What do you think?
Rate this book
Fox Walker #1
Tracker: A Fox Walker Novel
Award-Winning Book One of the Fox Walker Suspense Novels
A mysterious woman surviving in the wilderness with no memory of her past and a torso riddled with scars.
A killer who's desperate to find her and finish what he started.
And a man who's determined to protect her at any cost.
Loner and expert tracker, Fox Walker, has been apprenticed since early childhood in the ancient Native American skills of survival. After rumors surface about someone—or something—living in a nearby forest, the local Sheriff asks for his help in uncovering the truth. Much to Walker's surprise, what he discovers is a mysterious young woman living as a primitive deep in the Colorado wilderness. She has a torso covered with intricate scars, no memory of her past, no desire to be rescued, and no reason to trust Walker, despite his willingness to help her.
When her remarkable story is made public, the killer responsible for her emotional and physical damage knows he must track her down and complete his ritual. Determined not to let that happen, Walker soon finds himself in the midst of an FBI manhunt, where he's called upon to use all his unique skills and wisdom to save the intriguing and misunderstood Woman of the Wilderness ... a woman Walker eventually discovers is more than who she appears to be.
Best Fiction Award at Southern California Writers Conference
Finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards 2017
Finalist in the San Diego Book Awards 2017
A mysterious woman surviving in the wilderness with no memory of her past and a torso riddled with scars.
A killer who's desperate to find her and finish what he started.
And a man who's determined to protect her at any cost.
Loner and expert tracker, Fox Walker, has been apprenticed since early childhood in the ancient Native American skills of survival. After rumors surface about someone—or something—living in a nearby forest, the local Sheriff asks for his help in uncovering the truth. Much to Walker's surprise, what he discovers is a mysterious young woman living as a primitive deep in the Colorado wilderness. She has a torso covered with intricate scars, no memory of her past, no desire to be rescued, and no reason to trust Walker, despite his willingness to help her.
When her remarkable story is made public, the killer responsible for her emotional and physical damage knows he must track her down and complete his ritual. Determined not to let that happen, Walker soon finds himself in the midst of an FBI manhunt, where he's called upon to use all his unique skills and wisdom to save the intriguing and misunderstood Woman of the Wilderness ... a woman Walker eventually discovers is more than who she appears to be.
Best Fiction Award at Southern California Writers Conference
Finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards 2017
Finalist in the San Diego Book Awards 2017
334 pages, Paperback
First published September 23, 2016
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
May 17, 2018
I actually finished this yesterday-- so I read it in less than 24 hrs, but I couldn't sleep until I found out what happened! Oh, I tried to bookmark it and tell myself I needed rest, but when sleep eluded me, I would continue to read; when I got to the last 100 pages, I said "Oh heck with it.... I am obviously not going to be able to sleep until I finish this)... so, yes, I thought it was a very good thriller /mystery.Fox Walker is a Native American who has helped the police in his area on cases to help track a victim or suspect, and he has just been asked to help with his most unusual request from them he has ever had-- to track to make sure there is NO ONE there. It is a region of some dense forest that has always been part of the Shoshone sacred grounds, but for a number of years has been privately owned. Locals have always been sort of spooked by that area and avoided it if they could, but lately there have been reports of seeing someone (? or something) walking around in there... perhaps it is connected with a recent murder that has had no leads? So Fox is sent to try to find out the truth....There has also been a serial killer operating for the last 2 years in multiple states and has eluded law enforcement. The killer always leaves a very distinctive pattern carved on the victim's body before death, a design you might say, with a new victim every 3 months. The authorities are at a loss because they still have no leads. What they do know is that his victims of choice are blond, female and work in some way connected with art-- those criteria along with his distinctive design on the bodies have caused the law and media to nickname him "The Art Critic". Fox discovers that the "phantom" in the woods is not anything supernatural, but a young woman who can't remember anything past 6 months ago. She has lived in a cave in the woods for the past 6 months, and he is bewildered by what he observes. She is a young, blond white woman with a grasp of the Shoshone language and will switch during talking from English to Shoshone and back again, but what is odd is that she mispronounces the words as if she learned them from a book, but she understands concepts about the Shoshone culture that most non-Shoshone generally wouldn't know. He is also puzzled that she has been able to survive those 6 months in a cave with no contact of any kind with the outside world and with nothing modern to help her and her obvious knowledge of survival skills, but when he observes her doing something regarding one of those skills, it is obvious she is a novice in many ways. Fox is bewildered, and add to that the weird designs on her skin and the unusual knife and 1 earring she has.So much suspense and unexpected twists, that this book kept me guessing, and like I said, unable to sleep until my curiosity of the outcome was satisfied. I liked the characters, and thought it was a well written book with no noticeable typos. I look forward to reading more from this author, and (hope) this develops into a series because I would enjoy reading more stories featuring Fox Walker.I received this book in exchange for an honest review-- thank you!
