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Sam Westin Mysteries #1
Endangered
Meet wildlife biologist and writer Summer "Sam" Westin, whose dream of saving the cougars is complicated when a boy vanishes from a campground in Utah... A child has gone missing, and Sam Westin knows it's her fault. She nudged the boy down a dark path toward a man she presumed was his father. Now there's a media campaign targeting the cougars she helped rehabilitate and release a year ago, blaming them for the boy's disappearance. It's only when FBI Agent Chase Perez joins the case that human suspects are considered. Clues lead Sam and Chase to the high country, where they comb the rocky canyons for evidence of the boy and for the one man who may be a vital witness. But as hours pass, and the media frenzy escalates, Sam fears they won't uncover the truth in time to save both the boy and the big cats...
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
644 people are currently reading
1370 people want to read
About the author
Pamela Beason
26 books193 followersPamela Beason lives in the Pacific Northwest, where she writes novels and screenplays and works as a private investigator. When she's not on the job, she explores the natural world on foot, in cross-country skis, in her kayak, or underwater scuba diving.
Beason is the author of nine full-length fiction works: THE ONLY WITNESS, THE ONLY CLUE (books 1 and 2 of the Neema Mysteries); SHAKEN, CALL OF THE JAGUAR (romantic suspense novels), ENDANGERED, BEAR BAIT, and UNDERCURRENTS in the Summer "Sam" Westin series; and RACE WITH DANGER and RACE TO TRUTH, books 1 and 2 of a YA Run for Your Life adventure trilogy. She also wrote the nonfiction titles, SAVE YOUR MONEY, YOUR SANITY, AND OUR PLANET and SO YOU WANT TO BE A PI?. Pam's writing has earned her multiple prizes, including the Daphne du Maurier Award, two First Place prizes and two Grand Prizes in the Chanticleer Book Reviews Contest, and an Honorable Mention in a Library Journal contest.
As an avid outdoorswoman and animal lover, Beason challenges the human assumption that we are the superior species. Drifting through life is not enough; you have to live it.
Pamela blogs and tweets about writing, outdoor adventures, and the value of being present in the moment. She looks forward to connecting with readers on her Twitter, Goodreads Page or Blog.
Beason is the author of nine full-length fiction works: THE ONLY WITNESS, THE ONLY CLUE (books 1 and 2 of the Neema Mysteries); SHAKEN, CALL OF THE JAGUAR (romantic suspense novels), ENDANGERED, BEAR BAIT, and UNDERCURRENTS in the Summer "Sam" Westin series; and RACE WITH DANGER and RACE TO TRUTH, books 1 and 2 of a YA Run for Your Life adventure trilogy. She also wrote the nonfiction titles, SAVE YOUR MONEY, YOUR SANITY, AND OUR PLANET and SO YOU WANT TO BE A PI?. Pam's writing has earned her multiple prizes, including the Daphne du Maurier Award, two First Place prizes and two Grand Prizes in the Chanticleer Book Reviews Contest, and an Honorable Mention in a Library Journal contest.
As an avid outdoorswoman and animal lover, Beason challenges the human assumption that we are the superior species. Drifting through life is not enough; you have to live it.
Pamela blogs and tweets about writing, outdoor adventures, and the value of being present in the moment. She looks forward to connecting with readers on her Twitter, Goodreads Page or Blog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews
April 17, 2020
ENDANGERED by Pamela Beason is the first book in the Sam Westin Mystery series. It was an exhilarating, suspenseful, and tense story. Summer (Sam) Westin has held a variety of jobs, but is currently a freelance wilderness writer working for the Save the Wilderness Fund. She has returned to Heritage National Monument in Utah where she once worked as a park ranger to write a story about cougars. Unfortunately, a young child turns up missing shortly after she saw him. Unfortunately, the frenzy that unfolded led to many blaming the local cougars for his disappearance. Sam is determined find the boy and prove that the cougars were not at fault.
The characters were compelling and felt three-dimensional. Their motivations seemed believable and well-drawn and the secondary characters were well-rounded. The descriptions were vivid and gave a clear sense of place. The plot was intense, suspenseful, absorbing, and entertaining. However, there were a few items that could have been depicted differently and more balanced. Not all hunters drink while hunting and not all park superintendents are incompetent. Additionally, I am not sure that the rules regarding carrying rifles in a national monument were adequately researched.
Overall, this was an action filled story with lots of twists and turns. The writing style and story line drew me in and kept me fully engaged. I look forward to reading more books in this series.
The characters were compelling and felt three-dimensional. Their motivations seemed believable and well-drawn and the secondary characters were well-rounded. The descriptions were vivid and gave a clear sense of place. The plot was intense, suspenseful, absorbing, and entertaining. However, there were a few items that could have been depicted differently and more balanced. Not all hunters drink while hunting and not all park superintendents are incompetent. Additionally, I am not sure that the rules regarding carrying rifles in a national monument were adequately researched.
Overall, this was an action filled story with lots of twists and turns. The writing style and story line drew me in and kept me fully engaged. I look forward to reading more books in this series.
March 3, 2024
I have recently discovered a new (to me) flavour of mystery: the wilderness mystery, usually investigated by a young woman in the ranger service or a wildlife biologist. I'm thinking of Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon, Claire Kells' National Parks Mysteries, Sarah Yarwood-Lovett’s Nell Ward, even Anne Frasier's Inland Empire series or Annelise Ryan's Monster Hunter Mysteries. Add to the list Pamela Beason and her Sam Westin.
All of these feature intelligent, capable women doing their best in challenging situations. I wouldn't trade places with any of them, but I enjoy reading their exploits. At first, I was worried that Summer (Sam) Westin would follow in the footsteps of Alex Carter in A Solitude of Wolverines, which wasn't my cup of tea at all. Sam's struggle to prevent the hunting of mountain lions verged on the obsessive, like Alex, and there were “evil hunters" involved, but she never became the rather Terminator-like character that Alex was. And the challenges Sam faces were realistic-ish. I did think that Beason put her main character through a physical torture test (rather similar to Barr's writing about Anna Pigeon).
Sam is discovering that her journalist maybe-boyfriend is an opportunistic jerk, who is willing to “report” anything to get ahead. She is definitely feeling used, but there is an attractive FBI agent to distract Summer from this situation. I couldn't help liking Agent Chase Perez, who also seems to have a bit of a thing for Sam.
I'm sold. I need to read book two. My library doesn't have it but a neighboring city's does. Interlibrary loan for the win.
All of these feature intelligent, capable women doing their best in challenging situations. I wouldn't trade places with any of them, but I enjoy reading their exploits. At first, I was worried that Summer (Sam) Westin would follow in the footsteps of Alex Carter in A Solitude of Wolverines, which wasn't my cup of tea at all. Sam's struggle to prevent the hunting of mountain lions verged on the obsessive, like Alex, and there were “evil hunters" involved, but she never became the rather Terminator-like character that Alex was. And the challenges Sam faces were realistic-ish. I did think that Beason put her main character through a physical torture test (rather similar to Barr's writing about Anna Pigeon).
Sam is discovering that her journalist maybe-boyfriend is an opportunistic jerk, who is willing to “report” anything to get ahead. She is definitely feeling used, but there is an attractive FBI agent to distract Summer from this situation. I couldn't help liking Agent Chase Perez, who also seems to have a bit of a thing for Sam.
I'm sold. I need to read book two. My library doesn't have it but a neighboring city's does. Interlibrary loan for the win.
December 30, 2011
Being a mystery fan and sharing territory with cougars, the goodreads giveaway of Endangered called me to click on it. I did. I won.
While hard to pigeonhole exactly, Endangered is more of a thriller than the procedurals I prefer but it definitely pulled me in after a few chapters. Was little Zach kidnapped, murdered, or eaten by cougars? This fast paced book throws plenty of conflicting clues out to the reader.
As a bonus, by tossing together characters with different backgrounds, Pamela Beason is able to teach snippets of natural history, animal habits and Native American lore in an entertaining fashion.
While hard to pigeonhole exactly, Endangered is more of a thriller than the procedurals I prefer but it definitely pulled me in after a few chapters. Was little Zach kidnapped, murdered, or eaten by cougars? This fast paced book throws plenty of conflicting clues out to the reader.
As a bonus, by tossing together characters with different backgrounds, Pamela Beason is able to teach snippets of natural history, animal habits and Native American lore in an entertaining fashion.
June 16, 2022
Trigger warning: Child molestation (Not a lot and not graphic. Just creepy.)
For the most part, I definitely loved reading this book! Lots of mystery, some suspense, the great outdoors, wildlife, and a wee bit of romance. Endangered had it all!
