Damaged: A Tyler Zahn Prequel

Tyler Zahn #4

by Cam Torrens

“Torrens’ best work so far--if you’re a fan of murder, mystery, and mountains, you’re a fan of Damaged!” –Gary Gerlacher, bestselling author of the AJ Docker Medical Thrillers

Veteran pilot Tyler Zahn was the Air Force's rising star until personal and professional tragedies shattered his life and spiraled him into depression. The lesson he learned? When Zahn's in charge, people get hurt.

Seeking a fresh start, Zahn moves to the quiet town of Buena Vista in the Colorado Rockies. His plan is simple—join the local search and rescue team, get in shape, and cut back on the beer. He hopes to find a way to be useful again.

An escaped prisoner and a kidnapping unexpectedly thrust Zahn into the fray alongside a local deputy sheriff. As he uncovers a terrorist plot to disrupt Colorado's intricate water system, Zahn realizes he's in deeper than he ever intended.

Struggling with his past failures and the danger at hand, Zahn wishes he'd never gotten involved. Innocent lives are at risk, and once again, he's at the center of the storm. Can he rise above his doubts and save a town, or will the legacy of his past compel him to back down?

Genres: Thriller, Suspense

327 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 27, 2025

About the author

Over a 30-year Air Force career, author Cam Torrens delivered combat supplies and personnel across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He piloted the first mobility aircraft into Iraq during the Iraq War, served as the United States Air Attaché at the US Embassy in Beijing, China, and spent four years as the Professor of Aerospace Studies at Virginia Tech.
A father of six, Cam and his spouse live in Buena Vista, Colorado, where he serves as the Vice President of the Central Colorado Writers, and volunteers with the Chaffee County Search & Rescue team.
Cam has published four books in the Tyler Zahn series about an Air Force vet saving lost hikers and tracking down bad guys in the Colorado Rockies. The fifth book in the series, HAVOC, will come out in December 2025.
Be sure to follow Cam on BookBub as well at https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cam-t...

Reviews

[Adelle Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damaged is a prequel to the Tyler Zahn thrillers by Cam Torrens. After a distinguished career in the military, a broken Tyler Zahn moves himself to Colorado for a new start, preferably away from the heartbreak of his past. Initially plagued by his bad memories, Tyler finds an unexpected break in his friendship with a local deputy Sheriff. He and Deputy Sheriff Perez stumble onto a series of crimes culminating in a scheme bigger than the Rockies, a scheme which involves no less than the Denver water supply, a dodgy environmentalist, a powerful cattle rancher, and an escaped fugitive. Damaged is a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat thriller that always leaves room for more surprises. The plot is as big of the sky, but always grounded in believability. The characters are real, flawed, and full of spunk. Just when you think the action cannot possibly ramp up any more, the author finds a way to ramp it up. A true modern western that will please any fans of western noir, crime thrillers, or adventure writing.

[Joseph Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not how many times you get knocked down that matters. It's how many times you pick yourself up and begin again. That is what Tyler Zahn does in this thrilling prequel and I think, his best Zahn novel so far. Beaten and battered, Tyler Zahn seeks a new start in life. He moves to Buena Vista, Colorado, gets himself in shape, and joins a search and rescue team. He finds himself smack in the middle of a kidnapping and a terrorist plot. Working side by side with a local sheriff, who becomes a lifelong friend, Zahn works to solve a mystery, one of many that make his way. A terrific entry and prequel in the Tyler Zahn series, anyone who loves solid characters, action and mystery will surely love this book. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Joseph Lewis, Reviewer and Author of Fan Mail and Black Yéʼii (The Evil One).

[Kim McCollum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cam Torrens's latest wilderness thriller in the Tyler Zahn series blends the character-driven suspense of CJ Box with the high-stakes plot of Nick Petrie. In this prequel, we delve into Zahn's past as a veteran pilot haunted by a personal tragedy who is seeking a quiet fresh start in the Colorado Rockies. Torrens’s personal experience with search and rescue shines through, adding a layer of realism and tension to the mountain environment. The high-stakes terrorist plot combines environmental issues and rural crime in a race against the clock where the survival of a town hangs in the balance. Damaged delivers a flawed but relatable hero, a vivid setting, and a plot that keeps you guessing until the very end.

