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Nikki Garcia #2
Coyote Zone
Nikki Garcia is an unlikely Sam Spade: a former international auditor turned private investigator who lands an assignment in Mexico to find a missing ten-year-old girl, Bibi Lombardi. The child’s estranged parents have been fighting over custody of her and one of them could be responsible for her disappearance.
It’s an easy child-snatching case—right?
Nikki thinks so until a marijuana-smoking bag lady provides eye-witness information on the girl’s abduction. Following the lead, Nikki pursues a group of dangerous criminals through designated UNESCO locations, archaeological sites, picturesque colonial towns, and barren deserts .
But when Bibi’s mother Sofía receives a ransom request, Nikki is already undercover with a gang of “Coyotes.” Nikki’s boss and fellow private eye, Floyd Webber, thinks she is on the wrong trail. Floyd is certain someone purposely gave her misleading information on the abduction to prevent her from recovering the child. Or is the kidnapper headed north to the U.S. border where Bibi’s fate could be much worse than her current situation?
Eduardo Duarte, who is enthralled with Nikki, fears the forces of evil will prevail if she continues in the search, so he starts a search of his own to find her.
Will he locate her before it’s too late?
And what will become of little Bibi?
It’s an easy child-snatching case—right?
Nikki thinks so until a marijuana-smoking bag lady provides eye-witness information on the girl’s abduction. Following the lead, Nikki pursues a group of dangerous criminals through designated UNESCO locations, archaeological sites, picturesque colonial towns, and barren deserts .
But when Bibi’s mother Sofía receives a ransom request, Nikki is already undercover with a gang of “Coyotes.” Nikki’s boss and fellow private eye, Floyd Webber, thinks she is on the wrong trail. Floyd is certain someone purposely gave her misleading information on the abduction to prevent her from recovering the child. Or is the kidnapper headed north to the U.S. border where Bibi’s fate could be much worse than her current situation?
Eduardo Duarte, who is enthralled with Nikki, fears the forces of evil will prevail if she continues in the search, so he starts a search of his own to find her.
Will he locate her before it’s too late?
And what will become of little Bibi?
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 12, 2017
127 people are currently reading
320 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Lane
10 books340 followersKathryn Lane writes mystery and suspense novels usually set in foreign countries. In her award-winning Nikki Garcia Mystery Series, her protagonist is a private investigator based in Miami who travels extensively to investigate crime cases. Her latest novel, Murder in Monte Carlo, is set in Italy and Monaco.
Her stand-alone novel, Stolen Diary, is an award-winning coming-of-age novel about Jasmin, a socially awkward math genius.
Kathryn’s short story collection, Backyard Volcano and Other Mysteries of the Heart, is also an award-winner. It relates stories set in Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico.
Kathryn and her husband, Bob Hurt, reside in Texas. They often travel for Kathryn to gather information and to do research for her novels.
Her stand-alone novel, Stolen Diary, is an award-winning coming-of-age novel about Jasmin, a socially awkward math genius.
Kathryn’s short story collection, Backyard Volcano and Other Mysteries of the Heart, is also an award-winner. It relates stories set in Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico.
Kathryn and her husband, Bob Hurt, reside in Texas. They often travel for Kathryn to gather information and to do research for her novels.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 17, 2026
Nikki is in vacation in Mexico with her fiancé when she gets a call about a kidnapped child. She can’t refuse the case and goes undercover in disguise with some truly evil men who kidnap and transport children. The author combines an exciting plot, appealing characters, and international ambiance in this excellent thriller.
July 13, 2023
This is 3 and 1/2 stars rounded up to 4 stars. Honestly, the beginning dialogue annoyed the crap out of me. It was like Eduardo was not a real person but just someone to whisper constant sweet nothings in Nikki’s ear. Their relationship was too fast and I find it weird. However, when it gets to the action this book became very exciting and I was invested. So I can live with the 4 stars. ☺️
May 26, 2021
I purchased this book from the author, Kathryn Lane, when she spoke at our bookclub about her book ‘Waking Up in Medellin.’ I decided to read Coyote after reading American Dirt, to continue the thread. Her writing style is to provide great detail; people, processes, spy-devices, historical sites and the towns and their culture & terrain. I enjoyed the personalities she gave to the pets in the plot. The main characters continue from her ‘Medellin’ book. I would not be surprised if her 3rd book in the series takes place in Barcelona, Spain.
October 10, 2017
Coyote Zone compels and thrills with trademark Kathryn Lane qualities: page-turning suspense, contemporary “ripped-from-the-headlines” conflict, dangerously high stakes, and passionately evoked romance. You will see the world differently after accompanying these memorable characters to a zone where “the devil is on the loose.”