May 22, 2018
My rating 5.0
The book Tracker: A Fox Walker Novel by Indy Quillen it's a book you do not leave out of your hand until you finish reading. The story drags you to constantly ask what's going to be on the next page. The writer writes you with his elegant writing into a world of woods so beautifully described that you simply enjoy it. I personally love books that I simply was drawn into his story, a story in the book is great. Tracker Fox Walker, who is a loner and lives alone in a log cabin, gets a new assignment from the police commander. Police commander wants to silence rumors that the killers and ghosts located in the woods and organize a search to discover the reason for these rumors. Walker accepts this task but under the condition that he is exploring that part of the forest alone. Walker is of Indian origin; his grandfather taught him how to make a living in the wild. Walker goes straight to search and soon finds traces. In the woods, he finds a woman who found a shelter in a small cave. The first thing that surprised him was that he knew a lot about nature and knew the Indian way of hunting, though it was not of Indian origin. Walker decided to gain her trust and soon comes into contact with her. Although he does not know that this event will be to motivate an avalanche of events in which his life will be found in the maelstrom of danger. This thriller I recommend to all lovers of genres, I enjoyed reading this book.
The book Tracker: A Fox Walker Novel by Indy Quillen it's a book you do not leave out of your hand until you finish reading. The story drags you to constantly ask what's going to be on the next page. The writer writes you with his elegant writing into a world of woods so beautifully described that you simply enjoy it. I personally love books that I simply was drawn into his story, a story in the book is great. Tracker Fox Walker, who is a loner and lives alone in a log cabin, gets a new assignment from the police commander. Police commander wants to silence rumors that the killers and ghosts located in the woods and organize a search to discover the reason for these rumors. Walker accepts this task but under the condition that he is exploring that part of the forest alone. Walker is of Indian origin; his grandfather taught him how to make a living in the wild. Walker goes straight to search and soon finds traces. In the woods, he finds a woman who found a shelter in a small cave. The first thing that surprised him was that he knew a lot about nature and knew the Indian way of hunting, though it was not of Indian origin. Walker decided to gain her trust and soon comes into contact with her. Although he does not know that this event will be to motivate an avalanche of events in which his life will be found in the maelstrom of danger. This thriller I recommend to all lovers of genres, I enjoyed reading this book.
Read
January 13, 2017Being outside in nature is the most basic part of who I am. Besides gaining knowledge about wildlife, I learn lessons about who I am, and surprise myself about what I am capable of achieving. Nature continually inspires me. It is a part of all my writings, no matter the genre or subject matter. I hope readers enjoy their journey in the wilderness with Fox Walker.
September 28, 2026
Engaging story, likeable characters. I sometimes felt it dragged a bit, but not bad.
November 22, 2016
I liked it. Actually, I liked it a lot (4-stars), except for some dialogue issues which I'll get to in a moment. The main characters, Fox Walker, a Ute tracker living on the western slopes of the Colorado Rockies, and the "wildwoman" are well drawn, and Fox seems especially believable. The wildwoman slightly less so, but that is perhaps because even she doesn't remember her background. I loved how the environment - the mountains, the forest, the weather - became almost another character in the book, and was consistent with Fox Walker's nature based life. Excellent.
The plot maintained my interest throughout the story (I read it in one sitting), with twists and setbacks. The introduction of an irritating, meddlesome reporter was also good, increasing tension.
In general, the writing was excellent and appropriate for the genre - psychological thriller w/ romantic aspects. The language was clear, straightforward, and allowed the story to keep moving. However, what knocked it down to 3-stars for me was that some of the dialogue seemed stilted. There was what felt like explaining - nothing egregious ("As you know, Billy, your mother died last week.") - but still, not all of it felt like real dialogue. For example, dying man to rescuer: "Thank you for trying to keep me warm, but it's the loss of blood that makes me shiver. I don't know that help is coming ... not in time. You need to get me to the hospital." Really?
And it occasionally, not often, but occasionally, falls into what I think of as slightly over-the-top goody-goody earnestness.
"...This experience has taught me something about myself. I don't want to hurt people. I want to help people. I'm going on record right now - with Dean as my witness - I am not going to bother you anymore..."
Again, nothing egregious, but I honestly do not know anyone who speaks like this.
So. A generally 4-star story, which I reduced to 3 because some of the language, especially some of the dialogue, pulled me from the story and reminded me that I was at home, reading a book, and not out in the wilds of Colorado.
The plot maintained my interest throughout the story (I read it in one sitting), with twists and setbacks. The introduction of an irritating, meddlesome reporter was also good, increasing tension.
