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Alex Carter #4
The Vanishing Kind
From highly acclaimed author Alice Henderson comes the eagerly anticipated and electrifying fourth book in the Alex Carter series, in which the wildlife biologist encounters anti-immigrant vigilantes, rugged terrain, and threatening intruders in search of this sleek and powerful, furtive animal: the jaguar.
When wildlife biologist Alex Carter is tasked with locating jaguars on a vast desert preserve in New Mexico, she is ecstatic. While jaguars once roamed throughout the Southwest, they are now endangered, with only a handful remaining, and Alex hopes some of the sleek and elusive creatures have found their way to the protected sanctuary.
Meanwhile, an archaeological team is excavating the gravesite of a sixteenth-century Spanish conquistador on a neighboring piece of land. Curious about the dig, Alex meets the team and, while learning about their discoveries, she encounters a dangerous group of anti-immigrant vigilantes roaming the area, threatening the archaeology team, demanding they leave. And when the militants learn of Alex’s mission, they become bent on stopping her. Because jaguars are federally endangered, the vigilantes worry that if Alex finds them, concessions will be made so that wildlife can cross the border wall. And they want no one crossing it…
And then there are the strange holes that keep appearing on the preserve—Who is digging them, and what are they looking for?
As tensions mount, she soon finds herself in a fight for her life against those who would prevent her from restoring jaguars to their historical habitat.
When wildlife biologist Alex Carter is tasked with locating jaguars on a vast desert preserve in New Mexico, she is ecstatic. While jaguars once roamed throughout the Southwest, they are now endangered, with only a handful remaining, and Alex hopes some of the sleek and elusive creatures have found their way to the protected sanctuary.
Meanwhile, an archaeological team is excavating the gravesite of a sixteenth-century Spanish conquistador on a neighboring piece of land. Curious about the dig, Alex meets the team and, while learning about their discoveries, she encounters a dangerous group of anti-immigrant vigilantes roaming the area, threatening the archaeology team, demanding they leave. And when the militants learn of Alex’s mission, they become bent on stopping her. Because jaguars are federally endangered, the vigilantes worry that if Alex finds them, concessions will be made so that wildlife can cross the border wall. And they want no one crossing it…
And then there are the strange holes that keep appearing on the preserve—Who is digging them, and what are they looking for?
As tensions mount, she soon finds herself in a fight for her life against those who would prevent her from restoring jaguars to their historical habitat.
318 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 15, 2025
85 people are currently reading
3928 people want to read
About the author
Alice Henderson
30 books801 followersAlice Henderson's love of wild places inspired her thriller series which begins with A Solitude of Wolverines, and continues with A Blizzard of Polar Bears and A Ghost of Caribou. The latest novel is The Vanishing Kind, about jaguars in New Mexico. The series features a wildlife biologist who encounters dangerous situations while working to protect endangered species.
She has also written media-tie in novels, including official novels for the TV shows Supernatural and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. While working at LucasArts, she wrote material for several Star Wars video games.
She was selected to attend Launchpad, a NASA-funded writing workshop aimed at bringing accurate science to fiction.
In addition to being a writer, Henderson is a wildlife researcher, geographic information systems specialist, and bioacoustician. She documents wildlife on specialized recording equipment, checks remote cameras, creates maps, and undertakes wildlife surveys to determine what species are present on preserves, while ensuring there are no signs of poaching. She's surveyed for the presence of grizzlies, wolves, wolverines, jaguars, endangered bats, and more.
Please visit her at www.AliceHenderson.com.
She has also written media-tie in novels, including official novels for the TV shows Supernatural and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. While working at LucasArts, she wrote material for several Star Wars video games.
She was selected to attend Launchpad, a NASA-funded writing workshop aimed at bringing accurate science to fiction.
In addition to being a writer, Henderson is a wildlife researcher, geographic information systems specialist, and bioacoustician. She documents wildlife on specialized recording equipment, checks remote cameras, creates maps, and undertakes wildlife surveys to determine what species are present on preserves, while ensuring there are no signs of poaching. She's surveyed for the presence of grizzlies, wolves, wolverines, jaguars, endangered bats, and more.
Please visit her at www.AliceHenderson.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
March 8, 2025
If you enjoy a crime thriller set in remote areas with events that feel all too real, look no further than Alice Henderson’s Dr. Alex Carter series.
The Vanishing Kind
is the fourth book featuring Alex, a wilderness area, and an endangered species. But the book is so much more than that.
Henderson has become my favorite author who emphasizes different facets of nature in a mystery thriller. After a chilling prologue in New Hampshire and some downtime in Los Angeles, Alex is called by Ben Hathaway, the regional director of the Land Trust for Wildlife Conservation. The rest of the book is set in New Mexico after she accepts a job to survey their Mogollon Wildlife Sanctuary near Azulejo. They believe they have some prime habitat for endangered jaguars and want her to do a species presence survey using remote cameras and hair snares, and if possible, collar a jaguar to get video and GPS information.
While Alex gets started on her survey, an archaeological team led by Dr. Enrique Espinoza is excavating a site believed to have buried treasure by a sixteenth-century Spaniard on a neighboring piece of land. She meets the team and learns what they have discovered.
A dangerous group of individuals wearing skull masks and who are very anti-immigrant are threatening both the dig and some businesses in town. It’s not long until Alex is threatened as well. The group is afraid that concessions will be made to the border wall allowing immigrants as well as endangered wildlife to cross the border.
Alex is a likeable character who is three-dimensional and had depth. She is a skilled wildlife biologist, adept at Jeet Kune Do style of martial arts, and is an expert shooter. She enjoys solitude, but has a few very good friends. She’s also polite, curious, determined to make a difference, has strong beliefs and ideals, and she enjoys meaningful connections and communication. She’s supported by an array of secondary characters that enhanced the story, but were not as fully developed. However, the relationships seemed believable and not contrived and provided the needed support or conflict.
The world-building was fabulous. I felt like I was transported to New Mexico with Alex as she carried out her research and encountered some tough and scary situations. The story was compelling, shocking at times, intense, and a great addition to the series. While there are some twists, I thought two of the main antagonists were too easily discerned and some of the action was over-the-top. However, this did not reduce my enjoyment of or enthusiasm for the book. Themes include wildlife sanctuaries, border protection, immigration, racism, chauvinism, murder, poaching, and endangered species.
