The Devil's Kitchen: A Murder in Yellowstone

The Johnson and Nance Mysteries #1

by Mark Thielman

A murder in Yellowstone reveals a historical conspiracy, drawing a park ranger into the heart of a centuries-old mystery.

When a history professor is fatally shot at the base of Yellowstone Canyon, seasonal park ranger and former homicide detective Clarence Johnson finds himself roped into the murder investigation. Alongside Special Agent Alison Nance, he quickly realizes they are uncovering more than just a killer.

As Johnson and Nance hunt for the killer, clues gleaned from the professor's research hint at a historic conspiracy involving an ancient relic believed to have been secreted away by royalists during the French Revolution. Their hunt through the wilds of Yellowstone leads them to realize that the professor's death and the missing artifact are intricately connected.

But Johnson and Nance’s suspects are disappearing at an alarming rate, pitting them in a race against time before those determined to do anything to protect the secrets of the past strike again.

From the secrets of antiquity to the rugged beauty of America's first national park, The Devil’s Kitchen is a masterful blend of historical fiction and suspense that challenges the boundaries between past and present—revealing that the deadliest secrets are often hidden in plain sight.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Detective, Crime

310 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2025

Reviews

[OutlawPoet]

This was a DNF for me at about 40%. I found that the dual timeline really didn't work for me and I didn't love our main character. Mostly, though, it was taking too long to connect the plotlines and I found myself bored. May work for you.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A modern murder mystery and the French Revolution intertwine in this interesting story. A history professor is found dead at the bottom of a canyon in Yellowstone National Park. The investigators have to unravel the clues that seem to point to paintings from the French Revolution having a link to this modern day murder. The story follows the dual timelines of the current murder investigation and the journey that a group of French Revolution royalists take to smuggle a scepter that is part of the Crown Jewels out of France to keep it safe. I enjoyed the dual timelines even though the historical portions did slow the overall pace of the story, particularly in the beginning. If you like treasure hunting and bit of history mixed in with a murder investigation, this book may be an enjoyable choice.

[G Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Theilman’s Devil’s Kitchen is a fantastic read. The author keeps you connected from the first page until the last. This is my first introduction to Mark Theilman and I’m glad that I found him as an author.
Devil’s Kitchen introduces former cop, now park ranger Johnson and Parks’ Investigation Officer Nance with a series of murders as people search for treasure from the French Revolution. I found myself surprised by the twists and turns the author brings to the page.

In the end, I was disappointed the story ended and wanting more. I’m glad to see there is a second novel coming. I will be a reader of Mark Theilman

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A history professor is found dead in Yellowstone National Park during an interpretive hike. Clarence Johnson, the seasonal ranger in charge of the group, turns out to be a former homicide detective and ends up consulting on the investigation with lead investigator, Special Agent Alison Nance, and Thor-like DEA Agent Lafleur, who wants to link everything to drug trafficking and provides the possibility of a "love triangle". A second timeline starts in France during the late 1700's, during the French Revolution, and details efforts to carry an ancient relic to Louisiana in New France, to a place said to belong to the devil and be feared by all (Yellowstone, with its steaming geysers and hot springs). The professor was looking for the relic, but so are others who think it holds almost magical powers and will stop at nothing to be the one to retrieve it from its hiding place of more than a century. Part murder mystery and part treasure hunt, The Devil's Kitchen is gritty and suspenseful with interesting, witty and clever characters. Yellowstone is beautiful yet dangerous, a great setting for a mystery, and I'm happy to see this is "Book 1" of a series!

[Doreen Fernandes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dead professor. An artifact related to the French Revolution. Dual timelines pertaining to the artifact. Park Ranger, Clarence Johnson and Detective Alison Nance investigate the death of a professor who was an expert on historical artifacts. They are joined by DEA agent LaFleur. What did he find that was so important for someone to kill him? A suspense filled historical thriller with a touch of humour. I liked the historical narrative about the artifact used in the French Revolution as also the description of The Devil's Kitchen.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story has two timelines and it almost feels like you're reading two different books but the narratives intersect and are really quite engaging! People in the past working hard to put a treasure in a secure place in a distant country and people nowadays trying to find the treasure's resting place. However, greed takes a massive role and people start to being murdered in Yellowstone and the rangers Johnson and Nance will do everything they can to solve the mystery and the murder cases.
I thank the author and his publisher for this ARC.