In general, the writing was excellent and appropriate for the genre - psychological thriller w/ romantic aspects. The language was clear, straightforward, and allowed the story to keep moving. However, what knocked it down to 3-stars for me was that some of the dialogue seemed stilted. There was what felt like explaining - nothing egregious ("As you know, Billy, your mother died last week.") - but still, not all of it felt like real dialogue. For example, dying man to rescuer: "Thank you for trying to keep me warm, but it's the loss of blood that makes me shiver. I don't know that help is coming ... not in time. You need to get me to the hospital." Really?
And it occasionally, not often, but occasionally, falls into what I think of as slightly over-the-top goody-goody earnestness.
"...This experience has taught me something about myself. I don't want to hurt people. I want to help people. I'm going on record right now - with Dean as my witness - I am not going to bother you anymore..."
Again, nothing egregious, but I honestly do not know anyone who speaks like this.
So. A generally 4-star story, which I reduced to 3 because some of the language, especially some of the dialogue, pulled me from the story and reminded me that I was at home, reading a book, and not out in the wilds of Colorado.
January 27, 2017
I enjoyed this book — a lot.
I found Indy Quillen’s debut novel to be much better than the majority of the crap (including NYT best-sellers) I've read recently that has come from the Big Five in New York, proving again that while the “establishment” believes it knows what it’s doing, it, in fact, is no different than Hollywood in subscribing to the notion that if one throws enough stuff at the wall, something is bound to stick eventually.
I found the story engaging and gripping (I read it in three days, compared to three weeks for books that don’t truly grab me) — a fresh twist on the at-times tiresome serial-killer theme. I also liked that it features a Native American, for a change.
Tracker is the first in the author’s Fox Walker series. In it, the expert tracker and wilderness survival instructor is asked to investigate a report of someone living alone in the Colorado wilderness, with the onslaught an unforgiving winter approaching. His discovery puts his skills to the test and unleashes a series of events that imperil not only his life, but the lives of others.
Watch for the next books in the series: Pursuit, spring 2017, and Redemption (TBA).
I found Indy Quillen’s debut novel to be much better than the majority of the crap (including NYT best-sellers) I've read recently that has come from the Big Five in New York, proving again that while the “establishment” believes it knows what it’s doing, it, in fact, is no different than Hollywood in subscribing to the notion that if one throws enough stuff at the wall, something is bound to stick eventually.
I found the story engaging and gripping (I read it in three days, compared to three weeks for books that don’t truly grab me) — a fresh twist on the at-times tiresome serial-killer theme. I also liked that it features a Native American, for a change.
Tracker is the first in the author’s Fox Walker series. In it, the expert tracker and wilderness survival instructor is asked to investigate a report of someone living alone in the Colorado wilderness, with the onslaught an unforgiving winter approaching. His discovery puts his skills to the test and unleashes a series of events that imperil not only his life, but the lives of others.
Watch for the next books in the series: Pursuit, spring 2017, and Redemption (TBA).
May 25, 2018
5 Stars. Tracker is a story about Fox Walker, a Native American tracker asked by the local sheriff to search Gray’s Forest in Colorado—not to find a fugitive hiding out in the woods—but to prove that no one is there! Brilliant. I loved the way the author portrayed the protagonist’s survival skills and Native American culture. So interesting. However, this is primarily a love story and the author does her job beautifully, seamlessly weaving the love story—Nataya’s struggle for survival, Walker’s struggle against his desire for her—with the FBI’s quest to find a serial killer, who is determined to make Nataya his next victim.
The author writes beautifully, the images she creates are strong and clear, and I love her ploy of making the serial killer an “art critic.” Again, brilliant. But to get back to Walker’s character. Honestly, he’s so interesting, and his survival skills so fascinating, that I can see this book being made into a TV series. I also like Nataya’s independence and determination not to rely on a man. My only quibble is whether the serial killer’s identity/motive should’ve been integrated into the plot more to give readers that “ah, ha, so that’s who/why” moment. Nonetheless, the book is terrific, it felt complete and polished, and I highly recommend this 5 Star Read!
The author writes beautifully, the images she creates are strong and clear, and I love her ploy of making the serial killer an “art critic.” Again, brilliant. But to get back to Walker’s character. Honestly, he’s so interesting, and his survival skills so fascinating, that I can see this book being made into a TV series. I also like Nataya’s independence and determination not to rely on a man. My only quibble is whether the serial killer’s identity/motive should’ve been integrated into the plot more to give readers that “ah, ha, so that’s who/why” moment. Nonetheless, the book is terrific, it felt complete and polished, and I highly recommend this 5 Star Read!
