The Hunter

When K9 search-and-rescue handler Dannie Bauer and her bloodhound, Forrest, are called in to track a missing friend, they uncover a terrifying truth-the disappearance is linked to a serial rapist and murderer. Set in small-town Chardon, Ohio, The Hunter follows Dannie Bauer's transformation from a withdrawn teen into a force of nature-one whose single-minded focus tests the boundary of ethical behavior.

After she eludes a deadly encounter with a serial killer, the ultimate question looms: Can she bring down a monster without becoming one herself?

When K9 search-and-rescue handler Dannie Bauer and her loyal bloodhound, Forrest, are called in to track a missing teammate, they uncover a terrifying truth-the disappearance is linked to a sadistic serial rapist and murderer. And he's not done yet.

From rescuing an Alzheimer's patient to tracking a lost child, Dannie earns the trust of Geauga County law enforcement. As the killer stalks Dannie, her search for the killer intensifies, and she realizes too late that she's no longer the hunter. She's the prey.

A retired international aid manager and technical writer, Albert volunteered for a real K9 search and rescue club in Chardon, Ohio, the town at the heart of his debut novel. As well as writing grants for the organization, he helped in training by laying a trail and hiding in the woods as real tracking dogs sought to find him. He watched cadaver dogs train firsthand.

The Hunter is the result of all of it. A 411-page thriller built around a real bloodhound named Forrest and a heroine that readers are already calling one of the most compelling female protagonists in modern thrillers. Set in the dense woodlands and small towns of northeastern Ohio, it is a dark, female-led K9 crime thriller that draws on authentic detail, intimate regional knowledge, and a deep understanding of both the search-and-rescue world and the psychology of a predator.

York crafts thrillers driven by characters who are brilliant, relentless, and morally complex. His debut introduces Dannie Bauer, a young K9 handler whose instincts outpace the investigation around her and who refuses to stop until justice is served, whatever the cost.

Dannie's story is far from over. The Deputy, the next chapter in the Dannie Bauer series, is coming in July 2026. The third book in the series, The Analyst, will be available in the fall of 2026.

Visit Albert at or connect on Facebook at albertyorkauthor.