Tracker

by Bethany Votaw

A young detective desperate to fix his mistake. A recluse pulled from the woods. A murderer on the run.

Detective Adam Reis has everything to prove and mistakes to fix. He enlists the help of local search and rescue and an unlikely tracker to help him find a murderer who fled into the winter Montana wilderness. An old recluse, Clay, comes out of the forest when asked to be a tracker. Clay has his own secrets to hide but reluctantly agrees to help the young detective.

Will these two unlikely men work together to track a dangerous man through the fierce terrain and snow? Or will their own secrets be their downfall?

Genres: Thriller

Audible Audio

Published March 11, 2022

About the author

Bethany (Joy) Votaw started writing in college on little notecards in an effort to stay awake in chemistry. Now she writes short stories and thrillers under the Name Bethany Votaw and fluffy little rom-coms under the name Bethany Joy.

Reviews

[Bethany Votaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mean, I wrote it so :)

[C.J. Daley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author very kindly sent me this for my reading enjoyment. I loved the cover from the second she posted it, so I’m so stoked to own one.

This is a super fast paced novel that focuses on emotional connections between characters. In a remote, snowy mountain area a detective enlists the help of a tracker and the area’s search and rescue team. With a murderer on the loose, with a suspected hostage, the detective must work fast to fix his mistakes.

The tale that the author wove is a good one. It’s concise in its style, to the point and neat. Not that more length would have hurt it, but at 170 pages, there is nothing but suspense. Dark pasts and dark futures abound in this edge-of-your-seat adventure.

I will say though that this is definitely a modern tale. When I read detective I was definitely thinking more along the lines of an Agatha Christie, but this detective is more of your modern cop. But it’s called ‘Tracker’ not ‘Clue-er.’ They are fast on the trail of a murderer, not connecting dots clue but clue.

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The line between work and personal life is in jeopardy. Add up how personal is the personal life. Tracker by Bethany Votaw is a book of such a dangerous situation.

Adam and Mason together on an assignment but it's pretty much Adam and Peter tandem on drug-related ones. Maybe it's one possible reason why Adam and Mason are not quite in sync as partners. Clay then becomes a tracker of the team on one assignment. Disheartening ugly truths that encounters are with comrades in uniform. Why is Adam taking Ava? Why is Clay hesitant to help Adam? It seems like this particular assignment is the most difficult and the most dangerous encounter of all.

Tracker shows that conflicts between work and personal life are really inevitable. It teaches us respect, discipline, trust and dedication to work. This genre is not my cup of tea. It's emotionally draining but the themes are lessons and reminders in the hard way to set aside the heart pounding impact for a while. The part where I learned of a delicate secret is real serious in their line of work. I give this book then a four-star rate. It's for the valuable lessons and the intriguing storyline.

This genre is for the readers most especially who enjoy and love action scenes.

[Berna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 stars rounded up to 4.
The book was quite exciting and full of delightfully complex characters. Adventures set in wilderness do not excite me much but the twist kept me interested.

[Victoria Wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a quick, fast-paced read and I was pulled right into the world Bethany created. Tracker is a brilliant, beautifully written tale of a detective forced to work with reclusive and dangerous Clay, a man who is as mysterious as he is intimidating. I loved every minute of this moody, gritty, and atmospheric read, and I would highly recommend it if you want a quick, wintery thriller!!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spurred by a sense of urgency from the first page, Tracker is a fast-paced read that does not let you put it down. It’s full of questions that need answers. Votaw does an excellent job of creating strong voices for the many points of view in this short book, challenging her reader’s perceptions of sympathy and responsibility. The timing of her reveals is excellent—as swift and powerful as an icy, roaring mountain river. And the descriptions of the setting seep off the page. You will feel cold while you read this book! But the strongest part of this little thriller is the intense, painful bits of humanity that many people shy away from, scattered throughout Tracker like sharp pieces of ice hidden under the snow. Approached with honesty and skill, Votaw looks at dark parts of the world without rose-colored lenses and makes you ask your own questions at the end.

[Richard Holliday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tracker is a brisk, pacy and chilling thriller that doesn’t hold back despite its length! Emotive and arresting imagery is combined with a twisty plot with well-developed, flawed characters propels you to the heart-wrenching climax. This is a book that rewards on every subsequent read; you’ll learn something new about the characters, their situations and their histories with each read. Beautiful, melancholic and assiduously-crafted prose helps the story shine through the moody atmosphere that just pulls you right in and doesn’t let go. Bethany is in command of her story in this book and it lingers in the mind long after you’ve turned the final page.

[Ben Pick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vivid masterpiece on a violent journey into the woods. Bethany's writing made me feel like I was stranded in the wilderness and on the verge of losing my toes to frostbite.
Her characters were well formed and dynamic. The multiple povs expanded the storytelling to tell a truly harrowing tale.
The twists rang true and the drama hit hard. This is an excellent read for those who enjoy crime stories.

[Hannah Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're after a speedily paced, dark, twisty, chilling thriller then Tracker is the one for you! Set in the snowy mountains, the characters and storyline of Tracker pulls you right in. I've now read this novella twice and loved picking up the extra details on the second pass. Perfect for a single-sitting read.

[Dan Hook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This debut novel makes for an immersive and suspenseful read which I enjoyed in two sittings! Though thriller isn't often the genre I go for, the author kept me wanting more as the story unravelled and certain things came to light... making it delightfully dark. Highly recommend the read and look forward to reading more from this author!!

Also the cover is absolutely amazing!!

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a terrible read, just super predictable with events.

[Briggiette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great wintery suspense book. There were twists and turns that made the reading even more enjoyable. I totally recommend.

[isabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Bethany!!! Couldn’t put down this book and it was such a refresher to what I’ve been currently reading. Can’t wait to read the prequel ;)

[Cassidy Giesch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this fast paced mystery/thriller! Just finished the audiobook version and was hooked from the very beginning!