kidnapped several days ago. JoBeth is recruited by his father to find him. Is the trail too cold? Where to even begin and how do you keep anyone from knowing that you are even looking?
I hope the majority of my reads for this year are just as good.
Jo Beth is expanding her business and things seem to be going well. Well almost since the ex-husband has been released early again, and she must constantly look over her shoulder.
While JoBeth is running her seminar, and meeting a handsome LEO, a businessman goes missing. According to the rumor, he has been kidnapped several days ago. JoBeth is recruited by his father to find him. Is the trail too cold? Where to even begin and how do you keep anyone from knowing that you are even looking?
I hope the majority of my reads for this year are just as good.
July 13, 2014
I picked up five of Lanier’s Bloodhound series at a three-for-a-dollar, proceeds-to-charity used book sale, and when I got home and put them on my Goodreads to-read shelf I was startled to find that—out of the thirty-some I’d bought—they made up five of the six most highly rated; ranging from 4.19 to 4.26. From the back covers they didn’t sound that good.
Well, they’re not. But I’m giving this one a solid three stars. The writing was good, the characters engaging—by which I mean the bloodhounds. Heck: the people aren’t bad either. :)
I could have done without the parole of Jo Beth’s psycho ex-husband, since he’s a total non-event. What’s the point in keying the reader up on Bubba’s account when the most that ever comes of his release is that he’s seen sitting in his truck? Once.
Well, they’re not. But I’m giving this one a solid three stars. The writing was good, the characters engaging—by which I mean the bloodhounds. Heck: the people aren’t bad either. :)
I could have done without the parole of Jo Beth’s psycho ex-husband, since he’s a total non-event. What’s the point in keying the reader up on Bubba’s account when the most that ever comes of his release is that he’s seen sitting in his truck? Once.
September 22, 2019
An ok read for me. Rated a 2 1/2 to 3.
This is a pick for my mystery book club.
I liked the characters but the storyline was kind of all over the place. The main story and mystery wasn't delved into much until the last 100 pages.
This is a pick for my mystery book club.
I liked the characters but the storyline was kind of all over the place. The main story and mystery wasn't delved into much until the last 100 pages.
June 10, 2022
SPOILER ALERT
I do love this series. Jo Beth Sidden is again facing the stalking and harassment of her ex-husband Bubba, recently released from the Patton Correctional facility. Having gotten 28 years for his beating her and another woman and causing thousands of dollars of damage at her home, he only ends up serving eight years due to the influence of his father. He continues to pursue his intent to kill her.
She makes sure she has her gun as she goes about her business of raising and training bloodhounds. Her newest project is training the law enforcement officers who will be handling the dogs that their offices have purchased. Starting with six men, who will be trained by her new employees, Jasmine Jones, Clifton Holcombe, Cora Simmons, Wendell Grantham and W A Beckham. She has also added a cook, Miz Jansee Tatum, and a maid, Lena Mae, and a videographer Donnie Ray Carver, who has made a video of the rescue of Mary Ann Miller, helped by her fiance Fenton Hamilton. Showing the film at the seminar for the trainees: Deputy Sgt Adam Gainey (who will be thrown out for his attitude and nastiness), Sgt Curtis French, and Vaughn all are treated to the successful rescue, in which she nearly dies, and where Robert E Lee, aka Bobby Lee, a puppy of four months at the time, and totally blind performs an amazing talent. He has become the pet of Jo Beth, and she keeps him with her as she trains the other dogs. He had picked up the cues and instructions for the mantracking and proves during this story that he is one of rare bloodhounds who has scent memory. In this installment he is eight months old and continuing to amaze one and all.
There are a number of story lines in this tale. Confronted in her bedroom by Jarel Owens, carrying a knife, he confesses that he was one of the men who were at the robbery where Deputy Mavis Johns died, but his partner did the killing. She gets Wade to help him, along with Sheriff Hank Cribbs. Hank hands her a dilemma at the same time. One of his deputies is growing and smoking pot. He doesn't want to lose him and asks Jo Beth to watch him on a day when Hank cannot. the FBI shows up in a helicopter and John Stringer nearly is caught. She gets him to clean up his house, commit to curtailing his growing and then takes a dog out to find the plants. They are in pots that have his fingerprints, so she has to round all 42 up.
