Dyed In The Green

Dyed in the Green #1

by George Mercer

2019 Independent Publisher Book Awards - Silver Medal
Fiction Series

National Park Warden Ben Matthews expected challenges with his new posting at Cape Breton Highlands. But he got more than he bargained for. Facing a notorious poacher with a reputation for letting nothing get in his way, and the local communities who viewed poaching as part of their way of life, Ben and the park wardens are drawn into an intricate game of cat and mouse that takes a turn no one could have imagined.

Set along the world-famous Cabot Trail, Dyed In The Green is a powerful story of egos, greed and corruption, pulling readers along on an emotional rollercoaster that weaves bitter rivalries into a gripping story about protecting one of Canada’s iconic, special places.

Genres: Fiction, Canada, Mystery

361 pages, Paperback

First published October 17, 2014

About the author

Award-winning author of Dyed In The Green, the first fiction series about Canada’s iconic national parks, George Mercer worked for more than three decades as a national park warden in Canada, including both east and west coasts, the North and the Rocky Mountains. Fat Cats, Book 4 in the series was a Gold Medal winner in the 2019 Independent Publisher Book Awards while the series won a Silver Medal for overall fiction series. Wood Buffalo, the second book in the series, and Jasper Wild, book 3 in the series, were Gold Medal winners at the 2018 Independent Publisher Book Awards. Harking is George's first book outside of the Dyed In The Green series and his first work of Young Adult fiction. It was long-listed for the 2020 Shelf Unbound Indie Book Awards and won a Gold Medal in the 2022 Independent Publisher Book Awards.

Reviews

[Sarah Frey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very unimpressed.
I was looking forward to reading this work, but could not get past the poor character development. Even if the story was primarily plot driven, the trope characters, awkward french-english conflict between then, and anti-climactic drama was enough to make me put it down at page 184.

On top of that, up to the point I had read it still hadn't passed the bechdel test, and all female characters were introduced by the author by their physical appearance first, and often never followed up by actual personality traits. Old, fat women = bad characters. Young, thin women = good characters.

I almost lost it at the main female protagonist's line: "This is the part of the job I don't like to do" when pursuing a poacher. As someone who works with female Parks Canada staff regularly, it begs the question if the author has even met a female Park Warden, or actual human woman for that matter.

[Adarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!
I really didn't expect to enjoy this book so much, which sounds fairly rude to say but honestly, I only picked the series up because the second in the series is based in Wood Buffalo where I was born and raised. Now I'm crazy eager to get to it in hopes it holds up to Dyed In the Green.
An extremely Canadian game of cat and mouse is how I would describe this first instalment, fast-paced, nail-biting, and just so authentic. You can really tell that the author appreciates and loves the work he did as a warden (before all of the changes) I loved that it doesn't fluff up the paragraphs with unnecessary details (I don't think I could tell you what the main character's appearance is but god do I feel like I could drive through Nova Scotia with some familiarity now) and the crimes committed and actions taken were all so real.

[Jeffrey E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, this is a solid book. It was presented as a mystery novel but it is abundantly clear who is responsible for the incidents that take place. Therefore, I would have liked to have seen a little more "mystery" to this mystery novel (but it isn't a major qualm). The other peculiarity is that the writing appeared to improve as the novel progressed. Early chapters are very simple and lack descriptive details. The author states that it took many years to write, so it could simply be Mercer getting better at writing as the years went on. Regardless, I enjoyed.

3.5 stars!

[Sarah Furger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this mystery! Great characters and a gorgeous setting - it made me want to book a trip to Canada! I'm looking forward to book 2!

[Linda Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice to have a mystery set in regions of Canada. With the National Parks as the main characters this should be a good series.

[Eilish · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book but it was just soo disappointing. Unfortunately, there really wasn't a plot and the book read more like a screenplay for a CBC show than a mystery novel.

The writing was really conversation heavy and the author did a lot of telling instead of showing. I had a really hard time visualizing the setting - which was tough because so much of the book depended on the park from which it was set. I found the author didn't do a great job of describing where things were happening, just that they were.

There also wasn't much mystery in the book - we are told who the bad guys are the entire time and it seems like the main characters "just know" who it is too. No one needs to do any investigative work because by just talking to someone, they solve the crime.

No characters had any personalities and there wasn't any emotional connections between any of them. Having just finished the book, I couldn't even tell you who some of the characters are because they are all written the same. Two of the main characters are in a romantic relationship but any conflict between them is revealed in the past tense and we don't actually get to read about it.

The book also didn't pass the Bechdel test and the one female warden seems to dislike her own job (like what??). Kate is constantly patronized by her partner (who is also her boss) and she admits that her least favourite part of her job is catching poachers...which is her job and the central plot of the whole book.

I only finished the book because it was this month's pick for my book club - otherwise, I would DNF'd it about halfway through. The only reason I gave it 2 stars was because of the setting and because I love the Canadian National Parks and want to see more written about them - just maybe by different authors.

[Marc Rosove · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, but with lots of promise.

Set in a National Park in Cape Breton, we follow the day to day of a new Park Warden, as he works primarily to curb the poaching that has been occurring brazingly in his Park.