When a young child goes missing from a campground in a national monument in Utah, the media quickly blames the reintroduction of cougars in the park. FBI Agent Chase Perez joins wildlife biologist and writer Summer "Sam" Westin in the race to find Zack before the cougars Sam rehabilitated and released a year ago are killed. Zack's father is acting fishy, as is the weirdo in the motor home. And what's with the "crazy" guy who howls with the coyotes at night?
Chase and Sam were fun to read about. There were parts in the book that stretched credibility, which I usually dislike, but in this book, I didn't care at all. I didn't want to put Endangered down!
For the most part, I definitely loved reading this book! Lots of mystery, some suspense, the great outdoors, wildlife, and a wee bit of romance. Endangered had it all!
When a young child goes missing from a campground in a national monument in Utah, the media quickly blames the reintroduction of cougars in the park. FBI Agent Chase Perez joins wildlife biologist and writer Summer "Sam" Westin in the race to find Zack before the cougars Sam rehabilitated and released a year ago are killed. Zack's father is acting fishy, as is the weirdo in the motor home. And what's with the "crazy" guy who howls with the coyotes at night?
Chase and Sam were fun to read about. There were parts in the book that stretched credibility, which I usually dislike, but in this book, I didn't care at all. I didn't want to put Endangered down!
February 10, 2020
A little boy goes missing in the woods, and immediately everyone jumps to the conclusion that he was eaten by vicious cougars. Can wild-life researcher Summer Westin prove that her beloved cats are not to blame before people go mad and start shooting all of them? It's a fast-paced mystery that will tug at your emotions and keep you guessing. I'm looking forward to more in this series.
February 1, 2012
Summer (Sam) Westin, aka Wilderness Westin to her "Save the Wilderness Fund" website followers, is in Utah's Heritage National Monument to do a follow-up on a previous story. A cougar had been shot and SWF had rescued the cougar and her cubs, treated the wounds and released them back to the park. Sam is hoping to get some photos of the cougars now to report their progress to SWF website. She had worked at the park in the past and still knows some of the park rangers. She is about to set off from the Ranger HQ to hike into the off-trail back country when she sees a little blond haired boy who wandered away from his camp. Sam can hear the mother calling for Zack and she is about to take the boy to his mother when Zack goes toddling off to a man approaching. Everything appears as though this is Zack's father and she thinks nothing of it until she has set up camp hours later and calls into her park ranger friend Kent to find out everyone is searching for Zack. Sam treks back into the Ranger HQ to join the search, feeling responsible not ensuring the little boy was really with his father. It seems like a simple premise, but this book graps the reader and won't let go until the last page.
There are several elements at play in this story. Sam and the SWF are getting stabbed in the back by an opportunist reporter who turns Zack's disappearance into a sensationalized tale of Cougars versus unsuspecting campers. It doesn't help that Sam was dating said reporter. This begins a chain reaction of "kill the cougars" frenzy spurred on by a local who resents not getting to hunt in the park. Then the FBI join the mix which brings more exposure to the situation when it sorely needed less distractions from the search efforts. There is a clock ticking to find Zack before the autumn temperatures get too cold at night, or a human gets away with abduction, and before the cougars get hunters using helicopters to hunt and kill them.
Sam is a great character with a good mix of independent outdoors woman who is vulnerable yet daring and smart but headstrong. She is passionate about the wilderness and animals while she dials her satellite phone to upload her story from a laptop complete with digital photos. She is a modern woman who is very capable in the wilderness by herself but not afraid to show her softer side. Chase (Starchaser) Perez, half Lakota FBI agent is a fascinating character too. His cool FBI demeanor only hints at much deeper waters occasionally. He enlists Sam to be his guide for checking spots in the park that are prime for hiding Zack and finds himself trying to keep up. Repelling for the first time down slot canyons is but one challenge that Sam throws his way. These two characters play well off each other in a natural believable way.
The setting of Utah's wilderness and wildlife becomes a character in itself. The author brings the coyotes yipping at night, the crisp autumn air, the wonder of ancient Anasazi ruins, and the magnificence of slot canyons vividly to the readers mind. The cougars that Sam is following up on become a part of the story as you want the mother and her grown cubs to be innocent of any involvement with Zack's disappearance and ultimately left to live their lives. I felt like I had been trekking the trails experiencing the sights and sounds with Sam.
The plot is very believable and gripping as it unfolds. The pacing keeps the reader turning pages always wanting to read just a little further to find out the next thing. This book is hard to put down even to eat a meal. I warn you now.
The climax is white knuckle-edge-of-your-seat ride that has the reader holding their breath. The wrap up is a resounding success that ensured my checking to see when the next book would be released. Bear Bait is the next book and it is "coming soon" - not soon enough for me.
If it seems like I am gushing, I just can't help it. This was a fantastic suspense story with a plausible plot filled with suspense, characters who are compelling and exciting in their mission, with a luscious setting and a gripping climax.
Series: 1st in Summer Westin Mysteries
Obtained Through: Publisher for honest review
There are several elements at play in this story. Sam and the SWF are getting stabbed in the back by an opportunist reporter who turns Zack's disappearance into a sensationalized tale of Cougars versus unsuspecting campers. It doesn't help that Sam was dating said reporter. This begins a chain reaction of "kill the cougars" frenzy spurred on by a local who resents not getting to hunt in the park. Then the FBI join the mix which brings more exposure to the situation when it sorely needed less distractions from the search efforts. There is a clock ticking to find Zack before the autumn temperatures get too cold at night, or a human gets away with abduction, and before the cougars get hunters using helicopters to hunt and kill them.
Sam is a great character with a good mix of independent outdoors woman who is vulnerable yet daring and smart but headstrong. She is passionate about the wilderness and animals while she dials her satellite phone to upload her story from a laptop complete with digital photos. She is a modern woman who is very capable in the wilderness by herself but not afraid to show her softer side. Chase (Starchaser) Perez, half Lakota FBI agent is a fascinating character too. His cool FBI demeanor only hints at much deeper waters occasionally. He enlists Sam to be his guide for checking spots in the park that are prime for hiding Zack and finds himself trying to keep up. Repelling for the first time down slot canyons is but one challenge that Sam throws his way. These two characters play well off each other in a natural believable way.
The setting of Utah's wilderness and wildlife becomes a character in itself. The author brings the coyotes yipping at night, the crisp autumn air, the wonder of ancient Anasazi ruins, and the magnificence of slot canyons vividly to the readers mind. The cougars that Sam is following up on become a part of the story as you want the mother and her grown cubs to be innocent of any involvement with Zack's disappearance and ultimately left to live their lives. I felt like I had been trekking the trails experiencing the sights and sounds with Sam.
The plot is very believable and gripping as it unfolds. The pacing keeps the reader turning pages always wanting to read just a little further to find out the next thing. This book is hard to put down even to eat a meal. I warn you now.
The climax is white knuckle-edge-of-your-seat ride that has the reader holding their breath. The wrap up is a resounding success that ensured my checking to see when the next book would be released. Bear Bait is the next book and it is "coming soon" - not soon enough for me.
If it seems like I am gushing, I just can't help it. This was a fantastic suspense story with a plausible plot filled with suspense, characters who are compelling and exciting in their mission, with a luscious setting and a gripping climax.
Series: 1st in Summer Westin Mysteries
Obtained Through: Publisher for honest review
October 27, 2011
My thoughts on Endangered in one word: wow.
I won this book through the First Reads giveaway and was very much looking forward to reading it. I have always been a big animal lover so the premise of the book hooked me in before I ever read a single word.
Let me tell you, it didn't disappoint. Pamela Beason weaves a tale so intense and pulse pounding, you feel like you're on the best roller coaster ever built. Her skill at creating tension is right up there with (if not better than) some of the big name mystery writers. On several occasions, I literally wished I could read faster, because my heart was pounding so fast anticipating what would happen next!
The plot was amazing as well. Anyone who reads mystery books has probably read at least one about a missing child/person. But how many have also thrown cougars into the mix? Not any that I've read. The added story line of the cougars, gave an extra dimension to the story that makes it top notch in my opinion.
I can't wait to read the next Summer Westin mystery. Pamela Beason is definitely an author I will be keeping an eye on.
I won this book through the First Reads giveaway and was very much looking forward to reading it. I have always been a big animal lover so the premise of the book hooked me in before I ever read a single word.
Let me tell you, it didn't disappoint. Pamela Beason weaves a tale so intense and pulse pounding, you feel like you're on the best roller coaster ever built. Her skill at creating tension is right up there with (if not better than) some of the big name mystery writers. On several occasions, I literally wished I could read faster, because my heart was pounding so fast anticipating what would happen next!
