Backcountry

Sam Westin Mysteries #4

by Pamela Beason

Sam Westin is rarely afraid in the wilderness, but maybe she should be now. Her friends Kyla and Kim were murdered on a popular hiking trail only a few weeks ago and the murderer is still unidentified. When Sam steps in as a substitute for Kim to shepherd six troubled teens through the backcountry, she can't help watching over her shoulder. Has grief at the violent deaths of her friends made her paranoid, or is she right to suspect her rag-tag band is sharing the mountain wilderness with the killer?

Genres: Adventure

301 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2017

About the author

Pamela Beason lives in the Pacific Northwest, where she writes novels and screenplays and works as a private investigator. When she's not on the job, she explores the natural world on foot, in cross-country skis, in her kayak, or underwater scuba diving.

Beason is the author of nine full-length fiction works: THE ONLY WITNESS, THE ONLY CLUE (books 1 and 2 of the Neema Mysteries); SHAKEN, CALL OF THE JAGUAR (romantic suspense novels), ENDANGERED, BEAR BAIT, and UNDERCURRENTS in the Summer "Sam" Westin series; and RACE WITH DANGER and RACE TO TRUTH, books 1 and 2 of a YA Run for Your Life adventure trilogy. She also wrote the nonfiction titles, SAVE YOUR MONEY, YOUR SANITY, AND OUR PLANET and SO YOU WANT TO BE A PI?. Pam's writing has earned her multiple prizes, including the Daphne du Maurier Award, two First Place prizes and two Grand Prizes in the Chanticleer Book Reviews Contest, and an Honorable Mention in a Library Journal contest.

As an avid outdoorswoman and animal lover, Beason challenges the human assumption that we are the superior species. Drifting through life is not enough; you have to live it.

Pamela blogs and tweets about writing, outdoor adventures, and the value of being present in the moment. She looks forward to connecting with readers on her Twitter, Goodreads Page or Blog.

Reviews

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another really good addition to the Sam Westin series. After two of Sam's closest friend, a mother and daughter, are shot and killed while out hiking, Sam is recruited to take the place of one of the women in leading an expedition into the wilds of the Cascade Mountains in Washington. A 21 day trek through the mountains leading a group of troubled teens is a whole new experience for Sam. With a killer still on the loose, there is even more for Sam to worry about than just helping these teenagers to learn to appreciate the outdoors, or make changes in their lives that will put them on better paths into the future. The author does a great job of building suspense, and of developing the character of each of the 6 teens, as well as the two "peer counselors" who are along on this trip. And the wilderness setting made this an even better, and more mysterious, story.

[Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fourth book in the series of Summer “Sam” Westin. I have heard about guides taking troubled kids out on hikes for weeks on end. Also rafting trips. I enjoyed that part of the story. The rest was interesting also.

[Pat Cheesbro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good story line, but it seemed geared more to a young adult reader.

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely excellent. The whole setting, with a wilderness expedition for troubled teens, was engrossing. Loads of suspense.

[Ericka Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story. Sam becomes a trail for a group of troubled teens.

[Avery Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam Westin is a powerhouse in her own right, even facing troubled teens in the middle of nowhere. FBI agent Chase Perez is present sporadically throughout the story, primarily in the struggle to maintain a long-distance relationship. Maya Velasquez from the second book gets a starring role in this story as a team member for the wilderness trek. The troubled teens are: Olivia Bari - frequent truancy and suicide risk, Gabriel Schmidt - computer gaming addict, Justin Orlov - bully and on probation for vandalism and assault, Taylor Durand - obsessed with appearance and potential drug user, Nick Lewis - cuts himself, and Ashley Brown - drop out and run away.

Wilderness Quest is a twenty-one day wilderness therapy program for troubled teens and provides the set up for this murder mystery. The grandeur of North Cascades National Park is on display as Sam imparts her love of nature to the troubled teens. There is a sense of danger that shadows the group on its daily hikes and overnight camping throughout.
The plot is deceptively simple and develops before your eyes in subtle ways that are easy to miss. Without intentionally investigating the murder of her two friends, Sam is picking up clues as she leads these troubled teens. A subplot is the investigating detective for the murder suspects Sam somehow being involved. Pacing is steady throughout between the daily rigors of dealing with six troubled teens, the investigation which Sam is a suspect, and Sam's personal life juggling time with Chase.

The various threads and tensions continue even after the trek and Sam stumbles across the murderer who was closer to the Wilderness Quest than ever suspected. The wrap-up is satisfying, ties up all the loose threads, and and ensures the next book will continue Sam's exciting adventures. To say it is a happy ending seems so trite, yet it does leave a smile on your face as the story ends.

I am particularly fond of Chase Perez and would like to see more of this character - perhaps Sam and Chase could work on the same mystery. Of the many romantic interests in the cozy genre, I find Chase Perez the most fascinating and holds the most potential. I was surprised at how vested in these troubled teens I had grown through the story. I have to admit that when the Wilderness Quest concluded and Sam watched these teens return to their families I shed a tear or two.

Rating: Near Perfect - Couldn't Put it. Buy two copies, one for you and one for a friend.

[merlin513 · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Borderlands’ is a break from previous books as Sam ends up stumbling over the consequences of a murder in her home state of Washington.

I honestly don’t remember Kim or Kyla unless they were a part of the Outreach group encountered in the first book. But the outcome of the murder mystery is stunning and simultaneously heart-breaking.