May 16, 2018
The book “Tracker” is an excellent thriller by Indy Quillen. I am so glad I received a print copy of this book, because I really love it. I read it pretty quickly. It’s about the Native American Fox Walker who lives in the mountains of Colorado. He is a survivalist who lives simply. He’s so good with nature, he sometimes assists the local police, finding people who might be lost in the wilderness. He finds a woman out in the woods who lives in a cave but who has lost her memories of what happened to her before she lived in the cave. She names herself “Nataya,” but readers are left wondering if that’s her real name and who she is exactly. Fox Walker and Nataya are nice and loveable characters who I wanted to find out more about and they enticed me to keep reading. This book celebrates the love of nature, and since I love nature, I really loved the book. Seemingly unrelated in the story there is a hunt for a serial killer who has been killing every three months on the new moon for at least two years. FBI consultant Dean McClure and his friend Clay are frantically searching for this guy. These two characters are great as well. The serial killer hunt and the survivalists characters do come together in the exciting end in this book. The one criticism I do have (which is a spoiler) is that I wish Quillen would have described the serial characters motives more, and explained the importance of the new moon and what he was trying to achieve with his kills (other than making sacrifices to atone for some tragedy in is past). What exactly was the tragedy that happened? It seems his father had killed his mother and blamed him, but I’m not exactly clear. Despite these questions I’m left with, the book is complete and polished. If you are interested in nature, the Native American culture, survival, and thrillers, I highly recommend you read this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2016
When one goes through a 328-page novel in a day, one has found something special. So it is with Indy Quillen's debut.
Fox Walker is an eminently admirable character, a man at peace with his environment and mindful of the natural duty to help others. The woman of mystery he encounters in the course of the story, who calls herself Nataya, is even more essential, but also plainly the victim of something unspeakable and an incident she cannot remember.
As Walker and Nataya press on with their mutual journey of discovery, getting to know them is a true pleasure. Quillen's tight plot structure and sense of drama only add to the pleasure of the read.
All in all, a solid work of thriller/suspense and an easy five stars.
Fox Walker is an eminently admirable character, a man at peace with his environment and mindful of the natural duty to help others. The woman of mystery he encounters in the course of the story, who calls herself Nataya, is even more essential, but also plainly the victim of something unspeakable and an incident she cannot remember.
As Walker and Nataya press on with their mutual journey of discovery, getting to know them is a true pleasure. Quillen's tight plot structure and sense of drama only add to the pleasure of the read.
All in all, a solid work of thriller/suspense and an easy five stars.
July 18, 2020
I was born in Jasper Alberta, into a family of outdoorsmen. I grew up in the Rockies and the Selkirk's, and Indie's writing is spot on. It brought me back to those days of hiking and camping in the wilderness with my father and brothers. We were friends with a lot of indigenous locals, so Walker resonated and reminded me of some of those old friends.
Indie is a good writer - her plot, structure and character development is excellent. She's woven a good story with a few twists and surprises around the corner, and sets up her next book nicely. Anyone who enjoys a good mystery, and the smell of pine needle tea will be right at home with this one.
Indie is a good writer - her plot, structure and character development is excellent. She's woven a good story with a few twists and surprises around the corner, and sets up her next book nicely. Anyone who enjoys a good mystery, and the smell of pine needle tea will be right at home with this one.
December 25, 2016
I really enjoyed this story. The main character is compelling, the setting is exquisite, and the dramatic tension pulls the reader in. I liked the aspect of Native American lore woven into the narrative, and also the survival/self-sufficiency aspect. From reading this book you not only get good fiction, but also some ideas of how to keep yourself alive in the wilderness. Lastly, the young woman found by Fox Walker is an enigma, and I hope she'll play a part in future novels.
November 28, 2016
A really wonderful first novel - a well plotted mystery that kept me turning the pages. I liked the Colorado setting and the main character, Fox Walker - the competence and Native American spiritual connections were wonderful. I also liked the strong female character Nataya - she was so interesting and not just a victim. I hope to be seeing further Fox Walker adventures!
December 31, 2016
This book was thoroughly entertaining. I have not read a book in quite a while that I finished in a day. Once I started I just wanted to keep going. Characters were believable and kept the story going. I liked the way she moved the story around and developed each one.
June 22, 2017
I love a book that I have to sit down and walk away from for a minute. You don't know what is going to happen or if you can handle what is going to happen. This book did this to me. So much fun to read!
June 3, 2018
I requested this book from the author as it seemed like something I would enjoy. I was fortunate to receive this book from her and I really enjoyed it. This was a thriller/suspense that was a little different from others I have read.