The plot was amazing as well. Anyone who reads mystery books has probably read at least one about a missing child/person. But how many have also thrown cougars into the mix? Not any that I've read. The added story line of the cougars, gave an extra dimension to the story that makes it top notch in my opinion.
I can't wait to read the next Summer Westin mystery. Pamela Beason is definitely an author I will be keeping an eye on.
October 21, 2011
"Endangered" is an engaging story that features a diminutive yet larger-than-life heroine who embraces the circumstances she finds herself in and follows her principles throughout. Pamela Beason has written a gripping novel that will have you questioning the sense in some of the decisions we make as a society, especially when overcome by a mob mentality. You will be amazed as the story ends, and cheering for the characters throughout. The ending is stunning, full of surprises.
December 10, 2016
"Endangered" is set in a national park in Utah. The protagonist Summer, aka "Sam" works as a free lance nature author and photographer as well as being a wildlife biologist. She is tough, intelligent, and devoted to preserving the natural ecosystem, particularly the cougars. I like her very much and will probably read more by Pamela Beason.
Beason's depiction of the canyonlands and the creatures who inhabit them was well crafted. I could visualize the canyons, arches, land bridges, underground chambers carved out by water, and the ruins built by Anasazi people. It's obvious that the author has experience in camping, repelling, rock climbing and survival in the wild. She also did her homework on the animals that live in the park, particularly interesting were her descriptions of the cougars and lizards.
The plot line is compelling. A toddler goes missing from a camp ground and after three days is still missing. Was he kidnapped? Was he hunted and killed by a cougar? The park fills with journalists, FBI agents, hunters looking to bag cougars, and helicopters fly low searching for the child. Is little Zach alive; will be the cougars be hunted and killed because everyone assumes they killed Zach?
In addition to the exciting plot line, the characters are interesting as well. Who is Coyote Charlie, a mysterious man who howls with the coyotes at night? Park rangers Kent and Castillo have their quiet existence thrown into turmoil, and their lives changed forever. Buck Ferguson, Fred Fischer, and FBI agent Chase Perez also appear prominently in the story.
I'm a westerner and really enjoy reading a good mystery set in the West. This one is quite good, and I recommend it.
Beason's depiction of the canyonlands and the creatures who inhabit them was well crafted. I could visualize the canyons, arches, land bridges, underground chambers carved out by water, and the ruins built by Anasazi people. It's obvious that the author has experience in camping, repelling, rock climbing and survival in the wild. She also did her homework on the animals that live in the park, particularly interesting were her descriptions of the cougars and lizards.
The plot line is compelling. A toddler goes missing from a camp ground and after three days is still missing. Was he kidnapped? Was he hunted and killed by a cougar? The park fills with journalists, FBI agents, hunters looking to bag cougars, and helicopters fly low searching for the child. Is little Zach alive; will be the cougars be hunted and killed because everyone assumes they killed Zach?
In addition to the exciting plot line, the characters are interesting as well. Who is Coyote Charlie, a mysterious man who howls with the coyotes at night? Park rangers Kent and Castillo have their quiet existence thrown into turmoil, and their lives changed forever. Buck Ferguson, Fred Fischer, and FBI agent Chase Perez also appear prominently in the story.
I'm a westerner and really enjoy reading a good mystery set in the West. This one is quite good, and I recommend it.
March 18, 2019
This is one of those time where I desperately wish I could remember how a book came across my radar. All I know is it was on my wish list and I bought it in 2017. Anyway, thank you to the mystery person. This was an engaging thriller set in a national park in Utah. Sam Westin is a nature journalist who is visiting to write some articles about the cougars living in the park. When a little boy goes missing, the public is all too eager to blame it on the cougars instead of looking into the possibility that a human may have kidnapped him. The FBI is called in though and Sam is able to offer her help in navigating the trails. This was definitely a page turner.
November 2, 2017
Star rating: 3 Stars
Wildlife biologist Sam Westin has been sent to a National park in Utah to cover the new growth in the local cougar population. Soon after arriving a tragedy occurs when a little boy goes missing. After days go by and he still hasn't been found, TV news crews and local hunters start pointing the blame at those same Pumas that Sam was sent to report on. In her heart Sam knows that the cougars aren't to blame, so she decides to do everything she has to to save her beloved cougars and find Zachary before it's too late for either of them.
Even though this novel started off as very promising, it started to meander heavily about 30% of the way through. Sam is an enjoyable main character, but she was never the problem with this book. It's biggest problem was it's sluggish plot line. My other personal issue with this novel was it's seemingly random point of view changes. One chapter Sam would be telling the story then there'd be a paragraph break and Chase would be telling the story. It was both unexpected and unnecessary. I won't be picking up the next in this series, since it just didn't thrill me enough for me to want to know more.
Wildlife biologist Sam Westin has been sent to a National park in Utah to cover the new growth in the local cougar population. Soon after arriving a tragedy occurs when a little boy goes missing. After days go by and he still hasn't been found, TV news crews and local hunters start pointing the blame at those same Pumas that Sam was sent to report on. In her heart Sam knows that the cougars aren't to blame, so she decides to do everything she has to to save her beloved cougars and find Zachary before it's too late for either of them.
Even though this novel started off as very promising, it started to meander heavily about 30% of the way through. Sam is an enjoyable main character, but she was never the problem with this book. It's biggest problem was it's sluggish plot line. My other personal issue with this novel was it's seemingly random point of view changes. One chapter Sam would be telling the story then there'd be a paragraph break and Chase would be telling the story. It was both unexpected and unnecessary. I won't be picking up the next in this series, since it just didn't thrill me enough for me to want to know more.
April 22, 2023
First off, I LOVED the Utah wilderness setting and the descriptions of the landscape were right on!! It did take me a while to warm up to Sam, but I finally figured her out and ended up really liking her. This was an exciting read, though I struggled a bit with some of the triggers which I try to avoid in my reading , but I will definitely give the next book in the series a try 4 stars
January 16, 2016
Summer (Sam) Westin is a wildlife biologist and she recently helped rehabilitate a family of cougars and helped release them into the wild in a Utah National Park. Today she is back to do a follow-up report for a wildlife group. As she starts up the trail of the park where she worked as a Ranger for awhile she comes across a little lost boy. After she returns him safely to his father she is back on the trail hoping to get some pictures of her large feline friends.
Then she learns via her radio that a child has gone missing and he matches the description of the little boy she had been with earlier. Maybe that man wasn’t his father. Sam feels it’s all her fault and has to help find the boy.
The media is going a whole different direction and is reporting the child was taken by a cougar, bringing panic and everyone with a shotgun out of the woodwork to kill the cougars. Sam knows it is highly unlikely that a cougar had anything to do with the missing boy and when FBI Special Agent Chase Perez joins the search she does everything she can to convince him humans are behind the disappearance. The authorities are planning to bring in snipers to kill the cougars so for Sam to save the boy and her precious animals she has to work fast to get at the truth, even if it means canvasing the entire park and going into some of the most dangerous places.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
This book really surprised me by grabbing me right away and holding on tight. Big cats are my favorite wild animal. They always look so regal and majestic sitting high up on the rocks. I have never seen one up close though except at the zoo. I wanted to be in Sam Westin’s shoes as she got oh so close to these wonderful animals.
But it was more than that that kept me reading, the plot twists were amazing, and as more and more clues were gathered the story that evolved was simply spectacular. I have never been to a park in Utah but the author painted such beautiful pictures with her words that I felt like I was right there. The park is also more than just a setting for this story, it is a character, a character that reacts to not only changes in weather but changes of its inhabitants. A trail can be one way one day and totally different the next. The vastness of caves, nooks and crannies make it the perfect spot for a mystery.
This is my first experience with this author but she left us wanting more and a perfect foundation for the series to continue. I am anxious to see the next installment. We are given just a little snippet at the end of this book that is so unfair because I really hate waiting, but it seems bears will be involved.
Then she learns via her radio that a child has gone missing and he matches the description of the little boy she had been with earlier. Maybe that man wasn’t his father. Sam feels it’s all her fault and has to help find the boy.
The media is going a whole different direction and is reporting the child was taken by a cougar, bringing panic and everyone with a shotgun out of the woodwork to kill the cougars. Sam knows it is highly unlikely that a cougar had anything to do with the missing boy and when FBI Special Agent Chase Perez joins the search she does everything she can to convince him humans are behind the disappearance. The authorities are planning to bring in snipers to kill the cougars so for Sam to save the boy and her precious animals she has to work fast to get at the truth, even if it means canvasing the entire park and going into some of the most dangerous places.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
This book really surprised me by grabbing me right away and holding on tight. Big cats are my favorite wild animal. They always look so regal and majestic sitting high up on the rocks. I have never seen one up close though except at the zoo. I wanted to be in Sam Westin’s shoes as she got oh so close to these wonderful animals.