The afterward has more information on jaguars, wildlife corridors, genetic isolation, wildlife overpasses and underpasses to avoid roads, and much more. There’s also a list of ways to engage, as well as books and videos about the jaguar. The author’s experience as a wildlife researcher and surveyor gives authenticity to the science and research methods used in the novels.
Overall, this combined mystery, nature, the environment, action adventure, and survival into one fantastic crime novel. It’s entertaining, compelling, and kept me rapidly turning the pages. Not only was this a fascinating mystery that kept me fully engaged, but I learned a lot about the jaguars historically as well as in current times. If you enjoy action-packed crime thrillers with an environmental and threatened wildlife theme, then this is a series to consider reading. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
William Morrow and Alice Henderson provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for March 4, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.34 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
Henderson has become my favorite author who emphasizes different facets of nature in a mystery thriller. After a chilling prologue in New Hampshire and some downtime in Los Angeles, Alex is called by Ben Hathaway, the regional director of the Land Trust for Wildlife Conservation. The rest of the book is set in New Mexico after she accepts a job to survey their Mogollon Wildlife Sanctuary near Azulejo. They believe they have some prime habitat for endangered jaguars and want her to do a species presence survey using remote cameras and hair snares, and if possible, collar a jaguar to get video and GPS information.
While Alex gets started on her survey, an archaeological team led by Dr. Enrique Espinoza is excavating a site believed to have buried treasure by a sixteenth-century Spaniard on a neighboring piece of land. She meets the team and learns what they have discovered.
A dangerous group of individuals wearing skull masks and who are very anti-immigrant are threatening both the dig and some businesses in town. It’s not long until Alex is threatened as well. The group is afraid that concessions will be made to the border wall allowing immigrants as well as endangered wildlife to cross the border.
Alex is a likeable character who is three-dimensional and had depth. She is a skilled wildlife biologist, adept at Jeet Kune Do style of martial arts, and is an expert shooter. She enjoys solitude, but has a few very good friends. She’s also polite, curious, determined to make a difference, has strong beliefs and ideals, and she enjoys meaningful connections and communication. She’s supported by an array of secondary characters that enhanced the story, but were not as fully developed. However, the relationships seemed believable and not contrived and provided the needed support or conflict.
The world-building was fabulous. I felt like I was transported to New Mexico with Alex as she carried out her research and encountered some tough and scary situations. The story was compelling, shocking at times, intense, and a great addition to the series. While there are some twists, I thought two of the main antagonists were too easily discerned and some of the action was over-the-top. However, this did not reduce my enjoyment of or enthusiasm for the book. Themes include wildlife sanctuaries, border protection, immigration, racism, chauvinism, murder, poaching, and endangered species.
The afterward has more information on jaguars, wildlife corridors, genetic isolation, wildlife overpasses and underpasses to avoid roads, and much more. There’s also a list of ways to engage, as well as books and videos about the jaguar. The author’s experience as a wildlife researcher and surveyor gives authenticity to the science and research methods used in the novels.
Overall, this combined mystery, nature, the environment, action adventure, and survival into one fantastic crime novel. It’s entertaining, compelling, and kept me rapidly turning the pages. Not only was this a fascinating mystery that kept me fully engaged, but I learned a lot about the jaguars historically as well as in current times. If you enjoy action-packed crime thrillers with an environmental and threatened wildlife theme, then this is a series to consider reading. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
William Morrow and Alice Henderson provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for March 4, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.34 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
June 14, 2025
I admit I’m a bit of a geek when it comes to mysteries that take place in the wilderness. I love the sense of vast open spaces and wild animals, the absence of humanity.
The Vanishing Kind is the fourth in the Alex Carter series. Alex is a wildlife biologist. This time, she’s trying to locate endangered jaguars on a federal wildlife preserve in the New Mexican desert. The book contains a lot and I mean A LOT of facts about jaguars. At times, it does tend to read like a scientific article and does tend to slow the story down. This might turn some folks off although I appreciated learning so much. The book is almost two different halves. The first half has all this info and just rambles. The second half moves at a breakneck speed.
There is one odd chapter about a secondary character. It provides pertinent facts about him and there’s a great scene of the man getting his comeuppance from an animal. But it was already apparent the man was scum and I was wondering if it was truly necessary as it broke the singular POV of Alex.
As the book went on, I had more questions and the believability factor went way down as the action ramped up. Henderson relies on one coincidence after another to get us to the ending. And it was so obvious who the ultimate culprit was, it was eye rolling.
This will work for those looking for those who don’t look below the surface of the story.
I listened to this and it made for an easy audio experience. Eva Kaminsky did a good job as the narrator.
The Vanishing Kind is the fourth in the Alex Carter series. Alex is a wildlife biologist. This time, she’s trying to locate endangered jaguars on a federal wildlife preserve in the New Mexican desert. The book contains a lot and I mean A LOT of facts about jaguars. At times, it does tend to read like a scientific article and does tend to slow the story down. This might turn some folks off although I appreciated learning so much. The book is almost two different halves. The first half has all this info and just rambles. The second half moves at a breakneck speed.
There is one odd chapter about a secondary character. It provides pertinent facts about him and there’s a great scene of the man getting his comeuppance from an animal. But it was already apparent the man was scum and I was wondering if it was truly necessary as it broke the singular POV of Alex.
As the book went on, I had more questions and the believability factor went way down as the action ramped up. Henderson relies on one coincidence after another to get us to the ending. And it was so obvious who the ultimate culprit was, it was eye rolling.
This will work for those looking for those who don’t look below the surface of the story.
I listened to this and it made for an easy audio experience. Eva Kaminsky did a good job as the narrator.
March 4, 2025
3.5 wild cat stars
*now available
This is the fourth book in the Alex Carter series. She’s a wildlife biologist and manages to find danger on every project. This time, she’s in New Mexico trying to determine if there are still jaguars roaming a wildlife preserve.
I always enjoy the descriptions of wildlife work, for example, how they set up cameras and hair snares and then hopefully tranquilize and tag the animals they are studying.
This time, the danger comes from unscrupulous hunters, a band of border fanatics, and a conquistador who bobby-trapped his antiquities. This one has quite a few villains, and I wondered if Alex might have met her match.
This one was an interesting escape, but I found the ending over the top. As long as I suspended reality, I could root for Alex.
