Publication Date: July 7, 2026
The escape of Veronica Kildare’s vindictive, long-time nemesis from prison overshadows what should be a festive holiday season for her and her team. Law enforcement is convinced that Tommy Arnett perished in a fiery car accident, but Veronica can’t shake the sinking feeling that she hasn’t escaped that easily from his relentless pursuit of revenge against her.
Other unsettling factors are swirling through Colorado along with the encroaching harsh winter weather as Veronica and her Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Leda, search for several missing young women who’ve been abducted and pitilessly left to face the elements, and the daughters of her search and rescue partner, Sgt. Tim Donovan, are targeted by a mysterious man with an unknown agenda. All is not as it seems with regard to the kidnappings, however, as one case ties back to a local thoroughbred racetrack where a nefarious scheme has been enacted by a villain willing to eliminate anyone who stands in their way.
While Veronica also trains a C. diff sniffing canine for nursing homes and a dog able to identify illegal equine performance-enhancing drugs at Blue Columbine Downs, she and her father examine the undercurrents affecting the racetrack in an effort to pinpoint the source of the wrongdoing there.
As malign forces gather around them, will Veronica and Leda be able to outrun a terrible fate when their brutal past and their present day life collide?
The holidays are diminished when Veronica’s long-time nemesis escapes from prison in Author Tracy Carter’s Can’t Run With The Big Dogs.
This is definitely a book for animal lovers like me. Training animals was a central part of the story, and I loved reading about it. I also enjoyed reading about the dogs sniffing out drugs or bacteria for a nursing home. It’s amazing what a dog’s nose can sniff out.
This book can easily be read as a standalone, as the author provides enough background information throughout that the reader can follow along and live within the imaginative world the author has created without much confusion.
The mystery was solid, as was the character development. I found myself reading well into the night, quickly flipping through the pages to read what would happen next. I have no regrets.
With a well-crafted story and entertaining mystery, Can’t Run With The Big Dogs is an enjoyable read, especially for animal lovers.
Tracy Carter graduated from the University of Glasgow, Scotland with a Master’s degree in History. Her lengthy career as a legal assistant has included stints at international law firms and prosecutors’ offices, followed by jobs as the Horse Identifier at two thoroughbred racetracks―all while training dogs in obedience and rally. Tracy’s first book is the Gold Medal winner in the 2023 Readers’ Favorite International Book Award Contest in the Fiction-Animals genre, and her second book is a 2024 BookFest First Place Award Winner in the Fiction-Detective-Women Sleuths genre. She lives near Cleveland, Ohio with her husband and Llewellin Setter, where she is an avid hiker and dedicated college football fan.