But it was more than that that kept me reading, the plot twists were amazing, and as more and more clues were gathered the story that evolved was simply spectacular. I have never been to a park in Utah but the author painted such beautiful pictures with her words that I felt like I was right there. The park is also more than just a setting for this story, it is a character, a character that reacts to not only changes in weather but changes of its inhabitants. A trail can be one way one day and totally different the next. The vastness of caves, nooks and crannies make it the perfect spot for a mystery.
This is my first experience with this author but she left us wanting more and a perfect foundation for the series to continue. I am anxious to see the next installment. We are given just a little snippet at the end of this book that is so unfair because I really hate waiting, but it seems bears will be involved.
January 29, 2023
I'm a big fan of mysteries set in national parks. I already read Nevada Barr, Christine Carbo and Alice Henderson, so when I first saw this new series I knew I had to put Endangered on my TBR.
Summer "Sam" Westin is a wildlife biologist with a love of cougars. She's on assignment for a wildlife organization, doing a series of stories about the cougar population when a little boy is abducted. Sam was the last to see him and is now determined to use her skills to find him. Eventually she teams up with Starchaser "Chase" Perez, a half Lakota FBI agent, to search the rocky canyons for clues that Zachary Fischer is still alive.
An ambitious reporter turns Zack's disappearance into a sensationalized tale of cougars out to eat unsuspecting campers and at this point, the whole story brings out the best and worst of humanity.
This was a great book. The characters seemed believable and the secondary characters were well-rounded. The descriptions were vivid, the plot was intense, suspenseful, absorbing, and entertaining. Sam is a strong heroine that you can admire for her bravery, as well as her sense of justice for man and animal. Chase had a cool FBI demeanor that made it easier to care about their budding relationship.
Some parts of the story stretched credibility but it was outweighed by interesting, believable characters and a plot with lots of twists. I learned quite a bit about natural history, animal habits and Native American lore. The descriptions of the wilderness were so vivid. The ending was stunning and filled with surprises. I am anxious to read the next book in this series to see if it's just as good.
Summer "Sam" Westin is a wildlife biologist with a love of cougars. She's on assignment for a wildlife organization, doing a series of stories about the cougar population when a little boy is abducted. Sam was the last to see him and is now determined to use her skills to find him. Eventually she teams up with Starchaser "Chase" Perez, a half Lakota FBI agent, to search the rocky canyons for clues that Zachary Fischer is still alive.
An ambitious reporter turns Zack's disappearance into a sensationalized tale of cougars out to eat unsuspecting campers and at this point, the whole story brings out the best and worst of humanity.
This was a great book. The characters seemed believable and the secondary characters were well-rounded. The descriptions were vivid, the plot was intense, suspenseful, absorbing, and entertaining. Sam is a strong heroine that you can admire for her bravery, as well as her sense of justice for man and animal. Chase had a cool FBI demeanor that made it easier to care about their budding relationship.
Some parts of the story stretched credibility but it was outweighed by interesting, believable characters and a plot with lots of twists. I learned quite a bit about natural history, animal habits and Native American lore. The descriptions of the wilderness were so vivid. The ending was stunning and filled with surprises. I am anxious to read the next book in this series to see if it's just as good.
July 16, 2021
Doing research for a Mystery & Suspense magazine article on wilderness mysteries, I came across Endangered. Having also written a novel about an alleged cougar kill, featuring a protagonist named Sam (Rivers, not Westin), I was startled and intrigued. I'm happy to say I really enjoyed Beason's book, and that it bears no resemblance to Cougar Kill, which should be out in the next year or so. Ditto the protagonists. Both Sams are both wildlife biologists, but the similarities end there.
This book began with a hook that made it difficult to put down. And then gradually, over the first 100 pages, the pitch-perfect action continued to intensify. Yesterday I stole two hours, during which I was supposed to be doing many other things, to sit in a comfortable chair and race through the book to its satisfying juggernaut conclusion. Well done! I'm looking forward to the next Sam Westin mystery.
This book began with a hook that made it difficult to put down. And then gradually, over the first 100 pages, the pitch-perfect action continued to intensify. Yesterday I stole two hours, during which I was supposed to be doing many other things, to sit in a comfortable chair and race through the book to its satisfying juggernaut conclusion. Well done! I'm looking forward to the next Sam Westin mystery.
February 4, 2012
Summer “Sam” Westin is a wildlife biologist whose stint as a National Park Ranger has recently ended. She is now writing stories and taking photographs of cougars in the back country of Utah for “Save the Wilderness Fund” to raise awareness in protecting the area’s cougars. Her job of saving the cougars becomes harder than ever when a toddler disappears from a local campground and the media says young Zach could be the victim of a cougar attack.
I enjoy this type of outdoors mystery and like the Utah back country setting. While Sam isn’t a ranger anymore, her friend Kent Bergstrom is so through him, we get a little bit of an inside look at that life in this book. The information about the cougars is fascinating and adds a great touch to the story of the missing child. The mystery is a good one with enough human suspects in addition to the cougars to keep you guessing at the solution.
Endangered is an extremely well-written book, and this has the potential to be an outstanding series. It is an issue I have with the main character and some of her actions which brought down what could have been a 5-star book. At the very beginning of the book, I wasn’t sure I would like Sam at all. Had she been less worried about getting started on her hike to take photos for the Save the Wilderness website, she may have been able to prevent Zach’s disappearance. While nobody blames her, a different choice at the beginning would have made all the difference. To her credit, Sam doesn’t take this lightly and she is determined to help Zach, and make sure a wild cougar isn’t blamed for Zach’s disappearance if that isn’t what happened. She eventually proves her bravery and integrity, and I did warm up to her as the story unfolds.
While FBI agent and possible love interest Chase Perez seems like a good match for Sam, the relationship at between Sam and news anchor Adam Steele never seems realistic. They don’t have anything in common and Adam is obviously self-centered and shallow right from the beginning. Therefore, it seems strange that the independent, intelligent Sam would have ever been interested in him. It’s not a shock to see how Adam handles the information Sam provides to him about the missing child and the cougars, but it was surprising to me that she would trust him to do the right thing.
There are other characters in the book that we don’t really get to know. I like what I see of Kent and hope he plays a bigger role in future books. Sam also has a roommate, Blake, at her home in Bellingham, Washington that is mentioned by not really involved in the storyline. While that makes sense for this book, seeing more interaction between Sam and her friend in the future would show another side of Sam and could help make her more likeable.
Fans of C.J. Box, Rachel Speart, and Nevada Barr’s earlier books will enjoy the setting and premise of this promising new series.
The review was originally written for The Season E-Zine. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoy this type of outdoors mystery and like the Utah back country setting. While Sam isn’t a ranger anymore, her friend Kent Bergstrom is so through him, we get a little bit of an inside look at that life in this book. The information about the cougars is fascinating and adds a great touch to the story of the missing child. The mystery is a good one with enough human suspects in addition to the cougars to keep you guessing at the solution.
Endangered is an extremely well-written book, and this has the potential to be an outstanding series. It is an issue I have with the main character and some of her actions which brought down what could have been a 5-star book. At the very beginning of the book, I wasn’t sure I would like Sam at all. Had she been less worried about getting started on her hike to take photos for the Save the Wilderness website, she may have been able to prevent Zach’s disappearance. While nobody blames her, a different choice at the beginning would have made all the difference. To her credit, Sam doesn’t take this lightly and she is determined to help Zach, and make sure a wild cougar isn’t blamed for Zach’s disappearance if that isn’t what happened. She eventually proves her bravery and integrity, and I did warm up to her as the story unfolds.
While FBI agent and possible love interest Chase Perez seems like a good match for Sam, the relationship at between Sam and news anchor Adam Steele never seems realistic. They don’t have anything in common and Adam is obviously self-centered and shallow right from the beginning. Therefore, it seems strange that the independent, intelligent Sam would have ever been interested in him. It’s not a shock to see how Adam handles the information Sam provides to him about the missing child and the cougars, but it was surprising to me that she would trust him to do the right thing.
There are other characters in the book that we don’t really get to know. I like what I see of Kent and hope he plays a bigger role in future books. Sam also has a roommate, Blake, at her home in Bellingham, Washington that is mentioned by not really involved in the storyline. While that makes sense for this book, seeing more interaction between Sam and her friend in the future would show another side of Sam and could help make her more likeable.
Fans of C.J. Box, Rachel Speart, and Nevada Barr’s earlier books will enjoy the setting and premise of this promising new series.
The review was originally written for The Season E-Zine. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2012
An engaging mystery novel with a lot of couch potential.
