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Colter Shaw #5
Più in là del nulla
Quando la furia delle piogge si abbatte sul nord della California, il fiume Never Summer rompe gli argini, minacciando di allagare la cittadina mineraria di Hinowah. A coordinare i soccorsi è Dorion Shaw, ingegnera civile abituata alle emergenze, ma stavolta la situazione è fuori controllo. Per affrontare uno scenario così critico, ha bisogno di e sa esattamente a chi rivolgersi. Suo fratello Colter, il tracker più famoso d'America, è l'unico in grado di muoversi con rapidità in condizioni tanto estreme, dove ogni secondo può fare la differenza. Mentre tutti si concentrano nel gestire l'evacuazione e trovare i dispersi, Colter si fa sempre più convinto di non essere di fronte a una calamità e se l'argine fosse stato fatto saltare di proposito? Dietro la devastazione, Colter Shaw intravede una rete di interessi spregiudicati, vecchie faide mai sopite e ambizioni pronte a sfruttare la catastrofe per profitto. Si parla di un giacimento di litio nel sottosuolo di Hinowah. E c'è chi sarebbe disposto a tutto pur di liberare l'area da ostacoli, testimoni, persone. Se vuole salvare gli abitanti del villaggio, il cacciatore di ricompense dovrà smascherare la mente dietro al piano criminale, prima che di Hinowah non resti più nulla. Un altro capitolo delle avventure di Colter Shaw, ora protagonista anche della serie tv più vista negli Stati Uniti, in cui lui e la sorella uniscono le forze sul campo, mentre un documento riemerso dal passato del padre getta una nuova luce sulla storia della loro famiglia. Jeffery Deaver tesse una trama serrata, scavando tra le crepe della verità fino a rivelare, ancora una volta, ciò che solo il suo protagonista riesce a il pericolo dove nessun altro guarda.
464 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 6, 2025
977 people are currently reading
2142 people want to read
About the author
Jeffery Deaver
500 books11.7k followers#1 international bestselling author of over thirty novels and three collections of short stories. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into 25 languages. His first novel featuring Lincoln Rhyme, The Bone Collector, was made into a major motion picture starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. He's received or been shortlisted for a number of awards around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 386 reviews
May 8, 2025
South of Nowhere
by Jeffery Deaver is filled with suspense and action in the fifth book in the Colter Shaw thriller series. Reward seeker Colter Shaw is brought in by his sister Dorion, a disaster response specialist, when a levee collapses in Hinowah, California. A family was swept away in the raging water and there is limited time to find and save them. As he searches for them, Colter is attacked. Is the levee at risk of full failure from natural causes or is someone sabotaging it? Racing against the clock, Colter, Dorion, and the local police force work to find the truth as they evacuate the town before a total collapse of the levee.
Shaw found the law profession stimulating, but a poor fit for his restlessness. Instead, he now runs a rewards business, where he usually only accepts payment if he delivers what is requested such as finding a missing person. However, he does occasionally take a for-hire job as well as doing some work for free as he in doing in this story. He loves solving a problem no one else can solve. He also tends to work better alone and observes and assesses situations dispassionately. Dorion is the more extroverted of the siblings, but compliments unsettle her. She’s logical and can easily take charge in stressful disaster situations, but she also works well with officials. Their mother, Mary Dove, is talented, an in-demand academic researcher, and a physician.
The story starts with a storm, the levee, and three vehicles. Stunning and heartbreaking, the book starts out strong, but gets even better as the characters became better known and the action amps up. The tension starts immediately and continues throughout the novel and this sense of urgency kept me rapidly turning the pages. The plot has plenty of twists and turns as well as surprises along the way. The novel has great world-building and atmosphere. It was easy to feel as if I was in Hinowah with the characters. The tension, stakes, and action build up to an exciting ending that is over-the-top, but satisfying. The author’s ability to combine strong characters and complex plots with excellent pacing kept me fully engaged. Themes include family, water, infrastructure, domestic violence, and much more. This novel does a great job of setting up a thread for another book in the series as well as a new subsidiary business that Colter might or might not pursue.
Overall, this suspenseful high-stakes thriller is well-written and engaging with great characterization and extraordinary atmosphere. If you enjoy thrillers, then look no further than this novel. This series has also been adapted for television. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
PENGUIN GROUP Putnam – G.P. Putnam’s Sons and Jeffery Deaver provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for May 06, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.55 rounded to 5 stars review is coming soon.
Shaw found the law profession stimulating, but a poor fit for his restlessness. Instead, he now runs a rewards business, where he usually only accepts payment if he delivers what is requested such as finding a missing person. However, he does occasionally take a for-hire job as well as doing some work for free as he in doing in this story. He loves solving a problem no one else can solve. He also tends to work better alone and observes and assesses situations dispassionately. Dorion is the more extroverted of the siblings, but compliments unsettle her. She’s logical and can easily take charge in stressful disaster situations, but she also works well with officials. Their mother, Mary Dove, is talented, an in-demand academic researcher, and a physician.
The story starts with a storm, the levee, and three vehicles. Stunning and heartbreaking, the book starts out strong, but gets even better as the characters became better known and the action amps up. The tension starts immediately and continues throughout the novel and this sense of urgency kept me rapidly turning the pages. The plot has plenty of twists and turns as well as surprises along the way. The novel has great world-building and atmosphere. It was easy to feel as if I was in Hinowah with the characters. The tension, stakes, and action build up to an exciting ending that is over-the-top, but satisfying. The author’s ability to combine strong characters and complex plots with excellent pacing kept me fully engaged. Themes include family, water, infrastructure, domestic violence, and much more. This novel does a great job of setting up a thread for another book in the series as well as a new subsidiary business that Colter might or might not pursue.
Overall, this suspenseful high-stakes thriller is well-written and engaging with great characterization and extraordinary atmosphere. If you enjoy thrillers, then look no further than this novel. This series has also been adapted for television. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
PENGUIN GROUP Putnam – G.P. Putnam’s Sons and Jeffery Deaver provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for May 06, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.55 rounded to 5 stars review is coming soon.
August 13, 2025
I’ve read more than thirty novels penned by Deaver, and for the most part I’ve found myself intrigued and, more often than not, surprised by his clever storytelling. But I wonder if I’ve now worked him out because the truth is his surprises have now stopped surprising me; he’s simply become too predictable. I started to identify this with his Lincoln Rhyme novels, but it’s even more stark in this series, featuring reward seeking action man Colter Shaw. Every time something dramatic happens, I just know that in a few pages I’ll find out that the truth is very different from the version we were initially asked to swallow. For me, it’s become quite tiresome.