[Leane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid first in a series, told from two timelines—1874 into the 1800s, and present day with those chapters dated by month & day. June in Yellowstone National Park and the flashback chapters are in Revolutionary France, New Orleans, and assorted rivers and lands to Wyoming. Clarence Johnson is a Park Ranger, recuperating from an injury while a Ft. Worth Police Detective, with a delightful, snarky sense of humor, a formidable knowledge and appreciation for art, and the owner of an adorable three-legged dog. He gets involved with a murder investigation while conducting a park tour and joins forces with Park Services Detective Nance, an attractive but all-business detective leading the investigation with some assist from a DEA Agent, LeFleur who Johnson takes an instant dislike to. The interrelationships are entertaining, the dialogue humorous and also serves to push the Pace and unwind the growing labyrinthine Plot. The reader knows what the motive is for the murder because of the historical flashback long before the detectives figure it out but we get to visit the glories of Yellowstone, sit in on intriguing art discussions, and hypothesis about maps and theories along with them. Good CHs, even the bad actors, stunning Frames, and Tone builds in its intensity as hot springs and mountains decorate the pages. I enjoyed this book and would read others in the series; however, I did feel that the historical flashbacks could have used better editing—I did not need as much of the detail of each stage of the journey for the purposes of this book even if it was a beguiling travelogue, it made me impatient. I really liked the depth that literary and art added to this narrative as it influenced Tone and Plot. RED FLAGS: Graphic Violence; Torture; Bears; Harm to Dog. Readalikes might be any Neveda Barr, Paul Doiron, and Steve Berry’s conspiracy thrillers.

[Arvin Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thielman brilliantly interweaves elements of Greek mythology, the French Revolution, Neoclassical art, Native American culture, and modern policing practices in this first novel of a continuing series set in national parks. The two main characters make a dynamic team, each bring his/her own skills and experience to solve this thrilling, complex mystery. Thoroughly researched, the book follows two timelines, one set in modern day Yellowstone Park and the other tracks a band of French loyalists on an odyssey to preserve a priceless artifact rumored to hold healing powers. The two stories come together in the unexpected conclusion. I am eagerly awaiting the next in the series, The Hidden River, set in the Everglades.

[Ilona · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting mix between scenes of the French Revolution and current Yellowstone National Park.
We follow an art student trying to hide and ultimately trying smuggling an artifact out of France during the Revolution. Current day a murder of a history professor in Yellowstone, with links to the French Revolution.
Clarenc Johnson, a former homicide detective now seasonal park ranger, teams up with Special Agent Alison Nance.
I really enjoyed this book, and it is always a bonus when a fictional book makes you look things up because it just sounds to weird to be true but end up learning it is true.

[Ann-Catherine Morner · Rating 5 out of 5]

King Dagobert, ca 603- 639, was a good Frank. He would have wanted a German to have his scepter.¹

I think this should have a prologe. The POV of the last King of the Merovingians as he sees the goldsmith's work.¹