Having worked one summer in my states YCC (Youth Conservation Corp) while in high school, I really enjoyed the portrayal of the kids in the Wilderness Quest outreach program. It perfectly captured what it’s like taking a bunch of teen kids from all environments and backgrounds and throwing them together for a few months. The growth and camaraderie that comes out of such a program.

Still really enjoying this series!

[Judith Trail · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an intriguing, fast-paced adventure in the Cascade Mountains. Sam Westin's close friends, mother and daughter, were murdered while hiking. The women, along with the husband of the mother, run a program taking troubled teens into the wilderness for counseling and psychological healing in nature. Sam agrees to act as the principal guide/counselor for the last group of the season in honor of her friends' commitment to the program. Nature is amazing, the kids are teens and troubled, and Sam is alternately focused on them and still troubled by the murder of her friends. Then the kids and Sam hear gun shots in the distance and see the figure of a hunter in the distance, who seems to be shadowing the group on their 3 week long trek. Pretty soon, Sam starts to think that the answer to the mysterious shooting might be closer than anyone thought. This is an interesting look at a program designed to help teens and the fact that it is never just the teen that is troubled, but the entire family. A very well written and engaging story.

[Dave Weller · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Sam's friends Kim and Kayla are found murdered next to Pinnacle Lake, their husband and father, Troy, asks her to substitute for Kim in the next scheduled Wilderness Quest backcountry expedition with six troubled teenagers. She reluctantly takes the assignment, but of course complications arise, or it would not be a mystery/thriller. I loved the character development of the six backcountry teens, and the author did a fabulous job of describing the three week outing and the bonding that resulted. I loved this part of the book. The resolution of the mystery transpires quite a bit after the completion of the three week expedition, but there is a link. Of course, the novel continues the overarching saga of Sam and Chase and her roommate Blake and cat Simon. A touching side story revolves around a stray dog that Sam and Blake temporarily adopt. I am sold on Pamela Beason and the Summer Westin mystery series. Bring on book number 5.

[Jeanette Hubbard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a fast-paced thriller set in the North Cascades. Sam Weston is dragooned into riding herd on a group of troubled teenagers on a wilderness trek. She is still grieving over the murder of two of her dearest friends who were hiking not all that far from where she and her group are hiking. There is a building sense of dread as some of the teens think they may not be alone on the trail. If they are being stalked is it a Grizzly or the most dangerous animal in the woods, man? Twists and surprises as Sam tries to figure out what is going on, and what really happened to her friends.

[RedRedtheycallmeRed · Rating 2 out of 5]

I haven't read any of the others in this series, but I thought I might since I like wilderness survival stories. Unfortunately, I didn't like Sam at all. She was extremely judgmental about the kids she was leading, and cruel in some of her thoughts about them.

The mystery was ok, the clues were rather obvious, but Sam's stupidity about it all annoyed me so much! If someone tries to kill you, you don't go to their house to inquire if they had murder on their mind. Needless to say I won't be reading further in this series.

[Cherie O'Boyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer Westin and a group of problem teenagers are pursued through the forest by a threatening stranger. Or is that only a raccoon in the underbrush? Or possibly one of the teenagers themselves? The suspense mounts as Author Pamela Beason takes us along, backpacking on another wilderness mystery in the Cascade mountains. Perfect for fans of Nevada Barr’s earlier books. And the end of this exciting mystery will take you completely by surprise. My favorite one yet!

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of hiking. Not much suspense. I enjoyed some of the hiking sections of the book and some of the character dynamics. But the murder section felt tacked on and lazy, not well integrated with the story or creating much suspense. Also, Summer’s relationship with Chase is getting old, hovering at a stalemate that has not advanced emotionally since we first met him. The series needs a strong fifth novel to nudge it out of the slump it found itself in.

[Laura Steinert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another winner by Beason. Sam, who doesn't like children at all, leads a pack of troubled teens into the wilderness--pretty much against their will. The program is designed to "reset" the teens' mindset and allow them a chance to see their life differently. While the focus is on healing, there is still a murder mystery to solve, a stalker, suspicious persons, and the constant fear that one or more of the teens will run away. Plenty of excitement, suspense, and plot twists.

[Sherron L Pace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder in a scenic setting

The suspense and fire shadowing in this book are superb along with an almost unforseen twist at the send make this an excellent read.
I totally have enjoyed reading this series and intend to read more of author Pamela Beasons' books. She does a beautiful job of describing the great Northwest.

[Ellen Thielen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite of this series so far! Summer takes a job leading troubled youths into the backcountry. The position was held by her friends murdered earlier out in the wilderness. Surprise ending.

[KerryO · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book thinking Sam will have a really boring time with her new assignment. Was I wrong! The teenage "crew" turned out to be totally enjoyable and the twist at the end, although a bit expected, still left me wondering why.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

I've read a few of the books about Sam Westin and enjoyed them all. I can highly recommend any of them. This is just as good as any to begin with!!

[Laurie Blacker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love Summer / Sam. Can't wait for #5!

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

My fav

This book may be my favorite of the series. I really enjoyed all of the Sam Westin books and I hope there will be more!

[Lynne Donnelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

This books was fantastic. I enjoyed the characters and the twists it has. The teenagers were awesome. The end was very good.

[Dell Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to read the series!

The story takes place in beautiful, rugged northern Washington, in areas I have traveled. The plot kept me engaged. Didn't want to put it down.