In this adventure, Shaw is drawn to a small desert town where a nearby dam has begun an inexorable collapse that threatens the future of the place. There’s a well-meaning but useless mayor/temporary police chief, his smart rookie subordinate, and a mixed bag of characters who may or may not be who you think they are. It’s all told in a series of painfully slow episodes in which we’re led in one direction or another before being ‘shocked’ to learn that what we thought was happening wasn’t happening at all.
I fought my way through to the end, but I found it to be hard work getting there. I’m afraid I don’t think I’ll be coming back to meet up with Mr Shaw again.
My thanks to HarperCollins UK for supplying a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
In this adventure, Shaw is drawn to a small desert town where a nearby dam has begun an inexorable collapse that threatens the future of the place. There’s a well-meaning but useless mayor/temporary police chief, his smart rookie subordinate, and a mixed bag of characters who may or may not be who you think they are. It’s all told in a series of painfully slow episodes in which we’re led in one direction or another before being ‘shocked’ to learn that what we thought was happening wasn’t happening at all.
I fought my way through to the end, but I found it to be hard work getting there. I’m afraid I don’t think I’ll be coming back to meet up with Mr Shaw again.
My thanks to HarperCollins UK for supplying a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
May 15, 2025
Lots of movements with the best parts near the end.
May 12, 2025
When The Levee Breaks
Review of the Penguin Audio audiobook (May 6, 2025) narrated by Kaleo Griffith and released simultaneously with the G.P. Putnam's Sons hardcover/eBook.
I've rather taken to Jeffery Deaver stories and novels over the past few years with their often unorthodox lead characters and various plot twists. Most often I've listened to them as audiobooks to accompany my travels to various concerts and theatrical plays. Such was the case again with this latest in the Colter Shaw (2019 - ongoing) series.
As opposed to Colter's usual reward-seeking plots, the survivalist/tracker is called in by his sister Dorion to assist in rescue operations in a town in Northern California where a levee's collapse has caused several cars and their passengers to be swept away in the resulting flood. Dorion herself operates a disaster relief company and happened to be in the vicinity when the disaster occurred.
Colter arrives and the search and rescue operations proceed, one of which has a surprising twist to it. The plot overall takes a turn though as it becomes evident that the levee collapse was not a natural occurrence and that someone is planning to sabotage the town and surrounding countryside for an unknown reason.
Actor Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw in a promotional photo for the CBS television series. Image sourced from MSN.com.
This was a solid listen with Deaver's usual unexpected plot twists with some further developments in the Shaw family saga as Colter and Dorion's mother is also included in a subplot that hints at the possible plot of a future book.
The narration in all voices by Kaleo Griffith in the audiobook edition was excellent.
Soundtrack
You guessed it! With the main plot of this book, it was obvious that Led Zeppelin's When the Levee Breaks would be the go-to soundtrack. The song was originally released on the so-called Led Zeppelin IV (1971) album, but you can listen to the later remastered version on the Mothership (2007) anthology on YouTube here.
The song was originally a country blues written by Memphis Minnie (1897-1973) about the Great Mississippi River Flood of 1927. It was recorded by Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie in 1929 and you can listen to that recording on YouTube here.
Trivia and Link
Watch the extended trailer for the Colter Shaw Tracker TV series on YouTube here. The series has been renewed for a Season 3 fpr 2025-26. It is actually filmed in British Columbia, Canada although it is an American TV series on the CBS network.
Review of the Penguin Audio audiobook (May 6, 2025) narrated by Kaleo Griffith and released simultaneously with the G.P. Putnam's Sons hardcover/eBook.
I've rather taken to Jeffery Deaver stories and novels over the past few years with their often unorthodox lead characters and various plot twists. Most often I've listened to them as audiobooks to accompany my travels to various concerts and theatrical plays. Such was the case again with this latest in the Colter Shaw (2019 - ongoing) series.
As opposed to Colter's usual reward-seeking plots, the survivalist/tracker is called in by his sister Dorion to assist in rescue operations in a town in Northern California where a levee's collapse has caused several cars and their passengers to be swept away in the resulting flood. Dorion herself operates a disaster relief company and happened to be in the vicinity when the disaster occurred.
Colter arrives and the search and rescue operations proceed, one of which has a surprising twist to it. The plot overall takes a turn though as it becomes evident that the levee collapse was not a natural occurrence and that someone is planning to sabotage the town and surrounding countryside for an unknown reason.
Actor Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw in a promotional photo for the CBS television series. Image sourced from MSN.com.
This was a solid listen with Deaver's usual unexpected plot twists with some further developments in the Shaw family saga as Colter and Dorion's mother is also included in a subplot that hints at the possible plot of a future book.
The narration in all voices by Kaleo Griffith in the audiobook edition was excellent.
Soundtrack
You guessed it! With the main plot of this book, it was obvious that Led Zeppelin's When the Levee Breaks would be the go-to soundtrack. The song was originally released on the so-called Led Zeppelin IV (1971) album, but you can listen to the later remastered version on the Mothership (2007) anthology on YouTube here.
The song was originally a country blues written by Memphis Minnie (1897-1973) about the Great Mississippi River Flood of 1927. It was recorded by Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie in 1929 and you can listen to that recording on YouTube here.
Trivia and Link
Watch the extended trailer for the Colter Shaw Tracker TV series on YouTube here. The series has been renewed for a Season 3 fpr 2025-26. It is actually filmed in British Columbia, Canada although it is an American TV series on the CBS network.
May 10, 2025
I'm not sure why but I just don't vibe with Colter Shaw at all. I read the first book, but never wanted to pick up another book. I even tried the tv show because my mom loves it and I didn't enjoy it.
When I put this on hold through my library, I didn't pay attention to the fact it was a Colter Shaw series book.. but I decided to listen anyway.
It wasn't bad, I just don't like the MC for some reason, so I'm just always rolling my eyes when he saves the day 😂🙄
When I put this on hold through my library, I didn't pay attention to the fact it was a Colter Shaw series book.. but I decided to listen anyway.
It wasn't bad, I just don't like the MC for some reason, so I'm just always rolling my eyes when he saves the day 😂🙄
March 24, 2025
Remember that old Barbara Mandrell song, "I was Country when Country wasn't Cool?" Well, that sort of applies to this series, which began with "The Never Game" in 2018 - well before the smash hit TV show, "Tracker," which debuted on Oct. 13, 2024. I haven't missed a book - this is the fifth - nor an episode of the show, but just between you and me, the books are better.
The star of the show, Colter Shaw, spends most of his time doing work similar to that of a bounty hunter; when people need help finding other people and offer a financial reward, if the case sounds worthwhile, he'll take it on. Other times, as happens here, he plies his trade pro bono. Colter's sister, Dorion, makes her living as a disaster response specialist; when something goes horribly wrong, she comes in to direct cleanup of the mess. This time, a levee has collapsed in the tiny town of Hinowah in northern California, and she asks Colter to join her to help find a family whose car has been swept away in the rushing water with them still in it.