In this story we meet Fox Walker. He is a Native American who has helps the police tracking in the large forested and mountainous region. He normally tracks people lost, but in this case, he is looking for any sign that there is a person who is responsible for crimes, hiding out. It is an unusual request to track to make sure there is NO ONE there. It is a region of some dense forest that has always been part of the Shoshone sacred grounds, but for a number of years has been privately owned. Locals have always been sort of spooked by that area and avoided it if they could, but lately there have been reports of seeing someone walking around in there... perhaps it is connected with a recent murder that has had no leads? What is surprising is that Fox finds a woman living in a cave. She has no memory of anything prior to six months when she woke up in a clearing and made her way to the cave. She has a lot of knowledge of living in the wild and uses many Shoshone words. The police capture her and take her to town to see if she has any ties to the murder.
There is a second case being investigated further afield where the FBI is looking for a serial killer, "The Art Critic". This murderer has been killing women every three months carving a complex pattern onto the torso of the victim. They are sure there is one victim that has not yet been found. The authorities are at a loss because they still have no leads. What they do know is that his victims of choice are blond, female and work in some way connected with art. When a reporter tricks the young woman found in the cave, so that he can take pictures of the scars on her torso, the FBI thinks they have found their missing victim.
There is a lot suspense and twists in the story. The suspense comes with the serial killer. Will he come after Nataya to finish the job? Will the FBI finally catch "The Art Critic"? I liked the characters, and thought it was a well written book. The relationship between Nataya and Fox added another dimension to the story. Through thoughts that Fox has when he realizes that he is developing feelings toward Nataya, we learn more about his past as well as his remembering things his grandfather taught him while doing his tracking. I look forward to reading more from this author, and reading more stories featuring Fox Walker.
In this story we meet Fox Walker. He is a Native American who has helps the police tracking in the large forested and mountainous region. He normally tracks people lost, but in this case, he is looking for any sign that there is a person who is responsible for crimes, hiding out. It is an unusual request to track to make sure there is NO ONE there. It is a region of some dense forest that has always been part of the Shoshone sacred grounds, but for a number of years has been privately owned. Locals have always been sort of spooked by that area and avoided it if they could, but lately there have been reports of seeing someone walking around in there... perhaps it is connected with a recent murder that has had no leads? What is surprising is that Fox finds a woman living in a cave. She has no memory of anything prior to six months when she woke up in a clearing and made her way to the cave. She has a lot of knowledge of living in the wild and uses many Shoshone words. The police capture her and take her to town to see if she has any ties to the murder.
There is a second case being investigated further afield where the FBI is looking for a serial killer, "The Art Critic". This murderer has been killing women every three months carving a complex pattern onto the torso of the victim. They are sure there is one victim that has not yet been found. The authorities are at a loss because they still have no leads. What they do know is that his victims of choice are blond, female and work in some way connected with art. When a reporter tricks the young woman found in the cave, so that he can take pictures of the scars on her torso, the FBI thinks they have found their missing victim.
There is a lot suspense and twists in the story. The suspense comes with the serial killer. Will he come after Nataya to finish the job? Will the FBI finally catch "The Art Critic"? I liked the characters, and thought it was a well written book. The relationship between Nataya and Fox added another dimension to the story. Through thoughts that Fox has when he realizes that he is developing feelings toward Nataya, we learn more about his past as well as his remembering things his grandfather taught him while doing his tracking. I look forward to reading more from this author, and reading more stories featuring Fox Walker.
December 30, 2016
A great, well-written, fast-moving story of mystery and survivalism set in the Colorado Rockies. Fox Walker is called upon to use skills handed down from his forebears to find, and eventually protect "the ghost of the woods" in the midst of an FBI manhunt. Well-written with a few, very minor awkward phases or inauthentic dialogue elements. Unfortunately a somewhat linear plot prevents this from attaining a fifth star.
October 24, 2017
Indy Quillen tells wonderful stories!
August 3, 2018
This is the first Indy Quillen book I've read, thus the first Fox Walker, and I was not disappointed. A great suspense mixed with First Nation knowledge and many survival skills (which I have neatly tucked into my own notebook). There is the initial surprise, the distrust, the unusual even for Fox. There are a lot of characters well-rounded with their own stories, pain and ambitions. I started the read last night, and eventually had to go to bed (reluctantly) and picked it back up a few hours ago. Thoroughly satisfied, I am on my way to the next Fox Walker book in the series.
September 29, 2018
Enjoyed this book enormously. The book is a thriller that grabbed me from the beginning. I love the inclusion of Native American words. I highly recommend this book.
September 3, 2018
This is a mystery, thriller, and survival story rolled into one. This contemporary novel mainly takes place in the woods and mountains of Colorado.
A Native American man named Fox Walker is hired by the sheriff to track down somebody who MIGHT be a fugitive hiding in the woods. He accepts, and sets off on an adventure that will change his life forever.
