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Vanished in Bitterroot Mountains
This is a murder mystery story that grows into a much larger tale of intrigue and suspense. The story takes place in northwestern Montana, Big Sky country. This part of America is renowned for its wide open spaces and modest way of life. Most people live close to the land.
Some of the key characters of this story are cattle ranchers. Modern cattle ranching is tough and demanding work, and knowledge of finance and modern methods is a key component. This difficult work creates tough individuals.
Most of the people in this part of the country have libertarian leanings. Many on the left call that conservative, as if conservative thought is something evil. It is not. It is about respect for themselves and caring about the people around them. The basic ideas of conservative or libertarian thought is that of individual freedom, rights, responsibilities, and desires. Each to live their own life however they choose.
From that toughness comes a failing, and an unwillingness to accept defeat. That’s what happens to the Kimble Ranch when financial failures and mismanagement drive the ranch close to financial disaster, and to one brother it seems like there is only one way out.
When two FBI field agents go missing in this area, Agent Asa Clark is assigned to the case. Circumstances force her to resort to the most basic levels of investigation in order to get any help in solving this case. Does her strategy result in success?
Some of the key characters of this story are cattle ranchers. Modern cattle ranching is tough and demanding work, and knowledge of finance and modern methods is a key component. This difficult work creates tough individuals.
Most of the people in this part of the country have libertarian leanings. Many on the left call that conservative, as if conservative thought is something evil. It is not. It is about respect for themselves and caring about the people around them. The basic ideas of conservative or libertarian thought is that of individual freedom, rights, responsibilities, and desires. Each to live their own life however they choose.
From that toughness comes a failing, and an unwillingness to accept defeat. That’s what happens to the Kimble Ranch when financial failures and mismanagement drive the ranch close to financial disaster, and to one brother it seems like there is only one way out.
When two FBI field agents go missing in this area, Agent Asa Clark is assigned to the case. Circumstances force her to resort to the most basic levels of investigation in order to get any help in solving this case. Does her strategy result in success?
- GenresMystery
143 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2017
1167 people are currently reading
190 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
May 8, 2017
Good read.
I read for pleasure and relaxation, not to write reviews. I feel the star rating system should be sufficient for most readers and that reviews should be left to recognized critics.
I read for pleasure and relaxation, not to write reviews. I feel the star rating system should be sufficient for most readers and that reviews should be left to recognized critics.
December 18, 2017
Coulda done without the heaving bosoms and throbbing members but, more importantly, what author forgets a character’s name? Holiday became Hollister about a third of the way in. Maybe more time in rewrite?
September 25, 2020
Unbelievable
It's hard to maintain interest when characters act in ways that are not compatible with their role. I found that to be the case with this book and no matter how good a plot idea is, if the characters aren't believable, it doesn't work. I don't know if it was the author or those who put it into e-book format but sentence structure was poorly done. I found many incomplete thoughts and several missing words. I was glad this was a short story.
It's hard to maintain interest when characters act in ways that are not compatible with their role. I found that to be the case with this book and no matter how good a plot idea is, if the characters aren't believable, it doesn't work. I don't know if it was the author or those who put it into e-book format but sentence structure was poorly done. I found many incomplete thoughts and several missing words. I was glad this was a short story.
December 19, 2018
FIB agent having sex with a local 2nd day on the job!?
Might be ok story but the sex fantasies and interludes were a bit much for my taste. I will pass...
Might be ok story but the sex fantasies and interludes were a bit much for my taste. I will pass...
June 28, 2019
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There is no doubt in my mind that James Kipling is an excellent writer. I have already read several of his works and I haven’t been disappointed yet. He opens with a bang and leads you through the rest of the book, knowing he has you hooked. I have Eight or ten more of his works and I am content that I have some great books to read. Thanks so very much to this author and for goodness sakes, don’t stop now. We, the readers need more of the works of your mind to help keep us grounded. Again, thank you.
