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Explosive violence rocks Canada’s Slocan Valley after the shooting deaths of three teenagers in a bombing attempt at the Keenleyside Dam. A joint U.S.-Canada military force locks down the Valley to protect Columbia River dams critical to both countries but martial law incites more violence.

Geologist Alex Graham refuses to let politics stand in her way. She evades military patrols to slip into a restricted zone in her hunt for a silver mine to claim as her own. But her plans are derailed by an intentionally set fire that almost takes her life.

Someone wants her out of the Slocan Valley.

When Alex discovers a gunshot victim in an abandoned mine, she fears she could be next. But she’s never been one to wait for trouble to come to her and she tracks a suspicious man seen once too often in the lonely mountains.

All eyes are on the dams, but the true threat lies elsewhere.

328 pages, Paperback

Published February 18, 2016

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About the author

Katherine Prairie

4 books40 followers
Katherine Prairie brings her own experience as an international geologist to the Alex Graham thriller series. Her debut novel THIRST was shortlisted for the Whistler Independent Book Awards and BLUE FIRE was shortlisted for the International Rubery Book Awards and a semi-finalist in the Adventure Writers Competition. She is an award-winning presenter, the co-founder of Sisters in Crime - Canada West, and a past Crime Writers of Canada director. An avid traveller with an insatiable curiosity, you never know where you’ll find her next! But most days, she’s in Kingston, Canada quietly plotting murder and mayhem under the watchful eye of a cat.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for Lelia Taylor.
872 reviews19 followers
May 7, 2018
Every now and then, very rarely, a story grabs me by the throat from the first page and doesn’t let go until the end. Such a story is Thirst by Katherine Prairie and I’m here to tell you, if you’re looking for a thriller with heart and a darned good mystery, this one needs to go on your Christmas wishlist right now.

I won’t waste a lot of time delving into the plot—you can get that from the jacket copy and other reviews—but I’ll just say Ms. Prairie knows how to do plot as well as all the trappings that should go with it but often don’t. First, there’s the opening setting in which we learn that this is a place subject to fearful weather, something that always sends shivers down my spine whether it’s warm or cold. Then there are the remote locations so common to Alex’s work as a geologist and the ferocious pressure that comes with hunting down gold and silver deposits. In this particular instance, political machinations, Canadian-US relations, an overbearing US military, a driving need for revenge, an attack on a critical resource and a potential for bioterrorism all mesh together to produce murder and intrigue that initially seems over the top but is, in fact, all too possible.

Alex herself is a bit of an enigma and, yet, we know enough to realize right off the bat that here is a woman who is nearly fearless though guarded, making her way in what’s usually considered a man’s field. She tries to live by certain self-imposed rules such as keeping a low profile but, when she can’t, she goes after the answers needed. As an investigator, Alex is intelligent and open to possibilities while protective of the endangered people and environment. In short, she’s the kind of investigator who isn’t shackled by professional restrictions and, as such, she can and does go the extra mile.

Thirst is Katherine Prairie‘s first novel and I hope to see much more of Alex Graham in the future. This author and her protagonist are too good not to be around for a long time and, in the meantime, this first adventure is going on my list of favorite books read in 2016.
Profile Image for Cathy Geha.
4,366 reviews119 followers
February 1, 2016
Wow! I could not put this book down! From the first to the last action packed page I was enthralled. This book is a well-crafted mystery for educated people who like strong intelligent female characters and who also like to think and learn while reading.

Alex Graham is a geologist out in the field when disaster strikes. She manages to survive but afterward is drawn into trying to solve a mystery that is multifaceted and very dangerous indeed. With murder, bombs and potential bio-terrorism there is a lot going on in this book but there is also the introduction of potential romance. I thoroughly enjoyed Alex, found the medical situations in the hospital spot-on and enjoyed Eric’s character and his interactions with Alex. As a parent I was intrigued by Nathan’s dilemma and how he would deal with his daughter Oliva. All of the threads of this story were woven together to create a tapestry that is taut, intriguing and oh so well executed. I look forward to future books in this series and/or any novels Katherine Prairie decides to write.