[Carol C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damaged is a non-stop thriller that keeps you guessing until the end. Torrens creates a set of complex, relatable characters that — whether good guy or bad guy — you can't help but root for at some point. This was my first book to read in this series. As it's a prequel to the Tyler Zahn series, I think I'll enjoy reading book one next now that I know the main and supporting characters' relationships, backgrounds, and flaws. If you don't mind a few late nights when you can't put a book down, I recommend Damaged!

[Lori K Johnson Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not always a lover of prequels but this is good stuff! Very well written and leaves me wanting more.

[Linda Blackmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the storyline

I picked this book as a recommendation for Joe Pickett fans. So glad I did. Love the backdrop of Colorado and how the story weaves thru the towns. Good job!

[Vickie Roe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cam Torrens just keeps getting better at writing! Thoroughly enjoyed this prequel to his other 3 novels. Exciting, edge of your seat, nail biter, pretty much describes this fun book set in Buena Vista, Colorado .

[Hannah McNamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast-paced, thrilling, and packed with suspense, Damaged is a one-of-a-kind prequel that leaves readers begging for more. This story was filled with genuine characters, elaborate schemes, and tons of action! You’ll find yourself at the edge of your seat as you follow Tyler Zahn through a tangled mystery involving terrorism and kidnapping. Torrens created an unputdownable book, one that I would highly recommend!

[T R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Retired Air Force vet, Tyler Zahn is in between the life he knew in the military and married with a two children and moving forward. He’s divorced and one of his children is deceased, and to occupy his retired time he helps with SARs teams in Colorado. It is with the team we meet other characters: his supervisor and law enforcement officer Perez and volunteer friend Kristee. A foul-mouth hiker has an injured ankle who the team helps and it this woman who factors into the story a bit later when plans to blow up the water dam and tunnels come into play. Other characters: Sullivan – a man hired by a hippie tree hugging woman and Mandrake a man in prison round out the characters with additional ones to fill in along the story line. Sullivan is lulled in by a cushy amount of money and takes on a job, which requires Mandrake to break out of prison to help. The casting is entertaining and there were parts when Mandrake is first out – with what he’s eating and drinking – that had me laughing. This tightly written story brought all the characters together in a well-cast unfolding that kept me involved right down to the satisfying ending that tied all the parts together. I especially like the self-effacing protagonist, capable and talented in reality but haunted by PTSD and his relationship with Perez which knits through other books in this series. The author does a great job of inserting technical details into many parts of the story, about hiking, dealing with water works, navigating through police procedures and adding in past details to flush out the storyline and develop enduring characters, ones I’d want to hang with, have a beer with, shoot the breeze with and hear stories from. I’m glad there are other books from this talented author in this series that I’ll be able to instantly dig into.

[Jill Rey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tyler Zahn’s origin story has finally arrived! Giving us more than we even knew we needed, author Cam opens his latest novel with Zahn’s search and rescue (SAR) training as we see the blossoming beginnings of friendships we already know to be enduring. Driven by the ever-familiar action that’s quickly become synonymous with Torrens’ name, “Damaged” once again transports readers to the Colorado peaks and water ways as Zahn’s Colorado story begins.

From Breckenridge to Dillon, Buena Vista and the Arkansas River Valley, Torrens’ aptitude for the Colorado landscape pairs well with his outdoor fortitude and research driven stories. Using water ways, felons, tree huggers, and law enforcement, each piece of the puzzle collides for another stratospheric thrill ride in the Tyler Zahn series. Torrens has really been holding out on us as Tyler Zahn’s appearance in Buena Vista, his motivation for solitude, and strong acumen for SAR work ignite within.

Narrated by the rugged and tough voice of Tim Morgan, the audio fits perfectly to the characters and terrain within. Full of water tunnels, Colorado trails, rafting, dams, construction, and the management of it all, Torrens introduces Zahn’s investigative skills, his beer belly body, and his penchant for danger as he finds himself waist deep in a sinister plot. As the friendships with Kristee Li, Rick Perez and even Randall Williams alight on the page, we are reminded of what has come of it all as we travel back to where it all began.

Cam Torrens once again uses his knowledge of SAR, love of Colorado, and penchant for research to craft another explosive psychological thriller.

