Yosemite Fall

National Park Mystery #4

by Scott Graham

When archaeologist Chuck Bender arrives in Yosemite Valley with his new family to study the 150-year-old murders of two gold prospectors, he and his street-savvy wife Janelle Ortega are suspected in the shocking death of one of Chuck's former rock-climbing partners. Together, Chuck and Janelle solve the dual mysteries while facing down a ruthless killer on the loose.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery

285 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 12, 2018

About the author

Scott Graham is author of Canyon Sacrifice: A National Park Mystery and Extreme Kids (winner of the National Outdoor Book Award). He is an avid outdoorsman and amateur archaeologist who enjoys hunting, rock climbing, skiing, backpacking, mountaineering, river rafting, and whitewater kayaking with his wife, an emergency physician, and their two sons. Graham lives in Durango, Colorado.

Reviews

[Abibliofob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yosemite Fall by Scott Graham is one of the best books in the series about Archaeologist Chuck Bender. The story is interesting and the anecdotes hilarious and the setting is wonderful. But I do miss a little clarification on the job Chuck was hired to do. It felt a little short with the conclusions. Well onto the next one, now I am almost up to date in this series and I heard there's a new one coming.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rock climbing will never appeal to me, but I get the thrill, especially in beautiful Yosemite!

[Ryan Zink · Rating 4 out of 5]

I originally read this book in late 2022 or early 2023. In reading the entire series, I’ve now read it a second time and gave it one more star. Though reading the series in order is not required, as snippets of the Bender/Ortega family history are repeated in each installment, the additional color from the preceding stories adds to the fullness of the later ones. The character development becomes more robust having the stronger foundation to build upon.

Having never been to Yosemite, this reading drives my interest in a visit one day, knowing I have no intention of doing actual climbing (though would plan to climb the cable route for half dome.

Great story, arguably the strongest of the first four in my opinion.

[Margaret Mizushima · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Yosemite Fall. It's packed with wonderful descriptions of landscapes seen in Yosemite National Park, the dynamics of friendship and family relationships, and the twists and turns of a solid mystery. This book is well written and provides great summer entertainment. I highly recommend it!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

The biggest thing that bothered me was just how much cell phone reception the characters received in the park. I have been in Yosemite Valley, there is absolutely no cell reception.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not like this book. I like the backdrop of Yosemite and that was about the extent it. The main character did several illogical things that made me not sympathetic to his situation. First of all, he meets the ranger son of the obnoxious ranger he knew in the past. Instead of keeping his knowledge of the father to himself he goes off on a rant to junior. How dumb can he get? You get more flies with honey than vinegar. So of course, ranger junior dislikes him as he rants on his dead father. Yes, this guy might be a mean ranger. I was a park ranger. Yes, some Law Enforcement rangers were a little too gung ho. Some wanted to give out a lot of unnecessary tickets. For Chuck to go into the situation and tell the man how much he hated his dad was really not helpful.
His second ridiculous decision is to obtain a very valuable artifact and not secure it in a safe, or with the park rangers or with the tribe that hired him . He keeps this million dollar item in his backpack. After doing this he then tells everyone around how valuable it is. Wow, this guy is a winner.

[Jud Hanson · Rating 3 out of 5]

When archaeologist-for-hire Chuck Bender and his wife Janelle Ortega arrive in Yosemite National Park, they have a dual purpose: first, attend a rock climbing competition and a reunion of rock-climbing friends from Chuck’s younger days and second, solve a 150 mystery for the Indigenous Tribespeople Foundation. The one thing they did not anticipate is getting caught up in an investigation of 3 accidents, 2 of them fatal. The first fatality is a well-known climber who was attempting a stunt in his wing suit, unaware it had been tampered with. The second fatality results from a prank in which Chuck himself participated. At the same time, Bender and Ortega have made progress on the investigation for the ITF when they discover a gold ring hidden in a crevice. Bender soon finds himself at the top of the suspect list in the climbers’ deaths and knows he must find a way to clear his name.