A mysterious woman who calls herself Nataya has a past she can't remember, and an uncertain future. Living day to day by sheer will and ingenuity, she sustains herself, and is happy with what she has. However, things soon threaten to change her way of life forever.
This was, without a doubt, the best and most well-researched survival story I have ever read... and I have read many! The plot, the action, the well developed characters, the survival information, the suspense, everything about this book draws the reader in and makes the book nearly impossible to put down. The characters are of special impact to a reader; you either loved them or hated them, and each one triggered your emotions in some way. Fox Walker was nearly as perfect a hero as you could get without making the story unrealistic.
I loved this book, and while it was a standalone book, I definitely want to read the sequel. Now THAT is how a survival story is supposed to be written! Five stars... but I'd give it more if I could!
A Native American man named Fox Walker is hired by the sheriff to track down somebody who MIGHT be a fugitive hiding in the woods. He accepts, and sets off on an adventure that will change his life forever.
A mysterious woman who calls herself Nataya has a past she can't remember, and an uncertain future. Living day to day by sheer will and ingenuity, she sustains herself, and is happy with what she has. However, things soon threaten to change her way of life forever.
This was, without a doubt, the best and most well-researched survival story I have ever read... and I have read many! The plot, the action, the well developed characters, the survival information, the suspense, everything about this book draws the reader in and makes the book nearly impossible to put down. The characters are of special impact to a reader; you either loved them or hated them, and each one triggered your emotions in some way. Fox Walker was nearly as perfect a hero as you could get without making the story unrealistic.
I loved this book, and while it was a standalone book, I definitely want to read the sequel. Now THAT is how a survival story is supposed to be written! Five stars... but I'd give it more if I could!
February 18, 2018
Want a diverse MC in a suspenseful to the death in the Colorado Rockies? Throw in a woman who survived a serial killer and has no memory of her past life or the assault, living in the forest as a wild woman, and you get the story of Fox Walker and Nataya. He must earn her trust to leave the forest before winter threatens to make leaving impossible, all the while the serial killer learns she's survived and is coming back to finish the job.
This was a 3.5 star read for me. Loved the representation of Fox Walker being Native American and not morally gray. He is a solid hero, compassionate and kind, and can read the forest like most can read the back of a cereal box. Survival skills are a big aspect to this novel so if you're into characters acting authentically, here you go.
The romance is light with the focus being on surviving in the forest and the serial killer investigation. I wanted more romance, but that's just me. And sometimes the dialogue between the cops got a little too explanatory. Again, just my opinion, you may feel differently. This series has promise and the next book, PURSUIT, is already out.
This was a 3.5 star read for me. Loved the representation of Fox Walker being Native American and not morally gray. He is a solid hero, compassionate and kind, and can read the forest like most can read the back of a cereal box. Survival skills are a big aspect to this novel so if you're into characters acting authentically, here you go.
The romance is light with the focus being on surviving in the forest and the serial killer investigation. I wanted more romance, but that's just me. And sometimes the dialogue between the cops got a little too explanatory. Again, just my opinion, you may feel differently. This series has promise and the next book, PURSUIT, is already out.
October 3, 2018
Tracker
This is one of the best book I read this summer. After reading this book I down loaded the second book in this series. Looking forward to more book. I so enjoy the tracks thru the wilderness in this book. I felt like I was there. Great book.
This is one of the best book I read this summer. After reading this book I down loaded the second book in this series. Looking forward to more book. I so enjoy the tracks thru the wilderness in this book. I felt like I was there. Great book.
May 20, 2018
Overview:
An entertaining thriller that makes a fast, light, weekend read and creates some real page-turning tension.
The Story:
Native American with phenomenal tracking skills helps search mountain forest in Colorado for a serial killer and finds a woman living in the wild. As he tries to look after her others are trying to find her, including a reporter from a trashy magazine, some FBI consultants and perhaps a serial killer.
Things I Liked:
Good pacing, taking enough time to bring the bits of the story together yet winding up to real I-have-to-turn-the-next-page-RIGHT-NOW tension at the end.
Clear, credible descriptions of how to live in a forest, using only what you find there and a clear sense of place. I could see the forests and the mountains clearly.
The empathy built for the "Wild Woman" and her simple view of life in the natural world. The slow trust-building process that Walker used with her was well-described.
The fact that our heroine looks after herself rather than waiting to be rescued.
The action scenes at the end are well-timed. clearly described and deliver perfect tension.
Things I Thought Could Have Been Better
I struggled with the way Fox Walker spoke. He didn't sound like any Native American I've ever met. The perceived inauthenticity bothered me. It bordered on the patronising, although I'm certain that wasn't the author's intent.
The final scene was a bit too soppy for me. I thought the outcome was plausible but the speed felt contrived.