[Jann Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

DAMAGED delivers the fast-paced, all too real-life suspense Tyler Zahn fans await, in Cam Torrens’ fourth novel in the popular series.

The latest Tyler Zahn suspense thriller, DAMAGED, takes us to the edge—literally—of a Colorado dam about to give way, and the beginnings of his flawed character’s transformation to reluctant detective and SAR hero.

With as many twists and turns as Zahn faces in a mountainous Search And Rescue operation, DAMAGED imagines a worst-case scenario for the historic mining town of Silverthorne, Colorado, seated below a massive reservoir, that involves missing persons, kidnappings, and drug deals. And DAMAGED digs deeper, into the opioid crisis, real-estate development wars, and a region facing environmental disaster.

As Zahn struggles to unmask the ruthless forces behind it all, readers will revel in his metamorphosis from pudgy, insecure (but once daring) Air Force pilot, now retired, to the determined and gutsy guy whose heroics surprise even himself. In his prequel, Torrens has given us a fitting backstory for the beloved character in the Tyler Zahn novels, who never runs from danger, and lives a life not so different from the author himself.

—Jann Alexander, author of UNSPOKEN (coming July 2025), and creator of the Vanishing Austin series

[David Rabin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A captivating hero, engaging bad guys, and a superbly constructed, fast-paced plot.

The hero of Damaged, Tyler Zahn, is a former Air force pilot who moves to Colorado to shake off his demons and start his life anew. He’s an everyman who just wants to ease into a normal life but finds himself thrust into a terrorism plot.

The story is told from three perspectives: Zahn’s and those of the two bad guys. The reader can see what’s happening outside Zahn’s vision and experiences three different personalities. Torrens expertly shifts between the three, with each chapter heading telling the reader whose perspective they’ll see.

Zahn doesn’t set out to be a hero but presses on because he sees things that need to be done and won’t walk away from what he perceives as his moral duty. He’s a likable guy for whom I rooted for all the way. Equally impressive was the author’s rendering of the two bad guys. They’re three-dimensional characters, not mustache-twirling evil doers, and I found them appealing even though they were doing bad things. That’s a difficult trick for an author to pull off, and it speaks volumes about Torrens’ storytelling ability.

There’s no fluff in this book. It sucked me in quickly and always made me want to keep reading. Damaged has plenty of action, an intricate and believable plot, and characters that are a joy to follow.

[Kate Laack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damaged is a high-stakes, gripping prequel that introduces readers to Tyler Zahn before he became the search-and-rescue hero that Cam Torrens fans know and love. Fresh out of the military and weighed down by personal loss, Zahn seeks to start over in Colorado—but trouble seems to find him no matter where he goes. What starts as a simple desire for a fresh start quickly spirals into a high-stakes battle involving an escaped fugitive, a terrorist plot, and a threat to the state’s water supply. But while the external threats mount, Zahn’s internal battles are just as gripping

What sets Damaged apart is its relatable and dynamic protagonist. Zahn is not your typical invincible action hero—his past haunts him, his confidence wavers, and his path to redemption is far from straightforward. Nevertheless, he forges ahead with Torrens’ attention to detail in search and rescue operations adding a level of realism that enhances the tension and continually raises the stakes.

Damaged is an engaging read for fans of survival thrillers, military fiction, and character-driven suspense. It sets the stage perfectly for the rest of the Tyler Zahn series, leaving readers eager for more. Whether you're new to the series or a returning fan, Damaged is a strong entry point into the world of Tyler Zahn.

[Pamela Norsworthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I, for one, avoid thrillers with the perfect, brilliant, crime solver at the center who gets the girl at the end. Tyler Zahn is not that. With a complicated, grief-filled backstory, we meet the MC in Damaged as he’s trying to rebuild his life and his relationships. A retired Air Force pilot, he’s not sure where he belongs. He’s tentative, full of self doubt, and drinking too much. But he soon finds resilience and redemption when he’s pulled into helping solve a complicated, multi-layered crime. This story, one of four in the series, is set in Colorado, and the setting functions as an important character throughout the book. The descriptions are glorious and beautifully detailed. I’ve hiked the mountains he describes—setting out early to avoid the afternoon thunderstorms just like his characters do. The criminal plot in this novel is complex but the author writes with such clarity that even non-techie readers can picture exactly what’s happening. It reminds me of Clancy’s The Hunt for Red October: I knew nothing of submarines, but Clancy’s writing made it crystal clear. And like Clancy, the author ties up lots of loose ends at the novel’s close—but still dangles some questions close to Tyler’s heart that the reader hopes will be tackled in future Tyler Zahn novels.