That's a tragic situation, but even more so is the real possibility that the rest of the levee will collapse, sending a torrent of water that could obliterate the town. Residents are being asked to evacuate and most do - the most notable exception being an elderly native Ohlone woman who refuses to budge. As the responders do their thing to shore up the levee and get residents out of harm's way, Colter learns that the collapse may not have been an accident. But if that's the case, who was behind the dastardly deed and what was the motive?
As if that weren't enough to deal with, writings from Colter's late survivalist father, Ashton, suggest a heretofore unknown family connection that could rock Colter, Dorion, his brother Russell and his mother Mary Dove right to the core - and bring the threat of physical danger. But here too, what's real and what isn't? And can Colter figure it all out in time?
I don't think it's a spoiler to say the star of the series lives to see another day, but the devil is in the details - and the book is full of them as well as plenty of action. Certainly it's another winner in my book, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to catch up with one of my favorite heroes. Well done!
The star of the show, Colter Shaw, spends most of his time doing work similar to that of a bounty hunter; when people need help finding other people and offer a financial reward, if the case sounds worthwhile, he'll take it on. Other times, as happens here, he plies his trade pro bono. Colter's sister, Dorion, makes her living as a disaster response specialist; when something goes horribly wrong, she comes in to direct cleanup of the mess. This time, a levee has collapsed in the tiny town of Hinowah in northern California, and she asks Colter to join her to help find a family whose car has been swept away in the rushing water with them still in it.
That's a tragic situation, but even more so is the real possibility that the rest of the levee will collapse, sending a torrent of water that could obliterate the town. Residents are being asked to evacuate and most do - the most notable exception being an elderly native Ohlone woman who refuses to budge. As the responders do their thing to shore up the levee and get residents out of harm's way, Colter learns that the collapse may not have been an accident. But if that's the case, who was behind the dastardly deed and what was the motive?
As if that weren't enough to deal with, writings from Colter's late survivalist father, Ashton, suggest a heretofore unknown family connection that could rock Colter, Dorion, his brother Russell and his mother Mary Dove right to the core - and bring the threat of physical danger. But here too, what's real and what isn't? And can Colter figure it all out in time?
I don't think it's a spoiler to say the star of the series lives to see another day, but the devil is in the details - and the book is full of them as well as plenty of action. Certainly it's another winner in my book, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to catch up with one of my favorite heroes. Well done!
December 18, 2024
Review: A story line to nowhere, more like. Stud man dude, Shaw, is a not-bounty hunter with a heart of gold (he does pro-bono work sometimes) and in this instance, he is going to help a small town with problems.
Wow, this sucked in so many ways it is hard to track. Floods and assassins and love interests and saving people, and Indians with water rights and blah, blah, blah. Besides the narrative plot which is rambling, confusing and wholly unbelievable, the characterization is OTT. Shaw is fairly one-dimensional but is an expert at everything like his sister. Oh btw, his professor daddy taught him HOW TO SURVIVE. Kind of an oxy moron, but not surprising as this novel is littered with liberal perspectives, hatched in Kalifornia. He also has a half-sister he never knew about because his brilliant professor daddy diddled some chick back in the day and his real mom doesn't give a shjt.
This was so dumb, I am embarrassed for the author. Hey Deaver rest on laurels much?
I recieved this ARC for an honest review
0.2/5
Wow, this sucked in so many ways it is hard to track. Floods and assassins and love interests and saving people, and Indians with water rights and blah, blah, blah. Besides the narrative plot which is rambling, confusing and wholly unbelievable, the characterization is OTT. Shaw is fairly one-dimensional but is an expert at everything like his sister. Oh btw, his professor daddy taught him HOW TO SURVIVE. Kind of an oxy moron, but not surprising as this novel is littered with liberal perspectives, hatched in Kalifornia. He also has a half-sister he never knew about because his brilliant professor daddy diddled some chick back in the day and his real mom doesn't give a shjt.
This was so dumb, I am embarrassed for the author. Hey Deaver rest on laurels much?
I recieved this ARC for an honest review
0.2/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2025
Another exciting case for Colter Shaw. I'm always keen to read a book by Deaver and this is another good one, the fifth in the series.
Colter's sister Dorion, a disaster response specialist, brings on Colter Shaw to assist and try and save a family who have slipped into the levee in their car and a town when a levee is about to collapse into the town of Hinowah in Northern California,
Its feels a little different to previous books in the series, but still very engaging and keeps the pages turning.
I'm also enjoying the Tracker tv series which is an adaptation of the books.
Colter's sister Dorion, a disaster response specialist, brings on Colter Shaw to assist and try and save a family who have slipped into the levee in their car and a town when a levee is about to collapse into the town of Hinowah in Northern California,
Its feels a little different to previous books in the series, but still very engaging and keeps the pages turning.
I'm also enjoying the Tracker tv series which is an adaptation of the books.
September 2, 2025
Owing to rising water levels after a snow melt, the levee running on the west side of the Never Summer River in northern California begins to disintegrate and the nearby small town of Hinowah is in danger of being totally flooded.
Dorian Shaw is head of a small Disaster Response Unit and arrives to evacuate the town before the levee totally collapses. She soon realises the problem is more complex than she first imagined and calls in her brother Colter to assist. Three vehicles were on the nearby highway when the levee first burst and two: a SUV containing a family of four and a blue sports car driven by a young woman, are missing.
Colter soon begins to suspect that the impending disaster isn’t necessarily a natural event and there could be a more human element at work.
What follows is exactly the sort of thing we’ve come to expect from Jeffery Deaver. A fast paced action adventure with plenty of plot twists, characters who turn out to be not what they initially appear – some in a good way, but others, far less so.
At the end there is also something of a “family reunion” and we also get a clue as to what Colter’s next case will be.
Dorian Shaw is head of a small Disaster Response Unit and arrives to evacuate the town before the levee totally collapses. She soon realises the problem is more complex than she first imagined and calls in her brother Colter to assist. Three vehicles were on the nearby highway when the levee first burst and two: a SUV containing a family of four and a blue sports car driven by a young woman, are missing.
Colter soon begins to suspect that the impending disaster isn’t necessarily a natural event and there could be a more human element at work.
What follows is exactly the sort of thing we’ve come to expect from Jeffery Deaver. A fast paced action adventure with plenty of plot twists, characters who turn out to be not what they initially appear – some in a good way, but others, far less so.
At the end there is also something of a “family reunion” and we also get a clue as to what Colter’s next case will be.