I enjoyed reading more about the endangered jaguars, and I hope they one day thrive again.
My thanks to William Morrow for the opportunity to read and honestly review this one.
*now available
This is the fourth book in the Alex Carter series. She’s a wildlife biologist and manages to find danger on every project. This time, she’s in New Mexico trying to determine if there are still jaguars roaming a wildlife preserve.
I always enjoy the descriptions of wildlife work, for example, how they set up cameras and hair snares and then hopefully tranquilize and tag the animals they are studying.
This time, the danger comes from unscrupulous hunters, a band of border fanatics, and a conquistador who bobby-trapped his antiquities. This one has quite a few villains, and I wondered if Alex might have met her match.
This one was an interesting escape, but I found the ending over the top. As long as I suspended reality, I could root for Alex.
I enjoyed reading more about the endangered jaguars, and I hope they one day thrive again.
My thanks to William Morrow for the opportunity to read and honestly review this one.
March 5, 2025
This is the fourth book in an eco-thriller series following wildlife biologist and conservationist, Alex Carter. While the conservation and thriller aspects of these stories are self-contained, the story does mention relationships that she has built with characters in other books, which may have a profound effect on the events of this story.
In this installation, Alex travels to a protected sanctuary in New Mexico to look for the elusive jaguar. Ranchers and other locals have had anecdotal sightings but to further possible efforts for preserving the habitat for the large wildcats, Alex needs to provide proof that the species is present, possibly traveling across the border, which has ramifications for any further construction barriers in the area. I was especially excited about this book because we have had anecdotal sightings of these animals around the ranches where I grew up (and I think I saw one on at least 2 occasions). I enjoyed the earlier sections of the book as Alex hikes around the preserve and scopes out the area, placing cameras and hair snares and visiting with locals and other scientists in the area. While I enjoy the level of detail in these sections due to my fascination with wildlife conservation, some less enthused readers may find this part slow for a thriller.
As you might expect there are always characters with objections to the wildlife conservation efforts, and there was a variety of types in this one from white supremacists firebombing the locals and attacking anyone that doesn’t look like them to a hunter paid by local ranchers to eliminate a perceived threat. Once the action starts, it’s full throttle to the end. I stayed up until 1 AM to finish this one because I just couldn’t find a stopping place. Perhaps over the top at times, but I really enjoyed it anyway.
If I had one complaint with this one, it’s that they changed the name of the book before publication. I did prefer the titles that referenced the animals, which is what draws me back to this series over time. I thought the new title made it sound like every other thriller out there and years from now, when I see this title on my shelf, I’ll have to pick up it and look at the blurb to remember that this was the one about jaguars.
Recommended to thriller and nature lovers who enjoy detailed stories about conservation efforts.
Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for a copy provided for an honest review.
In this installation, Alex travels to a protected sanctuary in New Mexico to look for the elusive jaguar. Ranchers and other locals have had anecdotal sightings but to further possible efforts for preserving the habitat for the large wildcats, Alex needs to provide proof that the species is present, possibly traveling across the border, which has ramifications for any further construction barriers in the area. I was especially excited about this book because we have had anecdotal sightings of these animals around the ranches where I grew up (and I think I saw one on at least 2 occasions). I enjoyed the earlier sections of the book as Alex hikes around the preserve and scopes out the area, placing cameras and hair snares and visiting with locals and other scientists in the area. While I enjoy the level of detail in these sections due to my fascination with wildlife conservation, some less enthused readers may find this part slow for a thriller.
As you might expect there are always characters with objections to the wildlife conservation efforts, and there was a variety of types in this one from white supremacists firebombing the locals and attacking anyone that doesn’t look like them to a hunter paid by local ranchers to eliminate a perceived threat. Once the action starts, it’s full throttle to the end. I stayed up until 1 AM to finish this one because I just couldn’t find a stopping place. Perhaps over the top at times, but I really enjoyed it anyway.
If I had one complaint with this one, it’s that they changed the name of the book before publication. I did prefer the titles that referenced the animals, which is what draws me back to this series over time. I thought the new title made it sound like every other thriller out there and years from now, when I see this title on my shelf, I’ll have to pick up it and look at the blurb to remember that this was the one about jaguars.
Recommended to thriller and nature lovers who enjoy detailed stories about conservation efforts.
Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for a copy provided for an honest review.
November 28, 2024
2.5 stars
I like Alex Carter; she's kind, smart and cares about the world. Her job has taken her all over the American continent and I was really looking forward to her latest adventure. And, maybe, some closure with one of the men in her life.
This time around it was all about jaguars. Sadly, I found this story the least enjoyable in the series so far. I expected the heavy infodump, but I didn't care for the suspense. I felt lost making the connection between Alex and the various men who caused her problems. Whereas I should have finished this story in a matter of days, it took me several weeks until I finally reached the end.
Thank you to Net Galley, Alice Henderson and HarperCollins Publishers for an opportunity to read this book.
I like Alex Carter; she's kind, smart and cares about the world. Her job has taken her all over the American continent and I was really looking forward to her latest adventure. And, maybe, some closure with one of the men in her life.
This time around it was all about jaguars. Sadly, I found this story the least enjoyable in the series so far. I expected the heavy infodump, but I didn't care for the suspense. I felt lost making the connection between Alex and the various men who caused her problems. Whereas I should have finished this story in a matter of days, it took me several weeks until I finally reached the end.
Thank you to Net Galley, Alice Henderson and HarperCollins Publishers for an opportunity to read this book.
March 21, 2025
4.25 stars.
March 14, 2025
2 stars
This series started going down with book 3 and it really took a dive with this one.
Alex Carter has become some sort of a female Jack Reacher. Not my cup of tea. I think the charming part of the first two books in this series was when there was the mysterious protector who always came out and saved her when she most needed him, however once his identity was known...the entire magic disappeared and we are left with ....well in this book not much.
More than half way through the book nothing happens but we get an in depth description of jaguars and where they live and what they like and so on. Lots of random things happening mainly we have a group of anti south americans/ mexicans trying to eliminate anyone dearing to cross the border or who they suspect they crossed the border illegally. And every time Alex saves the day.
This series started going down with book 3 and it really took a dive with this one.
