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Peyton Risk Suspense Thriller #2
What’s Left
In Glacier National Park, a cunning killer uses icicles to impale victims, leaving them to freeze to death in the cold air. National Parks Officer Peyton Risk, an expert at solving homicides within the National parks, is summoned to hunt the killer down. With Peyton’s deep knowledge of the wilderness, she can track a killer as no one can. Yet this killer may just be one step ahead of her….
WHAT’S LEFT (A Peyton Risk Suspense Thriller—Book 2) is Book #2 in a new series by mystery and suspense author Ella Swift.
Raised in the heart of the mountains by avid outdoors enthusiasts, Peyton followed in her parents’ footsteps and became an expert in the natural world. Until, at just 12 years old, an idyllic family camping trip in their favorite national park turned into a nightmare. Her parents were brutally murdered, the killer vanished into the wild, and the case went cold.
Despite being haunted by the unsolved deaths of her parents, Peyton turned her trauma into determination, studying environmental science in college and becoming a respected National Parks Officer. Peyton’s unique perspective blends an intuition for the outdoors with a sharp intellect that allows her to decipher secrets hidden within the parks—set on ensuring that no other family endures the same pain that hers did.
But will she find herself the next victim claimed in the park’s unforgiving wilderness?
A page-turning and harrowing thriller featuring a brilliant and tortured protagonist, the PEYTON RISK series is a riveting mystery, packed with non-stop action, suspense, twists and turns, revelations, and driven by a breakneck pace that will keep you flipping pages late into the night.
Future books in the series are also available!
WHAT’S LEFT (A Peyton Risk Suspense Thriller—Book 2) is Book #2 in a new series by mystery and suspense author Ella Swift.
Raised in the heart of the mountains by avid outdoors enthusiasts, Peyton followed in her parents’ footsteps and became an expert in the natural world. Until, at just 12 years old, an idyllic family camping trip in their favorite national park turned into a nightmare. Her parents were brutally murdered, the killer vanished into the wild, and the case went cold.
Despite being haunted by the unsolved deaths of her parents, Peyton turned her trauma into determination, studying environmental science in college and becoming a respected National Parks Officer. Peyton’s unique perspective blends an intuition for the outdoors with a sharp intellect that allows her to decipher secrets hidden within the parks—set on ensuring that no other family endures the same pain that hers did.
But will she find herself the next victim claimed in the park’s unforgiving wilderness?
A page-turning and harrowing thriller featuring a brilliant and tortured protagonist, the PEYTON RISK series is a riveting mystery, packed with non-stop action, suspense, twists and turns, revelations, and driven by a breakneck pace that will keep you flipping pages late into the night.
Future books in the series are also available!
152 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 2, 2024
354 people are currently reading
363 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 26, 2024
I've read two books in this series and my comments about the first book are even more relevant for the second book. This author had done absolutely no research on Glacier National Park and the story does not make sense for Glacier in the wintertime. Most of the lodges and roads are not open in the winter. There is zero cell service inside the park either. I wish the author would actually visit the places she writes about. Seems she just uses the names of the parks for attention, but the stories have nothing to do with the actual parks. And again, the hero is back to her cabin in Virginia in a day which is impossible.
May 19, 2024
Peyton and her partner are in Glacier National Park
Peyton and partner Sean are searching for a killer. A woman has been found killed by an icecicle. They suspect he killed before and will kill again.They follow a procedural search looking for clues.
Glacier is described well with its dangerous beauty. But, I wanted more.
The book follows the same pattern as the first. Interviewing possible witnesses, arresting suspects and falling short on success. Then pursuing a suspect into the unrelenting dangerous wilderness. It was a bit formulatic.
Peyton and partner Sean are searching for a killer. A woman has been found killed by an icecicle. They suspect he killed before and will kill again.They follow a procedural search looking for clues.
Glacier is described well with its dangerous beauty. But, I wanted more.
The book follows the same pattern as the first. Interviewing possible witnesses, arresting suspects and falling short on success. Then pursuing a suspect into the unrelenting dangerous wilderness. It was a bit formulatic.
