Rating - 4
Time - contemporary
Location - Wallowa County, Oregon
Genre - mystery, police procedural
The author of this series uses the actual geographic locations, but changes the names of the towns. She rode with the Oregon State Police - Fish and Wildlife division to learn their job. She also spoke with a pathologist, the county coroner, and a helicopter expert.
I really like the main character, Hawke who is a Nez Perce native. He is 53 years old, but in really good shape due to his life style. Hawke is an officer in the Fish and Wildlife division of the state police. He is a man of few words and much prefers the company of his animals and wildlife than most people. His horse, mule and dog are invaluable to him in his work in the mountains
of Oregon. They are important characters in these books.
This book, #2 in the series, begins with the discovery of a man and his wife who were camping with their daughter up in the mountain. The 14 year old daughter Kitree, is nowhere to be found. This is where Hawke's superior skills as a tracker comes to the fore. He was taught these techniques by his grandfather when he was a young boy.
Hawke does find Kitree, who is now the target of the person who killed her parents. Over a period of several weeks they become close while Hawke protects Kitree and continues to investigate the case.
POV alternates between Hawke and Kitree which I enjoyed.
The author obviously knows this area very well. Her portrayal of the people who live in the small towns and mountains is spot on. I will certainly continue to read this series. Plus I want to discover if Hawke can overcome his aversion to marriage and family. He is quite attracted to Dani, a women in her late 40's who runs a lodge in the area,