Five Fingers

by Tony H. Latham

This white-knuckled tale is about Idaho game warden Charley Cove struggling to stop a bloody string of deer shot and left in the snow. He's stymied by a lackadaisical prosecutor and a questionable deputy - the tug of two cultures running through his veins seem to be pulling him in different directions. Cove uncovers evidence that ties the shooter to crimes against people, and unknown to the warden, his bad guy is about to come unglued and drag his bloodbath into a nightmare for a two-legged victim.

Genres: Mystery

Audible Audio

First published October 19, 2013

About the author

Tony Latham grew up hankering to be a game warden like his great uncle Hawley Hill in the 1950s and ’60s. His first career involved chasing wildfires in the interior of Alaska. (He claims to have caught one once.) After his fire career Tony spent 22 years pursuing wildlife thieves both in and out of uniform with Idaho Fish and Game.

Reviews

[Rita Chapman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would describe Five Fingers as a man’s book, yet I found it easy to read and the more I read the more I wanted to discover where the author was taking me. There are no flowery sentences, just action and intrigue.

The main character, Charley Cove, is a committed game warden on the hunt for the person responsible for killing deer for fun, not food. As the story develops you are pulled in to the life of a drug-addicted hunter who shoots the female deer and leaves them where they fall. Charley gradually puts the pieces together, with some help from a young local reporter, keen for a story. An interesting read that takes you out of your usual lifestyle and puts you in the wilds of Canada.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
It deserves 5 stars.
Even not being my favorite type of book, i couldn't stop reading it until the last page. It's been a surprising full immersion.
I liked how everything is well described, the protagonist being very close to nature, how his background helped him find clues and put them together. His stubbornness in finding the man responsible of the killing of the deer. And also the linking to other stuff that i will not spoil.
The end caught me out of breath. Suspense and thrill.
Will there be a second book?

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five Fingers was a GoodReads win.
Tony H. Latham has hit on a great new career as a writer. Within the first few pages the characters grabbed my interest and I read the book in a day. There is a little something for a variety of readers; suspense, crime solving, mystery/mysticism, wildlife, low-life and just a hint of romance. I'd like to see more books involving these characters and a prequel of Cove's relationship with Liz. There are so many stories hinted at with Cove's Salish heritage and where he was prior to his 8 years in Challis.Thank you for the good read.

[Mary Nee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and good action,suspense book.Mark this author

[Francis Dupont Jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. If you like this try cj. Box

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast-paced, engrossing crime thriller that will keep you reading late in to the night. This book gets you inside the heads of a meth addict and the game warden chasing him, taking you through a period of several days as the Bad Guy gets closer and closer to his quarry, and leading up to a nail-biting climax. The book splits between the perspectives of the two main characters, and part of Mr. Latham's gift is his ability to reside equally in each mind. The descriptions of what it's like to be on meth are absolutely incredible, particularly how paranoid it can make users.

Mr. Latham's real-life past experience as a game warden colors his writing with rich, sharp details. His descriptions of what it's like to track -- a human or an animal -- are riveting, and gave me a new appreciation for public land stewards. As an Idaho resident, I could see with perfect clarity the scenes he painted of sagebrush flats and soaring mountains, and could (unfortunately) totally believe his characterization of the dangerous meth addict.

This book would make an excellent series with the Game Warden as the protagonist, and I can only hope Mr. Latham has another book in the works!

[Tony Latham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tony Latham may have retired his game warden badge for a pen, to bring to life - this time in fiction - all the thrill and horror of his experiences on the job. Game Wardens often say that those who commit crimes against wildlife are often involved in other areas of crime. This first time work of fiction for Latham leads the reader through two interlaced and at-odds worlds: that of Game Warden Charlie Cove, and the one of a drug-induced villain. Cove sets out to solve what initially appears to be a series of deer poachings, only to find himself embroiled in something much larger and more personal. The reader once again is offered a rare glimpse into the world of game wardens, wildlife crime and its reach into communities. The pace of the book provides an in depth view into the main characters while keeping a page-turning thriller quality. Latham has scored a fantastic first fiction book. I hope we see his character Charlie Cove again in future books! -Karen Rudolph

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Game Warden
Leo Terzi is a tweeker, a drug addict, with a bad habit of shooting deer illegally and leaving them where they fell. At that point he becomes the problem of game warden, Charley Cove. Enter Julie, a reporter following the case. The reader watches Charley work the case, step by step, getting closer to Leo.

What I loved best about this book was getting to know Charley as a game warden, caring deeply about protecting the wildlife and area that supports it. It was interesting to see how politics and the hierarchy within the justice system all played a part in how he did his job. It was a good read with an exciting ending.

[Dan Martel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr Latham has upped writing game and delivered an edge of your seat thriller. His character development is performed concurrently as suspense ratchets up to a can’t-put-down crescendo. The storyline is entirely consistent with the many memoirs of those fine men and women that have made a career of protecting our wildlife and contains the requisite plot twists required to captivate the reader.
This book would appeal to anyone interested in wildlife abuse and the commitment of the game warden who tirelessly strives to protect them.

[Katherine M Genthner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding.

Excellent, compelling reading. I could not put this book down! Love of the outdoors, history and wildlife are very evident.