Crisp writing, clever plotting, completely satisfying.

[Diane Nagatomo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a huge fan of Tyler Zahn (also known as Z-man) in the search and rescue thrillers by Cam Torrens since his debut in “Stable: Someone is Taking Them”. Set in the majestic mountains of Colorado, Zahn, a retired Air Force officer, is a valued member of the Chaffee County Search and Rescue team who also helps solve murders and other mysteries as they appear. “Damaged: A Tyler Zahn Prequel” introduces Zahn when he is searching for a new life after leaving the military, losing his son, and having a failed marriage. He is floundering a bit, wondering what to do with the rest of his life, so he joins the SAR team as a means to meet people and get back in shape. The last thing he expected was to end up helping the local sheriff with escaped convicts, a kidnapping, a murder, and a terrorist plot that could destroy the state’s entire water system. Clearly, Zahn has found his calling in life.
This is a fast-paced thriller (without too much violence or graphic details) that will keep the readers guessing until the very end. I can’t wait until I can meet the Z-man again in his next adventure. A strong five stars and highly recommended! I was grateful to have received an ARC of this book and my opinions are my own.

[Ruth Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

One escaped prisoner. Two kidnapping victims. And an unknown number of suspects plotting to set off bombs to disrupt the Colorado water system. Are these events related—and if so, how and why? This is the challenge facing Tyler Zahn as he becomes a reluctant partner to law enforcement in this well-crafted, edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller.

In this prequel to the popular Tyler Zahn series, we meet Zahn before he has become a valued member of the Chaffee County Search & Rescue (SAR) team in the Rockies. A former Air Force pilot, he carries a lot of emotional baggage after a failed mission and a failed marriage. The baggage he carries on his waistline after too many beers isn’t exactly helping his self-esteem either. Through numerous twists and turns, we watch Zahn slowly gather confidence as he makes himself useful and forges a friendship with deputy sheriff Perez.

Cam Torrens is an ace at combining high-octane action and suspense with complex character development and masterful plotting. The terrorist plot is stunningly intricate, but in Torrens’ skilled hands, it’s easy and enjoyable to read. Really, I can’t recommend this author enough!

[Paul Jantzen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damaged

Parallel action storytelling must eventually turn towards each other, or the result is just two stories. Sometimes they are on a trajectory that will eventually meet and sometimes the just slam into each other. The result of the latter is Cam Torrens’ Damaged.

Tyler Zahn, a man down on his luck and struggling with his own importance, attaches himself to good people with purpose. He develops a relationship with those good people and though he is “Damaged”, he still has plenty to contribute. He’s just not where he needs to be to believe in himself.

Torrens does not give us anything unnecessary to read here. He delivers Damaged with solid writing, a cast of well-developed characters, and decent dialogue. It’s no wonder this story has such an intense pace.

If you enjoy a good crime novel, and like rooting for characters to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps, this story will not disappoint. “My thoughts are like pulling threads from a sweater.” Damaged throughout is not this deep but definitely has its moments. It's a must read. ~Paul Jantzen author of "Sour Apples A Novel For Those Who Hate to read"

[D.L. Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Retired Air Force pilot Tyler Zahn is a broken man. Haunted by personal demons and still licking his wounds, he moves to Buena Vista in the Colorado Rockies to get his life back on track. After joining the local Search and Rescue (SAR) team as a volunteer with the goal of getting into shape while exploring the area’s mountain trails, he works hard to avoid taking on any new responsibilities. But unfortunately for Zahn, he’s that guy—the one people turn to in a crisis.

An innocent ride-along with a new friend, Deputy Sheriff Perez, leads to a manhunt for a convicted felon, kidnapping, murder, and a race against the clock to foil an ecoterrorism plot.

With its slick pace from start to finish, Damaged, the prequel in the Tyler Zahn thriller series, kept me guessing until the very end. Author Cam Torrens weaves complex characters into a fast-moving, intricate plot. His knowledge of SAR operations and the Colorado mountains adds undeniable authenticity. My favorite Zahn thriller to date!