January 23, 2018
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (01/18)
“Coyote Zone” by Kathryn Lane is the second installment in her gripping mystery thriller series: ‘A Nikki Garcia Thriller.’
While Nikki Garcia is vacationing with her fiancé Eduardo in Mexico, she gets a call from her boss asking her to go check out a kidnapping that just took place in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Putting their vacation on hold, Nikki and Eduardo take off to investigate.
The missing child is ten-year-old Bibi Lombardi. Her mother Sofia, owns a restaurant in this small town. Due to police corruption, Sofia is afraid to notify the authorities. She suspects that her Italian ex-husband Paolo and his mother Chiara are responsible, as Chiara has done this in the past. Paolo believes that Sofia faked the kidnapping as a ruse to hide their daughter from him. It is up to Nikki to uncover the truth. Having to rely on a witness who does not appear helpful at first, Nikki soon realizes that the information given to her by a bag lady known as Juana la Marihuana seems to be accurate. Against everybody’s wishes, Nikki quickly goes undercover to find Bibi, putting her at risk with human traffickers. The truth will come out and it won’t be pretty.
“Coyote Zone” is a dynamic thriller. The action is so fast-paced the reader never has a chance to catch their breath until the very end! Nikki is engaging and realistic, and I loved following right alongside her throughout the action. All the characters are well developed and most of them very likeable. Readers will have no problems hating the characters meant to be hated, particularly with the hefty subject matter Lane tackles. Human trafficking, especially involving children, is currently a huge issue, and the author does an excellent job of realistically portraying how it really happens.
With bad people working on several sides, it is hard to figure out how this story is going to end until the actual end. Clues are given, but the plot keeps twisting and turning so the reader will have to wait until the last chapter to know for sure who the bad guy is. I love thriller/suspense novels like this because they make me feel like I am on a wild roller coaster ride!
“Coyote Zone” by Kathryn Lane is highly recommended reading for fans of the genre. Intrigue, deception, kidnapping, romance – there is truly something for everyone in this exciting thriller. I cannot wait to read other novels by this author and I hope that she continues to write Nikki Garcia thrillers for a long time!
“Coyote Zone” by Kathryn Lane is the second installment in her gripping mystery thriller series: ‘A Nikki Garcia Thriller.’
While Nikki Garcia is vacationing with her fiancé Eduardo in Mexico, she gets a call from her boss asking her to go check out a kidnapping that just took place in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Putting their vacation on hold, Nikki and Eduardo take off to investigate.
The missing child is ten-year-old Bibi Lombardi. Her mother Sofia, owns a restaurant in this small town. Due to police corruption, Sofia is afraid to notify the authorities. She suspects that her Italian ex-husband Paolo and his mother Chiara are responsible, as Chiara has done this in the past. Paolo believes that Sofia faked the kidnapping as a ruse to hide their daughter from him. It is up to Nikki to uncover the truth. Having to rely on a witness who does not appear helpful at first, Nikki soon realizes that the information given to her by a bag lady known as Juana la Marihuana seems to be accurate. Against everybody’s wishes, Nikki quickly goes undercover to find Bibi, putting her at risk with human traffickers. The truth will come out and it won’t be pretty.
“Coyote Zone” is a dynamic thriller. The action is so fast-paced the reader never has a chance to catch their breath until the very end! Nikki is engaging and realistic, and I loved following right alongside her throughout the action. All the characters are well developed and most of them very likeable. Readers will have no problems hating the characters meant to be hated, particularly with the hefty subject matter Lane tackles. Human trafficking, especially involving children, is currently a huge issue, and the author does an excellent job of realistically portraying how it really happens.
With bad people working on several sides, it is hard to figure out how this story is going to end until the actual end. Clues are given, but the plot keeps twisting and turning so the reader will have to wait until the last chapter to know for sure who the bad guy is. I love thriller/suspense novels like this because they make me feel like I am on a wild roller coaster ride!
“Coyote Zone” by Kathryn Lane is highly recommended reading for fans of the genre. Intrigue, deception, kidnapping, romance – there is truly something for everyone in this exciting thriller. I cannot wait to read other novels by this author and I hope that she continues to write Nikki Garcia thrillers for a long time!
April 27, 2018
Great follow-up to Kathryn Lane's award-winning thriller, Waking Up in Medellin.
Spunky Mexican-American heroine Nikki Garcia is back, as well as several other characters from Lane's debut novel. When the story opens, Nikki is vacationing in the Yucatan with her fiance Eduardo, but their lovefest is interrupted by a call from her new boss, Floyd, to investigate a kidnapping in San Miguel de Allende. Nikki is uniquely qualified to handle the job because she is a woman, speaks Spanish fluently, and is already in the country.