Thank you to NetGalley and Stonedrift Press Ltd. For the copy of the ARC to read and review.

4.5 Stars
Profile Image for Sue Wallace .
7,412 reviews140 followers
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January 4, 2018
Thirst by Katherine prairie.
Alex graham is a geologist. She refuses to let anyone bully her into leaving a site she is working on. Someone wants her to leave and they will do anything. But murder? Who is it? Can alex stop them?
A very good read. I liked the story and characters. But found it slow in places. I liked the ending. 4*.
Profile Image for Sharon Mensing.
968 reviews32 followers
February 28, 2016
Geologist Alex Graham is looking for silver veins in Canada’s Slocan Valley, near the Columbia River dams, a militarized zone. After three teenagers had attempted to blow up one of the dams, and the police had killed them in the process, the U.S.-Canadian treaty protecting the dams was invoked. Now, the entire area around the river and dams is under heavy protection from both countries’ military forces. Alex, working inside the “perimeter,” is attacked but works hard to cover up her prospecting activities for fear of military reprisal.

As she seeks help for the burns she sustained during the attack, she becomes involved in trying to solve an organophosphate poisoning case that may be a window into an impending bioterrorism attack. The suspense builds as murders occur and Alex and her team continue to avoid involving the police as they try to investigate on their own.

The Canadians are very unhappy about what they see as U.S. military interference, and acts of terrorism like blowing up buildings only serve to escalate the tension. There is an aspect of the book that makes one think of a dystopian novel with the almost robotic, tough American soldiers exerting control over the Canadian populace in the Slocan Valley. But other than those soldiers, the characters are well developed and their relationships make sense.

Katherine Prairie is at her best when writing the tense action scenes, and the book opens with one of these, quickly pulling the reader in. The location comes alive, and the sense of oppression and the affect it has on the residents of the area feel very real. Just a tad too much of the explication is passed along in dialog rather than being incorporated into the plot for my taste. There are multiple story lines running through the book, with some tied up well by the end and others left open. It appears that Prairie may be planning a series and is allowing some space to return to Alex Graham’s exploits.

Thank you to netgalley for making a review copy of this book available to me.
Profile Image for Todd Simpson.
833 reviews35 followers
May 16, 2016
Wow, this book really impressed me. You can tell straight away that the Author has a talent for writing. This was such an easy and enjoyable book to read. Most people probably wouldn’t go camping or get into a tent again, if someone tried to burn them alive in one. However Geologist Alex Graham isn’t most people, and even though she gets burnt, it’s not going to stop her. She is a tough, gritty, and determined woman. Alex has a chance to take over a friends mining claims, but it just happens that the land is in a government restricted zone, patrolled by the military and the police. You can’t blame the military for being on edge, with a group of local’s intent on blowing up the dams, buildings and generally trying anything to get rid of the Americans. Now with a death in the hospital, with what looks like pesticide poisoning, Alex and Dr Keenan need to work out if someone has planted the pesticide into the drinking water, that could potentially affect allot of people, or if it’s isolated. This really is a great story, and it moves along at a good pace, with plenty happening. I’ll certainly be adding this Author to my list to watch out for.
19 reviews
February 2, 2019
Loved it.. great characters, location and story. I had trouble putting it down until I finished. Would love to read more about Alex and her adventures in the world of geology!
Profile Image for Michele.
1,852 reviews62 followers
August 17, 2016
Most of us think of thirst as being in need of something to drink--but according to the Merriam Webster Dictionary-here is the definition of Thirst:

" Full Definition of thirst

1
a : a sensation of dryness in the mouth and throat associated with a desire for liquids; also : the bodily condition (as of dehydration) that induces this sensationb : a desire or need to drink

2
: an ardent desire : craving, longing "

This book has a bit of both definitions intertwined within its pages and in a way that will capture your imagination and keep you reading non-stop! I know I did--. Having an Environmental Science degree I will say she got the science right--but that is not really what this book is about. The story line is about a geologists search for a silver mine, a town that wants revenge for one reason and they want the US Military out of their small town--and a man who has a thirst for revenge which could possibly lead to the contamination of a major source of water which is protected by both the US and Canada This is actually true-read about the Canada-United States Action Plan for Critical Infrastructure . There are lots of articles you can read if you google Canada-United States Action Plan for Critical Infrastructure.

Secrets, murder and intrigue abound-as well as twists and turns. The ending will both surprise and for me at least left me wondering--could this really happen? And unfortunately I know it could--I am hoping this author writes another book which continues where this one left off.
Thirst
4,120 reviews116 followers
August 22, 2016
Stonedrift Press Ltd. and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Thirst, in exchange for an honest review.

When a night on the mountain turns dangerous, Alex Graham must keep her mind focused and her wits sharp in order to survive. As a geologist, she is hired by clients to retrieve valuable gold or silver, outside or inside the restricted perimeter near the Columbia River dams. Providing hydroelectric power and certain natural resources to two countries, the river is of the utmost importance. When one of the dams was bombed, a joint security effort from the United States and Canadian forces was crucial. After Alex is asked for help regarding a potentially dangerous health scare, an unexpected connection to an old crime threatens both her safety and that of the whole town.

Thirst is a fictional story based in certain facts - namely, the Columbia River treaty between the United States and Canada is real and the problems outlined in this book could potentially happen. I liked Alex Graham as a main character, but I wished that the author had gone into more of her background. Her expertise as a geologist are very much in need in this book, but the author really just touches the surface of why Alex has chosen such a dangerous profession. The pacing was good and the premise was thought provoking. The ending of Thirst hinted at a sequel and I would be interested in seeing where author Katherine Prairie takes her characters into the future.
Profile Image for Long Island Dreams Book Reviews.
17 reviews
May 31, 2016
THIRSTBY: Katherine Prairie
Reviewed By: Jane Krabbeler
Stars 4 out of 5

This explosive story detonates a ring of truth about the horrors of terrorism facing our world today.
The Canadian government has teamed up with US troops to enforce martial law. There was a major bombing at the Keenleyside dam in the Slocan Valley, in which three teens were killed.
Geologist Alex Graham has defied martial law and has set up camp inside the unauthorized perimeter.
What Alex doesn’t know is that someone is watching her, and he wants her gone. Alex awakens in the middle of the night to find her tent on fire. Due to some quick thinking Alex is able to escape with her life.
The tent fire sets off a chain of events that sends Alex on a quest to discover what terror lurks with in the Canadian perimeter.
While reading “Thirst” I was reminded of the political unrest that took place in the USA during the 1960’s. Terrorism is not an easy topic to write or speak about. Katherine Prairie was able to do this with sensitivity and truth. She is top k notch in my book.
I highly recommend this four out of five star novel. In it you will find sensitivity, truth, mystery and intrigue. Kudos Ms. Prairie for a job well done.


Profile Image for Toni Boughton.
Author 6 books14 followers
February 4, 2016
I have read a lot of books in my life, so at this point I'm desperate for anything that does something new or different. I found it in 'Thirst'.

Not only is the story interesting, with careful plot development and a thrilling tale, but the characters are interesting, too. It's so refreshing to read a novel where characters and their histories and motivations are revealed naturally rather than with a massive infodump. I greatly enjoyed the fact that the main female protagonist was the out-in-the-field geologist and the main male protagonist was the doctor-fighting-to-save-his-patients; too often it's the other way around.

The interactions between the characters felt real. The police officer and his troubled daughter was a genuinely great hook, and I love that it wasn't all tied up with a neat bow. I also have to commend the author on not shoehorning in insta-love between her main characters; that is so tiresome. Real life doesn't happen like that.

I recommend this to anyone looking for an intriguing thriller with interesting characters and a unique setting.

*Free copy from NetGalley*
Profile Image for J.P. McLean.
Author 15 books81 followers
July 5, 2016
Promising New Series

The cover of Thirst grabbed my attention, and then I had the opportunity to hear the author talk about writing, and I was hooked.

Thirst is a well-written, fast-paced thriller set in the Slocan Valley in B.C. The protagonist, Alex Graham is a gutsy female geologist who uses the cover of her job to surreptitiously assess the viability of mining properties to which she has an inside track. Alex skirts the authorities to gain access to restricted areas, and soon finds out that her presence is not only illegal, but someone is willing to kill her to get her out of there.