I judge a memorable novel by how well I identify with the characters and how engaging they are. Summer (Sam) Westin, the main protagonist of Pamela Beason’s mystery novel, “Endangered” is one such character.
She is a strong willed, wildlife biologist with a sharp tongue and quick wit. Tough on the outside, soft on the inside, Sam Westin is on a hunt to find the little, lost toddler Zachary Fischer whom she meets once in a chance encounter when Zachary wanders off from his campsite. In a hurry to finish an assignment, she rashly hands him over to an unknown man, believing him to be the father of the boy. Her ensuing guilt at her negligence and the consequence of her actions spur her to look for the boy, who is later reported, missing.
Set in a beautiful national park in Utah, which the author describes very eloquently, the hunt for Zachary is combined with Sam’s determination to save her beloved cougars, whom she feels have been wrongfully accused of Zachary’s disappearance.
Another interesting character in the book is Blake, Sam Westin’s roommate and good friend; the dialogue exchanges between the two characters establish a general camaraderie and easy friendship which are enjoyable to read. I hope to see more of these exchanges in the author’s next, Sam Westin adventure.
The one character I did not enjoy was Adam Steele; his role of Sam Westin’s love interest was not believable because he is exactly the type of man someone like Sam would detest. Self serving ambition and insensitivity to natural surroundings are hardly qualities you would think she would find endearing in a man and you wonder why she continues the relationship as long as she does. That said the role of Agent Perez as Sam’s potential romantic interest is exactly suited to her nature.
Pamela Beason has a genuine regard for the majestic beauty of the wild outdoors and her writing reflects this love for untouched spaces. She also has a flair for mystery which probably comes from her background as a private investigator. The story is gripping which makes it difficult to keep the book down once you have started reading. Pick it up over the weekend and you will be spending a lazy weekend curled up on the couch.
I judge a memorable novel by how well I identify with the characters and how engaging they are. Summer (Sam) Westin, the main protagonist of Pamela Beason’s mystery novel, “Endangered” is one such character.
She is a strong willed, wildlife biologist with a sharp tongue and quick wit. Tough on the outside, soft on the inside, Sam Westin is on a hunt to find the little, lost toddler Zachary Fischer whom she meets once in a chance encounter when Zachary wanders off from his campsite. In a hurry to finish an assignment, she rashly hands him over to an unknown man, believing him to be the father of the boy. Her ensuing guilt at her negligence and the consequence of her actions spur her to look for the boy, who is later reported, missing.
Set in a beautiful national park in Utah, which the author describes very eloquently, the hunt for Zachary is combined with Sam’s determination to save her beloved cougars, whom she feels have been wrongfully accused of Zachary’s disappearance.
Another interesting character in the book is Blake, Sam Westin’s roommate and good friend; the dialogue exchanges between the two characters establish a general camaraderie and easy friendship which are enjoyable to read. I hope to see more of these exchanges in the author’s next, Sam Westin adventure.
The one character I did not enjoy was Adam Steele; his role of Sam Westin’s love interest was not believable because he is exactly the type of man someone like Sam would detest. Self serving ambition and insensitivity to natural surroundings are hardly qualities you would think she would find endearing in a man and you wonder why she continues the relationship as long as she does. That said the role of Agent Perez as Sam’s potential romantic interest is exactly suited to her nature.
Pamela Beason has a genuine regard for the majestic beauty of the wild outdoors and her writing reflects this love for untouched spaces. She also has a flair for mystery which probably comes from her background as a private investigator. The story is gripping which makes it difficult to keep the book down once you have started reading. Pick it up over the weekend and you will be spending a lazy weekend curled up on the couch.
September 3, 2016
First in an outdoor mystery/adventure series featuring a 37 year old wildlife biologist, Summer Westin, who in this well written debut to the series has a gig as a blogger for Save the Wilderness Fund and is covering a check-in on the status of rehabilitated cougars she had earlier helped release back into the wild at a national park in Utah. At the same time she is on site to do this report, a three year old boy named Zach she had briefly interacted with goes missing from his campground, and the media whips up a frenzy suggesting that he has been attacked and dragged away by cougars. Summer gets caught up in the search for Zach, racing against the clock as pressures come to bear to start finding and killing cougars, compounding the problem of recovering Zach, both issues weighing heavily on our heroine.
The novel contains beautiful descriptions of the terrain and nature in this park, and one learns the survival and orienteering skills one might use in such a wilderness, including how to rappel, as well as a lot of interesting background on wildlife biology in general but cougars in particular. The plot moves along nicely and grapples with conflicts over protecting ecosystems; hunting, recreational, archaeological, and animal rights struggles over sharing this limited turf, and the roles of government, media, and special interests in advancing these different agendas. There are interesting secondary characters and the male lead, a well groomed and suave half Native American/half Latino FBI agent named Chase, provides an entertaining counterpoint to Summer, who is a petite fireball, perhaps sloppy or scattered in her dress, but sharp as a tack and not one to stand down when challenged.
The novel contains beautiful descriptions of the terrain and nature in this park, and one learns the survival and orienteering skills one might use in such a wilderness, including how to rappel, as well as a lot of interesting background on wildlife biology in general but cougars in particular. The plot moves along nicely and grapples with conflicts over protecting ecosystems; hunting, recreational, archaeological, and animal rights struggles over sharing this limited turf, and the roles of government, media, and special interests in advancing these different agendas. There are interesting secondary characters and the male lead, a well groomed and suave half Native American/half Latino FBI agent named Chase, provides an entertaining counterpoint to Summer, who is a petite fireball, perhaps sloppy or scattered in her dress, but sharp as a tack and not one to stand down when challenged.
October 31, 2012
#1 in the Summer "Sam" Westin series. Somewhat clumsy, overwrought melodrama which should smooth out with future series entries. Our heroine is 37 years old with a peripatetic job history. Two years earlier she was a summer employee in the Park Service doing a wildlife survey. Now she has returned to the same park as a reporter for the Save the Wilderness Fund to report on cougars she has helped to rehabilitate and release. She gets involved in the search for a missing boy and, instead of acting like someone with a summer's experience in the park service, acts like a law enforcement ranger.
Summer “Sam” Westin series - Wildlife biologist and writer Summer "Sam" Westin's dream of saving the cougars is complicated when a boy vanishes from a campground in Utah. Now there's a media campaign targeting the cougars she helped rehabilitate and release a year ago, blaming them for the boy's disappearance. It's only when FBI Agent Chase Perez joins the case that human suspects are considered. Clues lead Sam and Chase to the high country, where they comb the rocky canyons for evidence of the boy and for the one man who may be a vital witness.
Summer “Sam” Westin series - Wildlife biologist and writer Summer "Sam" Westin's dream of saving the cougars is complicated when a boy vanishes from a campground in Utah. Now there's a media campaign targeting the cougars she helped rehabilitate and release a year ago, blaming them for the boy's disappearance. It's only when FBI Agent Chase Perez joins the case that human suspects are considered. Clues lead Sam and Chase to the high country, where they comb the rocky canyons for evidence of the boy and for the one man who may be a vital witness.
October 15, 2011
Endangered is a great book. I have always been excited about books that have animals in them, but this book was a good blend of the animal and human story. The story grabbed me form the beginning. The story of mountain lions and a missing boy was very well told. The characters were introduced carefully and in detail so you wanted to know more about them. It was intense story telling and the twists the story took were wonderful. I thought I had figured out the mystery a couple of times, but then the story would throw in a twist that would send me looking in a new direction. Missing children sometimes may be a subject that is concerning to those with children and you want to protect the children in every way, but the author handles this subject matter very tastefully and with compassion. Both human and animal characters are interesting and endearing to this reader. I would recommend this book to anyone. It reads well and easy I read it in about a week or less. Once I started reading I didn't want to put it down. Thanks!
January 10, 2013
When things got really dicey, I wanted to shake the author and demand to know why she insisted on creating every mother's nightmare: the loss of a child in a National Park. By the time I got to the near-the-end scene of sounds (a child's cries, a waterfall) and my own fear that the Summer Westin wouldn't make it time, my own pulse was beating so rapidly I feared I'd never make it to the end of the novel and what I hoped was a happy ending. Thank God--it was!
A great read, even for people like me who tend not to like mysteries. But be prepared: I recommend against reading this if you frighten easily!
A great read, even for people like me who tend not to like mysteries. But be prepared: I recommend against reading this if you frighten easily!
October 1, 2016
I really loved this book and stayed up long into the night to finish it. Set in the wilds of Utah, featuring Summer "Sam" Westin, a writer and wildlife biologist, who helped rehabilitate and release cougars a year ago. When a little boy goes missing, everyone blames the big cats, but Sam knows it's more complicated than that. With the help of the FBI agent Chase Perez, she goes to the high country to save both the cats and the boy.