Alex Carter has become some sort of a female Jack Reacher. Not my cup of tea. I think the charming part of the first two books in this series was when there was the mysterious protector who always came out and saved her when she most needed him, however once his identity was known...the entire magic disappeared and we are left with ....well in this book not much.
More than half way through the book nothing happens but we get an in depth description of jaguars and where they live and what they like and so on. Lots of random things happening mainly we have a group of anti south americans/ mexicans trying to eliminate anyone dearing to cross the border or who they suspect they crossed the border illegally. And every time Alex saves the day.
February 21, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
when alex, a wildlife biologist gets asked to go to new mexico and do research on jaguars- it's an offer she can't refuse. after getting to her remote cabin she is excited to see what she can do to help the jaguar population. once she's there and fully immersed in her research she has a run in with a racist hate group that is not in favor of her work and the people in the neighboring towns. she finds herself not once or twice in these dangerous situations with them, but multiple times. can she do her research or will this group hunt her like prey and kill her?
thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the ARC!
when alex, a wildlife biologist gets asked to go to new mexico and do research on jaguars- it's an offer she can't refuse. after getting to her remote cabin she is excited to see what she can do to help the jaguar population. once she's there and fully immersed in her research she has a run in with a racist hate group that is not in favor of her work and the people in the neighboring towns. she finds herself not once or twice in these dangerous situations with them, but multiple times. can she do her research or will this group hunt her like prey and kill her?
thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the ARC!
March 8, 2025
Wow! Loved this book! What a timely, fast paced and thrilling book! Alice Henderson has written another amazing book that is well researched and so informative about the natural world, and the dangers wildlife face from humans more concerned with profit than the future of the environment and the preservation of endangered species. The character she has created for this book series, Alex Carter is quite a strong, adventurous, and inspirational female heroine! This book follows Alex on a quest to track and obtain photos and information on the elusive, endangered Jaguar in New Mexico and the dangers it faces in the wild, mostly from humankind. The plot is a gripping page turner, full of twists, that kept me completely engrossed from beginning to end. I literally could not put the book down while reading the last half! Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for my advanced copy. The opinions of this review are my own.
February 2, 2025
This is a tough review for me to write. I love Alex Carter as a character and love the overall arch of this series - following a biologist as she works on jobs related to different endangered animals in the US is super interesting to me. I love the variety of locations and animals the series has explored. The first two books were favorites for me.
Unfortunately the two most recent books were both misses. In this latest one - Alex is working to locate jaguars in New Mexico. If you’re interested in a lot of over the top action - a Mission Impossible: Biologist if you will - perhaps this is for you. It was a big miss for me and it took me forever to get through the last bit of the book because I kept getting distracted and not wanting to read it. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the free ebook and audiobook to review.
Unfortunately the two most recent books were both misses. In this latest one - Alex is working to locate jaguars in New Mexico. If you’re interested in a lot of over the top action - a Mission Impossible: Biologist if you will - perhaps this is for you. It was a big miss for me and it took me forever to get through the last bit of the book because I kept getting distracted and not wanting to read it. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the free ebook and audiobook to review.
March 24, 2025
I devoured the first few novels in this series within days, however, this one was such a struggle to pick up...
I thought the tension with the racist gang and the small New Mexico town, was very relevant to today's current political climate. So I appreciate the commentary on it, however it seemed like that point of contention was periodically put on the backburner, making you lose the suspense / interest for it. Then there's the crazy poacher billionaire... He's a gross creep who likes killing for a sense of immortality. Great character profile but, there could of been more done with it or built upon it.
I was really hoping we would get more of a resolution to the mother subplot that had been a constant unanswered question throughout the series, which didn't really happen. I also hoped we would have more of a "team" situation or at least some sort of significant interaction between our "mystery man" / "guardian" , but that was shot down pretty quickly. I really liked that Alex Carter is a "strong independent woman who doesn't need a man", and I'm not saying she need's a 'romantic partner', but now I feel like her character really lacks growth throughout the series.
It's crazy how you can get nearly 60% of the way through a book and still NOTHING really happens. There should of been some massive edits out of the first mundane half of the book, and more build up with the actual plot points: jaguars, the gang, and the poacher.
I really enjoyed the first 3 novel's in this series, so it was very disappointing to FINALLY have the fourth come out and it be such a dud. The only reason I managed to finish was because my Libby hold was due, and I didn't want to go back onto the waitlist to finish it.
I thought the tension with the racist gang and the small New Mexico town, was very relevant to today's current political climate. So I appreciate the commentary on it, however it seemed like that point of contention was periodically put on the backburner, making you lose the suspense / interest for it. Then there's the crazy poacher billionaire... He's a gross creep who likes killing for a sense of immortality. Great character profile but, there could of been more done with it or built upon it.
I was really hoping we would get more of a resolution to the mother subplot that had been a constant unanswered question throughout the series, which didn't really happen. I also hoped we would have more of a "team" situation or at least some sort of significant interaction between our "mystery man" / "guardian" , but that was shot down pretty quickly. I really liked that Alex Carter is a "strong independent woman who doesn't need a man", and I'm not saying she need's a 'romantic partner', but now I feel like her character really lacks growth throughout the series.
It's crazy how you can get nearly 60% of the way through a book and still NOTHING really happens. There should of been some massive edits out of the first mundane half of the book, and more build up with the actual plot points: jaguars, the gang, and the poacher.
I really enjoyed the first 3 novel's in this series, so it was very disappointing to FINALLY have the fourth come out and it be such a dud. The only reason I managed to finish was because my Libby hold was due, and I didn't want to go back onto the waitlist to finish it.
March 19, 2025
2 stars for the last quarter of the book - otherwise, this was my least favorite of the series. The writing felt lazy, and the inclusion of the historical details felt incredibly sloppy. The plot is becoming way too predictable and I’m not sure I’d pick up Book 5 if/when it’s written. This was a huge disappointment.
January 21, 2025
I enjoy Alice Henderson's Alex Carter series premise: a wildlife biologist working to save endangered species always finds trouble—usually murder. I learn something and am entertained.
Alex is in New Mexico tracking jaguars at a wildlife preserve. She goes into a small town for supplies, where she encounters a white supremacist group wreaking havoc and harassing the locals. The members wear masks, so law enforcement officers have no idea who they are. In addition to threatening locals, the group targets an archaeological team excavating the gravesite of a sixteenth-century conquistador, whose members include minorities; when the group learns that Alex's research may endanger a wall on the United States/Mexico border, she becomes a target as well. As the violence escalates, Alex's life is in danger, her work threatened, and the jaguar she is tracking is in peril.