August 18, 2025
★★★★
This is the latest installment in the Colter Shaw series. It's action packed as always with a number of mysteries that intertwine together and that makes the story interesting. We get a bit more of Colter Shaw's sister in this story which I enjoyed. His mother also makes an appearance as we learn more about Colter's fathers past.
I buddy read this series with my husband and we always listen to the audio version. Kaleo Griffith is an amazing voice actor which adds to my enjoyment of these stories. Even though the books have been adapted to a successful television series, it's still Kaleo Griffith's voice in my head when Colter speaks.
If you like race-against-time action interspersed with methodical and detailed investigation elements, you should pick up this one - or any book in the series.
This is the latest installment in the Colter Shaw series. It's action packed as always with a number of mysteries that intertwine together and that makes the story interesting. We get a bit more of Colter Shaw's sister in this story which I enjoyed. His mother also makes an appearance as we learn more about Colter's fathers past.
I buddy read this series with my husband and we always listen to the audio version. Kaleo Griffith is an amazing voice actor which adds to my enjoyment of these stories. Even though the books have been adapted to a successful television series, it's still Kaleo Griffith's voice in my head when Colter speaks.
If you like race-against-time action interspersed with methodical and detailed investigation elements, you should pick up this one - or any book in the series.
May 10, 2025
As a lifelong reader and supporter of physical books, I have always firmly stood by the famous adage that ‘the book is always better,’ when asked about the film or television adaptations of famous novels.
This is firmly at play with author Jeffery Deaver’s extraordinarily successful Colter Shaw series. The CBS series Tracker is enjoyable and one of the top-rated series currently on network television. However, there is nothing like experiencing one of Deaver’s Colter Shaw novels and the latest, SOUTH OF NOWHERE, shows just how much grittier and exciting these fictional adventures are on the pages of this recurring series.
In this title, Colter teams up with his younger sister, Dorion, a disaster response specialist, as their paths converge amidst what appears to be a major natural disaster in a small Northern California town named Hinowah. A levee collapses and initially causes some major life-threatening damage and may soon bring about much larger damage that could wipe this small town off the map.
One thing you get from the Colter Shaw novels that is not seen during the televised adaptation is the constant mantras that run through Colter’s head from the indelible memories that his survivalist father left him with. It is natural during any new case where Colter typically is tracking down a missing person or item to collect the award purse that these old thoughts fill his brains. During this story, he hears his father’s voice saying things like: Never be without a means of escape, never be without access to a weapon…
The situation in Hinowah gets dire quickly and town Mayor Han Tolifson is fortunate that Dorion was nearby. As soon as she arrives on the scene, she takes much needed charge and control of the situation and assists in planning the evacuation of residents to higher ground. Ironically, her brother Colter arrives for completely different reasons. An SUV from out of town containing a family of four that included two young children was swept away by the first levee break and capsized underwater. Colter knows that they do not have long to stay in that position if they are going to be rescued instead of recovered.
With Colter’s help, which includes his tracking drone and external assistance from his trusty team, the rescue mission is a highlight of this novel and literally breathtaking in its’ level of suspense. Once he is done with that mission, he teams up with Dorion to assist with the efforts of Hinowah. The pair will quickly observe that something strange is taking place at the main employer in the town, the mines owned and operated by Gerard Redding.
When Colter attempts to get a better look at that landscape, he is suddenly attacked by a lone henchman who may or may not have been operating on his own. Colter barely escapes this brawl with the dangerous, much larger man and it will not be the last time we see this stranger. All this does is raise the suspicion that something was happening at the mines and that Redding may have been behind it all. Even if this meant that the levee disaster was not natural but an act of major sabotage for ulterior reasons.
A murder rocks the town at the height of this levee threat and Colter uncovers secret documents that point to this disaster being part of a huge plot. Deaver keeps the pressure and intensity up with a countdown towards final impact when the levee fully gives out and that literal stopwatch allows readers to feel the same pressure that the Shaw’s are experiencing. SOUTH OF NOWHERE is the most high-octane adventure in the Colter Shaw series yet and Deaver packs it full of surprises and pitfalls that will keep you unsteadily turning each page with all the tension that has been built.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
This is firmly at play with author Jeffery Deaver’s extraordinarily successful Colter Shaw series. The CBS series Tracker is enjoyable and one of the top-rated series currently on network television. However, there is nothing like experiencing one of Deaver’s Colter Shaw novels and the latest, SOUTH OF NOWHERE, shows just how much grittier and exciting these fictional adventures are on the pages of this recurring series.
In this title, Colter teams up with his younger sister, Dorion, a disaster response specialist, as their paths converge amidst what appears to be a major natural disaster in a small Northern California town named Hinowah. A levee collapses and initially causes some major life-threatening damage and may soon bring about much larger damage that could wipe this small town off the map.
One thing you get from the Colter Shaw novels that is not seen during the televised adaptation is the constant mantras that run through Colter’s head from the indelible memories that his survivalist father left him with. It is natural during any new case where Colter typically is tracking down a missing person or item to collect the award purse that these old thoughts fill his brains. During this story, he hears his father’s voice saying things like: Never be without a means of escape, never be without access to a weapon…
The situation in Hinowah gets dire quickly and town Mayor Han Tolifson is fortunate that Dorion was nearby. As soon as she arrives on the scene, she takes much needed charge and control of the situation and assists in planning the evacuation of residents to higher ground. Ironically, her brother Colter arrives for completely different reasons. An SUV from out of town containing a family of four that included two young children was swept away by the first levee break and capsized underwater. Colter knows that they do not have long to stay in that position if they are going to be rescued instead of recovered.
With Colter’s help, which includes his tracking drone and external assistance from his trusty team, the rescue mission is a highlight of this novel and literally breathtaking in its’ level of suspense. Once he is done with that mission, he teams up with Dorion to assist with the efforts of Hinowah. The pair will quickly observe that something strange is taking place at the main employer in the town, the mines owned and operated by Gerard Redding.
When Colter attempts to get a better look at that landscape, he is suddenly attacked by a lone henchman who may or may not have been operating on his own. Colter barely escapes this brawl with the dangerous, much larger man and it will not be the last time we see this stranger. All this does is raise the suspicion that something was happening at the mines and that Redding may have been behind it all. Even if this meant that the levee disaster was not natural but an act of major sabotage for ulterior reasons.
A murder rocks the town at the height of this levee threat and Colter uncovers secret documents that point to this disaster being part of a huge plot. Deaver keeps the pressure and intensity up with a countdown towards final impact when the levee fully gives out and that literal stopwatch allows readers to feel the same pressure that the Shaw’s are experiencing. SOUTH OF NOWHERE is the most high-octane adventure in the Colter Shaw series yet and Deaver packs it full of surprises and pitfalls that will keep you unsteadily turning each page with all the tension that has been built.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
May 29, 2025
4.5 Stars
Colter Shaw is a “reward-seeker” traveling all over to find missing persons or things and then collects the reward money when successful. His unusual upbringing by a paranoid survivalist father prepared him for a multitude of dangerous situations, which makes him good at his job.