December 10, 2017
I loved this book Pamela Beason takes you on a roller coaster of a ride in which you think you know what is happening and.......wrong!!!! Sam is a wildlife biologist who is currently involved in internet writing on cougers in the wild until something goes very wrong when a young boy goes missing and
the action takes off. There are various characters that are so well drawn and Sam herself who has a bit of taking stock in herself in all of this. Highly recommended.
the action takes off. There are various characters that are so well drawn and Sam herself who has a bit of taking stock in herself in all of this. Highly recommended.
December 30, 2016
If you enjoy Nevada Barr’s mystery series, you’re going to love Pamela Beason’s Summer Westin stories. Stunning landscapes in national parks and wildlands, captivating descriptions of rarely seen wildlife, and fascinating human and animal mysteries. Leaves you wanting to spend the season backpacking with Summer in the country she knows so well.
August 7, 2016
Sam Westin - Outdoorswoman
This story's magnificent setting is the first draw; the mystery disappearance of a toddler and the specter of abduction or animal predation, harrowingly written, a strong second. Hints of possible romance, wisps, nicely interwoven without blatant pandering to the bodice-ripper legions. Dogged, courageous, tenacious heroine.
This story's magnificent setting is the first draw; the mystery disappearance of a toddler and the specter of abduction or animal predation, harrowingly written, a strong second. Hints of possible romance, wisps, nicely interwoven without blatant pandering to the bodice-ripper legions. Dogged, courageous, tenacious heroine.
August 23, 2016
Enjoyable read
Inventive plot, interesting characters, exciting location, kept my interest and attention all the through and left me want to know the characters more.
Inventive plot, interesting characters, exciting location, kept my interest and attention all the through and left me want to know the characters more.
October 26, 2016
Not interested in the wildlife angle so I gave up after a couple of chapters.
April 29, 2019
Nothing much to this book. Predictable. What my grandma would call a "storybook" as in "Why are you spending your time reading that storybook?"
January 23, 2010
Sam Westin, star reporter for the Save the Wilderness Fund, finds herself in her element, in the wilds of Utah’s Heritage National Monument anticipating a sighting of Leto, a female cougar who had just survived a bullet shot. This would be the story of her life, Sam was sure of it, and it wouldn’t help readership either to have a picture to post of a cougar with a history like Leto in the park, possibly even with her cubs.
But first she needed to check in with the park ranger Kent Bergstrom. After meeting the ranger and setting up tomorrow’s schedule, she runs (literally) into Zack, a 2 year old boy. Zack is the friendly type, touching her shirt and asking if the image was a “cougie” and offering her his “truck” actually a small black plastic wheel. Wondering where his parents are, she begins to look around and hears a woman calling for Zach. Deciding to help him find his family, she takes his hand and begins to head towards the campsite. Catching her vest on a bush, she loses hold of Zack’s hand and Zach takes off in the shadows. Untangling herself, she spots a man at the end of the trail. He waves as does Zack and Sam heads back to the trailhead lot, hoping to get to Sunset Canyon and see Leto, the cougar, her main feature. She will recognize right away, the cougar as Leto by the scar on her left flank put there by a hunters bullet, leaving her wounded and her three cubs to starve. Luckily Kent, Sam and other volunteers nursed the cougars back to health. Coming back in spring, Sam was a part of the release of the now healthy cougars and she felt a tug of pride that she played a part in their survival. this reminds her of “Cougar Charlie” a curiosity of sorts around the park. A man who supposedly lived off the land (as well as whatever he could take from unsuspecting campers) he had rarely been seen and was a legend of the area.
Freezing in place, Sam watches Leto for awhile. and suddenly a smaller cougar appears. It must be Leto’s cub Artemis. She stealthy makes her way across the canyon floor searching for the perfect picture. Taking several pictures, her camera beeps telling her the memory card is full. Slowly she unzips a pocket to get a spare card, but the zipper sticks and even the slight hiss of a zipper alerts the cougars, for when she looks up from her pocket, they are gone.
Suddenly she realizes she has to hustle to make the deadline for the SWF edition at 9. Checking her camera, she finds to her delight, the perfect picture of the two cougars framed in the setting sun. Working frantically with an article she had “dummied” up before she left, she adds some more details and gets ready to send the article. Racing against time, she finally gets a signal and sees by her laptop that she made deadline.
After a good nights sleep filled with the sounds of the howling of coyotes, Sam calls Kent to check in. It is then that she discovers that Zack, the little boy she ran into in the woods is missing. Discussing the area, she asks if there are lobo’s around. A few lobo’s, endangered desert wolves, had been released into the park and there had been many discoveries of late of bullet ridden corpses of them in the park. She wondered if enough were left to keep the species alive. On the subject of Zack, she reports to Kent her encounter with the little boy yesterday and that the last time she saw him was heading towards what she assumed was his father at the end of the trail. Thinking back, she wishes she had walked Zack back to his campsite but he seemed so sure and even waved and the man seemed at ease with the child.
Continually worrying about Zack, she headed back to base camp to see if there was any news on the little boy. Volunteers had shown up from all walks of life to look for Zack. Sam was given the search assignment of the valley campgrounds and trailhead parking lots. Meeting up with a variety of people, one man struck her as odd. It was Wilson, a somewhat different man who kept a variety of kids toys in his trailer (for the Grandkids he said) and who just seemed a bit off to Sam. He showed her a red cap he had found by the river and said that he had washed it off because it was muddy. Sam remembered Zack had a red cap, told the man she needed it for evidence and made her good-byes.
As she continued her search, she came across a group from Outward Bound. They were rappelling down the side of a cliff, a sort of exercise for the group to garner trust that those working with you would watch your back and keep you safe, while instilling self confidence. Sam moved on searching, digging in dumpsters, and trash cans and looking in any nook or cranny she could find that a small boy could hide in. But no luck. Zack was gone. Before she left for the day, she ran into FBI agent Perez whom she didn’t seem to make a good first impression. Explaining she was looking for Zack, and that a hat had been found by a camper, the agent took the cap for evidence. Discussing the case, Sam found herself educating the agent as to the wild. Telling him about the difference between simple animal and cougar footprints, she found him to be a silent man, whom she felt didn’t particularly appreciate or trust anyone other than FBI. The subject turned back to Zack but talk aside, they were no closer to finding him than they had been hours before.
Returning to her hotel room as she had planned before going back to Sunset Canyon the next night, Sam took full advantage of the facilities and soon felt human again. As the day went on, more of the same reports came in. There was no sign of Zack and Sam returned to her hotel room. About 11 she was awakened and looked out the window to see Perez and Boudreau heading out dressed in black with a thick manila envelope in hand. Not wanting to miss the action, Same quickly dressed and followed the two agents. The envelope was placed in a metal garbage can and all three hid themselves to wait. After a short wait, a yellow truck pulled up with two scraggly looking characters inside. One headed straight for the garbage can and Perez had the man under control until the Sheriff had an encounter with a bench, giving the man just enough time to take off. Jumping in their vehicles the chase was on, ending when the truck slammed into a vintage Pontiac in a parking lot.
The two turned out to be kids who went to school with the Sheriff’s son. He questioned them at length but all they could give was a vague description of a “bushy haired stranger” who promised them $1,000 if they retrieved the envelope and dropped it off at The Burger house at Fifth. That was all they knew and the Sheriff let them go.
The search went on the next day with fresh volunteers and Sam was directed to search the area she knew so well in the wilderness. Meeting up with young people she gave a quick lesson in tracking, and answering questions she was back on the trail of searching for Zack. As the day went on, she found herself almost out of water and food. She wouldn’t starve, but she beat herself up for not thinking ahead and packing more. Suddenly a man appeared, disheveled in appearance with a look that spoke of living in the wilderness. He offered her a bunch of grapes which she took gladly. After a brief conversation she found decidedly odd, the man left and Sam resumed her search. The day ended as before, with no sign of Zack and Kent becoming more unsure by the minute that they’d find the child alive.
Later discussing Coyote Charlie with Perez, it was decided (by Perez) that Charlie might have some information they could use to find Zack. Drafted by Perez to lead the way in the dark Sam led the way towards the canyon. Along the way, they heard a howling that was not that of an animal. It was Coyote Charlie. Spotting him in the distance they tried to stop him, but try as they might, they could not apprehend the man to question him.
The next morning dawned and Perez announced they were off to the ruins and perhaps The Curtain as well. Finding him more than a bit bossy, Sam agreed and the day began. Along the way, there was no sign of Zack although Perez did disclose that he was Sioux and that he respected the park just as much as she did, although he also demonstrated a bit of a disgust for what he called “white eyes” who displaced his people when they took over the land.