What I love most about this series is the facts about endangered species. Henderson's previous books focused on wolverines, polar bears, and mountain caribou, all of which are losing their habitats. Alex is a great character, and I enjoy the situations in which she finds herself. Henderson does a good job of depicting nature and animals. I was caught up in the dangers that Alex faces in this book. The book is suspenseful, and the action scenes are dramatic. I had a problem with how Alex got out of the deadly situation; however,--it was highly improbable. The writing is good, but the dialogue is clunky at times, and the use of exclamation points is distracting. That said, The Vanishing Kind is a good addition to the series. 3/5 stars.
Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is March 4, 2025.
Alex is in New Mexico tracking jaguars at a wildlife preserve. She goes into a small town for supplies, where she encounters a white supremacist group wreaking havoc and harassing the locals. The members wear masks, so law enforcement officers have no idea who they are. In addition to threatening locals, the group targets an archaeological team excavating the gravesite of a sixteenth-century conquistador, whose members include minorities; when the group learns that Alex's research may endanger a wall on the United States/Mexico border, she becomes a target as well. As the violence escalates, Alex's life is in danger, her work threatened, and the jaguar she is tracking is in peril.
What I love most about this series is the facts about endangered species. Henderson's previous books focused on wolverines, polar bears, and mountain caribou, all of which are losing their habitats. Alex is a great character, and I enjoy the situations in which she finds herself. Henderson does a good job of depicting nature and animals. I was caught up in the dangers that Alex faces in this book. The book is suspenseful, and the action scenes are dramatic. I had a problem with how Alex got out of the deadly situation; however,--it was highly improbable. The writing is good, but the dialogue is clunky at times, and the use of exclamation points is distracting. That said, The Vanishing Kind is a good addition to the series. 3/5 stars.
Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is March 4, 2025.
Read
August 12, 2025After reading A Blizzard of Polar Bears in one day (#2 in the Alex Carter series), I crossed my fingers that author Alice Henderson wasn't done with this series yet. That was a five-star read for me, an unputdownable "delight of an adventure in the Canadian Arctic."
Unfortunately, the two books since have not been favorites.
I'd liken the Vanishing Kind more to a non-stop action thriller than anything else, and that's the biggest reason it didn't work for me. I like Alex as a character, and in the second book I noted that, "I loved the descriptions of the Aurora Borealis and the scenes of polar bear moms with their cubs." In this one, it felt like everything took the backseat to the action-packed plot. That's a selling point for some, but it was just too much for me.
Narrator Eva Kaminsky is great for this series; well-cast and easy to follow along with.
Thank you to Harper Audio and NetGalley for a free ALC of this title for review.
Unfortunately, the two books since have not been favorites.
I'd liken the Vanishing Kind more to a non-stop action thriller than anything else, and that's the biggest reason it didn't work for me. I like Alex as a character, and in the second book I noted that, "I loved the descriptions of the Aurora Borealis and the scenes of polar bear moms with their cubs." In this one, it felt like everything took the backseat to the action-packed plot. That's a selling point for some, but it was just too much for me.
Narrator Eva Kaminsky is great for this series; well-cast and easy to follow along with.
Thank you to Harper Audio and NetGalley for a free ALC of this title for review.
August 3, 2025
Alex Carter is back again working in another endangered species sanctuary, this time she is in New Mexico to see if a sighting of a Jaguar is real, and if so what can be done to protect any Jaguars that may be in the sanctuary. As in the first 3 books Alice is always in the crosshairs of some crazy anti group and barely escapes getting killed. This time the ‘antis’ are a white supremacist group that wants the border from Mexico completely closed. What does this have to do with Jaguars, you may ask. You’ll get that answer and more when you read this very exciting book.
March 17, 2025
I am loving this series featuring wildlife biologist Alex Carter who is working to research and save endangered species in their natural habitat. In book four, Alex travels to New Mexico to determine whether Jaguars are living on protected land and traveling between the US and Mexico. Along the way, she encounters anti-immigrant vigilantes, rugged terrain, and threatening intruders also in search of the sleek and powerful jaguar. Throw in a murder and the reappearance of an old friend, and Alex has her hands full!
The story is written with great atmosphere and a fair amount of suspense. It's action packed and compelling, which kept me turning the pages as the dangers around Alex grew. I really enjoy Alex's character. She's smart, resourceful, passionate and supremely competent while maintaining her compassion for others.
In addition to the action and adventure, I loved the messages about conservation and the protection of endangered species. The author's background as a wildlife researcher is evident, and I was intrigued to learn that numerous species such as the jaguar travel across the US and Mexico border. If a wall or permanent structure is ever constructed that blocks these corridors, it would severely hamper that migration and greatly endanger both animals and their habitat.
I heard Alice Henderson on a podcast a couple of years ago, and she is as passionate about the environment as her heroine Alex. Henderson's notes and references at the end of the book are equally enlightening.
Rounding up to 4.5⭐️
Thank you William Morrow Books & NetGalley for my complimentary digital ARC!
The story is written with great atmosphere and a fair amount of suspense. It's action packed and compelling, which kept me turning the pages as the dangers around Alex grew. I really enjoy Alex's character. She's smart, resourceful, passionate and supremely competent while maintaining her compassion for others.
In addition to the action and adventure, I loved the messages about conservation and the protection of endangered species. The author's background as a wildlife researcher is evident, and I was intrigued to learn that numerous species such as the jaguar travel across the US and Mexico border. If a wall or permanent structure is ever constructed that blocks these corridors, it would severely hamper that migration and greatly endanger both animals and their habitat.
I heard Alice Henderson on a podcast a couple of years ago, and she is as passionate about the environment as her heroine Alex. Henderson's notes and references at the end of the book are equally enlightening.
Rounding up to 4.5⭐️
Thank you William Morrow Books & NetGalley for my complimentary digital ARC!
March 21, 2025
The site is Mogollon Wildlife Sanctuary in New Mexico.
Dr. Alex Carter is trying to locate Jaguar Cats in this sanctuary. She is using motion cameras, barb wires to catch the animal fur on it.