The Plot. I can find no fault with the Author's imagination. French Anti-Revolutionaries take the Scepter of Dagobert to the hintermost corner of the New World to keep it safe. In our time, people want it. How do they do this? With difficulties. With a lot of difficulties. I just wish that the Author's inspiration had been different, because History². It rubs me the wrong way. Suspend your disbelief, and hold on thight, or you might drop it.
The Characters.
Oh dear...
Do you remember Mad Magazine? Spy vs Spy? This is Spy vs Spy vs Spy vs Spy...
Everyone is unique. Doesn't do what you think that they will. Has secrets. Even the walk-on parts. Everyone feels grown-up.
The Telling. The Author's way of writing takes a while to get used to. It is very precise, with a few odd words and phrases, and in the French parts, it gets histrionic, probably to feel historical.
SPOILERS AND NOTES
¹ We only read about France, but at the time of Dagobert, it was the Kingdom of the Franks. They were West Germanics, and spoke a Germanic language. I kept waiting for Germans who want to resurrect Das Heilige Römerishe Reich Deutscher Nation, but nope.
² The Author obviously loves art, and was inspired by a painting by David, The Anger of Achilles. Only. The Illiad is also known as The Song about the Wrath of Achilles. Achilles was in a snit because he had to give up his sex slave, Briseis to Agamemnon. The Illiad covers the last ten days of the Trojan War. The story about Ifigenia takes place ten years earlier. Agamemnon sacrifices his daughter Ifigenia for good wind, having lured her with a promise that she is going to get married to Achilles. He wasn't there, he was busy with his lover Patrokles... The Author must know this, but still uses the euphemistic painting. The Revolutionaires weren't happy with gay love. Just like Hollywood.
In case you don't know. Ifigenia's mother, Klytaminestra, murders Agamemnon when he comes home from the war.
³ Yellowstone and the French Revolution. It's possible that French trappeurs had been to Yellowstone. But had they written home about in enough detail for the Royalists to come up with the scatty idea of hiding Dagobert's Scepter there? Well. Maybe. It did disappear during the Revolution.

Canadian spies? Come on.
Conspiscious by their absence. The English. I kept waiting for them to show up too. Azincourt and all that...

I recommend this. You will keep guessing, and you will guess wrong.
Just because I can. Devil take the French Revolutionaires, and especially that hypocrit Napoleon. He probably did. The French go on forever about it, but in history books in a thousand years it will just be a blip. Among other blips.

[Lori L (She Treads Softly) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Devil's Kitchen by Mark Thielman is a recommended novel with a dual timeline which alternates between events from the French revolution and a current murder mystery in Yellowstone.

In Paris, France, 1794 during the French Revolution art student Aristede is protecting the Scepter of Dogobert, a relic of the French royalty. The goal is to smuggle it out of the country for safe keeping. In the present, a history professor is found dead at the base of Yellowstone Canyon. Seasonal park ranger and former homicide detective Clarence Johnson assists Special Agent Alison Nance with the investigation once it is determined they are dealing with a murderer.

Johnson and Nance worked well together and following the clues in the murder investigation is a compelling part of the narrative. There are keen insights into what may be the motive behind the murder as well as some humor along the way. Also included is a good dose of art history which neatly ties into the plot. I enjoyed this storyline. It would be entertaining to follow them, along with Johnson's dog, Tripod, in another investigation.

Admittedly, I'm not a huge fan of historical fiction but I have been known to appreciate it at times. In this case, the chapters set in the 1790's were less appealing than those set in the present. I just never cared that much, although I knew it would eventually tie into the present day investigation, so these chapters felt like they dragged on too long.

The Devil's Kitchen will appeal to readers who enjoy the French Revolution, art history, a treasure hunt, murder mysteries and police procedurals. Thanks to Severn River for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2025/0...

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok plot. Kind of like a low-budget Clive Cussler or Dan Brown set in Nevada Barr’s world. Fanciful idea about historical artifact hidden away long ago in what is now Yellowstone NP (story line 1, past history) and now ruthless people are trying to find it (story line 2, the present murder mystery).

Thoughts:

The art history theme was interesting and well researched. Only stretched a bit.

The two main characters in the present story line were ok. Most of the other characters in both story lines were pretty flat.

It could have been edited better. For me, there was too much detail in the past story line. The whole point was to establish the artifact and how it got where it ended up. Too much time was spent on pointless details about the too many characters.

Intertwining the past and present story lines with such short sections got to be annoying. About halfway through, I quit following the jumps back and forth and just read through the past story line out to almost the end. Then went back and read the present story line through to the end. Made more sense and went faster not having to shift gears every few pages. I recommend that approach for anyone finding themselves getting annoyed with the frequent shifting. The two story lines don’t merge until very near the end.

Another annoying thing was the inconsistent use of character names, particularly for the main character. Within a few lines he would be referred to by his first name (Clarence) and sometimes by just his last name (Johnson), each standing alone (and not in dialogue). Really? All that did was add confusion and slow the reader down for no good reason. Kind of like a micro version of the jumping story lines.