Colter gets called out, by his sister Dorian, to Northern California when a levee starts to wash out and threatens the small town of Hinowah. Dorian, a disaster specialist, was already close by when she heard what happened and offered to help since the town leaders didn’t seem equipped to handle a situation of this magnitude. Is the impending collapse the result of poor construction or something more sinister?
There’s also the mystery of a woman asking to find the location of the Shaw’s family compound and Colter finds some disturbing information while searching through his father’s papers.
South of Nowhere was a thrilling, action-packed story with several riveting subplots and I was hooked from the start! A few revelations took me by surprise.
Even though I’ve only read the prequel novella, Captivated in this series, I feel like you could read South of Nowhere as a standalone. I did watch a few episodes of Tracker, which are based on these books. I’ll be adding the previous installments to my TBR since I enjoyed this one so much.
I read a copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.
Colter Shaw is a “reward-seeker” traveling all over to find missing persons or things and then collects the reward money when successful. His unusual upbringing by a paranoid survivalist father prepared him for a multitude of dangerous situations, which makes him good at his job.
Colter gets called out, by his sister Dorian, to Northern California when a levee starts to wash out and threatens the small town of Hinowah. Dorian, a disaster specialist, was already close by when she heard what happened and offered to help since the town leaders didn’t seem equipped to handle a situation of this magnitude. Is the impending collapse the result of poor construction or something more sinister?
There’s also the mystery of a woman asking to find the location of the Shaw’s family compound and Colter finds some disturbing information while searching through his father’s papers.
South of Nowhere was a thrilling, action-packed story with several riveting subplots and I was hooked from the start! A few revelations took me by surprise.
Even though I’ve only read the prequel novella, Captivated in this series, I feel like you could read South of Nowhere as a standalone. I did watch a few episodes of Tracker, which are based on these books. I’ll be adding the previous installments to my TBR since I enjoyed this one so much.
I read a copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.
June 10, 2025
Book Five is a solid environmental addition to the series.
Colter Shaw is one of my favourite literary characters. He is both flawed and quirky, and so likeable. I’d highly recommend some of the others earlier in the series as this instalment doesn’t explain as much background as earlier ones.
The the plot is a little convoluted in places but it all comes together nicely. Persevere through the parts that feel unnecessary. I enjoyed the subtle and not so subtle warnings to communities on the importance of water and the decisions everyone makes.
I really need to get on to the TV series now.
Colter Shaw is one of my favourite literary characters. He is both flawed and quirky, and so likeable. I’d highly recommend some of the others earlier in the series as this instalment doesn’t explain as much background as earlier ones.
The the plot is a little convoluted in places but it all comes together nicely. Persevere through the parts that feel unnecessary. I enjoyed the subtle and not so subtle warnings to communities on the importance of water and the decisions everyone makes.
I really need to get on to the TV series now.
March 28, 2025
In the latest instalment of Deaver's compulsive readable Colter Shaw series (though, I'm not sure Deaver writes anything that isn't compulsively readable) our hero is pitted not only against the bad guys but against the forces of nature itself.
Amidst a general drought, the Californian town of Hinowah is threatened by, of all things, flooding, due to snow melt in the mountains. The levee that protects the town has been allowed to fall into disrepair, and it's threatening to give way. In the heart-stopping prelude to the story, we see travellers on the levee road facing the threat of being swept away by the floodwaters, and later, Shaw's cool analysis of how they might survive (if you're trapped in a submerged car with a pocket of air, it will last longer if you wee on the carpet, apparently, so you'd better hope the car's upright).
How, and why, Shaw comes to be in Hinowah and what allies - and enemies - he has there, will be revealed in the book. At the start he's worrying about a development from his troubled father's past, one that may place the family in danger again. That thread is picked up in the book as something that may feature in future stories, but mostly, this one is about the peril in Hinowah. We see an agreeable set of figures battle against the crisis - Army engineers, a disaster response professional who happened to than be passing by, the town boss who fancies taking over as police chief and sees the whole episode as a "test" for him, a new police recruit who's who most competent person on his team, and, of course, Shaw himself.
Laced with Deaver's brand of informed analysis on issues ranging from river law (and law), to flood risk to the history of the California goldrush to modern tech and its insatiable demand for water, and his meticulous plotting, the story isn't without the human touch either - whether it's Shaw himself finding romance or seeing the inhabitants of a small town respond in realistic ways to the threat hanging over them (spoiler: realistic ways doesn't always mean sensible ways).
There are subplots and wheels within wheels and a feature I love with these novels, a Survivalist family who are not far Right crazies - and whose skills and talents are particularly well suited to the crisis unfolding in South of Nowhere. We also see some bad actors about their business (but what, exactly, is their business, amidst a natural disaster?) and there are some surprises about who is up to what.
As ever, immense fun, and those same bad actors provide enough of a whodunnit/ whytheydunnit element to leaven the straight disaster narrative, if that's your thing, although for me , that drama was nalibiting enough in itself.
Strongly recommended, but if you pick this up, be sure to clear your diary for the next few days because you won't willingly out it down again till you reach the end.
Amidst a general drought, the Californian town of Hinowah is threatened by, of all things, flooding, due to snow melt in the mountains. The levee that protects the town has been allowed to fall into disrepair, and it's threatening to give way. In the heart-stopping prelude to the story, we see travellers on the levee road facing the threat of being swept away by the floodwaters, and later, Shaw's cool analysis of how they might survive (if you're trapped in a submerged car with a pocket of air, it will last longer if you wee on the carpet, apparently, so you'd better hope the car's upright).
How, and why, Shaw comes to be in Hinowah and what allies - and enemies - he has there, will be revealed in the book. At the start he's worrying about a development from his troubled father's past, one that may place the family in danger again. That thread is picked up in the book as something that may feature in future stories, but mostly, this one is about the peril in Hinowah. We see an agreeable set of figures battle against the crisis - Army engineers, a disaster response professional who happened to than be passing by, the town boss who fancies taking over as police chief and sees the whole episode as a "test" for him, a new police recruit who's who most competent person on his team, and, of course, Shaw himself.
Laced with Deaver's brand of informed analysis on issues ranging from river law (and law), to flood risk to the history of the California goldrush to modern tech and its insatiable demand for water, and his meticulous plotting, the story isn't without the human touch either - whether it's Shaw himself finding romance or seeing the inhabitants of a small town respond in realistic ways to the threat hanging over them (spoiler: realistic ways doesn't always mean sensible ways).