As her study is ongoing there is a team of archaeologists excavating the grave site of a Spanish
Conquistador.
Also, there are masked men in white pickups demanding the team and Alex to leave the area.
When they so not leave, there is a murder and threats.
Alex's friend infiltrates the anti-immigrant vigilantes helps Alex out of danger.
Could not put the book down.
Dr. Alex Carter is trying to locate Jaguar Cats in this sanctuary. She is using motion cameras, barb wires to catch the animal fur on it.
As her study is ongoing there is a team of archaeologists excavating the grave site of a Spanish
Conquistador.
Also, there are masked men in white pickups demanding the team and Alex to leave the area.
When they so not leave, there is a murder and threats.
Alex's friend infiltrates the anti-immigrant vigilantes helps Alex out of danger.
Could not put the book down.
August 4, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ If I’m being honest, this was kind of a disappointment. I thought, up until this installment, Alice Henderson had done a good job at mixing wildlife facts with the fiction thriller aspect, but this one felt overly bogged down. The story was so predictable and the writing was hella repetitive. She kept referencing the previous books, but like to the point where I’m like, yes this is a somewhat standalone/series, we don’t need a recap every other page.
If you enjoyed the prior books, this one is an easy and quick read, but lower your expectations.
Slight Spoiler:
She also set this whole series up for some kind of romance or relationship to happen between Casey and Alex, so I was surprised that he was barely talked about, then casually thrown into the plot at the end to save the day and then nothing. What a waste.
If you enjoyed the prior books, this one is an easy and quick read, but lower your expectations.
Slight Spoiler:
She also set this whole series up for some kind of romance or relationship to happen between Casey and Alex, so I was surprised that he was barely talked about, then casually thrown into the plot at the end to save the day and then nothing. What a waste.
April 3, 2025
A disappointment. Took forever for this release- book #4. I preferred the original title. Excited it's set in NM but it's getting stuff wrong. Cacti are not a NM thing- airport giftshop. That's Arizona.
Would have preferred real places too. Just a weird combination of real and imaginary places. We are in the Gila Wilderness but no Gila River. Instead it's the Mesquite River. Azuelo is obviously Silver City.
The plot stretches credulity with white supremacists burning buildings and killing people with the police doing nothing. Then Alex is saved from certain death in an improbable scenario. Rocket weapon scene was far fetched. Too much Rambo.
The author took a lot of literary license. The jaguars are in the Bootheel of NM not in the Gila. The people who position water caches for immigrant crossers do so along the border in the Bootheel. Not the Gila. Too far north.
Not sure where this is headed next. Alex needs to hook up with her magical savior permanently. What animal is next?
Would have preferred real places too. Just a weird combination of real and imaginary places. We are in the Gila Wilderness but no Gila River. Instead it's the Mesquite River. Azuelo is obviously Silver City.
The plot stretches credulity with white supremacists burning buildings and killing people with the police doing nothing. Then Alex is saved from certain death in an improbable scenario. Rocket weapon scene was far fetched. Too much Rambo.
The author took a lot of literary license. The jaguars are in the Bootheel of NM not in the Gila. The people who position water caches for immigrant crossers do so along the border in the Bootheel. Not the Gila. Too far north.
Not sure where this is headed next. Alex needs to hook up with her magical savior permanently. What animal is next?
August 12, 2025
Once again, a slow build-up yields a satisfactory conclusion to Alex’s latest outdoor adventure. As interesting as the history and biology of the Jaguar is, I would have liked more action in the first third of the book even though Henderson does a viable job building up the Tone and acclimating the reader to the environment and the Pace seems less stifled than the 3rd in the series. Again, Alex’s outdoor and biologist skills aid her and makes sense as she gets herself out of one predicament after another. The New Mexico Setting comes across as authentic as does the antiquities theft parallel narrative (Prologue), and the Mayan/Aztec archeological dig descriptions and history. The immigration issues, and the appearance of violent White Supremacists add to the depth of the themes, and the description of native artisans' works also add to the Tone and Setting details. All in all a decent fourth in a consistent series. I also had to wait too long for an appearance from a CH from the other books and alluded to early on in the novel but happy for the insertion. Sneakier ST and more longing in this one. I will read the 5th. See review of 1st three for other review points. Sources are listed as well as a full list of environmental and Jaguar resources as an appendix, as well as a heartfelt conservation/environmental impact plea in the Afterward. RED FLAGS: Graphic Violence; Vulgar and Racial and misogynist language. Great outdoor action and environmental detail for those who enjoy, Nevada Barr, C.J. Box and Paul Dorion.
March 8, 2025
This is quite a thrilling, fast paced book! It is well researched, well written and very timely. Alice Henderson has written another wonderful book centered around an endangered species, this time, the Jaguar. Her main character, Alex Carter, has taken a job doing research and tracking the Jaguar population in New Mexico, and the effect of humankind on its survival in the wild. Alex is quite an amazing heroine, as she faces dangerous threats from humans more concerned with profit than endangered animals and the environment. It is an exciting book, full of twists and excellent information on endangered species and the environment, that I found hard to put down! Always look forward to this series. My wife did receive an advanced copy from the author, publisher and Netgalley, and I am glad she did! The opinions of this review are my own.
July 11, 2025
Truthfully, I am not sure why more people do not read this series.
Not only does it have high quality suspense and high stakes, but you get a solid education on the animals in focus, plus the threats to those animals as well. It's educational at the same time as it is entertaining and suspenseful.
My only real critique of these stories, is that the phone calls between Alex and her father and best friend feel contrived. They aren't truly necessary (we really don't need to hear about Alex's best friend's move star experiences) and it just feels like Alice Henderson's attempt at making Alex feel like a fully developed character but it just takes me out of the story.
Also, these books do typically follow the same formula but it doesn't bother me because truly...the suspense is top tier and the stakes are always high when animals lives are involved.
Not only does it have high quality suspense and high stakes, but you get a solid education on the animals in focus, plus the threats to those animals as well. It's educational at the same time as it is entertaining and suspenseful.
My only real critique of these stories, is that the phone calls between Alex and her father and best friend feel contrived. They aren't truly necessary (we really don't need to hear about Alex's best friend's move star experiences) and it just feels like Alice Henderson's attempt at making Alex feel like a fully developed character but it just takes me out of the story.
