Deception Cove by Owen Laukkanen

Mason Burke has just gotten out of prison after fifteen years and the first thing on his agenda is finding out how the dog he trained in prison is doing. The dog, Lucy, lives with former U.S. Marine Jess Winslow, who fought in Afghanistan. Jess, alone after her husband's death--and with many battle scars--finds Lucy a great comfort. But when Mason arrives in Deception Cove, Jess is in trouble with the crooked local police, who are after her because her husband took something that belonged to them, and they want it back. However, Jess doesn't know what they want or where it is. Mason figures he will hang around and help Jess out, but for the authorities it's a matter of life or death. Deception Cove is the first book in a new series by author Laukkanen and is a great bet for readers of Nick Petrie, Robert Crais, and the Nick Mason series by Steve Hamilton.