There are subplots and wheels within wheels and a feature I love with these novels, a Survivalist family who are not far Right crazies - and whose skills and talents are particularly well suited to the crisis unfolding in South of Nowhere. We also see some bad actors about their business (but what, exactly, is their business, amidst a natural disaster?) and there are some surprises about who is up to what.
As ever, immense fun, and those same bad actors provide enough of a whodunnit/ whytheydunnit element to leaven the straight disaster narrative, if that's your thing, although for me , that drama was nalibiting enough in itself.
Strongly recommended, but if you pick this up, be sure to clear your diary for the next few days because you won't willingly out it down again till you reach the end.
May 31, 2025
I’ve really enjoyed the Colter Shaw series overall—Jeffery Deaver knows how to craft a suspenseful, fast-paced story with lots of twists. This latest installment had the same investigative feel and action I expect, and it was nice to be back in Colter’s world.
That said, this one wasn’t my favorite in the series. The mystery didn’t hook me quite as much, and I found it a bit slower compared to the earlier books. Still, it’s a solid addition, and if you’re already a fan of the series, it’s worth reading.
Also, I have to say—I absolutely love the show Tracker! Seeing Colter Shaw brought to life on screen adds a whole new layer to the character, and it’s been fun spotting the differences between the books and the adaptation.
That said, this one wasn’t my favorite in the series. The mystery didn’t hook me quite as much, and I found it a bit slower compared to the earlier books. Still, it’s a solid addition, and if you’re already a fan of the series, it’s worth reading.
Also, I have to say—I absolutely love the show Tracker! Seeing Colter Shaw brought to life on screen adds a whole new layer to the character, and it’s been fun spotting the differences between the books and the adaptation.
June 17, 2025
Uncharacteristically, one of our least favorite Deaver novels, even though we generally like the Shaw series. The whole bit with the flooding got tiresome, and the plots deviated from the "normal" flow of events in these tales, trying our patience with too many complications...
June 24, 2025
What the water brings out in California? Colter, Dorian, Mary Dove solve a nonaccidental levee break. I invented a new word nonaccidental. lol and Colter solves an abuse case too. Slow beginning picks up speed as it goes along.
April 29, 2025
A Colter Family Effort
Three vehicles speed down a remote road in northern California while crossing a levee in Hinowah, a fictional small town in Northern California. At 6:15 a.m., the first car almost crosses when the levee fails. The driver of the second vehicle, a truck, sees the first vehicle gun it to make it across, but the levee gives away underneath him. He does see whether the first car made it before his truck tumbles into the river. He sees the car behind him fall into the river. He escapes from his truck and makes it to land before the truck goes under the water. From this start, the novel starts with an even greater disaster recovery story.
The main storyline has four threads. The first is the disaster recovery that lasts throughout the novel. Hinowah’s mayor, who also acts as the police chief, is in charge. A very bossy woman who claims to run a disaster recovery company shows up to help. She takes charge with a fierce intensity. Colter arrives and starts to help in the search and rescue for the car and passengers who went into the river. A three-person team from the Army Corps of Engineers arrives to help stabilize the levee. This thread lasts until the end of the novel. The second thread starts with a text to Colter from a professor who taught at the same university as Colter’s father. He tells Colter that someone had called the university asking about his father and family. She gave her name and wanted to know where the Colter family compound was. The call was suspicious. This thread leads to more information about the Colter family, a significant source of angst for them. The third thread deals with the fiancée of the woman in the first car. The fiancée arrives at the levee failure and hires Colter to find her. This thread has many twists and some good surprises. The last thread follows Colter's investigation into who caused the levee to fail. This thread is a complex investigation that sets the hook on my interest for me and the highest level of danger in the book for Colter and others. As for difficulties, just when did Colter not have difficulties?
For the background, this novel provides more information on Colter’s mother and sister through their history and interactions during the novel. Much of this occurs in the thread where the woman is looking for them. Another interesting aspect of Colter is that he has found a lady friend. This side of Colter is interesting, as I had not seen it before. Lastly, Colter mentors young Hinowah officer a little and tries to advance her career. All these aspects enhanced my enjoyment of reading this novel.
Some aspects of this novel can cause some readers to stop reading. There are no intimate scenes, but one just before and after. Vulgar, rude, and impious language is present at a noticeable level. They all seemed to be consistent with what was happening in the scene. Several violent scenes are described as they occur, and several others involve Colter or others in imminent danger. They are all presented in the edgier mode as they happen. This novel can be your first read, as I found nothing in this novel that required reading the previous novels in this series.
I enjoyed this novel because it kept me on the edge until the end. The twist at the end was a cherry on top. Another element that made me smile was the quirky explosive expert. On the downside, I found nothing that did not contribute to my reading enjoyment. Saying that I could not stop reading would be an understatement. I have read six Deaver novels, three of them from this series. I enjoyed reading this novel the most. Deaver is one of my Must-Read authors. I strongly recommend reading this novel. I am waiting for his next novel. It was an easy novel to rate. I rate it with five stars.
I received this novel's free prepublication e-book from Penguin Group Putnam through NetGalley. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you, Penguin Group Putnam, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.
Three vehicles speed down a remote road in northern California while crossing a levee in Hinowah, a fictional small town in Northern California. At 6:15 a.m., the first car almost crosses when the levee fails. The driver of the second vehicle, a truck, sees the first vehicle gun it to make it across, but the levee gives away underneath him. He does see whether the first car made it before his truck tumbles into the river. He sees the car behind him fall into the river. He escapes from his truck and makes it to land before the truck goes under the water. From this start, the novel starts with an even greater disaster recovery story.
The main storyline has four threads. The first is the disaster recovery that lasts throughout the novel. Hinowah’s mayor, who also acts as the police chief, is in charge. A very bossy woman who claims to run a disaster recovery company shows up to help. She takes charge with a fierce intensity. Colter arrives and starts to help in the search and rescue for the car and passengers who went into the river. A three-person team from the Army Corps of Engineers arrives to help stabilize the levee. This thread lasts until the end of the novel. The second thread starts with a text to Colter from a professor who taught at the same university as Colter’s father. He tells Colter that someone had called the university asking about his father and family. She gave her name and wanted to know where the Colter family compound was. The call was suspicious. This thread leads to more information about the Colter family, a significant source of angst for them. The third thread deals with the fiancée of the woman in the first car. The fiancée arrives at the levee failure and hires Colter to find her. This thread has many twists and some good surprises. The last thread follows Colter's investigation into who caused the levee to fail. This thread is a complex investigation that sets the hook on my interest for me and the highest level of danger in the book for Colter and others. As for difficulties, just when did Colter not have difficulties?