One of my favourite aspects of Thirst is the way Prairie uses her own experiences as a geologist, and real events to inform the story. Though fiction, Prairie’s characters and the scenarios they find themselves in, are all too real and frightening. It’s prompted me to learn more about the four dams, which are at the heart of the Columbia River Treaty, and the Canada-United States Action Plan for Critical Infrastructure.

I love it when a book not only entertains, but raises my curiosity. I look forward to reading more from Katherine Prairie.
Profile Image for Andrea.
346 reviews10 followers
March 17, 2016
I received this book free through a Goodreads giveaway.

I enjoyed this book so much, it is a well written, interesting and exciting read. The main character Alex is a geologist prospecting in an area, which is under very tight control of the military. Things turn nasty, she forms a relationship with a doctor at the local hospital and together they end up trying to solve a mystery as to what is going on in the valley. The story goes along a good pace and I found myself wanting to continue reading long after I should of stopped as it is so gripping! Another thing that I really liked about this book is that I dont think that there was any bad language/swearing in it at all, which made a refreshing change.

Great book!
Profile Image for C.J. Petterson.
Author 24 books12 followers
April 25, 2021
I picked this ebook to read in a Facebook challenge ...Protagonist Alex Graham is a geologist looking to lay claim to gold mines in British Columbia, Canada. She thought she was simply risking arrest when she stepped over the bounds of a military perimeter established by a joint Canada-U.S. task force. Instead she almost dies at the hands of a crazed bioterrorist.

Her story starts out running, gathers up a love interest and teenagers in turmoil along the way, and the action never quits as it races to a satisfying end. There are wonderful entwined plot threads and twists—ecological disasters, bureaucracies of the hospital and governmental ilk, and international intrigue.

If you like mystery-suspense-thriller novels, pick up a copy of Katherine Prairie’s “Thirst.”
Profile Image for Kristen Chandler.
214 reviews39 followers
June 22, 2017
This was my first Alex Graham novel as well as the first of Katherine Prairie's work that I have read. I will definitely bee back for more. Thirst was a page turner from beginning to end.

In Thirst, geologist Alex Graham gets caught up in a twisted web of revenge while trying to do her work and abide by army rules. While tracking a suspected pesticide poisoning, she realizes that someone may be after her......but the question is why.

I really liked Alex as well as the chemistry between her and Eric.

I thought this book was well written, the characters were relatable and well-rounded. I will definitely be reading more from this author!
35 reviews
April 24, 2016
I received this book ,as an ARC from Goodreads. Great storyline . This book kept my attention from the first chapter. Wanted to keep reading to find out what was behind all that was happening in the Valley. Loved the characters and the writing. I highly recommend this book if you like lots of action and intrigue.
Profile Image for Becc Nelson.
Author 2 books5 followers
June 27, 2016
Thirst is a book with a political action theme and a book with a conscience. The author challenges us to see emotionally charged issues from more than one side and see that their is no easy answers. It enjoyed reading it because it had substance while also providing an interesting story for engagement. Several issues in the book seem to ask you, "What would you do?"
Profile Image for Neil.
1,593 reviews14 followers
April 15, 2016
I received a free copy via Netgalley in return for a honest Review
I must admit this was something slightly different to the normal mystery read but was none the worse for this.
From the first page you are drawn in for a action packed ride.
Profile Image for Matthew.
198 reviews11 followers
May 25, 2016
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

A thinking person's mystery-thriller based on real conflicts and conditions in the Upper Columbia River Basin, with good use of larger personal and political themes. Well done.
Profile Image for Hunter.
289 reviews1 follower
August 13, 2024
Maybe my expectations were too high for this book, but it fell pretty flat for me. There were moments of interest, but ultimately there was too much of nothing happening. Events were connected by the flimsiest of threads, and unlikable characters continuously made really dumb choices.
577 reviews1 follower
April 22, 2016
A suspense novel, about a geologist Alex Graham and her attempt to claim a silver mine.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews

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