[Lucille Guarino · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a book makes you think you're in a live-action movie, the experience is immediate and thrilling. That's what reading author Torrens' novel, Damaged, was like for me! It set me on a whirlwind ride I didn't want to get off of until I reached the final page.

The character of Tyler Zahn is likeable in that he is not your typical attention-seeking hero and yet his actions are every bit heroic and selfless. He's gifted in the way he sleuths out clues and his problem-solving techniques are grounded in his background experience as is shown throughout the book. I found myself rooting for him and wanting him to get some of the recognition he deserved.

If Damaged is the first book a reader picks up in author Torrens' four-book series, they will surely want to pick up the rest. If it is the last, the prequel will explain how he got to where he is and give validation to his learned and innate abilities and strengths. Readers will be just as rewarded with this "tick-tock" thriller.

[Brian Kaufman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tyler Zahn is a Damaged man. He’s a military vet, haunted by command decisions, his divorce, his estrangement from his daughter and the death of his son. He moves to Colorado and begins training for SAR (Search and Rescue), hoping to stay in shape and perform some useful service while he heals. However, an ecoterrorist plot involving Denver’s water supply will upend Zahn’s search for internal peace.

Damaged is the wonderful prequel to the Tyler Zahn thriller series. Author Cam Torrens manages to juggle the pacing demands of a first-rate thriller with the kind of characterization found in the best literary fiction. The seamless prose serves the intricate plot. There’s not a wasted word in the entire book.

Tyler Zahn is a reminder of everyday heroism—the kind that means transcending personal demons at just the right time because that’s what’s necessary. You’re going to love this book.

[Michelle Caffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspense, mystery, and characters you won’t forget.
Damaged by Cam Torrens is a gem that delivers a blend of suspense, mystery, and heroism. From the first page to the last, Torrens weaves a captivating narrative that will hold readers in its grip.
The protagonist, Zhan, deals with relationships and intimacy while staying true to his priority of recovering from the loss of his wife and children. By joining the SAR team of Buena Vista, Colorado, he attempts to straighten out his life, now filled with boredom and self-neglect.
The planned subterfuge of the Dillon Dam is so specific and detailed that it made the book impossible to put down. Torrens skillfully depicts the tight-knit community of Buena Vista, Colorado. The town itself becomes a character, contributing to the overall tension and intrigue. The climax of this story is tense and satisfying as “Z-man” demonstrates his true heroic nature on his road to recovery.

[DL Heim · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fan of author Cam Torrens’ novels, I find Damaged: a Tyler Zahn Prequel a wonderfully satisfying read. More than a cookie cutter page-turner his novels offer all the stuff I love about thrillers – taut writing, high stakes, breakneck action, accessible explanations of complex plot points – with character development that is woven into the narrative beats of the story. In the prequel, we learn the backstory of the protagonist “Z-man”, who is experiencing an existential crisis following the loss of his son, his marriage, his profession and his relationship with his daughter. As Zahn picks his way through a mess of a life, a terrorist group is plotting to disrupt the Colorado water system. The impact of Zahn’s unplanned involvement in saving a community from destruction creates a path for his redemption. Highly recommend for readers who enjoy a fast-paced thriller with engaging characters.

[S.A. Krishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four Point Five stars
Exciting prequel to Tyler Zahn stories
The story is just out of the air force and he is still trying to build on with what he has left and he is trying to forget his past. The story shifts to Sullivan in the prison and soon the story zooms to a prison break, a terrorist plot, more criminals joining the plot and a kidnapping.
Things escalate for Zahn as he finds himself in the middle of a terrorist plot and he sees the tiny details and is able to piece together the events to try and prevent a dangerous plan.
Zahn is the story teller, but the story moves to Sullivan and sometimes Mandrake to show how the plans move.
The book had plenty of excitement, adventure and some soul-searching as Tyler attempts to find himself again.
Enjoyed the characters and the way the prequel brought the characters again and explained how they met together for the first time. Fast and good read.