I loved the themes, settings, and especially living the park warden life. Unfortunately there were some sloppy areas of writing, some unnecessary plot points, and some occasionally abrubt pace or timeline changes.

It was all still worth it, and I'm excited to read other books in the series where I suspect there may be some more polish.

[Derek · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great debut novel and a subject (resource management law enforcement) that is obviously a big deal to me. Can't wait to read more in the series!

[C · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it! Set in Cheticamp, Cape Breton, NS and inside the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, it is an action/adventure following park wardens and their work to preserve the wildlife and habitat inside the National Parks system of Canada.
You will enjoy this book if you've ever been to this area of the province - or if you are interested in the work that park wardens do. I confess, I had no idea that their jobs were so intense! This is the first in a series that follows park wardens in the various national parks across Canada. I will def. read the next one!
This one was featured on the shelves at the local library as recommended by librarians. Thank you!!!

[Erin L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this book while actually on Cape Breton Island and in Cheticamp itself was interesting. Well-crafted story, but I found it dragged in places.

[Don Graves · Rating 4 out of 5]

A down to earth story about the passion that drives people who protect our wilderness and those who choose to abuse it. A simple case of right and wrong. Not so. Dyed in the Green is a complex, driven story about National Park Warden Den Matthews determined efforts to protect the wild life that are integral to the way of life in the Cape Breton Highlands. While it is fiction, the roots come from the ongoing battle between poachers, community belief that poaching is a way of life, corruption both in deed and in the soul that finally drives to murder. A reputation that demands nothing will stand in the way and a Park Warden with his feet firmly planted in the way.

The writing is hard driven and honest. The plot shows how far entitlement to abuse can go. It’s an impressive story. A faster pace will enhance the energy and direct the push to the climax and more stories there should be.

Don Graves, Canadian Mystery Reviews

[Morgan Tsetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this first novel by George Mercer. I was so easily brought into such a beautiful environment. The characters, though not terribly dimensional, were loveable, and I felt compelled to keep reading simply because I was invested in the people, the community that was created in this story. My one complaint is that a good chunk of the book is pretty slow-going, as the first half is spent ramping up the second, and really hammering the fact that the antagonist is a really bad guy. Other that that, I really enjoyed this novel, and look forward to continuing on in the Dyed in the Green series!

See my full-length review on my website: https://www.morgantsettafilms.com/sin...

[Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an excellent surprise and a true page-turner. Clearly informed by the author who has lived the life of a park warden, Dyed In The Green opens an insiders view into the world of national park wardens in Canada that is not well known outside its community. Reading this book is an education into the role and the difficult challenges and lack of resources confronting park wardens. I would bet that most Canadians know very little about the law enforcement role that Park Wardens play or just how precarious is the protection the parks provide. However, reading this book is not only eye-opening, I found it far more gripping and engaging than most bestselling thrillers because of its depiction of the very real life dangers unarmed wardens can face when confronting heavily armed poachers.

The first in a series, I'm looking forward to reading its sequel. Hopefully there will be more stories in this series given the vast range of possibilities offered by Canada's national parks.

[Ron Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read. Although the author, a former Canada Parks Warden stipulates that the characters are fictional and the events never happened the story is loosely based on events that did occur while he was stationed at Cape Breton Highland National Park as the Asst. Chief Park Warden. The book character John Kerry, Chief Park Warden in real life with a different real name is a close friend of mine.

[Nick Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished in Fredericton, New Brunswick poolside on Douglas Ave. Bought on a whim due to the appealing cover at Westminster Books Canadian section. Pure Canadianity.

[Alison Burgess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this one! I can't wait to see what else this author has in store!!!

[spike marlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do I think of this book? First, it places the National Park Warden Service in the limelight. This has not been done much before in Canada and it is important because the Warden Service needs to do so much with so little. Second, this story shows how dangerous the work is and that they did it mostly, until recently, unarmed. Now for the story itself.
The story and circumstances that it depict are compelling and interesting. There was lots of action and it did keep me on the edge as I read through the book. While poaching and fisheries enforcement may not be very exciting the author was able to make it exciting.
I do not know what year this story was supposed to take place in, but one of the Wardens fought in WWII. That would put him in his 60’s in the 1980’s. Ready for retirement. As a person who worked in Law enforcement in that era, there was no safety on the .38 special. Also the criminal procedure that the book uses could not have happened even way back then when things were less rigid. Also I have never heard of a person being arrested on a Saturday and appearing in court the next day, especially with a circuit judge present, and then being convicted and sentenced without a pre-sentencing hearing. This was the weakest part of the book. I understand why ( the need to keep the story moving), but for those who have or are in the business, it create a layer of unrealism and TV drama into the book.

Despite those criticisms it is a good story and brings forth important issues that are occurring in our National Parks.

[Kelsi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like most people who probably reached for this book, I've visited Cape Breton Highlands National Park and the Cabot Trail. I was excited to read a story set in such a beautiful place, however I struggled with the lack of description, basic writing style and slow plot. I had to paint the picture of the setting in my head using the places I've been to as the book never really gave you the tools to paint it how the author sees it. If I'd not actually been to the area, I think I would have imagined the characters roaming about in a dark room with some salmon (and maybe a deer).

