The Boy in the Wall

The discovery of a missing boy's body uncovers cruel schemes in this twisty, fast-paced K-9 thriller series set in the Windy City of Chicago.

What if the past won't let you go?

It was supposed to be a fun dog demo day for the students at Henry Horner Elementary School in Chicago--but when Cory Pratt's cadaver dogs sniff out the body of a missing teenage boy wedged into the wall of the cafeteria, his family's life is shattered.

It seems like tragedy follows the Shortridges. With the eldest son having taken his life a few years earlier, Patrick being found mutilated and murdered devastates the whole clan further. Now everyone is fearing for seven-year-old sister Charlotte.

When a kidnapping attempt on the young girl fails, Cory and his detective sister Crystal are sure someone is targeting the Shortridges. But who is behind these savage attacks and why would someone want to kill off such a seemingly unassuming family?

"A mighty impressive thriller" (Booklist on The Dead Years), perfect for fans of action-packed K-9 mystery series, such as Margaret Mizushima's Timber Creek K-9 Mysteries, Paula Munier's Mercy Carr Mysteries and Susan Furlong's Bone Gap Travellers Mysteries.

Author: Jeffrey B. Burton
Publisher: Severn House
Published: 03/03/2026
Pages: 272
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.70w x 1.20d
ISBN: 9781448316038


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 02/01/2026
Booklist 02/01/2026

About the Author
Burton, Jeffrey B.: -

Novels in Jeffrey B. Burton's critically acclaimed Mace Reid K-9 mystery series include The Finders, The Keepers, and The Lost. His Agent Drew Cady Thrillers include The Chessman, The Lynchpin, and The Eulogist. The Boy in the Wall is the third installment in his latest Chicago K-9 thriller series, following The Second Grave and The Dead Years.

Jeff lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with his wife, Cindy, an irate Pomeranian named Lucy, and a happy galoot of a Beagle named Milo.