For the background, this novel provides more information on Colter’s mother and sister through their history and interactions during the novel. Much of this occurs in the thread where the woman is looking for them. Another interesting aspect of Colter is that he has found a lady friend. This side of Colter is interesting, as I had not seen it before. Lastly, Colter mentors young Hinowah officer a little and tries to advance her career. All these aspects enhanced my enjoyment of reading this novel.
Some aspects of this novel can cause some readers to stop reading. There are no intimate scenes, but one just before and after. Vulgar, rude, and impious language is present at a noticeable level. They all seemed to be consistent with what was happening in the scene. Several violent scenes are described as they occur, and several others involve Colter or others in imminent danger. They are all presented in the edgier mode as they happen. This novel can be your first read, as I found nothing in this novel that required reading the previous novels in this series.
I enjoyed this novel because it kept me on the edge until the end. The twist at the end was a cherry on top. Another element that made me smile was the quirky explosive expert. On the downside, I found nothing that did not contribute to my reading enjoyment. Saying that I could not stop reading would be an understatement. I have read six Deaver novels, three of them from this series. I enjoyed reading this novel the most. Deaver is one of my Must-Read authors. I strongly recommend reading this novel. I am waiting for his next novel. It was an easy novel to rate. I rate it with five stars.
I received this novel's free prepublication e-book from Penguin Group Putnam through NetGalley. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you, Penguin Group Putnam, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.
April 27, 2025
"Need help. Now."
Upon receiving the message, Colter Shaw promptly travels to the small town of Hinowah, where heavy rainfall has led to a breach in the levee. A family of four in a white Chevy Suburban has been swept away, and he must assist in their rescue before it is too late. However, the situation proves to be more complex than it initially appears, suggesting that the weather may not be the sole contributing factor. There are additional unexpected developments involving others affected by the levee break.
Colter and his family must also contend with a mysterious woman seeking information about them. Her identity and motives remain unclear.
This book differed from previous installments in the series. The pacing felt somewhat slow initially, and I was wondering how it would play out, but I ultimately found it to be a very enjoyable read. The story also had a few surprises toward the end.
Upon receiving the message, Colter Shaw promptly travels to the small town of Hinowah, where heavy rainfall has led to a breach in the levee. A family of four in a white Chevy Suburban has been swept away, and he must assist in their rescue before it is too late. However, the situation proves to be more complex than it initially appears, suggesting that the weather may not be the sole contributing factor. There are additional unexpected developments involving others affected by the levee break.
Colter and his family must also contend with a mysterious woman seeking information about them. Her identity and motives remain unclear.
This book differed from previous installments in the series. The pacing felt somewhat slow initially, and I was wondering how it would play out, but I ultimately found it to be a very enjoyable read. The story also had a few surprises toward the end.
April 21, 2025
So, just as I was reading this book, I found myself in the middle of the Eaton Fire disaster. While this book is largely about a different sort of a disaster, it was a hell of a read when you're actually kind of living part of it.
I do love Colter Shaw and found myself invested in him and the various characters we meet.
I will also say that having now had personal experience with a disaster specialist it was almost (almost) accurate.
While my personal response to this book was understandably biased by my own experiences, I thought the author did a pretty good job, though reactions to the disaster in the book were nowhere near the reality of it.
Good read though.
I do love Colter Shaw and found myself invested in him and the various characters we meet.
I will also say that having now had personal experience with a disaster specialist it was almost (almost) accurate.
While my personal response to this book was understandably biased by my own experiences, I thought the author did a pretty good job, though reactions to the disaster in the book were nowhere near the reality of it.
Good read though.
April 20, 2025
Did I mention that I love this series? I did? Well, it's true. I do. And this, South of Nowhere, book five if you can believe that, is another absolute belter of a thriller. A little different to some of the previous books in that this time around Colter Shaw, our reward seeking hero, is on the hunt for a missing family, not for financial gain, purely because it is the right thing to do. Well, that and his sister asked him for his help, and who is Colter to say no to Dorion? When a levee at the edge of the township of Hinowah suffers a partial collapse, it takes a car carrying a family with it, creating a dual race against time for the Shaw siblings. Not only do they need to find the family before the worst happens, they also need to find a way to shore up the levee to prevent the entire town being flooded.
You'd think that this would all be exciting enough right? The Shaw's against the elements, because it really is man v nature as an escalating water flow threatens to do even more damage to the already failing levee. But that is not the only threat, as we as readers are very quick to learn, and it is not long before a very Colter crosses paths with danger of the very human kind. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that the collapse of the levee was no accident, and trying to get to the bottom of what really happened, and if worse is yet to come, really does drive the tension and jeopardy off the chart. Add in another missing person, a potential threat to the Shaw family by way of a stranger who is trying to track down their compound, and some unexpected revelations about their father, and this really is an intense reunion for the siblings.
And I loved it. I love how in each and every case Jeffery Deaver draws us into the heart of the action. I could almost feel as though I was right there in Hinowah, looking on as Dorion and Colter try to get a handle on the situation. Everything, from the planning of the evacuation, to the investigation into who might be behind the collapse, carries a real sense of authenticity and intensity that had my heart pounding, especially as we cut to certain other characters who are right at the limits of what you feel they can endure. The situation with the missing family becomes almost heart-wrenching, and I got all the emotions reading those scenes. Then there are the action scenes, the moments where Colter really gets into his stride, taking on a nemesis who is set in their determination to complete their 'mission'. Each scene is so carefully plotted and executed, and even each side story comes with a sense of trepidation, never quite knowing how things are going to play out.
What I really do love most about these book though are the characters. From Colter himself - one of my favourite action heroes of recent years for sure - to his extended family of Dorion, even his mother, Mary Dove, and his extended friends circle of Teddy and Velma Bruin, they all bring something special to the books. In fact, I think I love Mary Dove as a character almost as much as Colter. So down to earth, tenacious and strong. It's no wonder her children are so self sufficient. Jeffery Deaver has created such a wonderful cast of characters, that it is a pleasure to spend time with them and a real shame when the story ends, although I'm always left satisfied. But in this book there is one very special character who deserves a mention, Debi Starr, one of the local Police force who plays a very key part in the action. It would be very easy to overlook her in the first instance. She is hardly given any credit by her colleagues and her uncertainty certainly makes you wonder if the entire force is just inept. But you would ignore her at your peril. She is a brilliant character, and I'm hoping that somewhere, somehow, we get to catch up with her again in future books. The ending would certainly suggest it could be a possibility.
Full of action, misdirection, suspect characters with even more suspect motives, a few shocks and surprises along the way including some very explosive revelations, the book has just left me hungry for more and, given the way the story ended, I think we'll be in for a real treat. An action series with real heart and conscience - love it. Definitely recommended.
