All That I Dread: A K-9 Search and Rescue Story

She lives with a dead man’s dog and a secret that could undo everything.

Jessica Chamberlain was a rising detective in Northern Virginia until the night a cuffed suspect slipped free and killed her partner. Cleared by the internal review board but convicted in the court of her male peers, Jess walks away from law enforcement. She rescues her partner’s rambunctious German shepherd, Luke, and tries to disappear into a quiet life in rural Virginia. Luke’s energy keeps her moving. And breathing. Most days, that is enough.

But quiet never lasts for people who are good at finding things.

Luke needs a real job, so Jess joins a volunteer K-9 search and rescue group. On their first field test, Luke discovers a young woman's body in a remote Virginia forest. This sets off a chain of events that pulls Jess back into the investigative world she fled.

FBI Special Agent Scott Cooper is quietly connecting the dots between several murdered young women, all small, all blonde, all found deep in wooded areas. The evidence points toward a calculated and elusive killer. And as the body count climbs, someone Jess loves becomes the next target.

Standing between Jess and complete collapse is Nate Tanner, the search and rescue team's training director. A decorated Marine veteran with burn scars and grit, Nate is a soft-spoken mountain man with a way of seeing straight through every wall Jess has ever built.

In this gripping Christian suspense novel, you will find:

A richly drawn female protagonist fighting PTSD, professional shame, and a genuine identity crisis;

Authentic K-9 search and rescue detail drawn from real volunteer handlers and their dogs;

A chilling serial killer investigation woven through the Virginia mountains and forests;

A powerful story of redemption, forgiveness, and the kind of love that does not require you to earn it;

A slow-building spiritual journey that never feels forced and never lets you look away;

Heart-pounding scenes that balance action, emotional depth, and moments of unexpected humor;

And a found-family dynamic between flawed, courageous characters who push each other toward healing

Perfect for readers who love:

Christian suspense and faith-based thrillers

K-9 mystery novels and dog-centered fiction

Military veteran fiction with authentic emotional realism

Stories featuring strong women and complex, principled men

Authors like Dee Henderson, Terri Blackstock, and DiAnn Mills

All That I Dread is the story of a woman who has spent years searching for the lost while hiding from herself. It is about a dog who refuses to give up on his handler. It is about a man who has been through the fire and came out with an anchor. And it is about the moment when shame finally meets something strong enough to overcome it.

Read it with the lights on. Finish it with your heart cracked open.