A Dannie Bauer Thriller Series
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 law enforcement. As her search for the killer intensifies, she realizes too late that she’s no longer the hunter. She’s the prey.
Set in small-town Chardon, Ohio, this gripping thriller follows Dannie’s transformation from a withdrawn teen into a force of nature—one whose single-minded focus tests the boundary of ethical behavior.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 the killer, the ultimate question looms: Can she bring down a monster without becoming one herself?
Coming Spring 2026
The newest and youngest deputy sheriff in the Geauga County, Ohio, Sheriff’s Department,
Dannie Bauer is at it again. Another missing child, this time one she had never met. Still, she obsesses over the case. As she investigates the missing child, she encounters an adversary far more dangerous than a single serial killer.
In her pursuit of child traffickers, she is disgraced and discharged as a deputy. On her own, unencumbered by the law, she pursues the criminal enterprise that brought her down. Did she learn her lesson about making bad choices for the right reason? Or is Dannie headed down another path of lies, excuses, and self-validation? Whip smart, athletic, and alluringly beautiful, can her strengths overcome her many flaws as she faces an adversary far more dangerous than a single serial killer?
Can she redeem her lost reputation, or will her choices destroy any chance at redemption?
BIO
After 23 years working around the world in emergency relief and international development, I left that field and made my living as a technical writer for 15 years. I retired in 2022.
As a technical writer, my goal was to convey a concept, principle, or dimension in words that were compelling and communicated with a clarity that profoundly impacted the reader.
My goal in storytelling remains the same, along with the hope that my writing both entertains and poses ethical questions that prompt the reader to think.
The inspiration for The Hunter, a serial killer thriller set in Chardon, Ohio,
stemmed from my daughter’s experience as a member of a K9 search and rescue club. I helped the club by being a victim during K9 training (and writing grants for funding). As a victim, I would leave a trail, unknown to the handlers, and then hide or conceal myself. The various dogs, trailing and tracking, would then have to find me. This inspired me to write a story about K9 Search and Rescue. I must emphasize that there is no relationship between the character Dannie and my
daughter. One is fictional, and the other quite real – but totally different. Forrest, however, was a real bloodhound and a trailing K9. All other characters in the book are fictional and were created from my imagination.
I live in Fort Myers, Florida, with my love, Betty, and our boss, a ten-year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi. I travel to Chardon a few times a year.