You'd think that this would all be exciting enough right? The Shaw's against the elements, because it really is man v nature as an escalating water flow threatens to do even more damage to the already failing levee. But that is not the only threat, as we as readers are very quick to learn, and it is not long before a very Colter crosses paths with danger of the very human kind. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that the collapse of the levee was no accident, and trying to get to the bottom of what really happened, and if worse is yet to come, really does drive the tension and jeopardy off the chart. Add in another missing person, a potential threat to the Shaw family by way of a stranger who is trying to track down their compound, and some unexpected revelations about their father, and this really is an intense reunion for the siblings.
And I loved it. I love how in each and every case Jeffery Deaver draws us into the heart of the action. I could almost feel as though I was right there in Hinowah, looking on as Dorion and Colter try to get a handle on the situation. Everything, from the planning of the evacuation, to the investigation into who might be behind the collapse, carries a real sense of authenticity and intensity that had my heart pounding, especially as we cut to certain other characters who are right at the limits of what you feel they can endure. The situation with the missing family becomes almost heart-wrenching, and I got all the emotions reading those scenes. Then there are the action scenes, the moments where Colter really gets into his stride, taking on a nemesis who is set in their determination to complete their 'mission'. Each scene is so carefully plotted and executed, and even each side story comes with a sense of trepidation, never quite knowing how things are going to play out.
What I really do love most about these book though are the characters. From Colter himself - one of my favourite action heroes of recent years for sure - to his extended family of Dorion, even his mother, Mary Dove, and his extended friends circle of Teddy and Velma Bruin, they all bring something special to the books. In fact, I think I love Mary Dove as a character almost as much as Colter. So down to earth, tenacious and strong. It's no wonder her children are so self sufficient. Jeffery Deaver has created such a wonderful cast of characters, that it is a pleasure to spend time with them and a real shame when the story ends, although I'm always left satisfied. But in this book there is one very special character who deserves a mention, Debi Starr, one of the local Police force who plays a very key part in the action. It would be very easy to overlook her in the first instance. She is hardly given any credit by her colleagues and her uncertainty certainly makes you wonder if the entire force is just inept. But you would ignore her at your peril. She is a brilliant character, and I'm hoping that somewhere, somehow, we get to catch up with her again in future books. The ending would certainly suggest it could be a possibility.
Full of action, misdirection, suspect characters with even more suspect motives, a few shocks and surprises along the way including some very explosive revelations, the book has just left me hungry for more and, given the way the story ended, I think we'll be in for a real treat. An action series with real heart and conscience - love it. Definitely recommended.
October 8, 2025
If you like Tracker on CBS, you will enjoy this book.
August 2, 2025
I was not so enamored with the character Colter Shaw, but I am in the minority on this one. He is very good at what he does - finding people for rewards, but maybe too good. In the midst of solving one crime, he on the side takes care of 2 or 3 other problems which is incredible, but realistic? I tired of his many references to his father and the compound in which he grew up where he learned all the survival skills anyone could possibly use in any number of different situations. Shaw uses many of those skills, acting more like a robot without a depth of feelings. There are some twists that I was not expecting. I found the ultimate reason behind the bad guy’s actions to be lacking and certainly not justifiable for all the extremes the villain does. I understand from other reviews that this is not the best Colter Shaw novel.
May 7, 2025
3.75⭐️
I haven’t read all of the previous books in this series, but it was easy enough to follow along and I didn’t feel like I was missing anything.
This one started out a little slow, but I was intrigued the whole time. I loved the dynamic between Colter and his sister Dorion. They were both great in their own fields and respected each other’s work. Plus their mom was pretty awesome, too!
There were numerous players in the mystery of what happened to the levee. While there were a lot of names that took me a while to figure out who was who, I was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t guess one of the culprits. I figured that the character I enjoyed the most was actually fooling everyone, but I’m so glad that wasn’t true.
This was an enjoyable read with some fun twists!
I haven’t read all of the previous books in this series, but it was easy enough to follow along and I didn’t feel like I was missing anything.
This one started out a little slow, but I was intrigued the whole time. I loved the dynamic between Colter and his sister Dorion. They were both great in their own fields and respected each other’s work. Plus their mom was pretty awesome, too!
There were numerous players in the mystery of what happened to the levee. While there were a lot of names that took me a while to figure out who was who, I was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t guess one of the culprits. I figured that the character I enjoyed the most was actually fooling everyone, but I’m so glad that wasn’t true.
This was an enjoyable read with some fun twists!
May 25, 2025
I’ve never read any books in this series before. Colter Shaw is called by his sister Dorion to conduct an emergency search and rescue operation in a Northern California town. As the book opens, the levee above the town of Hinowah starts to give way to a roaring river fueled by unseasonal snow melt. Three drivers attempt to scramble across it before it collapses completely. The first, a young woman in a Camaro; an impatient contractor in a Ford pickup tailgates as closely as he dares and bringing up the rear is an SUV carrying a family. Good pacing, decent dialogue and interesting characters!
Recommended!
Recommended!
May 19, 2025
Colter Shaw is one of my favorite protagonists out there. He’s tough, clever, and doesn’t understand a single pop culture reference. However, I didn’t love this plot as much as his other adventures.
The book was fast paced and had Deaver’s signature twists and engaging prose, but there were a couple too many subplots going on for my taste. Fun read overall, but not my favorite Colter Shaw installment.
The book was fast paced and had Deaver’s signature twists and engaging prose, but there were a couple too many subplots going on for my taste. Fun read overall, but not my favorite Colter Shaw installment.
July 14, 2025
Colter Shaw and his sister work together to save a small town from flooding. The main story is filled with misdirection and red herrings. And then there are several very interesting side stories interwoven. Great characters. Great mysteries. Great thrills. Great bits of area history. You won’t want to put this one down - even after the last sentence, as the scene is set for the next entry in this strong series by Jeffery Deaver. It’s a gift to all thriller readers.
September 25, 2025
Another interesting chapter of the Colter Shaw chronicle, this time featuring more of his sister - looking forward to the another season of the TV series dropping next month.
May 11, 2025
This was a great entry in the series. I read the rest of them last year. If you like the show Tracker, you will like the books, probably more. There are differences, especially in the depth of the backstory. It seemed to me that book 4 was intended to be the last book in the series, but this doesn’t feel like an afterthought.
May 25, 2025
I enjoyed this book more than the others. It was not weighed down by too much of the family conspiracy. Looking forward to the next one. It was great picturing Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw. Couldn’t help myself.
BTW thanks to Mr Deaver I CANNOT get in the back seat of a cab. I always ask if I can sit in the front with the driver.
BTW thanks to Mr Deaver I CANNOT get in the back seat of a cab. I always ask if I can sit in the front with the driver.
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