Yosemite Fall by Scott Graham is the fourth entry in his National Park mystery series. Set in national parks around the U.S., the series features archaeologist Chuck Bender and wife Janelle Ortega solving modern-day crimes and historical mysteries. This is the first Scott Graham book I’ve read and I must say I enjoyed it. It is a bit lightweight but if the reader is looking for an easy read to kill time on a plane or while waiting at the doctor’s office, this book is worth checking out. Graham’s bio on Goodreads describes him as an avid outdoorsman and that fact is reflected in his writing. I look forward to catching up on this series, as well as reading future entries. This book gets 3/5 stars from me.

*A copy of the ebook is the only consideration received in exchange for my review.*

[Tony Blenman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chuck Bender, an archaeologist, is hired by Indigenous Tribes People to look into the murders of two gold prospectors that occurred a hundred and fifty years ago in the Yosemite Valley. He's accompanied by his wife, Janelle Ortega, and their two young daughters, making a vacation out of it. The working vacation coincides with a re-union of Chuck and his climbing buddies from twenty years ago.
Rosie, the younger of the siblings, finds something that the camp director and other people want. Chuck and his family's life is in danger because of the find. So-called accidents and murders occur.
Amidst all of this, bouncy Rosie continues to have fun, and her sister, Carmelita wins a climbing championship event.
I like the spunk of Rosie, the determination of Janelle, and the willingness of Carmelita to concede to her mom even though she did not always agree with her mom. Scott Graham has done well in providing Janelle with a significant and meaning role. The novel has some unexpected twists which make it exciting to read, capping off with the all too often problem that some people would do anything for money.

[JulieAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting how the author used the same storyline from the past writings of Grover and Lafayette. I have visited Yosemite and hiked Vernal Falls. Creative liberties were used for the time to hike to their final spot where the corn exploded... in the dark. Most take 10 hours not 3. Especially with a character like Mark along. Mentioning the wing suits was neat. And I'm glad the park ranger was not demonized too badly. I mean it IS important to keep food away from bears. It was neat to relive our trip to Yosemite through the book. We ate at the restaurant near the pioneer's graveyard and Ansel Adams gallery. So many great things about Yosemite.

[Roger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read three of his other novels so am pretty familiar with his work. What I like about his books are 70-80% based on his knowledge and description of the Parks. Graham also has a skill in creating a good mystery narrative to go along with your "tour" of the Park and intertwines it into the mystery. This book was my least favorite of his. (I think Canyon Sacrifice was probably his best). The story never really captured me, nor compelled me. I found the side story the most compelling (the death of the miners) but it truly was a side story. I still give it THREE stars because they are still fun reads and, again, the Park is center stage.

[Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Stunning Work

Graham has done it again. His National Park Mystery Series is captivating reading and Yosemite Fall continues the vastness of the series. Gresham spins a tale among the wonderful backdrop of the Western National Parks making you wish you were there. The character development continues through each novel and makes you root for the protagonist and his family even more. Can't wait for the next installment.

[Emily Schwartz · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was engaging for the most part, and a fast read. I found the story line very interesting. I enjoyed the book, but some of the sections with the dialogue involving the children were trivial and I ended up skipping the paragraphs when the children were there. Also, as a climber myself, I found it fairly far fetched that a girl who climbed for her first time was able to flash a hard boulder problem and then win a climbing competition. Overall, decent book, and worth a read.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been over four years since I read book 3 in this series, but the characters were wonderfully familiar and I picked up their lives immediately.

I don't do rock climbing, but I was interested to learn about it, as well as wingsuit flying. All dangerous pursuits when done in Yosemite National Park.

I enjoyed the historical investigation, as well as the recent death investigation. I would have loved a map of the valley, but since I have visited there, I made do with memory.

I really enjoy getting out into nature for these stories.

I purchased a copy.

[Maryann Lucero · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book grabbed me right from the start and didn't let go. The ending made me yell (in a good way).

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending was a little anti-climactic.

[Kathy Goodman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kept me guessing all the way!

[Donald Castellucci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like the story. Thought it was a bit it an abrupt ending.

[Melissa Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my favorite of his books but always a good fun read.

[Connie Holt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was able to visualize the described scene since I’ve visited Yosemite half a dozen times. The book was OK, but I thought the ending could have been better.