I felt that the book wanted to be a good mystery, but was too predictable. The crime element seemed to play sidebar to Ben constantly trying to "protect" Kate by wanting her to stay home like a good woman, and not do her actual job as a park warden (what?). Other than that, the plot mostly consists of night drives back and forth, seeing lights across the lake and hiding in bushes. Also, the cliché phrase "tearing [him] apart" was used way too many times - 3 times in Chapter 56 alone. A bit Johnny Wiseau-esque isn't it?

In saying that, this was the Mercer's debut novel. I intend to read the next ones in the series because I adore Canada and am keen to see him do the places and people justice.

[Colton Hornstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

An alright book, though I had a few major issues:
A lot of the names are confusing. Most of them are completely plain: Ben, Norm, Joe, John... and then there are similar names, Joe/John, Michel/Maurice. There are nearly 20 "secondary" characters who are all introduced in the first few chapters and keeping them straight is hard when they aren't given particularly strong personalities.
The other issue is the writing in general. A lot of the drama is overly telegraphed, and the "twists" can be seen from pages and chapters ahead. The author needs to trust that the reader will understand, or at least that they will be properly surprised, instead of spoon-feeding the excitement - otherwise by the time it finally arrives, it's not that exciting anymore.
Lastly, and it's a smaller thing, but some kind of map would have been appreciated. There are a lot of locations described and the park is a key "character" in the book. It's hard to get any sense of it from the descriptions though, and a map with some of the locations and routes would've helped immensely.

[Barry (she/her) · Rating 3 out of 5]

If not good, then at least earnest...

Maybe now I can imagine what a person from Wyoming might feel reading a Longmire story, picking out every cliche meant to set the scene. Not to say it was the bad part of this book, actually probably the most entertaining part was recognizing the weird Nova Scotian easter eggs (the constant suêtes, hanging out listening to a Stan Rogers record,.. Can't tell if it's something Mercer says himself or if he's making a comment on our use of "Yah" as an interjection... the wife darning socks? George.)

The story was okay, somewhat disjointed. Mercer could perhaps use a few more commas, and could certainly learn to write a better female character. This *was* the bad part, which was the sexism which necessarily underpinned every scene with a woman in it.

[Norm's ✧ Bookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5☆

This book was entertaining enough to keep me reading. The first half of the book is very slow and conversational while the second half of the book picks up pace.

There are major details brought into this book that are never fully discussed and I felt it was a missed opportunity. The main story had closure, but there were a few important side stories that just kind of get dropped after being brought up...

Additionally this book had used women's descriptions to build their characters, not their personality traits IE: young and attractive, motherly...

I am going to read Wood Buffalo, but will not be re-reading Dyed In Green.

[SusanwithaGoodBook · Rating 2 out of 5]

Set in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, this is listed as a mystery, but there really wasn't much of a mystery to it. The bad guys are given to you from the start. The only mystery seemed to be when something bad would happen. It turns out not much happens until 3/4 of the way through the book, when finally one of the bad guys snaps. Then it's just waiting for the wrap-up. It wasn't badly written, but it was not a well-developed story. I won't be reading the rest of the series.

[Jennifer Gyuricska · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading about the Cape Breton Highlands and the national park system, though I was frustrated by not being able to pinpoint when this book was taking place. Slow at times. Also felt that the 'dots' were sometimes connected by leaps rather than linear lines. Good enough, though, that I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started out slow and repetitive. Too many characters introduced in the early chapters, with little to distinguish them from each other. As noticed by another reviewer, the writing got better as the book progressed, and I enjoyed the final third of the book.
With the hope that Mr Mercer's writing continues to improve, I'm planning to skip the next instalment and move on to book #3.

[Marni · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is set in a national park on Cape Breton and the main characters are park wardens and fish and game poachers. I enjoyed the author's characterization of the poachers - a reminder that there are lots of areas in Canada that are sparsely populated and sparsely patrolled - and that some people do not believe that laws apply to them.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solidly written adventure tale of wardens trying to protect the wildlife and wildness of the Cape Breton Highlands of Nova Scotia. A somewhat formulaic mix of heroes and villains but with some nice geographic descriptions and knowing depictions of Acadian folklife thrown in for good measure. An entertaining read.

[Peter Mac · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. The prologue started strong but the next few chapters crashed and the book didn't pick up steam until the last 100 pages. At times it felt like an add for Parks Canada warden service. Still, it was a good read and it's great to see something set in Cape Breton.

[Paulo Delgado · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It’s an easy, simple, intriguing read with great character development. For those looking for a novel set in Canada like I was, you won’t be disappointed by how Mercer describes the settings. I’ll be reading the next in this series.

[Brenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid first book although the editing could have used some work-and connecting the dots. Otherwise, definitely a series I'll be looking at in the future.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow and clunky to start but it really gets going in the last third. It's great a read a book about park rangers though. They don't get the credit they deserve.