At the same time Carol Fontaine, wife of her vet Ramon, reveals that the marriage is on the rocks. She flirts with Gainey at the seminar. Then Jo Beth gets a call from the hysterical receptionist, Petula, and gets to the clinic to find notes that Ramon has left. When she goes into his office, she finds that he has committed suicide. She begins the process of finding a new vet, which is a great worry since the dogs have a history of a variety of ailments. She is also working with Sheri Dawson, Wade's fiance on the treasure that she believes exists from the illegal pot business that his father had. Wade refuses to acknowledge the possibility and had called in the FBI who found nothing in the last book, as Jo Beth had cleaned it all out. Sheri agrees to find the money that will pay the taxes to keep Tara, the property Wade inherited. The schemes to infiltrate the funds into their income is part of the overall story.
During all of these events and problems, she is told that the man who runs Cannon Trucking, Frank Cannon, 56, has been kidnapped. The sons had kept it a secret, finally contacting the FBI and the GBI along with local law enforcement. As the three entities bicker and fail to handle the issue, it is still kept quiet. The sheriff tells Jo Beth about it, and then Tim Fergerson, security at Cannon and a friend of Jo Beth's, contacts her. He has approached the father David Franklin Cannon, owner, who has retired due to arthritis, and he agrees talk to Jo Beth. They want it kept quiet and the FBI has bugged their phones and homes. It becomes the Case of the Kidnapped Caliph as she seeks information on the properties through a hacker she knows, Little Bemis. She agrees to see what she can do. However, it has been more than a week since the kidnapping and no clues. As she sheds some of the other problems, she talks to Tim and gets a clue of a missing 18-wheeler. She gets a 12-year-old who is a whiz at car identification to help her follow the trail of the three sons, David, Philip and Donald, who with the mother hate their father and want his money. We are privy to the father being held in the buried truck as he is held with enough food and water for a considerable period. He knows who kidnapped him and why.
As Jo Beth and Kenton follow the cars owned by the sons, moving from property owned by the family to another, with Bobby Lee scenting at each scene, they find a boy who had seen the Trans Am, excavating/logging equipment and an eighteen-wheeler along the Big Alligator Road, on the way to 15,000 plus acres of pine forest. Jasmine and Jo Beth take dogs, along with Bobby Lee, to the area later and find the buried trailer. Bobby Lee scents Frank, and Jo Beth realizes that he has a rare scent memory ability. They pull Frank out of the trailer, agree that they will not reveal that they have rescued him, and take him to his father's house. Later there is a press conference telling the public that Frank had been ill and had gone to a clinic. He had sent a message via a friend, whose son had erased the message, hence the confusion.
A while later there is a headline in the paper that three brothers had disappeared. We learn that the Police Chief Jonathan Webber, who had shown up in the place of the deputy who was to take the course, but broke his leg, and who Jo Beth had held at gunpoint initially, and Jo Beth have continued their relationship long distance. She and Hank are on the outs as he realizes, listening to a tape the FBI had, that she had found Frank, not that a ransom had been paid as the media believed. She admits that she cannot share the information as she had to bend the rules, but may tell him one day.
I do love this series. Jo Beth Sidden is again facing the stalking and harassment of her ex-husband Bubba, recently released from the Patton Correctional facility. Having gotten 28 years for his beating her and another woman and causing thousands of dollars of damage at her home, he only ends up serving eight years due to the influence of his father. He continues to pursue his intent to kill her.
She makes sure she has her gun as she goes about her business of raising and training bloodhounds. Her newest project is training the law enforcement officers who will be handling the dogs that their offices have purchased. Starting with six men, who will be trained by her new employees, Jasmine Jones, Clifton Holcombe, Cora Simmons, Wendell Grantham and W A Beckham. She has also added a cook, Miz Jansee Tatum, and a maid, Lena Mae, and a videographer Donnie Ray Carver, who has made a video of the rescue of Mary Ann Miller, helped by her fiance Fenton Hamilton. Showing the film at the seminar for the trainees: Deputy Sgt Adam Gainey (who will be thrown out for his attitude and nastiness), Sgt Curtis French, and Vaughn all are treated to the successful rescue, in which she nearly dies, and where Robert E Lee, aka Bobby Lee, a puppy of four months at the time, and totally blind performs an amazing talent. He has become the pet of Jo Beth, and she keeps him with her as she trains the other dogs. He had picked up the cues and instructions for the mantracking and proves during this story that he is one of rare bloodhounds who has scent memory. In this installment he is eight months old and continuing to amaze one and all.