Also, these books do typically follow the same formula but it doesn't bother me because truly...the suspense is top tier and the stakes are always high when animals lives are involved.
December 23, 2025
I wanted to give The Vanishing Kind more stars because I did enjoy it, and the passion for conservation is clear. However, it almost lost me due to the repeated, broad blame placed on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a whole for the decline of several species.
While policy-level and bureaucratic decisions can absolutely be flawed, the book overlooks the reality that field biologists—those writing recovery plans and designing mitigation measures—care deeply about these species and are doing their best within real constraints. The lack of nuance, especially ignoring how litigation and delays impact conservation timelines, made parts of the story frustrating.
I liked the book overall, but I hope future works take more care in where the blame is placed.
While policy-level and bureaucratic decisions can absolutely be flawed, the book overlooks the reality that field biologists—those writing recovery plans and designing mitigation measures—care deeply about these species and are doing their best within real constraints. The lack of nuance, especially ignoring how litigation and delays impact conservation timelines, made parts of the story frustrating.
I liked the book overall, but I hope future works take more care in where the blame is placed.
June 13, 2025
Going to start with saying I liked the book, but didn’t love it as much as all the others in the series. great story, love wilderness settings. although i typically read to escape politics it’s very informative on how politics affect wildlife in the US.
I liked the character Alex was made more human instead of a super trained fighter like in polar bears. Could have used more Casey especially at the end.
Book took a little longer to ramp up the action but otherwise another great story by a talented author.
I liked the character Alex was made more human instead of a super trained fighter like in polar bears. Could have used more Casey especially at the end.
Book took a little longer to ramp up the action but otherwise another great story by a talented author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2025
OMG! I can’t believe I finished this book so quickly, but I CAN believe it because it was so damn GOOD! Alex Carter is back again looking to protect another endangered species. And almost getting herself killed in the process. These books make me yell, out loud, very often. Jaguars, racism, murder, human and animal sacrifice, heroism. Please, when is the next book coming?
September 2, 2025
Alex finds a jaguar in New Mexico, saves its life from a trophy hunter using a tranquilizer and jaguar-shaped knife. White supremacists hunting people of color and women, with trumpian theme of 'taking our jobs'.
Read
February 24, 2025Saving my review for after release day
Thank you to William Morrow for an advanced copy of this book.
Thank you to William Morrow for an advanced copy of this book.
August 6, 2025
I really wanted to love this book, but...Preachy about everything from endangered species to man vs bear. the dialogue for the white supremacy group is cartoonish and silly. Why not make them as evil as they truly are? And the constant asides for yet more info on jaguars was crazy making since it kept slamming the breaks on the plot. Honestly, I felt like I was getting yelled at about social issues for 300 pages. 2 stars because I did finish, but it was a regret. There are lots of important issues on our Southern boarders, and dealing with social problems in fiction is great, but remember why your readers come to your books. Maybe integrate the issues more instead of slapping us upside the head with them. Some of us agree with the positions of the author and don't need the lecture.
September 17, 2025
So ridiculous. So good.
It’s like the heroine version of the Joe Pickett character.
It’s like the heroine version of the Joe Pickett character.
March 16, 2025
THE VANISHING KIND is the kind of book that you might want to read in one sitting to find out how the enthralling action ends, yet I found myself doing the opposite. Alice Henderson creates characters so likable, a plot so gripping, and a setting so idyllic that I just didn't want it to end. I kept putting off finishing it because I wanted to stay with Alex Carter in the New Mexico desert just a bit longer.
There are so many things to like about this series that it's difficult to know where to begin. One of the magical parts of each book is Henderson’s ability to take us to the places where the stories are set. In the past, we've visited the Arctic and the Rocky Mountains, and now we see the New Mexico desert through Henderson's capable eyes as she describes the desert scenes in a manner both detailed and lyrical. We picture ourselves in the Gila National Forest as we read about "towering reddish columns of petrified ash" rising from the desert floor, and springs that "trickled from crevices in rocks, creating their own little ecosystems of delicate green maidenhair ferns and mosses." We listen to the calls of birds, the rushing of the Mogollon River, and the stomping of mule deer. And, of course, we can visualize the sleek beauty of the jaguar, that elusive creature who is the focus of THE VANISHING KIND.
One of the admirable aspects of Henderson's writing is her knack for informing us while simultaneously engrossing us in a gripping plot. For example, we learn about why some cats can purr and others can only roar. Small cats purr, but big cats roar. It all depends on their hyoid bone, and it's fascinating. Alex Carter, a biologist, travels to remote locations for a nonprofit organization, the Land Trust for Wildlife Conservation. They ask her to set up remote cameras, collar wild animals, and check on their habitat. In this novel, they have land in New Mexico that they think is suitable for jaguar habitation and want to see if there are any jaguars on the land.
Once Alex is in the sanctuary, living there and meeting the people in the closest tiny town, as well as some ranching neighbors, she realizes that a number of white supremacists are targeting anyone who doesn't look like them. They also target women, who they believe should not be "taking men's jobs," like ranching and doing what Alex does. They've fire-bombed an art festival and destroyed many shops owned by families with Hispanic names. They've also threatened Alex. The police seem singularly inept in identifying the group.
One of the facts of Alex's life is that she feels safer in the wilderness than she does in "civilization." Cities have predators of the two-legged variety, and being in the wild --- so long as you are respectful of the predators who make their homes there --- is much safer to her. That being said, the danger in the story is not from Alex's interactions with the jaguar (yes, there is one here!), but rather with the human predator, a much more dangerous and venal type of adversary.
The narrative intersperses Alex's journey through the wilderness --- looking for signs of a jaguar's presence, appreciating the native beauty around her, and breathing in the clean desert air --- with the tension and incipient violence that results from the threats by the white supremacists. There is also the local millionaire who financed an archaeological dig on his property, looking for ancient artifacts stolen by a Spanish conquistador. We know the artifacts will be important because of the prologue, but we don't know how. The workers at the dig run afoul of the white supremacist group as well; they aren't white enough.
Henderson's ability to walk the tightrope between narrating the action and sharing information is brilliant. We care about Alex and want her to succeed. We hate those who threaten not only her safety, but the safety of others and the animals whose habitats are being destroyed.
Be prepared to get angry. I hadn't realized that the REAL ID Act, passed in 2005, allowed the Department of Homeland Security to bypass all federal, state and local environmental laws when constructing border walls. Laws including the Endangered Species Act, the Antiquities Act, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act can all be ignored to build a wall. No environmental assessments are created and used to reduce damage to wildlife and migration. As Henderson (through Alex) points out, there are ways to protect the border without building a physical wall that prevents animals, like the jaguar but also many other species, from migrating. Without the ability to move from place to place, genetic diversity is weakened and species are harmed.
One shocking truth that Henderson shares is that Wildlife Services, a branch of the United States Department of Agriculture, an agency that we would think is dedicated to saving wildlife, is actually responsible for killing tremendous numbers of wild animals. In one year alone, over 403,000 native animals --- including black bears, gray wolves, bobcats, coyotes, deer, marmots, prairie dogs and mourning doves --- have been killed. It’s devastating.
It's extremely frustrating to read about the failure of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect critically endangered animals. For example, we learn that jaguars weren't listed as endangered until 1997. Then it took another 17 years for them to designate critical habitat, and only after being sued by conservation groups. Jaguars are critically endangered, and their plight is only getting worse. Alice Henderson is a champion for wildlife, and reading her novels encourages readers to see the beauty of nature, as well as the imperative necessity for action to relieve the status quo dangers that are causing the disappearance of our native habitats. She told me, "I feel very strongly about shedding light on the plight of different species, and I do hope the books are making a difference. Wildlife needs our help!"
Books like this one and the others in the series do have the power not only to inform people, but to change minds about the importance of our wild lands and keeping our national parks for the animals, not for beef ranchers and businessmen. Read THE VANISHING KIND, and enjoy it for the plot, the characters and the wonderful writing. Share it because of its importance and the environmental message it carries.
Reviewed by Pamela Kramer
There are so many things to like about this series that it's difficult to know where to begin. One of the magical parts of each book is Henderson’s ability to take us to the places where the stories are set. In the past, we've visited the Arctic and the Rocky Mountains, and now we see the New Mexico desert through Henderson's capable eyes as she describes the desert scenes in a manner both detailed and lyrical. We picture ourselves in the Gila National Forest as we read about "towering reddish columns of petrified ash" rising from the desert floor, and springs that "trickled from crevices in rocks, creating their own little ecosystems of delicate green maidenhair ferns and mosses." We listen to the calls of birds, the rushing of the Mogollon River, and the stomping of mule deer. And, of course, we can visualize the sleek beauty of the jaguar, that elusive creature who is the focus of THE VANISHING KIND.
One of the admirable aspects of Henderson's writing is her knack for informing us while simultaneously engrossing us in a gripping plot. For example, we learn about why some cats can purr and others can only roar. Small cats purr, but big cats roar. It all depends on their hyoid bone, and it's fascinating. Alex Carter, a biologist, travels to remote locations for a nonprofit organization, the Land Trust for Wildlife Conservation. They ask her to set up remote cameras, collar wild animals, and check on their habitat. In this novel, they have land in New Mexico that they think is suitable for jaguar habitation and want to see if there are any jaguars on the land.
Once Alex is in the sanctuary, living there and meeting the people in the closest tiny town, as well as some ranching neighbors, she realizes that a number of white supremacists are targeting anyone who doesn't look like them. They also target women, who they believe should not be "taking men's jobs," like ranching and doing what Alex does. They've fire-bombed an art festival and destroyed many shops owned by families with Hispanic names. They've also threatened Alex. The police seem singularly inept in identifying the group.
One of the facts of Alex's life is that she feels safer in the wilderness than she does in "civilization." Cities have predators of the two-legged variety, and being in the wild --- so long as you are respectful of the predators who make their homes there --- is much safer to her. That being said, the danger in the story is not from Alex's interactions with the jaguar (yes, there is one here!), but rather with the human predator, a much more dangerous and venal type of adversary.
The narrative intersperses Alex's journey through the wilderness --- looking for signs of a jaguar's presence, appreciating the native beauty around her, and breathing in the clean desert air --- with the tension and incipient violence that results from the threats by the white supremacists. There is also the local millionaire who financed an archaeological dig on his property, looking for ancient artifacts stolen by a Spanish conquistador. We know the artifacts will be important because of the prologue, but we don't know how. The workers at the dig run afoul of the white supremacist group as well; they aren't white enough.
Henderson's ability to walk the tightrope between narrating the action and sharing information is brilliant. We care about Alex and want her to succeed. We hate those who threaten not only her safety, but the safety of others and the animals whose habitats are being destroyed.
Be prepared to get angry. I hadn't realized that the REAL ID Act, passed in 2005, allowed the Department of Homeland Security to bypass all federal, state and local environmental laws when constructing border walls. Laws including the Endangered Species Act, the Antiquities Act, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act can all be ignored to build a wall. No environmental assessments are created and used to reduce damage to wildlife and migration. As Henderson (through Alex) points out, there are ways to protect the border without building a physical wall that prevents animals, like the jaguar but also many other species, from migrating. Without the ability to move from place to place, genetic diversity is weakened and species are harmed.
One shocking truth that Henderson shares is that Wildlife Services, a branch of the United States Department of Agriculture, an agency that we would think is dedicated to saving wildlife, is actually responsible for killing tremendous numbers of wild animals. In one year alone, over 403,000 native animals --- including black bears, gray wolves, bobcats, coyotes, deer, marmots, prairie dogs and mourning doves --- have been killed. It’s devastating.
It's extremely frustrating to read about the failure of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect critically endangered animals. For example, we learn that jaguars weren't listed as endangered until 1997. Then it took another 17 years for them to designate critical habitat, and only after being sued by conservation groups. Jaguars are critically endangered, and their plight is only getting worse. Alice Henderson is a champion for wildlife, and reading her novels encourages readers to see the beauty of nature, as well as the imperative necessity for action to relieve the status quo dangers that are causing the disappearance of our native habitats. She told me, "I feel very strongly about shedding light on the plight of different species, and I do hope the books are making a difference. Wildlife needs our help!"
Books like this one and the others in the series do have the power not only to inform people, but to change minds about the importance of our wild lands and keeping our national parks for the animals, not for beef ranchers and businessmen. Read THE VANISHING KIND, and enjoy it for the plot, the characters and the wonderful writing. Share it because of its importance and the environmental message it carries.
Reviewed by Pamela Kramer
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