Elsewhere Ranger Rafael Castillo, chanced upon some men taking pot shots at a post. Approaching them, he stated that neither guns nor alcohol were allowed on park property and they needed to cease and desist. Receiving no response, he called for backup and hoped that someone would come soon to aid him in escorting these men from the park.
About this time, Perez and Sam chanced upon a sighting of a cougar, a discovery which they were alerted to by the remains of a cougar kill rotting in the underbrush. When the cougar appeared on a nearby ledge, they began to back away slowly from the cougars kill, Perez, his weapon at the ready should it be needed. Suddenly the cougar leapt from it’s perch and bounded away down the canyon. Perez was rightfully impressed with the cougar and Sam explained that cougars were very territorial animals and that particular one, Apollo, could have been a real danger had they not moved when they did.
Traveling to the ruins Perez sees for himself how beautiful yet haunting they are and feels a tug at his ancestry in the process. Explaining the ruins as they went, Sam guided Perez through an area that was out of bounds for tourists because it was protected. As they traversed the ruins Sam happened to chance on a black plastic wheel, the same toy she had seen Zack with just before he disappeared. She quickly contacted Rafael Costello who told her to evacuate the area immediately and brought her up to date on Fred Fischer, Zack’s father who they were beginning to believe had a part in the disappearance of Zack. Rafael warned Sam that Fred might have a gun and told her to be careful.
Sam explains to Perez that The Curtain is a dangerous journey and that he has to trust her explicitly and do exactly as she told him in order to be safe. He reluctantly agrees. After teaching Perez how to rappel, they are at the bottom of the canyon and on their way to The Curtain. The going is rough as the reader will discover. In a tunnel, rain began to fall as they spot Coyote Charlie on a ledge, while the tunnel begins to fill with water. Thinking fast and instructing Perez quickly, she explains what they must do in order not to drown or be sucked back through the tunnel and thrust down onto the rocks below.
What happens next is both heart stopping and intense. The torture Sam and Perez must endure to survive is horrendous yet they escape. The ending of the book will leave the reader with a sense of awe and sympathy for Coyote Charlie as well as a sense of heroism and bravery Perez and Sam endured along the way never straying from their search for Zack.
But first she needed to check in with the park ranger Kent Bergstrom. After meeting the ranger and setting up tomorrow’s schedule, she runs (literally) into Zack, a 2 year old boy. Zack is the friendly type, touching her shirt and asking if the image was a “cougie” and offering her his “truck” actually a small black plastic wheel. Wondering where his parents are, she begins to look around and hears a woman calling for Zach. Deciding to help him find his family, she takes his hand and begins to head towards the campsite. Catching her vest on a bush, she loses hold of Zack’s hand and Zach takes off in the shadows. Untangling herself, she spots a man at the end of the trail. He waves as does Zack and Sam heads back to the trailhead lot, hoping to get to Sunset Canyon and see Leto, the cougar, her main feature. She will recognize right away, the cougar as Leto by the scar on her left flank put there by a hunters bullet, leaving her wounded and her three cubs to starve. Luckily Kent, Sam and other volunteers nursed the cougars back to health. Coming back in spring, Sam was a part of the release of the now healthy cougars and she felt a tug of pride that she played a part in their survival. this reminds her of “Cougar Charlie” a curiosity of sorts around the park. A man who supposedly lived off the land (as well as whatever he could take from unsuspecting campers) he had rarely been seen and was a legend of the area.
Freezing in place, Sam watches Leto for awhile. and suddenly a smaller cougar appears. It must be Leto’s cub Artemis. She stealthy makes her way across the canyon floor searching for the perfect picture. Taking several pictures, her camera beeps telling her the memory card is full. Slowly she unzips a pocket to get a spare card, but the zipper sticks and even the slight hiss of a zipper alerts the cougars, for when she looks up from her pocket, they are gone.
Suddenly she realizes she has to hustle to make the deadline for the SWF edition at 9. Checking her camera, she finds to her delight, the perfect picture of the two cougars framed in the setting sun. Working frantically with an article she had “dummied” up before she left, she adds some more details and gets ready to send the article. Racing against time, she finally gets a signal and sees by her laptop that she made deadline.
After a good nights sleep filled with the sounds of the howling of coyotes, Sam calls Kent to check in. It is then that she discovers that Zack, the little boy she ran into in the woods is missing. Discussing the area, she asks if there are lobo’s around. A few lobo’s, endangered desert wolves, had been released into the park and there had been many discoveries of late of bullet ridden corpses of them in the park. She wondered if enough were left to keep the species alive. On the subject of Zack, she reports to Kent her encounter with the little boy yesterday and that the last time she saw him was heading towards what she assumed was his father at the end of the trail. Thinking back, she wishes she had walked Zack back to his campsite but he seemed so sure and even waved and the man seemed at ease with the child.
Continually worrying about Zack, she headed back to base camp to see if there was any news on the little boy. Volunteers had shown up from all walks of life to look for Zack. Sam was given the search assignment of the valley campgrounds and trailhead parking lots. Meeting up with a variety of people, one man struck her as odd. It was Wilson, a somewhat different man who kept a variety of kids toys in his trailer (for the Grandkids he said) and who just seemed a bit off to Sam. He showed her a red cap he had found by the river and said that he had washed it off because it was muddy. Sam remembered Zack had a red cap, told the man she needed it for evidence and made her good-byes.
As she continued her search, she came across a group from Outward Bound. They were rappelling down the side of a cliff, a sort of exercise for the group to garner trust that those working with you would watch your back and keep you safe, while instilling self confidence. Sam moved on searching, digging in dumpsters, and trash cans and looking in any nook or cranny she could find that a small boy could hide in. But no luck. Zack was gone. Before she left for the day, she ran into FBI agent Perez whom she didn’t seem to make a good first impression. Explaining she was looking for Zack, and that a hat had been found by a camper, the agent took the cap for evidence. Discussing the case, Sam found herself educating the agent as to the wild. Telling him about the difference between simple animal and cougar footprints, she found him to be a silent man, whom she felt didn’t particularly appreciate or trust anyone other than FBI. The subject turned back to Zack but talk aside, they were no closer to finding him than they had been hours before.
Returning to her hotel room as she had planned before going back to Sunset Canyon the next night, Sam took full advantage of the facilities and soon felt human again. As the day went on, more of the same reports came in. There was no sign of Zack and Sam returned to her hotel room. About 11 she was awakened and looked out the window to see Perez and Boudreau heading out dressed in black with a thick manila envelope in hand. Not wanting to miss the action, Same quickly dressed and followed the two agents. The envelope was placed in a metal garbage can and all three hid themselves to wait. After a short wait, a yellow truck pulled up with two scraggly looking characters inside. One headed straight for the garbage can and Perez had the man under control until the Sheriff had an encounter with a bench, giving the man just enough time to take off. Jumping in their vehicles the chase was on, ending when the truck slammed into a vintage Pontiac in a parking lot.
The two turned out to be kids who went to school with the Sheriff’s son. He questioned them at length but all they could give was a vague description of a “bushy haired stranger” who promised them $1,000 if they retrieved the envelope and dropped it off at The Burger house at Fifth. That was all they knew and the Sheriff let them go.
The search went on the next day with fresh volunteers and Sam was directed to search the area she knew so well in the wilderness. Meeting up with young people she gave a quick lesson in tracking, and answering questions she was back on the trail of searching for Zack. As the day went on, she found herself almost out of water and food. She wouldn’t starve, but she beat herself up for not thinking ahead and packing more. Suddenly a man appeared, disheveled in appearance with a look that spoke of living in the wilderness. He offered her a bunch of grapes which she took gladly. After a brief conversation she found decidedly odd, the man left and Sam resumed her search. The day ended as before, with no sign of Zack and Kent becoming more unsure by the minute that they’d find the child alive.
Later discussing Coyote Charlie with Perez, it was decided (by Perez) that Charlie might have some information they could use to find Zack. Drafted by Perez to lead the way in the dark Sam led the way towards the canyon. Along the way, they heard a howling that was not that of an animal. It was Coyote Charlie. Spotting him in the distance they tried to stop him, but try as they might, they could not apprehend the man to question him.
The next morning dawned and Perez announced they were off to the ruins and perhaps The Curtain as well. Finding him more than a bit bossy, Sam agreed and the day began. Along the way, there was no sign of Zack although Perez did disclose that he was Sioux and that he respected the park just as much as she did, although he also demonstrated a bit of a disgust for what he called “white eyes” who displaced his people when they took over the land.
Elsewhere Ranger Rafael Castillo, chanced upon some men taking pot shots at a post. Approaching them, he stated that neither guns nor alcohol were allowed on park property and they needed to cease and desist. Receiving no response, he called for backup and hoped that someone would come soon to aid him in escorting these men from the park.
About this time, Perez and Sam chanced upon a sighting of a cougar, a discovery which they were alerted to by the remains of a cougar kill rotting in the underbrush. When the cougar appeared on a nearby ledge, they began to back away slowly from the cougars kill, Perez, his weapon at the ready should it be needed. Suddenly the cougar leapt from it’s perch and bounded away down the canyon. Perez was rightfully impressed with the cougar and Sam explained that cougars were very territorial animals and that particular one, Apollo, could have been a real danger had they not moved when they did.
Traveling to the ruins Perez sees for himself how beautiful yet haunting they are and feels a tug at his ancestry in the process. Explaining the ruins as they went, Sam guided Perez through an area that was out of bounds for tourists because it was protected. As they traversed the ruins Sam happened to chance on a black plastic wheel, the same toy she had seen Zack with just before he disappeared. She quickly contacted Rafael Costello who told her to evacuate the area immediately and brought her up to date on Fred Fischer, Zack’s father who they were beginning to believe had a part in the disappearance of Zack. Rafael warned Sam that Fred might have a gun and told her to be careful.
Sam explains to Perez that The Curtain is a dangerous journey and that he has to trust her explicitly and do exactly as she told him in order to be safe. He reluctantly agrees. After teaching Perez how to rappel, they are at the bottom of the canyon and on their way to The Curtain. The going is rough as the reader will discover. In a tunnel, rain began to fall as they spot Coyote Charlie on a ledge, while the tunnel begins to fill with water. Thinking fast and instructing Perez quickly, she explains what they must do in order not to drown or be sucked back through the tunnel and thrust down onto the rocks below.
What happens next is both heart stopping and intense. The torture Sam and Perez must endure to survive is horrendous yet they escape. The ending of the book will leave the reader with a sense of awe and sympathy for Coyote Charlie as well as a sense of heroism and bravery Perez and Sam endured along the way never straying from their search for Zack.
July 1, 2022
SPOILER ALERT
Sam Westin, wildlife biologist, is employed by Save the Wilderness Fund to write articles about the wilderness and animals, specifically on this trip about the cougars in Heritage National Monument in Utah. But there is significant unrest about the cats as the CEO of Eagle Tours spouts off about the danger of the cats. His company provides ecotourism and hunting expeditions. He gets the media fired up especially when a two-and-a-half-year-old disappears. Sam saw Zachary Fischer as she is beginning her hiking toward Sunset Canyon. She has set up camp when she realizes the man to whom she was encouraging Zack to go, thinking it was his father, was not. The next morning she joins the search. She is convinced that Zack is still alive, while others repeat lurid tales of the boy being eaten by a cougar.
As the story progresses, we meet an odd man, eating grapes with no shoes or jacket, on the trail. Then we hear of Coyote Charlie, a man who howls at the moon along with the coyotes. The search is joined by the FBI and SA Chase J Perez and Sam find themselves working together as they hunt for Zack. They find the skeleton of a woman, who will be later identified as Barbara Jean "Fawn" Bronwin, from Oregon, who had been part of a radical environmental group, Earth Spirits. Sam and Chase finally end up together in the Zig Zag Passage and then in the Curtain following the finding of a red shoe, belonging to the boy. Clearly someone has brought him up there. His stepfather has tried to get money from the situation, acting as the kidnapper. Jenny Fischer's family has money, and Fred is a nasty piece of work. The boys he hired to pick up the money are caught. They connect name on a list compiled of people who could be Coyote Charlie, David "Wolf" Davinski, also part of the radical group.
When Sam and Chase (half Lakota, half Mexican) are in the Curtain it begins to rain, and they must rush to get out as the stream in the slot canyon can fill within a half hour if it really pours. It pours, they water is rising when they find the body of toddler, who has been dead for a while. They put the body in a bag and begin to hike again, when they hear a tiny voice yelling "Mommy". They see Zack in a hole above the water. As Sam tries to get him to come to her, he is seized from behind by Coyote Charlie. Sam gets Zack and they are trying to get out of the last room of the canyon without going over Village Falls. She barely gets them out. Then Chase appears having gotten out through an opening at the back of the hole where David was holding Zack. Davinski believes that Zack is his son who he has found again after losing him. (The ceiling of the room had fallen onto the boy.) He has rescued him from a pedophile who was the man that Sam had saw at the campsite. Barbara had been the very pregnant teenager that her Ranger friend Kent Bergstom saw years earlier. They are now rushing to get the organized hunt for the cougars stopped, since they have found Zack. The frenzied public had come out in droves to hunt for the boy and to hunt the cougars. A group of three hunters, drinking and shooting, had seen a cougar and shooting at the cougar had also shot Kent, who Sam and Chase rush to find and save, along with the cougar. (He is saved and released back into the wild, named Zeus.)
Davinski comes at them with a gun, and is finally subdued by Sam and Chase, with Zack throwing rocks at him. The boy yells, "I hate you" at the man, which was not in keeping with him age. The only blip in a really enjoyable debut. When the helicopter picks them up Chase orders the pilot to find the three groups of organized hunters, and only just keeps them from shooting Apollo at the Rainbow Bridge. Leto, the mother, with her two-year-old cubs Artemis and Apollo are now safe in an additional 60,00 acres that is added to Heritage National Monument.
Sam Westin, wildlife biologist, is employed by Save the Wilderness Fund to write articles about the wilderness and animals, specifically on this trip about the cougars in Heritage National Monument in Utah. But there is significant unrest about the cats as the CEO of Eagle Tours spouts off about the danger of the cats. His company provides ecotourism and hunting expeditions. He gets the media fired up especially when a two-and-a-half-year-old disappears. Sam saw Zachary Fischer as she is beginning her hiking toward Sunset Canyon. She has set up camp when she realizes the man to whom she was encouraging Zack to go, thinking it was his father, was not. The next morning she joins the search. She is convinced that Zack is still alive, while others repeat lurid tales of the boy being eaten by a cougar.
As the story progresses, we meet an odd man, eating grapes with no shoes or jacket, on the trail. Then we hear of Coyote Charlie, a man who howls at the moon along with the coyotes. The search is joined by the FBI and SA Chase J Perez and Sam find themselves working together as they hunt for Zack. They find the skeleton of a woman, who will be later identified as Barbara Jean "Fawn" Bronwin, from Oregon, who had been part of a radical environmental group, Earth Spirits. Sam and Chase finally end up together in the Zig Zag Passage and then in the Curtain following the finding of a red shoe, belonging to the boy. Clearly someone has brought him up there. His stepfather has tried to get money from the situation, acting as the kidnapper. Jenny Fischer's family has money, and Fred is a nasty piece of work. The boys he hired to pick up the money are caught. They connect name on a list compiled of people who could be Coyote Charlie, David "Wolf" Davinski, also part of the radical group.
When Sam and Chase (half Lakota, half Mexican) are in the Curtain it begins to rain, and they must rush to get out as the stream in the slot canyon can fill within a half hour if it really pours. It pours, they water is rising when they find the body of toddler, who has been dead for a while. They put the body in a bag and begin to hike again, when they hear a tiny voice yelling "Mommy". They see Zack in a hole above the water. As Sam tries to get him to come to her, he is seized from behind by Coyote Charlie. Sam gets Zack and they are trying to get out of the last room of the canyon without going over Village Falls. She barely gets them out. Then Chase appears having gotten out through an opening at the back of the hole where David was holding Zack. Davinski believes that Zack is his son who he has found again after losing him. (The ceiling of the room had fallen onto the boy.) He has rescued him from a pedophile who was the man that Sam had saw at the campsite. Barbara had been the very pregnant teenager that her Ranger friend Kent Bergstom saw years earlier. They are now rushing to get the organized hunt for the cougars stopped, since they have found Zack. The frenzied public had come out in droves to hunt for the boy and to hunt the cougars. A group of three hunters, drinking and shooting, had seen a cougar and shooting at the cougar had also shot Kent, who Sam and Chase rush to find and save, along with the cougar. (He is saved and released back into the wild, named Zeus.)
Davinski comes at them with a gun, and is finally subdued by Sam and Chase, with Zack throwing rocks at him. The boy yells, "I hate you" at the man, which was not in keeping with him age. The only blip in a really enjoyable debut. When the helicopter picks them up Chase orders the pilot to find the three groups of organized hunters, and only just keeps them from shooting Apollo at the Rainbow Bridge. Leto, the mother, with her two-year-old cubs Artemis and Apollo are now safe in an additional 60,00 acres that is added to Heritage National Monument.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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