Don’t think I’ll bother with the subsequent books.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent new mystery series by a clever and intelligent author.

I dove into this book expecting a decent mystery with sympathetic characters in an interesting setting: Yellowstone National Park. I did get that, but this book is so much more. The Devil's Kitchen contains a thoroughly engaging examination of art and history tied to a clever contemporary murder mystery. Having been fascinated by art history in my youth, I recognized the character and paintings of David immediately, possibly giving me an advantage. However, I was not familiar with David's involvement in the French Revolution, so I looked up the history. Thielman has not only accurately captured the artist's life, he has accurately portrayed the complexities of the French Revolution. In addition to successfully and credibly weaving an unsolved historical mystery into his plot, the author has also created a pair of interesting contemporary investigators. His characters come to life through actions and dialogue, slowly unfolding their stories without excessive exposition. This, above all, is the mark of a good writer. By creating interesting, likable, and often amusing characters as well as the intelligent and well-researched plot, he has made me a committed fan.

I can't wait for the next Johnson and Nance mystery!

[Anne, Unfinished Woman · Rating 2 out of 5]

SPOILER ALERT

This story moves between the French Revolution in 1794 and the present in Yellowstone National Park. Seasonal tour guide Clarence Johnson, who is retired from the Fort Worth Police Dept, and SA Alison Nance an FBI agent are teamed up along with a DEA agent Tom LeFleur to determine who killed Phillip Ocone. LaFleur is stuck on the theory that it a drugs case, the product coming down from Canada. Johnson, however, finding various evidence bringing art into the case, uses his extensive knowledge about art to solve the case. Treasure hunters are seeking the King's orb, the Scepter of Dagobert, the symbol of French royalty, which was smuggled out of France during the Revolution into American and hidden in Yellowstone.

A huge stretch in belief and not particularly well-written. There is way too much description of the killing of the aristocrats by the guillotine, how sharp the blade, how it's shaped, and the way people watch and react to the killing, supposedly having good luck if they can catch the last breath and the reaction of the person as they realize they no longer have an attached head. Gruesome, unnecessary to the story. Gore for gore's sake. Adds nothing to the story but gore. The chapters then alternate between the current murders and greed in finding the orb, to the process of getting to artifact to American and hiding it.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC through "Severn River" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This story is about a murder which happens in Yellowstone Park. While leading a tour one of the members of Johnson's tour spots what appears a dead body. This ends a tour and brings Nance into the scene. Nance is an investigator and is the lead. She involves Johnson, a former homicide detective and now seasonal Park Ranger, in the death for the killer and what the reason was. A DEA agent, LaFleur was also part and his conclusion was that it related to drugs.

There was another part of the story that told of how a group during the French Revolution wanted to transport an item and hide it in the U.S.A. The story tells of the journey to discover a spot to hide it and the trio that eventually succeeded in completing the mission.

Discover how these two stories were related and where the item was hidden. Learn who the killer was and what reason was behind it.

This is definitely a book worth reading!

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good debut effort. It is a dual time and I found the historical part slow and not nearly as interesting to read as the contemporary mystery. I have to admit I quite reading the historical parts and just jumped to the next contemporary section. The character development in the contemporary mystery was so good the historical sections became a little boring to me. Clarence is a great sleuth. He is smart and can give a snappy responses. That made for some great dialogue. He has that circumventing reasoning that makes the one listening to him think he is way off base but we find out he knows what he is taking about. A narrow minded DEA agent is a good foil for him and enables him to give some great one line responses.

I liked the contemporary aspect of the mystery but did not find the historical part captivating. There are more novels planned for this series and I liked Clarence so much I'll be watching for them.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm really conflicted about this book. I generally ok with the dual timeline approach. But the writing felt so different between the two. I loved Clarence's character in the present timeline, his humor was great. And the author seems quite knowledgeable, or is great at research. I found myself constantly checking my phone for pictures, places, and looking up words. I love a writer that challenges me to learn while I'm reading something enjoyable.

Ultimately, though, I decided I didn't really care for the book. Don't know if it was the historical parts that felt a bit boring to me or what felt like a hidden agenda (that I'm still trying to identify, even in my mind), or what.