[Amanda Jaros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cam Torrens does it again with Damaged, a prequel in his Tyler Zahn series. This time, however, Zahn is the newbie on the block, learning the ropes at SAR as well as getting his feet wet in the local police investigations scene. We meet a man who is struggling with his past and his present, trying to figure out who he is after leaving the military and becoming estranged from his daughter. The book follows Zahn on an adventure through the Colorado mountains trying to uncover a plot to blow up a dam and figure out who is behind it. Torrens doles out clues in a measured way, leaving plenty of room for fast-paced action and cliffhanging suspense. And I enjoyed getting to know the characters more deeply than before. It's a fun, compelling, and well-crafted read.

[Sarah Nakawatase · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damaged is the action-packed prequel to the Tyler Zahn thriller series.

Retired Air Force pilot Tyler Zahn has moved to the mountains. He is trapped in his own head, leading him to a life of stagnation—drink, sleep, repeat. After a local deputy sheriff takes Tyler under his wing, he starts to see glimmers of the man he once was—the man he could be again.

Author Cam Torrens weaves an intricate set of clues through this multiple-POV thriller. The track he lays down takes the reader on a thrill ride through the Colorado Rockies as Tyler and the deputy sheriff race to uncover the conspirators behind a terrorist plot that could wipe out an entire town.

By trying to save the town at the base of the dam, Tyler may also save himself in this non-stop action thriller.

[Barbara Luker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damaged A Tyler Zahn Prequel, by talented author Cam Torrens, is an exceptional backstory to the Tyler Zahn series. Whether you’ve read any of the first three books in the series or not, Torrens is quick to draw readers into his main character’s deepest thoughts and fears before delving into the meat of this thriller. Torrens’ depth of knowledge in the search and rescue, military, and law enforcement fields helps to set the stage for the more detail oriented facts. Fans of Vince Flynn’s Mitch Rapp series and those who love thrillers will be enthralled by this brilliant book. Set aside plenty of time because once you open the cover, you won’t stop reading until you hit the end! ~ Barbara A. Luker, author of Hiding In Plain Sight and The Right One.

[Maple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cam Torrens delivers a heart pounding thriller set against the rugged backdrop of Colorado's Rocky Mountains. The story follows Tyler Zahn, a broken ex-Air Force pilot who's lost his confidence and his self-esteem. When he is reluctantly dragged into an unexpected investigation that leads to a mysterious group with plans to destroy a critical dam, Zahn’s got a decision to make; should he engage or remain on the sidelines. 

DAMAGED expertly blends breathtaking descriptions of Colorado's wilderness with a high stakes, action packed plot and an explosive finale that’s as satisfying as it is nerve racking. A must read for thriller enthusiasts.

[Travis Tougaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cam Torrens has done it again! Damaged, the latest installment in the Tyler Zahn series, is a taut action thriller. A prequel to the prior books, Damaged shows us how Zahn, Perez, and Williams form an unlikely alliance as they search for a missing couple and unravel a destructive plot to blow up a dam. Torrens writes with his signature prose, giving just enough detail to bring the Colorado landscape to life. The characters are complex and brilliantly flawed, allowing for a believable interplay of conflicting emotions and motivations. The tension and pacing keep the pages turning. Zahn is one of my favorite characters, and Damaged shows why Torrens should be at the top of your reading list!

[A.J. McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This prequel to the great Tyler Zahn series certainly does the other novels justice as the author spins another attention-grabbing story. This time, we get an introduction to Tyler shortly after he joins the Search and Rescue operation in the Colorado Rockies. His motivations and fears are revealed as he accidentally becomes involved in a criminal investigation. The reader is treated to both sides of the crime using multiple points of view: the criminals’ and Zahn’s. With plenty of action and a slow reveal of the mastermind behind the crimes, this novel had me hanging on every word and made it difficult to tear myself away. Another winning story from Mr. Torrens!

[Helen Stephenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't start a Cam Torrens novel in the evening unless you want to stay up all night, because you won't be able to stop until it's finished! The prose is spare and plot-driven, the story's twists and turns are one hundred percent believable, and hero Tyler Zahn draws you in and you really become invested because he's just so darn genuine. Torrens has skillfully drawn a main character you want to get to know even better by hopping around in the series--this was my second and it was fun to re-meet some of the other characters too. If you enjoy modern mysteries set in the Mountain West, this is for you!