The Height of Secrecy

Jack Chastain #2

by J.M. Mitchell

High on a treacherous canyon wall, a man from the pueblo clings to a ledge. Furiously working to rescue him, Ranger Jack Chastain is nearly killed. Now he wants an explanation and the man refuses to talk. Chastain learns the secret revolves around a death sixteen years before, and now a lot more is at stake.

372 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2014

About the author

J.M. Mitchell’s novels of mystery and political intrigue borrow from his experiences in Yosemite, Grand Canyon and Zion National Parks, and as Chief of the National Park Service’s Biology Division.

Reviews

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you want to know about managed fires and rock climbing, this is the book for you. Packed with lot of information and a little romance, it was a good read. I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway.

[M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story of adventure. I won this in a contest and it was a good read. Thank you!

[Amelia.S · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Height of Secrecy by J.M. Mitchell is a taut and atmospheric thriller that immerses readers in a world of danger, deception, and moral reckoning. Set against the rugged backdrop of canyon country, the novel follows Ranger Jack Chastain as he uncovers long buried truths tied to a mysterious death sixteen years earlier.

Mitchell’s writing is crisp, cinematic, and deeply human. The natural setting isn’t just a backdrop it’s a living force that mirrors the story’s tension and isolation. Chastain’s character is compellingly flawed yet resolute, his sense of duty pulling him through a maze of silence, secrets, and peril.

What elevates The Height of Secrecy is its emotional resonance. Beneath the suspense lies a thoughtful exploration of justice, loyalty, and the price of truth. Fans of C.J. Box and Tony Hillerman will find much to admire in Mitchell’s work a thrilling, intelligent novel that lingers like an echo in the canyon air.

[Tana Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the twists and turns the characters take.
Can't wait to get to the next book. Love the scenery descriptions, I feel like I am standing there looking at the same scenes they are.