[James Fortin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good one. Moving to the next

[Sarah Faulkner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good description of the park, irritating characters

[Sharon Mensing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having already taken on Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountain, and Yellowstone National Parks, Scott Graham moves his archaeologist hero, Chuck Bender, to Yosemite National Park. Chuck and a group of his buddies were renegade rock climbers in Yosemite some twenty years ago, so his return to the Park in a quest to substantiate new claims regarding a historical battle between miners and Native Americans is also a reunion with his old climbing friends. His family is along with him on this trip, and his wife Janelle plays a more important role in the events that transpire than she has done in previous books.

The aging climbers who are meeting up in Yosemite encounter a wide variety of dangers, beginning with the death of a wingsuiter. Chuck and Janelle, who is trained as an EMT, hike into the valley to search of the missing flyer, protecting the flyer's business as a blogger by avoiding notifying the authorities until they know what happened. This puts them under suspicion when they find and report his body. A theme running through the book is the lingering antipathy between the aging climbers and the park law enforcement, and this is just one example. Over the course of the book, one reunion member after another falls prey to an accident in this dangerous setting, while Chuck attempts to determine whether these "accidents" are being engineered and, if so, why.

The book has several plot lines, moving among Chuck's focus on present-day dangers faced by his climbing group, the confrontation between gold prospectors and Native Americans in the past, and Chuck's early-adolescent daughter's emerging climbing talent. The historical perspective on the Yosemite area is fascinating, and the plot associated with the young girl's climbing skills helps the non-rock- climbing reader understand the sport as well as adding tension to the story. Graham effectively places the reader in the landscape and history of the West, while further developing Chuck's character and building stronger personalities for his family.

At some points, the motivations of the supporting characters make less than perfect sense, and Chuck doesn't always make the smartest decisions, which can make the reader want to throttle him. Janelle seems to be stepping up as the voice of reason in the family, however, and this bodes well for the development of a stronger family dynamic in future books in the series. I'm looking forward to the next book, ARCHES ENEMY, which is due to come out in June 2019.

This review first appeared at reviewingtheevidence.com.

[Anne - Books of My Heart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
 

Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I've been enjoying this National Park Mystery series  once I finished the first couple books.  Chuck and Janelle and the two daughters, Carmelita and Rosie, are much more of a tight family now.   Chuck is an archeologist who does work at National Park sites.  Chuck Bender is in his early 50s in good shape.  Janelle is now nearly finished with a paramedic course.  She is serious about it and does a good job. She is working with Chuck now instead of blaming him.

Yosemite Fall is set at Yosemite National Park.   The family is there to enjoy and even help.  The purpose is not to check for artifacts because building is planned.  The project is instead to try to prove or discredit a journal of what happened 150 years ago.  Some men came to look for gold and had altercations with the Native Americans.

There is also a reunion of sorts and a climbing competition.  Chuck did a lot of climbing in his past and knows all the guys.  He helps Carm try out climbing and she is a natural talent at it.  But then there are some bad accidents and a death.

The family goes up to trace the route of the gold miners and look for signs to validate the old story.  Someone doesn't want them looking into things and takes some shots at them.  They are fortunate to have a place to shelter out of range.  They do find some interesting things which clarify parts of the journal and bring other parts into question.  Janelle makes a great find on their next trip to the route the miners took.

Chuck and his family, as usual, have plenty of danger. Their investigations and smart actions keep them alive.  I'm  appreciating how they are improving their relationships as the series progresses and also how that makes them better at solving the problems and mysteries.

Narration:
I’ve enjoyed this narrator previously. The primary voice and thoughts were Chuck and he certainly became Chuck for me. The other voices were all comfortably appropriate. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.

[J.J. Rusz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had reservations about the previous book in Scott Graham’s National Park Mysteries Series: it seemed to me that archeologist Chuck Bender’s wife and kids just got in the way of an otherwise gripping tale about Yellowstone National Park. But in the aptly titled “Yosemite Fall,” the family elements click. Chuck’s spouse Janelle and daughter Carmelita play major roles in a multilayered and ingenious plot about soaring and rock climbing in the spectacular California wilderness. My only regret this time is that the ending feels abrupt. No complaints, however, about a memorable prologue that hits all the right notes.