An entertaining thriller that makes a fast, light, weekend read and creates some real page-turning tension.
The Story:
Native American with phenomenal tracking skills helps search mountain forest in Colorado for a serial killer and finds a woman living in the wild. As he tries to look after her others are trying to find her, including a reporter from a trashy magazine, some FBI consultants and perhaps a serial killer.
Things I Liked:
Good pacing, taking enough time to bring the bits of the story together yet winding up to real I-have-to-turn-the-next-page-RIGHT-NOW tension at the end.
Clear, credible descriptions of how to live in a forest, using only what you find there and a clear sense of place. I could see the forests and the mountains clearly.
The empathy built for the "Wild Woman" and her simple view of life in the natural world. The slow trust-building process that Walker used with her was well-described.
The fact that our heroine looks after herself rather than waiting to be rescued.
The action scenes at the end are well-timed. clearly described and deliver perfect tension.
Things I Thought Could Have Been Better
I struggled with the way Fox Walker spoke. He didn't sound like any Native American I've ever met. The perceived inauthenticity bothered me. It bordered on the patronising, although I'm certain that wasn't the author's intent.
The final scene was a bit too soppy for me. I thought the outcome was plausible but the speed felt contrived.
July 3, 2018
First I must disclaim (can one disclaim?) that this author bent over backwards trying to figure out how to get me this book. Why aren’t amazon.COM AND .CA friends?! Indy tried numerous ways to gift me an e-book and “it wasn’t available in my country.” But... it’s... my... gift... Technology! Bah! But I got a hard copy in the mail the old fashioned way! (Yay!) For an honest review.
And I really liked it!! If you like mysteries and (literally) tracking killers, then this would be one for you.
The strongest parts of Tracker involve the survivalist details (which you would think would be dry but really work under the circumstances). I also love love LOVE that the wild woman with amnesia wasn’t a meek woman needing saving (but perhaps some... assistance....).
I also loved the description of the mountains and forests as I live in an area very similar to the setting of this story. Technically I live in a city nearby and visit these settings for mild hikes or picnics. I can’t imagine having to survive in those elements and Quillen imagines that FOR the reader very well!
I could easily see this as a TV series, which is a bit of a double-edged “knife” for me, as I really loved the premise but the dialogue of the officers etc. came across as very “by the book.” Which is really my only concern. I cared about the characters, the plot was unique, and I would only want for a more complete understanding of the ending, but who knows where Fox Walker will take us next?!
‘‘Twas worth the wait, Indy! Thanks again!
And I really liked it!! If you like mysteries and (literally) tracking killers, then this would be one for you.
The strongest parts of Tracker involve the survivalist details (which you would think would be dry but really work under the circumstances). I also love love LOVE that the wild woman with amnesia wasn’t a meek woman needing saving (but perhaps some... assistance....).
I also loved the description of the mountains and forests as I live in an area very similar to the setting of this story. Technically I live in a city nearby and visit these settings for mild hikes or picnics. I can’t imagine having to survive in those elements and Quillen imagines that FOR the reader very well!
I could easily see this as a TV series, which is a bit of a double-edged “knife” for me, as I really loved the premise but the dialogue of the officers etc. came across as very “by the book.” Which is really my only concern. I cared about the characters, the plot was unique, and I would only want for a more complete understanding of the ending, but who knows where Fox Walker will take us next?!
‘‘Twas worth the wait, Indy! Thanks again!
May 17, 2018
This was one of those books that kept me up later at night than I intended and made me set aside time during the day, because I could not keep my mind off it. The characters are unusual and engaging. I don't want to read books with weak women and this one has a terrific heroine. The Native American tracker is too good to be contained in one book and I am glad there is a sequel.
October 17, 2020
Fox Walker, a Shoshone trained in the old ways by his grandfather, is called in by local law enforcement to help track down a bad guy who may be living in the mountains of the southwest Rockies. Walker's instincts draw him to an area out of the search zone where, to his surprise he finds no bad guy, but an Anglo woman living alone and using Indigenous ways. The law overreacts and a nosy reporter gets involved.
Shift to the west coast where a retired FBI Profiler cannot let go of a case of a ritualistic serial killer. He is assisted by a young man whose background has led him to assist.
As the two threads draw inextricably together, winter looms in the Rockies and things get dangerous, and not just from the weather.
What makes this special is that, while it calls itself a novel, the mystery of the killer plays a big role. The pacing is great (I hit 80% too close to bedtime, so it was a late night!) Both Fox and Nataya, the young woman, are well made –so nice to find strong characters of both sexes. The Indigenous ways and spirituality add an element I particularly enjoyed (as I did Seneca in early Jane Whitefield, Navajo in the Hillermans' books, And Sioux in Henry Standing Bear.) It was great seeing a disabled character, too. A reading pleasure that hits the high notes well on many levels.
Shift to the west coast where a retired FBI Profiler cannot let go of a case of a ritualistic serial killer. He is assisted by a young man whose background has led him to assist.
As the two threads draw inextricably together, winter looms in the Rockies and things get dangerous, and not just from the weather.
What makes this special is that, while it calls itself a novel, the mystery of the killer plays a big role. The pacing is great (I hit 80% too close to bedtime, so it was a late night!) Both Fox and Nataya, the young woman, are well made –so nice to find strong characters of both sexes. The Indigenous ways and spirituality add an element I particularly enjoyed (as I did Seneca in early Jane Whitefield, Navajo in the Hillermans' books, And Sioux in Henry Standing Bear.) It was great seeing a disabled character, too. A reading pleasure that hits the high notes well on many levels.
March 9, 2020
Intriguing
A thriller that keeps your interest. Could have defined the dark character better, as to the way he determined victims. Did not keep me up wanting to complete the book.
A thriller that keeps your interest. Could have defined the dark character better, as to the way he determined victims. Did not keep me up wanting to complete the book.
August 27, 2020
Loved this book, the connections to nature, the strong but emotionally wounded protagonists. Couldn't put it down!
April 2, 2019
Became involved with the story and the characters, didn't want to put it down.
January 14, 2020
NATAYA
A serial killer is amongst us, "The Art Critic" was the moniker given to this person.
Fox Walker is a Native American who belongs to the Shoshone Tribe, is tracker and survivalist who occasionally works for law in Elk Meadow, Colorado.
The SherIff of Elk Meadow has called Fox Walker to help find a missing hiker. In reality it's a woman whom they find, who has no recollection of her past. She was discovered by Fox Walker who while tracking discovered footprints 👣👣on the trail which eventually lead him to a clearing, where he saw 👀a young tanned blonde girl. She was dressed in cut-offs , her hair hid her upper body, she had no top on. She was named by the media as "The Wild Woman Of Gray Forest."
This serial killer has been murdering young woman who were involved with "Art." He left these women with carved lines on their bodies which were eventually described as Japanese symbols. He always left the bodies in forests around Colorado and in other surrounding states.
The FBI were also involved with these murders.
This young wild woman called herself "Nataya," which is a Shoshone name. Fox Walker somehow won over the trust of this woman of The Gray Forest.
This mysterious serial killer located where Nataya was staying and stalked out the location, which was Fox Walker 's cabin. She was the only woman who escaped from him;and now he's READY to finish what he left.
This a mystery worth reading and it will KEEP your suspense going until very end. This adventure explores the spiritual world of the Native Americans and these spirits are part of the make-up of "Nataya." Everyone's burdens aren't always easy to unload; sometimes those burdens will lead you down a road of no return, this may have been "The Art Critic's"many psychotic disorders. It's hard to make that decision, this author tickles your mind or maybe the path she guides you down will lead you to why these deaths occurred.
Indy Quillen, author, joins the club along with James Patterson and other great mystery writers.
A serial killer is amongst us, "The Art Critic" was the moniker given to this person.
Fox Walker is a Native American who belongs to the Shoshone Tribe, is tracker and survivalist who occasionally works for law in Elk Meadow, Colorado.
The SherIff of Elk Meadow has called Fox Walker to help find a missing hiker. In reality it's a woman whom they find, who has no recollection of her past. She was discovered by Fox Walker who while tracking discovered footprints 👣👣on the trail which eventually lead him to a clearing, where he saw 👀a young tanned blonde girl. She was dressed in cut-offs , her hair hid her upper body, she had no top on. She was named by the media as "The Wild Woman Of Gray Forest."
This serial killer has been murdering young woman who were involved with "Art." He left these women with carved lines on their bodies which were eventually described as Japanese symbols. He always left the bodies in forests around Colorado and in other surrounding states.
The FBI were also involved with these murders.
This young wild woman called herself "Nataya," which is a Shoshone name. Fox Walker somehow won over the trust of this woman of The Gray Forest.
This mysterious serial killer located where Nataya was staying and stalked out the location, which was Fox Walker 's cabin. She was the only woman who escaped from him;and now he's READY to finish what he left.
This a mystery worth reading and it will KEEP your suspense going until very end. This adventure explores the spiritual world of the Native Americans and these spirits are part of the make-up of "Nataya." Everyone's burdens aren't always easy to unload; sometimes those burdens will lead you down a road of no return, this may have been "The Art Critic's"many psychotic disorders. It's hard to make that decision, this author tickles your mind or maybe the path she guides you down will lead you to why these deaths occurred.
Indy Quillen, author, joins the club along with James Patterson and other great mystery writers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews