Killing Trail by Margaret Mizushima

Police deputy Mattie Lu Cobb has just completed K-9 training with her partner, Robo. Their first case together is when a body is found in the national forest near Timber Creek, Colorado. It turns out to be the remains of teenager Grace Hartman, who was best friends with Angela Walker (the daughter of local veterinarian, Cole). Grace's dog, Belle, is found alive near her body and later becomes ill from bags of cocaine that were fed to her. Mattie and the rest of the police department focus on suspects who are involved in the local drug trade, hoping that there will be a connection to Grace's killer. In this first book of the Timber Creek K-9 mystery series, author Mizushima gives the reader a main character with an interesting backstory and surrounds Mattie with co-workers and friends you hope to see more of. Although not as hard-edged as C.J. Box's Cassie Dewell series, this would be a good read-alike.