I was determined to find the next book and read it. Hhmmm, maybe not.

[J Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good mystery!

History collides with the present at a national treasure. Seasonal park ranger Clarence Johnson and Special Agent Alison Nance of the Park Service’s detectives, find themselves embroiled in a murder investigation along with an FBI agent. Clarence does not agree with the FBI agent’s conclusions. The clues are confusing with no clear suspects, but Clarence believes this is no ordinary crime.

This is a well-written mystery. I liked the way the storyline bounces back and forth between history and the current day. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I received a free copy but my review is honest and voluntary.

[Cathrine "Capi" · Rating 3 out of 5]

I generally enjoy historical fiction, and have no problem with dual timelines, and usually find them easy to follow and helpful with the story. I had trouble with this author's style, though, with short, choppy sentences that just didn't flow. I found myself skimming over batches of sentences that could have been better put together and often had to go back to catch something I'd missed. Sadly, I don't think I'll continue on with the series, although I did enjoy learning a bit about Yellowstone and the hidden French sceptor.

[Lynne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wish this had been a DNF.

But I kept going because outdoor mysteries are my jam. Picked it up because of the Yellowstone setting. I do like dual timeline stories with this one being between modern-day Yellowstone park ranger/detectives and late 1700's/early 1800's France and the Louisiana Territory. I didn't come to like or appreciate any of the characters and wasn't invested in their outcome. They had annoying personalities and were annoying to each other even though it tried to be played off as flirting in some instances.

[Erricka Hager · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

I’ll post a full review closer to the release date but I enjoyed this historical/mystery in a unique location. The villain was somewhat predictable but the “twist” caught me off guard and it was enough for me to want to continue with this series.

If you’re a fan of the DaVinci Code and/or National Treasure then you should pick this one up.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Devil's Kitchen: A Murder in Yellowstone (The Johnson and Nance Mysteries Book 1), my first read from author Mark Thielman, an author I'd not heard of before this book. A 310-page suspense action dual timeline thriller. “I received a complementary Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to reading more from this author and in this series. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I almost didn’t read this book because the beginning was unexpectedly gruesome, with too much graphic historical detail. But, that part of the background passed quickly. It then blossomed into an intriguing, fast paced story that held my attention. The writing was tight, the plot was twisty and the characters were believable. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next in the series. I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to write a voluntary, unbiased review.

[Avram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun read. Think The Da Vinci Code meets A Tale of Two Cities, with a twisty plot that leads to Yellowstone National Park. I've enjoyed Mark Thielman's short stories for years in some of the most prestigious magazines and anthologies. His debut novel met all my lofty expectations and then some.

[Jerry Summers · Rating 4 out of 5]

We love the National Parks. This is the first of a mystery series set in Yellowstone. An ex-detective Clarence and ISB agent Nance team up after a body is found at Artist’s Point. There are two timelines: spiriting the Scepter out of Revolution France to America and the murder investigation. Look forward to the art murder mystery history in the Everglades next.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

History Mystery

The past meets the present in a thrilling mystery. This is different from what I normally read. In the beginning the flip between past and present seemed a little slow to me, if it feels that way to you stick with it I promise it’s worth it. I’ve never read anything by this author before and now I will again. I really enjoyed this book.

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Devil’s Kitchen is a gripping mystery that blends history, suspense, and the rugged beauty of Yellowstone into an unforgettable read. Mark Thielman delivers strong characters, smart twists, and a storyline that keeps you turning the pages. A perfect mix of historical intrigue and modern crime, highly recommended!

[Viking Jam · Rating 1 out of 5]

Review: I got a ways through this and nothing really captured my imagination. I don't think the story line was driving the novel anywhere interesting. I am sure there will be a lot of readers that will find enjoyment in this "adventure".

I received this ARC for an honest review.

DNF

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall this was a good read. It was fairly fast paced, although the dual timelines seemed to slow things down in the beginning. The characters and plot were both enjoyable. I was left with a few questions after the book ended, but it was nothing that really impacted the storyline.

[Coventry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good well written mystery.

It did start off a little slow but just stick with it.

It is a dual time line.

This is the first book in a series but I look forward to reading the others.