There is no doubt in my mind that James Kipling is an excellent writer. I have already read several of his works and I haven’t been disappointed yet. He opens with a bang and leads you through the rest of the book, knowing he has you hooked. I have Eight or ten more of his works and I am content that I have some great books to read. Thanks so very much to this author and for goodness sakes, don’t stop now. We, the readers need more of the works of your mind to help keep us grounded. Again, thank you.
August 3, 2025
Alas, this wasn't for me. Set in Montana in the demographic of cattle ranches, we have an investigation into the disappearance of two FBI agents.
Implausible characters. Poor editing. A sub-acceptable standard of writing and I sadly had to give this a very weak rating. 1 and a half stars.
Implausible characters. Poor editing. A sub-acceptable standard of writing and I sadly had to give this a very weak rating. 1 and a half stars.
November 4, 2018
"Disappointing"
I wanted to give the benefit of the doubt after I'd noted a handful of typos in the first chapter, but things didn't improve. In the end, I wondered whether the writer had made a list of things that had made other books/series successful and thrown as many of the ingredients into the mix - whether they were germane to the plot or not. The liaison with Kimble in the motel bedroom was inappropriate for any young woman in a strange town, let alone an FBI agent. Unbelievable.
I wanted to give the benefit of the doubt after I'd noted a handful of typos in the first chapter, but things didn't improve. In the end, I wondered whether the writer had made a list of things that had made other books/series successful and thrown as many of the ingredients into the mix - whether they were germane to the plot or not. The liaison with Kimble in the motel bedroom was inappropriate for any young woman in a strange town, let alone an FBI agent. Unbelievable.
November 1, 2020
Disappointed
The story line was ok but the way I. Which it's written seemed amateuris. The editing was not in the least bit good. Too often a pronoun was left out or in wrong place. I also didnt care for the use of wording such ad: the man/woman said, rather than the use of pronouns or the characters names. The ending seemed hurried and not well thought out.
The story line was ok but the way I. Which it's written seemed amateuris. The editing was not in the least bit good. Too often a pronoun was left out or in wrong place. I also didnt care for the use of wording such ad: the man/woman said, rather than the use of pronouns or the characters names. The ending seemed hurried and not well thought out.
June 16, 2018
Characters are superficial; their conversation was awkward. I did not care for the writing style. The author continually refers to the characters as “the man” and “the woman.” I only completed reading because I paid for this book.
November 18, 2019
Did not finish.
Half of this book is nothing but sex scenes. That is not needed for a good story. This story might have been ok but a lot of words are missing. Need to edit better.But it lost me when author had a main women character riding a horse in a skirt. 👎
Half of this book is nothing but sex scenes. That is not needed for a good story. This story might have been ok but a lot of words are missing. Need to edit better.But it lost me when author had a main women character riding a horse in a skirt. 👎
November 19, 2019
Poorly written.
So-so if you are a romance fan, sorely lacking detail and meaningful plotlines if you like a good mystery. The main character seems to go from completely clueless to absolutely certain on a thin strand of evidence.
So-so if you are a romance fan, sorely lacking detail and meaningful plotlines if you like a good mystery. The main character seems to go from completely clueless to absolutely certain on a thin strand of evidence.
March 4, 2021
Very disappointed. Plot was good but the writing was poor and editing was very bad. Referred to the characters a lot as ‘the woman’ or ‘the man’ instead of using the names. Just could’ve been so much more and was so short and abrupt. Bummer
January 12, 2021
Short book
There is little to recommend about this book. The plot was o.k., but it was like an outline for a book, not the actual book. There was very little substance to the book.
There is little to recommend about this book. The plot was o.k., but it was like an outline for a book, not the actual book. There was very little substance to the book.