There are a number of story lines in this tale. Confronted in her bedroom by Jarel Owens, carrying a knife, he confesses that he was one of the men who were at the robbery where Deputy Mavis Johns died, but his partner did the killing. She gets Wade to help him, along with Sheriff Hank Cribbs. Hank hands her a dilemma at the same time. One of his deputies is growing and smoking pot. He doesn't want to lose him and asks Jo Beth to watch him on a day when Hank cannot. the FBI shows up in a helicopter and John Stringer nearly is caught. She gets him to clean up his house, commit to curtailing his growing and then takes a dog out to find the plants. They are in pots that have his fingerprints, so she has to round all 42 up.
At the same time Carol Fontaine, wife of her vet Ramon, reveals that the marriage is on the rocks. She flirts with Gainey at the seminar. Then Jo Beth gets a call from the hysterical receptionist, Petula, and gets to the clinic to find notes that Ramon has left. When she goes into his office, she finds that he has committed suicide. She begins the process of finding a new vet, which is a great worry since the dogs have a history of a variety of ailments. She is also working with Sheri Dawson, Wade's fiance on the treasure that she believes exists from the illegal pot business that his father had. Wade refuses to acknowledge the possibility and had called in the FBI who found nothing in the last book, as Jo Beth had cleaned it all out. Sheri agrees to find the money that will pay the taxes to keep Tara, the property Wade inherited. The schemes to infiltrate the funds into their income is part of the overall story.
During all of these events and problems, she is told that the man who runs Cannon Trucking, Frank Cannon, 56, has been kidnapped. The sons had kept it a secret, finally contacting the FBI and the GBI along with local law enforcement. As the three entities bicker and fail to handle the issue, it is still kept quiet. The sheriff tells Jo Beth about it, and then Tim Fergerson, security at Cannon and a friend of Jo Beth's, contacts her. He has approached the father David Franklin Cannon, owner, who has retired due to arthritis, and he agrees talk to Jo Beth. They want it kept quiet and the FBI has bugged their phones and homes. It becomes the Case of the Kidnapped Caliph as she seeks information on the properties through a hacker she knows, Little Bemis. She agrees to see what she can do. However, it has been more than a week since the kidnapping and no clues. As she sheds some of the other problems, she talks to Tim and gets a clue of a missing 18-wheeler. She gets a 12-year-old who is a whiz at car identification to help her follow the trail of the three sons, David, Philip and Donald, who with the mother hate their father and want his money. We are privy to the father being held in the buried truck as he is held with enough food and water for a considerable period. He knows who kidnapped him and why.
As Jo Beth and Kenton follow the cars owned by the sons, moving from property owned by the family to another, with Bobby Lee scenting at each scene, they find a boy who had seen the Trans Am, excavating/logging equipment and an eighteen-wheeler along the Big Alligator Road, on the way to 15,000 plus acres of pine forest. Jasmine and Jo Beth take dogs, along with Bobby Lee, to the area later and find the buried trailer. Bobby Lee scents Frank, and Jo Beth realizes that he has a rare scent memory ability. They pull Frank out of the trailer, agree that they will not reveal that they have rescued him, and take him to his father's house. Later there is a press conference telling the public that Frank had been ill and had gone to a clinic. He had sent a message via a friend, whose son had erased the message, hence the confusion.
A while later there is a headline in the paper that three brothers had disappeared. We learn that the Police Chief Jonathan Webber, who had shown up in the place of the deputy who was to take the course, but broke his leg, and who Jo Beth had held at gunpoint initially, and Jo Beth have continued their relationship long distance. She and Hank are on the outs as he realizes, listening to a tape the FBI had, that she had found Frank, not that a ransom had been paid as the media believed. She admits that she cannot share the information as she had to bend the rules, but may tell him one day.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2016
Older style mystery was enjoyable to me. No blood or guts, no thrills. Just a plain story with twists and turns and surprises. Works for me!