Bibiana Lombardi, 10-year-old daughter of Italian immigrant restaurant owner Sofia Lombardi, disappears in a crowded market when her mother turns her head for a moment. No one can provide any information except for a maligned bag lady, Juana la Marihuana, who claims to have seen the child nabbed by a coyote, i.e., human trafficker.
Sofia assumes her estranged husband, Paolo, and his domineering mother, Chiara, have taken the child, and she refuses to listen to the crazy street woman, but Nikki and Eduardo are determined to follow all leads. Nikki ends up going undercover and walking right into the coyote's den, putting her own life in jeopardy to save Bibiana and other children from a terrible fate.
Not only is this a page-turning thriller with twist after heart-wrenching twist, but it brings awareness to the very real issue of human trafficking.
Spunky Mexican-American heroine Nikki Garcia is back, as well as several other characters from Lane's debut novel. When the story opens, Nikki is vacationing in the Yucatan with her fiance Eduardo, but their lovefest is interrupted by a call from her new boss, Floyd, to investigate a kidnapping in San Miguel de Allende. Nikki is uniquely qualified to handle the job because she is a woman, speaks Spanish fluently, and is already in the country.
Bibiana Lombardi, 10-year-old daughter of Italian immigrant restaurant owner Sofia Lombardi, disappears in a crowded market when her mother turns her head for a moment. No one can provide any information except for a maligned bag lady, Juana la Marihuana, who claims to have seen the child nabbed by a coyote, i.e., human trafficker.
Sofia assumes her estranged husband, Paolo, and his domineering mother, Chiara, have taken the child, and she refuses to listen to the crazy street woman, but Nikki and Eduardo are determined to follow all leads. Nikki ends up going undercover and walking right into the coyote's den, putting her own life in jeopardy to save Bibiana and other children from a terrible fate.
Not only is this a page-turning thriller with twist after heart-wrenching twist, but it brings awareness to the very real issue of human trafficking.
August 18, 2025
This is the second Nikki Garcia book in the series. I was very happy reading Waking up in Medellin, book one in the series and, equally as happy with Danger in the Coyote Zone. I have learned that Ms. Lane traveled extensively in her career and she draws on those memories for much of her work. Those of you have traveled internationally will 'see' the places you know from your travels as she describes them in Nikkis adventures. Where are we off to next?
October 15, 2017
Once again Kathryn has written a "can't put it down page turner". The characters are wonderful and the workings of human trafficking are insightful and scary. The subject matter is relevant and the interaction of the characters is real from custody battles to discounting "street" people. NIkki is bound to find more excitement in Spain. I can't wait to read the next novel!
August 31, 2023
Second book in this fun series was as good as the first. Nikki and her fiancé are in Mexico and asked to help find a kidnapped young girl. Upon arrival, they find clues that are conflicting and are soon drawn into the coyote child smuggling operation. Nikki goes undercover and it’s a wild ride til the end. I’m really enjoying this series!
January 8, 2024
Out of the frying pan...
Nikki Garcia has changed employerers and a missing child case occurs in Mexico where she and Edward are already vacationing. This plot is a corkscrew and the characters are very complex. can hardly wait to read book three.
Nikki Garcia has changed employerers and a missing child case occurs in Mexico where she and Edward are already vacationing. This plot is a corkscrew and the characters are very complex. can hardly wait to read book three.
September 6, 2022
Sorry but -Already read this book long time ago. Realized it pretty quickly . Same book title as before when I read it. Only thing different is the book cover.
February 7, 2023
This book has an interesting storyline that kept me churning through the pages, especially with the fascinating characters and well described place settings. I had to take some of the plot devices with a grain of salt, such as a protagonist maintaining her complex disguise in the sweltering desert heat for days on end with no one noticing. Still, it is a fast-paced, gripping novel!
July 1, 2020
This book needed some more editing. Good story but too simplistic writing style. Characters needed richer development and less predictable/cute actions. Dialogue was choppy and awkward. Transitions needed smoothing.
October 3, 2021
Another great suspenseful book
This is another great book in this series and I can't wait to get started on the next. I recommend reading this book along with the whole series as I am on my way to do.
This is another great book in this series and I can't wait to get started on the next. I recommend reading this book along with the whole series as I am on my way to do.
May 2, 2022
Nikki Garcia and her Fiancé Eduardo get involved in a kidnaping
Nikki and Eduardo get involved in a kidnaping gone wrong involving human traffickers specializing in children. They are after one special girl but will save as many as they can when the chance comes along.
Nikki and Eduardo get involved in a kidnaping gone wrong involving human traffickers specializing in children. They are after one special girl but will save as many as they can when the chance comes along.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews