Review: Forgotten Trail: A National Park Mystery by Claire Kells

Forgotten Trail: A National Park Mystery by Claire Kells is the latest in this very good series that began with Vanishing Edge: A Novel. This third book in the series takes readers to Pinnacles National Park in California. One of the newer parks, it includes a newly opened hotel, Pinnacles Grand Hotel. Only open about a week, not only is it a bit of hike from the parking lot to get to the hotel, once there, the room are not cheap. A murder is not going to help the price point or their reputation. But, that is what has happened.

At least, that is what the manager, James Dunaway, claims in a phone call to Special Agent Felicity Harland. He has bypassed the protocols in place to report the situation directly to her. Since the scene is in the park, that makes it an Investigative Services Branch case. Since she is a special agent with ISB and currently covering Pinnacles National Park, and several other parks, that makes the case hers.

Before long, Agent Harland is at the hotel, as is her partner, Investigator Ferdinand “Hux” Huxley. The deceased is Chris Mason though, according to his wife, his real last name is Denton. The same wife who was found standing over the body of her dead husband. A serial cheater, according to his wife, he checked in with another woman who is now believed to be missing.

There is also a missing hiker elsewhere in the park and a serious terrorism threat situation at San Francisco International airport. That means Harlan and Hux have to handle the case on their own without any assistance from the FBI. They are pretty much on their own with a lot to do.

What follows is a complex mystery where readers are given little more regarding the backstory of Harland and how she got to this point in her life. That further character development does not get in the way of the complex mystery at work in Forgotten Trail: A National Park Mystery. Like any really good series where each book builds on the previous ones, such is the case here. So, if this series is new to you, start in the beginning with Vanishing Edge: A Novel. That is followed by An Unforgiving Place: A National Park Mystery. The reads are well worth it.

If it is not clear already, Forgotten Trail: A National Park Mystery by Claire Kells is a mighty good read. Strongly recommend, as is the series. 

My reading copy came by way of a publisher ARC through NetGalley with no expectation of a review.

 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2023

Review: An Unforgiving Place: A National Park Mystery by Claire Kells

While I told you about this book back in early August, today is publication day, so I am running my spoiler free review again today. I am serious about reading in order as it very much matter here.

 

An Unforgiving Place: A National Park Mystery by Claire Kells picks up a few weeks after Vanishing Edge. On assignment in Denali National Park, Investigative Service Branch Special Agent Felicity Harland is sent to the Gates of the Artic National Park to investigate the discovery of two bodies. Search and rescue is active in another part of the park looking for two hikers that have been missing almost a month. Timothy and Kelsey Greer might be the deceased or they might still be alive and lost in the vast wilderness.

Before long Special Agents Felicity Harland and Ferdinand Huxley (who has made the jump to ISB from being a Park Ranger and is being pulled from doing training modules- much to his relief) are at the scene of the two bodies. Unlike in most cases, there has been little involvement by animals. No obvious cause of death and no signs of defensive wounds. It is clear that they are dead, but the signs of what caused it are not clear. There are also clear indications that something strange was going on before they died. One example are the faint marks on the wrists on both bodies that indicate some sort of ligatures were used on them in recent days.

Harland and Huxley are on the case and soon forced to work undercover to ferret out the truth. Humans are one threat. Nature itself is another. Either can kill you dead if you let your guard down.

A worthy and enjoyable sequel to Vanishing Edge, much is going on in this complicated and action filled read. Events and backstory regarding the first book come up here. Quite a lot from book one is referenced, so it is strongly recommended that readers start with Vanishing Edge first. You will enjoy this very good sequel a lot more if you do so.

While the book is currently scheduled to be released on November 8th, I was able to read it now thanks to a digital ARC from Severn House via NetGalley.

 

 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2022

Review: An Unforgiving Place: A National Park Mystery by Claire Kells

An Unforgiving Place: A National Park Mystery by Claire Kells picks up a few weeks after Vanishing Edge. On assignment in Denali National Park, Investigative Service Branch Special Agent Felicity Harland is sent to the Gates of the Artic National Park to investigate the discovery of two bodies. Search and rescue is active in another part of the park looking for two hikers that have been missing almost a month. Timothy and Kelsey Greer might be the deceased or they might still be alive and lost in the vast wilderness.

Before long Special Agents Felicity Harland and Ferdinand Huxley (who has made the jump to ISB from being a Park Ranger and is being pulled from doing training modules- much to his relief) are at the scene of the two bodies. Unlike in most cases, there has been little involvement by animals. No obvious cause of death and no signs of defensive wounds. It is clear that they are dead, but the signs of what caused it are not clear. There are also clear indications that something strange was going on before they died. One example are the faint marks on the wrists on both bodies that indicate some sort of ligatures were used on them in recent days.

Harland and Huxley are on the case and soon forced to work undercover to ferret out the truth. Humans are one threat. Nature itself is another. Either can kill you dead if you let your guard down.

A worthy and enjoyable sequel to Vanishing Edge, much is going on in this complicated and action filled read. Events and backstory regarding the first book come up here. Quite a lot from book one is referenced, so it is strongly recommended that readers start with Vanishing Edge first. You will enjoy this very good sequel a lot more if you do so.

While An Unforgiving Place: A National Park Mystery by Claire Kells is currently scheduled to be released on November 8th, I was able to read it now thanks to a digital ARC from Severn House via NetGalley.

 

 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2022

The Revelator: Five Questions for Scott Graham, author of the National Park Mystery series

The Revelator: Five Questions for Scott Graham, author of the National Park Mystery series