February 10, 2023
In all fairness I could only get through 20-21% of this book because of the grammatical errors and the plot. 2-3 days after arriving in a small Montana town, the FBI agent hops into bed with a stranger (a rancher) she has just met in a bar . She is in town to investigate the disappearance (prob murder)of two agents. BTW, she was sent there because she's supposed to be a superb agent. The town is small and everyone is a suspect until proven differently, right? Since the missing agents were investigating the area ranches/ranchers when they disappeared, it does not make sense that she'd have such poor judgment to immediately possibly compromise the investigation by having casual sex with one of the ranchers. Can't deal with the rest of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2021
I did not like the way the author would write, "The man" when referring to the character. I never got the relationship between Jane and her husband, just seemed weird toward the end. I didn't think an FBI agent, who was trying to get to know the locals while playing pool in a bar, would jump into bed after meeting a man after a short conversation. Didn't seem realistic for her character.
November 15, 2022
Where are the missing FBI agents?
Good mystery thriller. Asa is a FBI agent assigned to help locate the missing agents. She was chosen because her family history of the area. Gabriel owns ranch in the area. Then the missing agent's car found but no agents. There is an explosion and people killed.
Good mystery thriller. Asa is a FBI agent assigned to help locate the missing agents. She was chosen because her family history of the area. Gabriel owns ranch in the area. Then the missing agent's car found but no agents. There is an explosion and people killed.
October 16, 2017
Feel good story
Although there are a number of sad things happening in the narrative, the ending is generally a feel good story. The FBI agent has one agenda but the ranchers may have subtle subplots at play. Will there be betrayal or true love involved. Gotta read to find out.
Although there are a number of sad things happening in the narrative, the ending is generally a feel good story. The FBI agent has one agenda but the ranchers may have subtle subplots at play. Will there be betrayal or true love involved. Gotta read to find out.
December 30, 2017
very good
April 23, 2018
Nice easy read
I started this book and didn't put it down until I was finished. Smooth story telling from start to finidh.
I started this book and didn't put it down until I was finished. Smooth story telling from start to finidh.
May 2, 2018
Great read
Always a good read from Mr. Kipling. Suspense, murder, a little romance with the FBI agent, what more can you ask for!
Always a good read from Mr. Kipling. Suspense, murder, a little romance with the FBI agent, what more can you ask for!
May 9, 2018
Very basic mystery
I was drawn to the title because I know and love that country, but there wasn't a visual aspect to the book and it could have been anywhere.
I was drawn to the title because I know and love that country, but there wasn't a visual aspect to the book and it could have been anywhere.
September 8, 2018
Mystery
I loved this story, I recommend everyone to read this book, I look forward to reading more of his books. Kattie
I loved this story, I recommend everyone to read this book, I look forward to reading more of his books. Kattie
October 28, 2018
This is another Kipling book that I sailed through and enjoyed. Too short though.
April 3, 2019
Good story even overlooking the B...S... of an FBI agent sleeping with a potential FBI agents ‘ murder character’ .
September 23, 2019
I love this & I can't wait for more.
I will be also leaving a review on Goodreads @ Amazon.
And letting everyone know about it.
So i gave it a 5 Stars.
I will be also leaving a review on Goodreads @ Amazon.
And letting everyone know about it.
So i gave it a 5 Stars.
December 16, 2019
Bitter
This book was very interesting at first but really never held my attention for more than 25 minutes at anytime.
This book was very interesting at first but really never held my attention for more than 25 minutes at anytime.
March 3, 2020
3.5 really
This was a short book and wished that there would have been more to the story. overall good mystery.
This was a short book and wished that there would have been more to the story. overall good mystery.
September 27, 2020
Vanished in Bitterroot Mountais
Really good. Action kept going. One error calling one of the dead agents by the wrong name. But the plot was good.
Really good. Action kept going. One error calling one of the dead agents by the wrong name. But the plot was good.
April 10, 2021
Good read. Murder, mayhem and romance. FBI on the case as two of their own are killed. Agent and farmer fall in love.
March 25, 2022
Love or duty?
What happens when an FBI agent becomes involved with a man whose family becomes suspects in the case she’s been sent to investigate?
What happens when an FBI agent becomes involved with a man whose family becomes suspects in the case she’s been sent to investigate?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews