Article and Interview by Elise Cooper
K-9 Hideout by Elizabeth Heiter, the fourth in this series, is just as good as the first three. Combining a mystery with great characters including the four-legged furry kind makes for a great story.
Elizabeth Heiter drew from her own personal experience to show what it is like having a stalker in someone’s life. Sabrina Jones has moved from New York City to Desparre Alaska to hide from a stalker. After leaving a note that he found her again, Sabrina has decided to stop running and take a stand. With the help of the police handler, Tate Emory, and his canine partner Sitka, she is determined to find who is stalking her.
Unbeknownst to Sabrina is that her and Tate have in a lot in common. Both have changed their identities, have left a big city, and are hiding from someone who wants to do them harm. Although he does not have a stalker, he is escaping dirty cops who want to end his life after he turned them in. But both have become exposed after an incident where Sabrina saved Sitka and the newspaper story has received national media exposure.
As with all her books, this story is fast paced with a lot of action. Readers get to know the characters and enjoy going through their journey with them.
Elise Cooper: How did you get the idea for the story?
Elizabeth Heiter: After the first book in the series, K-9 Defense, I started to think which character I would write about if it turned into a series. I thought about writing a stalker. As Tate, the protagonist in this story, became a character working for the Desparre Alaska police force I knew I wanted to write his story and have him with a K-9 partner. Then I decided to have his backstory mirror the female protagonist, Sabrina. They both have hidden identities, kept their past secret, and moved to a remote place to protect themselves.
EC: Their relationship was based on their similar backstories?
EH: It pulled them together in many ways, but also pulled them apart. They connected with the understanding of how both missed not seeing their family.
EC: It is a love conquers all story?
EH: Yes. Sabrina was angry with Tate because she confided in him everything about her past, but he kept his past hidden from her. This caused her to be put in danger and had threats on her life. She ultimately forgave him because he explained that by not telling her he thought he was keeping her safe. He also put his own life at risk by staying to make sure her problem was resolved.
EC: The story shows the similarities between abusers and stalkers?
EH: I put this quote in the book, “It was a common tactic of scum like domestic abusers, so why not stalkers, too? Make the target of their obsession feel vulnerable and completely alone. Make them feel that if they dared to try and get help, things would only get worse.” I do think there a lot of parallels between the psychology of these types. In the end of the day, it is all about them. Unfortunately, I experienced both being stalked by someone and I also grew up with abuse. I knew about the limitations of law enforcement. They cannot by around 100% of the time for protection. These types have an obsessive need for control.
EC: Since there are two settings, New York City and Desparre, Alaska; how would you describe them?
EH: Desparre is very isolated and remote with a low population density. NYC has a high population density. I pointed out in the story how Sabrina felt that walking down a street in NYC with all those people around her, she would not be able to spot a stalker. In Desparre she could spend days without seeing someone and knew most that lived there. Both places have one thing in common, resilience.
EC: How would you describe Sabrina?
EH: Super resilient, self-reliant, creative, strong, shy, and determined. She is also lonely, sad, fearful, and angry.
EC: She put herself in a witness protection program?
EH: She wanted to be off the grid. I based that feeling on the lengths someone would go through to protect themselves. Some turn to PIs to disappear and get away, which is what I had Sabrina do.
EC: How would you describe Tate?
EH: Determined, loyal, optimistic, calm, gentle, confident, and protective. He has a dry sense of humor.
EC: Sitka is an Alaskan Malamute?
EH: She has a lot of energy and is intense. I knew that the most common breeds used in police work are German Shepherds and Belgium Malinois. Since I used them in earlier stories, I wanted another breed. The Alaskan Malamute are Artic sled dogs. I did research and found out it would not be unrealistic for police work. What I discovered was that many police agencies are using shelter dogs with a lot of success.
EC: What about your next book(s)?
EH: In April 2022 there is a release of two books, one mine and one of the author Nicole Helm. It is titled Tracking a Fugitive. My title is Alaska Mountain Rescue and Nicole’s is Hunting a Killer. Then in May 2022 I will be writing one book of a six-book series about canines based in Idaho. Each book has a different author. Luckily this is a brand-new series, so it makes it easier to feel like my own book even with being given plot details. After that there are still two books that will come out from this series.
EC: THANK YOU!!