September 17, 2019
For most of my life, mysteries have not been my first choice in fiction. Like all baby boomers, science fiction and adventure novels top the list with occasional action yarns. Certainly, Sherlock Holmes is very cool, but hardly modern mystery writing. My judgement is going to be hampered here, but I would say this story has made me reconsider some mystery in my mix. The setting of this story is also a selling point since my background from French Canada lends an understanding to the somewhat quirky lifestyles and concerns in small rural farm communities. The author is right that urban life is a world away from locations in her story. Her cultural recollections here add character and depth to her world. Well done.
June 13, 2019
Pretty cute little read. Pretty well written. Lots of dogs (I like that). Good pl0t line. I'll read more of these.
May 18, 2022
Just as good as the first, forging ahead to book 3!
August 20, 2022
Continuing the great life of bloodhound books. Enjoying these as the journey continues.
June 14, 2023
This series is so much fun! Now I've got to read the next one as I was left on a cliff.
September 12, 2023
Another fun hunt with Jo Beth and Bobby Lee.
May 15, 2024
A very good murder mystery. I have to read the whole series now! A woman who trains bloodhounds for police work.
March 4, 2025
Not much of a plot. Too much focus on side stories that focus on the dogs and training handlers. The investigation into the actual mystery was minimal.
July 14, 2025
Reread of an old favorite: Great characters, fast moving plot and fascinating details about bloodhounds.
January 2, 2018
Jo Beth is something else! I love this series.
January 25, 2014
It is a crime that little of this amazing series is on Kindle. The heroine raises bloodhounds in South Georgia as tracking and scent hounds. Each story is a rich, layered, complex tale involving crime, wife beating for Jo Beth was an abused wife before she divorced, racial relations and traditions in the South, life in the swamps, romance, all in a heady brew of suspense, excitement, and fun. Jo Beth is a heroine to admire and root for as a survivor and thriver.
March 5, 2008
I liked the mystery of this book and the different setting: the bloodhound training facility. I didn't really like the lead character because I found her a little too know-it-all and not bumbly in any way. I love when a character is bumbling and fumbling, at least a little, because it makes them real.
Overall: a fun, quick read.
Overall: a fun, quick read.
October 11, 2011
I liked this story more than the first book in the series. It involves a kidnapping and JoBeth's bloodhounds help solve the mystery. Added to the story is another story line involving JoBeth's violent ex-husband. I could do without this story line, but it does allow the author to explore the character of JoBeth from a different angle. These books are fun to read.
September 22, 2015
This was a "new to me" author, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was a little uncomfortable at first with the protagonist, as she is different than other main characters in books that I like. But by the end of the book I loved her irreverent take on justice and loyalty. I also loved her dogs.
December 30, 2008
Another fast paced bloodhound novel. Very fun. One annoyance was her hinting at then not resolving a certain major issue (trying to avoid spoilers here) but that only means I am right to read them in order, not take them as stand-alone books.
July 27, 2009
really enjoying this series. Love love love the protaganist. she is such a strong female smart, witty and thinks outside the box at the same time she is flawed adn real. Love that the ending of this one got me and that she left you hanging can not wait to read the next in the series.
April 6, 2011
I read the whole series...if you love dogs and mystery you will love them. Virginia Lanier passed away a few years ago while I was reading the series. She had bloodhounds of her own so in her books she speaks from true experience. Loved them!
July 22, 2012
An interesting mystery with bloodhounds and a cantankerous dog trainer as the main.
Most of the descriptions are terse and dry but it was a quick and fun read with lots of interesting information and characters.
Most of the descriptions are terse and dry but it was a quick and fun read with lots of interesting information and characters.
February 25, 2008
I read all of Virginia Lanier's books in the same year--great for dog fans and detective fans alike!
July 7, 2008
The central plot resolves, but the book ends in a cliffhanger. Unfortunately it is not resolved in the next book, either, though it's alluded to.
September 10, 2008
I read this series many years ago, and have thought of them often..there was a begining, middle and end, full circle to main characters' life..
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.
December 28, 2008
Nice lightweight beach read. Kinda fun.
January 31, 2009
I loved this series of mysteries, not only for the character and plot development but because I found the training and work of bloodhounds to be really fascinating.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews