“Both a mystery and a survival story, here is a novel written with a naturalist’s eye for detail and an unrelenting pace. It reminded me of the best of Nevada Barr.” —James Rollins, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Odyssey The first book in a thrilling series featuring an intrepid wildlife biologist who’s dedicated to saving endangered species…and relies on her superior … dedicated to saving endangered species…and relies on her superior survival skills to thwart those who aim to stop her.
While studying wolverines on a wildlife sanctuary in Montana, biologist Alex Carter is run off the road and threatened by locals determined to force her off the land.
Undeterred in her mission to help save this threatened species, Alex tracks wolverines on foot and by cameras positioned in remote regions of the preserve. But when she reviews the photos, she discovers disturbing images of an animal of a different kind: a severely injured man seemingly lost and wandering in the wilds.
After searches for the unknown man come up empty, local law enforcement is strangely set on dismissing the case altogether, raising Alex’s suspicions. Then another invasive predator trespasses onto the preserve. The hunter turns out to be another human—and the prey is the wildlife biologist herself. Alex realizes too late that she has seen too much—she’s stumbled onto a far-reaching illegal operation and now has become the biggest threat.
In this wild and dangerous landscape, Alex’s life depends on staying one step ahead—using all she knows about the animal world and what it takes to win the brutal battle for survival.
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A true stunner of a thriller debut. Both a mystery and a survival story, here is a novel written with a naturalist’s eye for detail and an unrelenting pace. It reminded me of the best of Nevada Barr, where the wilderness itself is as much a character as the feisty wildlife biologist who must solve a crime in a remote town where no one is talking, and everyone is a suspect. It’s so fraught with excitement and wondrous details that it demands to be read in one sitting and savored afterward. Don’t miss it.
A Solitude of Wolverines by Alice Henderson is a thriller with a heart, a riveting story of conspiracy, murder, and wilderness survival that will keep you turning the pages. Vivid characters, a pulse-pounding plot, a fascinating wildlife-conservation background, and beautifully realized settings make this an exceptional read. This is the first book in a series about wildlife biologist Alex Carter; I can’t wait for the next one.
With a plot and character arc that leap from the frying pan into the fire, A Solitude of Wolverines sizzles with action, dripping with the kind of characters and environs that make for a long-lasting series in which readers can really sink their teeth.
What a treat! Alice Henderson has delivered a treasure of a novel–and, to readers’ delight, a promise of more where this came from. Her depiction of the natural world in all its beauty and terror is spot-on. Into this she weaves a cast of characters both original and fascinating, as well as a heroine who does the unbelievable, yet one can believe it. A great read!
I enjoyed this book. Some of the creepy, late at night noises, were exactly that…creepy. A couple of times I had to put the book down and make sure my house was locked up tight!
Growing up on a ranch, I know that there are times when you have to kill wildlife, but not the indiscriminate killing that it seems the author is saying many ranchers do. Anyone with power over another person or being will sometimes lose track of what’s right.
Several twists and turns as the plot comes to a head. I have to say the ending was done quite well with me not expecting, at all, who the ultimate bad guy was!
I’ve pre-ordered the next in the series.
I couldn’t finish this book. I wasn’t aware this was more chick lit than an adventure or mystery or just better written and better narrated. Would not recommend
Great story with a couple of neat twists. Good character build, and a decent environmental story background. Realistic setting.
Looking for a little action with your activism? A Solitude of Wolverines delivers in spades. A page-turning read that will definitely leave you guessing. Alice Henderson is an author to watch!
A thriller that combines non-stop, breathtaking action with lyrical descriptions of a haunting landscape. I could not put it down.
Passionately detailed and exquisitely researched, Alice Henderson’s A Solitude of Wolverines is a breathless wild ride of a thriller. Animal biologist Dr. Alex Carter is the ingenious, resourceful heroine. She could build an A-bomb out of firecrackers if you gave her half a chance. Set against the forbidding beauty of Montana’s backwoods and mountains, A Solitude of Wolverines sizzles from start to finish with shady characters, dangerous wildlife, and the most enterprising heroine I’ve met in a long time. Superb.
Alice Henderson has once again proven she is a true master of suspense. A Solitude of Wolverines is not for the faint of heart. It is a compelling, nail-biting story that kept me on the edge of my seat from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down.
A Solitude of Wolverines is a rare species indeed: an edge-of-your-seat thriller that fires not just the adrenaline but engages the heart and soul as well. With a compelling heroine, an incredible setting and pulse-pounding action, this one is truly a breed apart.
Really liked this book. A female McGuyver shows that there are strong women who can manage adversity creatively and strongly. Great story!
Loved it. Will read more from this author.
Bravo! This book really took over and engaged me in the story. The book is about Dr. Alex Carter, starting in Boston with a bang, while giving a speech a random gunman starts shooting. Alex is saved by another mysterious gunman. She decides to get back to who she really is and on the spur of the moment takes a position in the field in Montana. The opportunity to study wolverines on a wildlife sanctuary in Montana, she immediately packs and takes the job. However, the locals aren’t welcoming and incidents start occurring…
Alex provides a character of strength, morals, and knowledge. Her background with her soldier mom taught her to be engaged, strong and practiced in the arts of weapons as well as using her body as a weapon to protect herself. Her sensitive father provides her guidance on her dreams and support to get there. Through the descriptive writing of the author the wilderness, the animals and the supporting characters are brought alive and really engages the reader.
The writing style of the author is wonderful as the story is survival and thriller but the way the author rolls out information to educate the reader is wonderful. Learned many things about Wolverines as well as other animals and the impacts on the environment that humankind has impacted. The information is not preachy nor in your face but rolled out as to fascinate the reader and provides an underlying theme of Alex that really provides a solid look at Alex and the knowledge being shared by the author.
I was very impressed and devoured this book, stayed up late to finish the last 100 pages fully engaged. Nicely done by the author to provide a well rounded mysterious thriller with survival and an appreciation of nature. Thank you Goodreads for the ARC for an honest review!
As a writer of environmental mysteries and a lover of all things wild, I was naturally drawn to A Solitude of Wolverines after reading reviews of that book. And it did not disappoint, but it did surprise me with its twists and turns. And as a reader, I love to be surprised. I can’t wait for the next book in this new series.
Fans of suspenseful thrillers may expect Alice Henderson’s A Solitude of Wolverines [William Morrow, October 27, 2020] to follow the lines of similar books on the market. However, the combination of environmentalism, suspense, and action strategically placed throughout A Solitude of Wolverines makes this novel distinctly different than others in its respective genre.
The first in the Alex Carter series, a new suspense thriller collection from Alice Henderson, A Solitude of Wolverines follows the story of Alex Carter, a seasoned wildlife biologist and conservationist trying to establish herself in the professional environmentalist world. After spending some time in the deserts of New Mexico and the plains of Wyoming, Alex finds herself back home in the Boston wetlands awaiting an important interview with a local news team about the importance of conservation. However, when Alex begins this long-awaited interview, a gunman fires into the crowd and changes her life forever. When Alex tries to find a sense of peace and normalcy within her Boston apartment, a phone call from a former professor sends her on her next adventure; exploring the mountains of Montana in search of the steadily declining wolverine population. Upon her arrival, Alex quickly realises that she is not welcome in this secluded town—and the locals are willing to do anything to drive her out.
This is a tale of adventure and discovery within itself. A particularly enjoyable aspect of the novel is the way the reader learns about wolverines while being able to “live” Alex’s life through her eyes as she tries to navigate life on the reserve. While readers are able to learn about many aspects of conservationism such as camera trapping and facts on endangered species, readers are able to be a part of the many conflicts Alex faces while she spends her time in Montana. Throughout the novel, the relationships Alex makes with the very few trustworthy people in town fill the gaps between conservationism and action and reliability.
With the balanced amount of action, suspense, information, and relationships, A Solitude of Wolverines is filled with twists and turns that keep readers interested and engaged. Alex continuously encounters suspicious activity on the reserve including rumours of murderers, sasquatch, and even a severely injured man up the mountain. The reactions of the townspeople, both concerned and unconcerned, keep the reader interested and questioning the reliability of these characters. The twists and turns the reader experiences by the conclusion, along with Alex’s fierceness as the protagonist, keeps the reader turning the pages.
While a majority of A Solitude of Wolverines focuses on the conservation efforts of wildlife across the world, some of the information becomes tedious in this first instalment in the series. Through Alex’s character alone the reader can learn a lot of information about conservationism and wolverines. Having pages of chapters dedicated to explaining behavioural patterns and family dynamics of wolverines proves to be more than anticipated. However, Alex Carter is able to create her own version of the world around her while remaining accurate to the events in A Solitude of Wolverines.
A Solitude of Wolverines is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of October 27th 2020.
I wasn’t sure I’d like this book, so I was incredibly surprised when it instantly drew me in. then, even more surprising, it continued to hold my attention. The title is explained early on in the book, as it refers to the animals who prefer to live alone.
I did find this book to be rather unbelievable, verging on fantasy. It had far too many convenient coincidences, rather like a comic book adventure. Alex: the Wildlife Warrior Superhero. She can fend off the most evil villains to save the animals she loves. While it’s implausible and improbable, if you can suspend disbelief, it’s a cracking good read.
This appears to be the start of a series. While I liked the book and the writing was good, I doubt I’ll be reading another should this continue on. It’s entertaining, but I had a very difficult time believing this woman could do all she did all on her own. The crimes that take place are despicable, and those behind it even more so.
This isn’t my kind of book, but I did enjoy reading it.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I thank them for their generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.
Dr. Alex Carter is at a wetlands dedication and will be giving an interview. The area was saved to protect hundreds of species of birds from luxury condominiums being built. Not everyone is thrilled with the outcome. As a reporter is interviewing Alex, chaos erupted among the crowd, as a man pushed his way toward the stage aiming a gun at Alex. A game of cat and mouse began as Alex, and the founder of Save Our Wetlands, Christine Mendoza, ran to seek cover. Then another shot, and Alex expecting to be hit, is surprised that the shooter has been hit, but doesn’t stop him. The shooter is on the move again towards Alex, where she and Christine are taking cover behind trees, and a second shot takes out the shooter.
Alex makes it home after the ordeal, only to be swarmed by reporters. Alex has been trying to cope after her long standing relationship with Brad went south. Not hearing from Brad, nor able to reach him, Alex accepts a job in Montana to study Wolverines, where she will be living in an old ski resort that sits on donated land.
Alex is picked up by Jolene Baker, an older colorful woman, who had beads braided in her hair and streaks of purple, who is Alex’s closest neighbor. Jolene rambles on about how creepy the lodge is, that there were murders, ghost hunters, and swears she saw Sasquatch!
As Alex begins to get comfortable in her new surroundings, and has some comforts like water and electricity. Although, Alex is met with some unwelcoming greetings and complaints to Sheriff Makepeace are not met with much concern, Alex is determined to do the job she was hired to do.
A job, she loves, but will test her survival skills and her wits to stay alive.
I loved that the setting was in the Bitterroot Valley in Montana, having been raised in Montana, I was very familiar with the area. I learned some interesting facts about the wolverine. This was an engrossing read, where the ending left a hook for the second book, that I, very much look forward to.
I received an ARC from NetGalley via William Morrow and I have voluntarily reviewed this book.
“The words of John Muir floated into her mind: The mountains are calling, and I must go.”
I enjoyed this environmental mystery. It takes place mostly in a mountainous region in Montana at an abandoned ski resort that has become a nature preserve. It reminded me (in good ways) of the mysteries of C.J. Box, Nevada Barr, and Christine Carbo.
Dr. Alex Carter is a wildlife biologist. She followed her long-time boyfriend from the Berkley, California area to Boston for his job as a lawyer. But she hates the city life of Boston and her boyfriend has changed from someone who cares about people and the environment to someone who is all about how much money he can make.
They’ve been on a trial separation for a couple of months, which is seeming more permanent to Alex, when she receives a phone call wanting her to do a wolverine population study at the old Montana resort. Thing is, they want her there the next day.
Alex is beyond excited. She loves the solitary nature of her job especially in mountainous regions and agrees to take the job.
Troubles start almost as soon as she arrives and escalate quickly. Not everyone is happy about the land trust that was established at the resort.
This is the first book in a new series and I look forward to reading more about Alex. I highly recommend this book.
I received this book from William Morrow Books through Edelweiss with the hopes that I would read and review it.