June 11, 2024
Simply put, it’s just not that good. Pages are filled with “weighed down by heavy snow” and “snowflakes settled in her dark hair…” as well as, well you get the picture. There’s a lot of “winters icy grip” verbage every other page. It interferes with any actual story line which isn’t strong on its own if you’ve stepped foot in any National Park. It’s not that it has to be perfect but it’s as if the author didn’t even try. The overuse of descriptors and adjectives seemed as if there was a target word count to complete the job and the actual plot fell by the wayside.
May 19, 2024
What’s Left was a very prominent book that fell short of delivering. The main character is very likeable but her impulsive character is not to be believed. A serial killer in the forest is a difficult job for two agents. They do a good job of using the traces of evidence they have. The main character, however does not use good common sense and disregards the rules of policing. The book was unnecessary long and should been more direct.
July 2, 2024
If you read book 1 then you read this one.
While I like Payton and Sean the story itself is the same exact outline as book one. In both books 2 are murdered and 1 is kidnapped. Both has a “bad” guy shoot at federal officers. Both has Payton breaking and entering plus unlawful search. Both atv/mobile chase and crash. Both had Payton caught by the bad guy to drop her weapon and both end with her parents.
While I like Payton and Sean the story itself is the same exact outline as book one. In both books 2 are murdered and 1 is kidnapped. Both has a “bad” guy shoot at federal officers. Both has Payton breaking and entering plus unlawful search. Both atv/mobile chase and crash. Both had Payton caught by the bad guy to drop her weapon and both end with her parents.
April 23, 2025
I wanted to give this series a second chance after the first book but I found by halfway through I never wanted to pick it back up. The writing is very much a told, not shown style, and I just don't like the main character. Every person they come to suspect seems to be up to something that's gonna require them to run.
Id usually give a 1 star to something I DNF but this isn't so much a horrible book as it is a mediocre one.
Id usually give a 1 star to something I DNF but this isn't so much a horrible book as it is a mediocre one.
August 4, 2025
Left
A clean story. No bad language or sex.
However, There are a lot of improbable happenings and inconsistencies in the story. In addition, the author has done very little research on national parks, the natural environment, and the rules therein, such as snowmobiles being used in Glacier National Park (they're not allowed), as well as other things. Do a better job of researching the subject for a more plausible story.
A clean story. No bad language or sex.
However, There are a lot of improbable happenings and inconsistencies in the story. In addition, the author has done very little research on national parks, the natural environment, and the rules therein, such as snowmobiles being used in Glacier National Park (they're not allowed), as well as other things. Do a better job of researching the subject for a more plausible story.
May 29, 2024
Seems Familiar?
So many books focused on National Parks, the vast murder sites so unlimited. And of course whether park rangers or FBI or other agency, the investigation requires skilled individuals. Problem is that there are some books that just highlight park setting and skilled protagonists better than this book did.
So many books focused on National Parks, the vast murder sites so unlimited. And of course whether park rangers or FBI or other agency, the investigation requires skilled individuals. Problem is that there are some books that just highlight park setting and skilled protagonists better than this book did.
November 20, 2024
Enjoyable
Must admit I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. It was really nice to have a thriller that wasn’t set in some town or city and didn’t involve the police, FBI or some agent or other and I’ve got to admit I really wish I was hiking along one of those snow covered trails albeit minus a killer on the loose.
Must admit I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. It was really nice to have a thriller that wasn’t set in some town or city and didn’t involve the police, FBI or some agent or other and I’ve got to admit I really wish I was hiking along one of those snow covered trails albeit minus a killer on the loose.
May 31, 2024
Snow
An Interesting and well conceived storyline that keeps the reader engaged. Its characters are believable and interact well together. Good start for a series about the main character.
An Interesting and well conceived storyline that keeps the reader engaged. Its characters are believable and interact well together. Good start for a series about the main character.
June 21, 2024
Interesting concept - using icicles as the murder weapon. Naturally, it's the MCs that realise there has already been a similar murder (months ago).
Yeah, the MCs solve the crimes and catch the murderer.
Yeah, the MCs solve the crimes and catch the murderer.
July 31, 2024
good but not great
Interesting premise but not unique. I’ve read other mysteries with similar weapons used. Killer’s motivation was also a bit suspect. Why did he kill and wait a year then feel the need to kill again twice in one day
??
Interesting premise but not unique. I’ve read other mysteries with similar weapons used. Killer’s motivation was also a bit suspect. Why did he kill and wait a year then feel the need to kill again twice in one day
??
May 16, 2024
How do you protect the park when people keep damaging it??? I enjoyed this story and recommended the book.
May 19, 2024
great action book
Another great page turner from Ella swift. Easily finished in a couple hours. I am looking forward to book 3.
Another great page turner from Ella swift. Easily finished in a couple hours. I am looking forward to book 3.
May 23, 2024
Okay story, terrible writing.
June 3, 2024
I liked the icicle theory of killing without leaving a clue to the weapon.
June 27, 2024
Exciting thriller in the continuing story of Peyton Risk, a National Park Services detective. Peyton uses her unique qualifications to stop killers in the National Parks.
July 15, 2024
I liked the first book but no on this one this author apparently can’t write because this is book one regurgitated as book 2 with same plot just a different park and different names . Clearly you can tell she had done zero research on the parks and surrounding.
I could write books better than this when all your doing is regurgitating the same plot over and over
I could write books better than this when all your doing is regurgitating the same plot over and over
January 20, 2025
too much
Too much sending, too much feeling like. And who can take off running after a suspect when just choked and spending so much time in snow? This book had possibilities.
Too much sending, too much feeling like. And who can take off running after a suspect when just choked and spending so much time in snow? This book had possibilities.
June 23, 2025
Great Book
This story was exciting and the characters were believable. it had many turns and twists you always were hoping the good guys won.
This story was exciting and the characters were believable. it had many turns and twists you always were hoping the good guys won.
July 14, 2025
So corny
These books are ridiculous- the detective work is worse than amateur - ok for light reading, I guess but can’t be taken seriously as a detective story. Not for me.
These books are ridiculous- the detective work is worse than amateur - ok for light reading, I guess but can’t be taken seriously as a detective story. Not for me.
August 12, 2025
This was okay? It was a quick read but the main character annoyed me.
May 23, 2025
Didn’t gel with the characters at all. Plot ok but nothing special-
July 18, 2024
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
The purpose of Thrifty Thursday is to read a book which was free (at some point).
Kindle freebie on May 14, 2024 (currently $2.99 at Amazon and Barnes & Noble as of writing this post)
What's Left seemed a bit better than the first book. Peyton seemed to follow a bit more of a procedural investigation. She still had to cajole the partner to work with her. Their dynamic is still unbelievable.
We get Peyton's POV and a bit of the killer. Peyton does a good job with narrowing down the evidence and suspects; her instincts are on target. I liked these aspects.
At the end, the partner is helping a bit more. There's a hint of a possible romance which I find stupid in this situation. There's no indication if she is staying in this role or area. We just get cases as she works them. Peyton does get a clue at the end about her parents' deaths.
The purpose of Thrifty Thursday is to read a book which was free (at some point).
Kindle freebie on May 14, 2024 (currently $2.99 at Amazon and Barnes & Noble as of writing this post)
What's Left seemed a bit better than the first book. Peyton seemed to follow a bit more of a procedural investigation. She still had to cajole the partner to work with her. Their dynamic is still unbelievable.
We get Peyton's POV and a bit of the killer. Peyton does a good job with narrowing down the evidence and suspects; her instincts are on target. I liked these aspects.
At the end, the partner is helping a bit more. There's a hint of a possible romance which I find stupid in this situation. There's no indication if she is staying in this role or area. We just get cases as she works them. Peyton does get a clue at the end about her parents' deaths.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews