What do you think?
Rate this book
Harvey Bennett Prequels #2
The Severed Pines
Harvey Bennett is back.
A grisly murder.
An unsuspecting witness.
A conspiracy that's bigger than anyone thought.
Harvey "Ben" Bennett is a park ranger volunteer who stumbles across a crime scene. He's immediately thrust into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, and he must figure out who's behind it all.
...Before he becomes the next victim.
A grisly murder.
An unsuspecting witness.
A conspiracy that's bigger than anyone thought.
Harvey "Ben" Bennett is a park ranger volunteer who stumbles across a crime scene. He's immediately thrust into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, and he must figure out who's behind it all.
...Before he becomes the next victim.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 26, 2018
186 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Nick Thacker
109 books439 followersNick Thacker is a thriller author from Texas who lives in Hawaii. In his free time, he enjoys reading in a hammock on the beach, skiing, drinking whiskey, and hanging out with his beautiful wife, two dogs, and two daughters.
For more information, visit Nick online at www.nickthacker.com
In addition to his fiction work, Nick is the founder and lead of Sonata & Scribe, the only music studio focused on producing “soundtracks” for books and series. Find out more at www.SonataAndScribe.com.
In addition to his fiction work, Nick is the founder and lead of Sonata & Scribe, the only music studio focused on producing “soundtracks” for books and series. Find out more at www.SonataAndScribe.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
December 8, 2018
[Housekeeping: I have received a free advanced reader copy of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving a review. If it makes any difference, I have pre-ordered my own copy.]
Two of my favorite authors, Nick Thacker & Jim Heskett, collaborated on a novel about one of Mr. Thacker's characters, Harvey Bennett. If you haven't read any of the Harvey Bennett thrillers, you should go avail yourself at the earliest opportunity. I don't believe you can be disappointed.
Right off the bat, the only real ding against the book is its length. It's more a novella than a novel. Which is okay -- I just enjoy longer books from either of these two.
In the regular Harvey Bennett series, we see Ben become more polished (less rough around the edges -- he's not smooth) and more sure of himself. In this prequel book, we see the foundation of the character with no smoothing process, just brute force Ben with not much of a plan. I just realized this is similar to the Micah Reed character from Mr. Heskett. Perhaps this is a good reason for them to have collaborated. Similar type character with completely different backdrops.
Brief synopsis: Ben is a volunteer park ranger doing pooper scooper duty. He happens upon a dead body. And rather than leave it to the police, he decides he must solve the mystery himself. If it weren't for amateur detectives and (perhaps) incompetent police, what would we read? It'd be nice if the idea of competent police could work with the (competent) amateur detective. Oh, wait, that's Castle!
Where was I? Right, dead body. Terror ensues. More amateuring ensues. Also, deducting. All in all, a quick read, and highly entertaining. I could almost tell which author wrote some of the parts. But 80% no idea. Maybe that was the ghost.
I recommend this to a lofty degree, and I am unanimous in this!
Two of my favorite authors, Nick Thacker & Jim Heskett, collaborated on a novel about one of Mr. Thacker's characters, Harvey Bennett. If you haven't read any of the Harvey Bennett thrillers, you should go avail yourself at the earliest opportunity. I don't believe you can be disappointed.
Right off the bat, the only real ding against the book is its length. It's more a novella than a novel. Which is okay -- I just enjoy longer books from either of these two.
In the regular Harvey Bennett series, we see Ben become more polished (less rough around the edges -- he's not smooth) and more sure of himself. In this prequel book, we see the foundation of the character with no smoothing process, just brute force Ben with not much of a plan. I just realized this is similar to the Micah Reed character from Mr. Heskett. Perhaps this is a good reason for them to have collaborated. Similar type character with completely different backdrops.
Brief synopsis: Ben is a volunteer park ranger doing pooper scooper duty. He happens upon a dead body. And rather than leave it to the police, he decides he must solve the mystery himself. If it weren't for amateur detectives and (perhaps) incompetent police, what would we read? It'd be nice if the idea of competent police could work with the (competent) amateur detective. Oh, wait, that's Castle!
Where was I? Right, dead body. Terror ensues. More amateuring ensues. Also, deducting. All in all, a quick read, and highly entertaining. I could almost tell which author wrote some of the parts. But 80% no idea. Maybe that was the ghost.
I recommend this to a lofty degree, and I am unanimous in this!
December 23, 2018
Harvey Bennett, better known as Ben, is a volunteer park ranger who has transferred from Yellowstone National Park to Rocky Mountain National Park. Until I read this book, I didn't know there was such a thing as a volunteer park ranger, but it is a thing. His job is a poop scraper. He cleans privies.
Ben is sort of a loner or what I consider a "watcher". He observes more than interacts. He knows a couple of fellow rangers and is friendly enough, but he keeps his distance for the most part. When he comes upon a ranger cabin where William is staying, Ben finds him in the privy with his throat cut. Ben can't get anybody on the walkie-talkie and can't get a signal on his cell phone so he hikes to a higher spot to see if he can get some help. By the time he got back, William's body was gone and there was no sign of it. Nobody believed that William was dead. No body. No crime.
Of course, that raises suspicions for Ben and the story takes a turn and more people get involved. There was a bigger story going on and William was collateral damage. It's a maze of trying to figure out who the real bad guys are. There are twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end.
I did enjoy the book. I can't deny that. However, I thought the ending was a bit abrupt and I wished that the epilogue would have revealed more about Taylor and Delilah. I know it was a side story, but I would have liked to know how Delilah took to Taylor's...*no spoilers*. There were also a few typos but they weren't enough to ruin the reading experience.
By the way, I really like the cover of the book. It's mysterious and true to the story.
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily left a review.
Ben is sort of a loner or what I consider a "watcher". He observes more than interacts. He knows a couple of fellow rangers and is friendly enough, but he keeps his distance for the most part. When he comes upon a ranger cabin where William is staying, Ben finds him in the privy with his throat cut. Ben can't get anybody on the walkie-talkie and can't get a signal on his cell phone so he hikes to a higher spot to see if he can get some help. By the time he got back, William's body was gone and there was no sign of it. Nobody believed that William was dead. No body. No crime.
Of course, that raises suspicions for Ben and the story takes a turn and more people get involved. There was a bigger story going on and William was collateral damage. It's a maze of trying to figure out who the real bad guys are. There are twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end.
I did enjoy the book. I can't deny that. However, I thought the ending was a bit abrupt and I wished that the epilogue would have revealed more about Taylor and Delilah. I know it was a side story, but I would have liked to know how Delilah took to Taylor's...*no spoilers*. There were also a few typos but they weren't enough to ruin the reading experience.
By the way, I really like the cover of the book. It's mysterious and true to the story.
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily left a review.
January 8, 2019
This is the second book in the Harvey Bennett prequels and though I did not read the first prequel story (yet), this story was a great look into the events that lead to Harvey Bennett becoming the hero we know and love in Nick Thacker's Harvey Bennett thriller series.
If this is your first experience with Harvey Bennett, don't worry. You could go the traditional release order route and then come back to read these prequel books or just dive in with the prequel stories. Nick Thacker (and Jim Heskett in the case of this book) do an excellent job of introducing the characters and any relevant information you may need to know in case you've never read a Harvey Bennett book. I've read the main Harvey Bennett series, but this was my first in the prequel books and I had no problem diving into this story.
Harvey Bennett is the only character from the main series we encounter in this book (makes sense), but this is a younger version of our hero. This is before the many world adventures that have galvanized Harvey into a confident pursuer of justice. His sense of justice is still deeply ingrained in his character, but he's raw in his process and experience factor.
Harvey stumbles upon a mystery while working as a park ranger. The crime shakes him, but he has little time to feel afraid as the stakes ramp up and he's thrust into a deadly game that could end his very life. In the Severed Pines, Harvey has to find out who can be trusted and what the conspiracy is to bring justice to this crime.
The Severed Pines is a fast-paced book that will hold your attention from beginning to end. Nick and Jim do a great job of weaving a complex mystery that will leave the reader guessing until the end. They also do a great job of staying true to the ingrained nature of Harvey Bennett, while also depicting a more raw version of the character we know. This is a great look into the past that made Harvey Bennett who he will become in the later adventures and it's fun to see his character growth for fans of the Harvey Bennett series. If this is your fist time reading a Harvey Bennett book, then welcome and enjoy the roller coaster ride. This book is great for anyone who loves reading adventure stories (in the vein of Indiana Jones) or mystery stories. It's a great story that isn't hard to read and won't take up much time since you may not be able to put it down until the very end.
If this is your first experience with Harvey Bennett, don't worry. You could go the traditional release order route and then come back to read these prequel books or just dive in with the prequel stories. Nick Thacker (and Jim Heskett in the case of this book) do an excellent job of introducing the characters and any relevant information you may need to know in case you've never read a Harvey Bennett book. I've read the main Harvey Bennett series, but this was my first in the prequel books and I had no problem diving into this story.
Harvey Bennett is the only character from the main series we encounter in this book (makes sense), but this is a younger version of our hero. This is before the many world adventures that have galvanized Harvey into a confident pursuer of justice. His sense of justice is still deeply ingrained in his character, but he's raw in his process and experience factor.
Harvey stumbles upon a mystery while working as a park ranger. The crime shakes him, but he has little time to feel afraid as the stakes ramp up and he's thrust into a deadly game that could end his very life. In the Severed Pines, Harvey has to find out who can be trusted and what the conspiracy is to bring justice to this crime.
The Severed Pines is a fast-paced book that will hold your attention from beginning to end. Nick and Jim do a great job of weaving a complex mystery that will leave the reader guessing until the end. They also do a great job of staying true to the ingrained nature of Harvey Bennett, while also depicting a more raw version of the character we know. This is a great look into the past that made Harvey Bennett who he will become in the later adventures and it's fun to see his character growth for fans of the Harvey Bennett series. If this is your fist time reading a Harvey Bennett book, then welcome and enjoy the roller coaster ride. This book is great for anyone who loves reading adventure stories (in the vein of Indiana Jones) or mystery stories. It's a great story that isn't hard to read and won't take up much time since you may not be able to put it down until the very end.
February 14, 2020
The Severed Pines (Harvey Bennett Prequels #2) - a review by Rosemary Kenny
Continuing the rites-of-passage story of the maturing of Harvey (Ben) Bennett, after the trauma of seeing his father fatally mauled by a bear and his younger brother traumatised and hurt by its cub and the following events that saw him leave home and work as a trainee Ranger in Yellowstone National Park in Book 1,The Icarus Effect, we now follow on with Ben's job change that has led to him being transferred to Glacier National Park, to a menial trainee Ranger's apprenticeship, that sees his time being used to clear up bear and other animals' poop on trails and checking forest loos are clean for tourists.Things all start to go wrong when he finds William,an older Park Ranger whom he looked up to, brutally murdered and left in one of the outdoor latrines, near the ranger cabin he hoped to share coffee and a chat with William at. While he races away to phone for backup and the police someone has been waiting their chance to return and hide the corpse, meaning the police are unwilling to proceed due to lack of a corpse. Next Ben is attacked by two strangers while he sleeps in the cabin. Who wants him hurt, or even killed? Is it a way to stop just his enquiries about William's death and disappearance - or has Ben wandered into something more sinister happening in the Park? Who will believe his unlikely stories of disappearing bodies and night-time attacks that have no witnesses to back him up?When the truth comes out you'll be thrilled and amazed, so don't miss out your chance to read all about Ben's battle to overcome the odds in Nick Thacker's second novel,The Severed Pines, in his A Harvey Bennett Prequel series - you'll love it!
Continuing the rites-of-passage story of the maturing of Harvey (Ben) Bennett, after the trauma of seeing his father fatally mauled by a bear and his younger brother traumatised and hurt by its cub and the following events that saw him leave home and work as a trainee Ranger in Yellowstone National Park in Book 1,The Icarus Effect, we now follow on with Ben's job change that has led to him being transferred to Glacier National Park, to a menial trainee Ranger's apprenticeship, that sees his time being used to clear up bear and other animals' poop on trails and checking forest loos are clean for tourists.Things all start to go wrong when he finds William,an older Park Ranger whom he looked up to, brutally murdered and left in one of the outdoor latrines, near the ranger cabin he hoped to share coffee and a chat with William at. While he races away to phone for backup and the police someone has been waiting their chance to return and hide the corpse, meaning the police are unwilling to proceed due to lack of a corpse. Next Ben is attacked by two strangers while he sleeps in the cabin. Who wants him hurt, or even killed? Is it a way to stop just his enquiries about William's death and disappearance - or has Ben wandered into something more sinister happening in the Park? Who will believe his unlikely stories of disappearing bodies and night-time attacks that have no witnesses to back him up?When the truth comes out you'll be thrilled and amazed, so don't miss out your chance to read all about Ben's battle to overcome the odds in Nick Thacker's second novel,The Severed Pines, in his A Harvey Bennett Prequel series - you'll love it!
July 6, 2021
Harvey 'Ben' Bennett is a menial worker at Rocky Mountain Park - six years have passed since the events of 'The Icarus Effect', first of the Harvey Bennett prequels.
"The Severed Pines" begins with Ben sidetracking from his daily chores to visit a Ranger in his isolated cabin in the woods. He finds him dead in the privy, stabbed in the neck. His mobile phone has no reception and his walkie-talkie isn't working.
After trekking to the top of the mountain for better reception he return to find the body gone.
It's the start of a fairly linear but not always quite sensible series of events leading to a series of crimes which, in some cases, are never explained.
Who, for example, are the suited men who visit the building site? Why, when the only thing protecting you from a bear attack is a pistol, would you drop it? What is the point of the sub plot concerning cocaine usage and an illicit affair?
This time round Ben is an adult but still not quite fully formed. He's a bit of a loner and has a healthy dose of paranoia, so when nobody seems too concerned about the missing ranger he sets about solving the mystery.
Which he does, mostly without breaking a sweat!
It's well written but not particularly good - it falls into that middle ground of books you'll have forgotten in a couple of days. As I have not read the Harvey Bennet series proper all I can say is that "The Severed Pines" is not a very strong advertisement for it.
"The Severed Pines" begins with Ben sidetracking from his daily chores to visit a Ranger in his isolated cabin in the woods. He finds him dead in the privy, stabbed in the neck. His mobile phone has no reception and his walkie-talkie isn't working.
After trekking to the top of the mountain for better reception he return to find the body gone.
It's the start of a fairly linear but not always quite sensible series of events leading to a series of crimes which, in some cases, are never explained.
Who, for example, are the suited men who visit the building site? Why, when the only thing protecting you from a bear attack is a pistol, would you drop it? What is the point of the sub plot concerning cocaine usage and an illicit affair?
This time round Ben is an adult but still not quite fully formed. He's a bit of a loner and has a healthy dose of paranoia, so when nobody seems too concerned about the missing ranger he sets about solving the mystery.
Which he does, mostly without breaking a sweat!
It's well written but not particularly good - it falls into that middle ground of books you'll have forgotten in a couple of days. As I have not read the Harvey Bennet series proper all I can say is that "The Severed Pines" is not a very strong advertisement for it.
December 10, 2018
I've read Nick Thacker's other Harvey Bennett novels (Enigma Strain, Amazon Code, Ice Chasm), and found with each book that I wanted to know more about what made Ben who he was. These prequels are just the ticket! Well-written with co-authors, absolutely in keeping with Harvey Bennett's character. I haven't read the 'Icarus Effect' yet...though 'The Severed Pines' includes a lengthy excerpt, and I see I will definitely want to read this one too. The character refers several times in different novels about a childhood event that shaped him and his outlook on life...you'll find that event thoroughly detailed.
Back to The Severed Pines - the characters are fully formed and believable, human weaknesses revealed, and the mystery itself unraveling at just a pace to keep you from ever finding a stopping place for the night's reading! In a national park setting, just enough outdoors detail to keep the writing varied and interesting. Plenty of twists, just when you're convinced that you don't like the bad guy, you have to wonder just who really might be the bad guy after all?
Nick wrote this one with Jim Heskett - how could this collaboration go wrong? Try Mr Heskett's 'Reagan's Ashes'...that's the one that hooked me. In full disclosure, I received a free copy of this book, and am voluntarily leaving a review for a novel worth a recommendation.
Back to The Severed Pines - the characters are fully formed and believable, human weaknesses revealed, and the mystery itself unraveling at just a pace to keep you from ever finding a stopping place for the night's reading! In a national park setting, just enough outdoors detail to keep the writing varied and interesting. Plenty of twists, just when you're convinced that you don't like the bad guy, you have to wonder just who really might be the bad guy after all?
Nick wrote this one with Jim Heskett - how could this collaboration go wrong? Try Mr Heskett's 'Reagan's Ashes'...that's the one that hooked me. In full disclosure, I received a free copy of this book, and am voluntarily leaving a review for a novel worth a recommendation.
January 18, 2019
As we've come to expect this latest prequel in the Harvey Bennett saga had me on the edge of my metaphorical seat! How the omnipresent narrator managed to convey the same sense of confusion experienced by Harvey as he pieced together the mystery surrounding the death of William I still don't understand. The events of the story even play into the paranoia and confusion as clues and hints are slowly trickled out over the course of the story.
Author Jim Heskett has penned an excellent thriller/mystery that offers readers a glimpse into the past of Harvey Bennett. A must read for fans of Harvey's other stories that will keep you turning pages frantically trying to solve the mystery along side the main character. Allowing a new author the chance to play with a familiar character was a risk that I feel has payed off for Nick Thatcher and I will definitely be looking into Jim Heskett's books thanks to this story.
While a majority of the plot points wrap up neatly I personally feel there is more to be explored surrounding the construction of the Wild Bason Visitor's Center. Players teased as part of a larger plot that remains elusive to the reader has me hoping to see Jim write more about Harvey with Nick's blessing. I look forward to future collaboration between these two authors.
Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book to review.
Author Jim Heskett has penned an excellent thriller/mystery that offers readers a glimpse into the past of Harvey Bennett. A must read for fans of Harvey's other stories that will keep you turning pages frantically trying to solve the mystery along side the main character. Allowing a new author the chance to play with a familiar character was a risk that I feel has payed off for Nick Thatcher and I will definitely be looking into Jim Heskett's books thanks to this story.
While a majority of the plot points wrap up neatly I personally feel there is more to be explored surrounding the construction of the Wild Bason Visitor's Center. Players teased as part of a larger plot that remains elusive to the reader has me hoping to see Jim write more about Harvey with Nick's blessing. I look forward to future collaboration between these two authors.
Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book to review.
December 17, 2018
"A bear. A cub. 'My father. My brother.'"
Ben, volunteer park ranger, reckons he's the best poop scooper in the state. It's early in the day and it's cold so he decides to visit William to get a cup of coffee before staring work cleaning out the privie deep in the forest area. But William isn't in his but. He's dead, sitting in his own outside lavatory, a knife stuck in his body. When Ben tries to call it in, there's no reply and no signal on his cell phone. It will take hours to walk back to the tourist centre, better to go call on his ranger friend instead. But when Ben goes back to take pictures, William's body has gone. Without a body, no one really believes what he has seen. Norma the attacking him which takes place later.
This is an easy-read fun mystery thriller in which shy Ben investigates the crime, but who can he trust, far from anywhere, amidst a cast of chaotic characters who all seem to have something to hide?
Well written with nice, if crazy, characterisation.
The main story is followed by excerpts from the Harvry Bennett series books, The Icarus Effect and The Enigma Stain.
Recommended.
Ben, volunteer park ranger, reckons he's the best poop scooper in the state. It's early in the day and it's cold so he decides to visit William to get a cup of coffee before staring work cleaning out the privie deep in the forest area. But William isn't in his but. He's dead, sitting in his own outside lavatory, a knife stuck in his body. When Ben tries to call it in, there's no reply and no signal on his cell phone. It will take hours to walk back to the tourist centre, better to go call on his ranger friend instead. But when Ben goes back to take pictures, William's body has gone. Without a body, no one really believes what he has seen. Norma the attacking him which takes place later.
This is an easy-read fun mystery thriller in which shy Ben investigates the crime, but who can he trust, far from anywhere, amidst a cast of chaotic characters who all seem to have something to hide?
Well written with nice, if crazy, characterisation.
The main story is followed by excerpts from the Harvry Bennett series books, The Icarus Effect and The Enigma Stain.
Recommended.
December 24, 2018
Full disclosure.I was given a copy as a reviewer.BUT I also have prepaid my own copy on amazom to help this young author get paid.
This book in my view is able to satisfy beginner's and veteran readers. The "Severed Pines" is a standalone novel in the "Harvey Bennet" action series.
Here we find a young Harvey doing volunteer work with the Forest Service shovelling poop of the trails. I'm not gonna spoil the book for you but Harvey of course steps into poop of the human mind. He finds his ranger friend dead, as he reports it,the body disappears leading him into the stubborn person he eventually becomes. Of course are crimes all over the Forest and finally puts the pieces together and gives us visions to the future. At the end of the.com is a short story involving Harvey and his family when was 19yo and is involved in a tragedy in a forest. I recommend the short.
I highly recommend this book AND the rest of the series.
Enjoy
This book in my view is able to satisfy beginner's and veteran readers. The "Severed Pines" is a standalone novel in the "Harvey Bennet" action series.
Here we find a young Harvey doing volunteer work with the Forest Service shovelling poop of the trails. I'm not gonna spoil the book for you but Harvey of course steps into poop of the human mind. He finds his ranger friend dead, as he reports it,the body disappears leading him into the stubborn person he eventually becomes. Of course are crimes all over the Forest and finally puts the pieces together and gives us visions to the future. At the end of the.com is a short story involving Harvey and his family when was 19yo and is involved in a tragedy in a forest. I recommend the short.
I highly recommend this book AND the rest of the series.
Enjoy
January 12, 2019
I had already started The Enigma Strain, when I came across the two prequels: The Icarus Effect and The Severed Pines, and promptly put the first aside to colour in the background of a character I was already beginning to admire. I enjoyed both books and finished them in a day - more novella size than a full novel.
The pace of the books are swift and just enough twists and turns to keep you guessing without a final eye-brow raised “Oh really, that’s just impossible”!
The books are well edited and, thank goodness, no spelling mistakes (ok, just one small one!), so five stars right there!
One thing I do find irritating, (is it only me?), I don’t like it when things are left unexplained or not neatly finished off. What ever happened about the letter he took such pains to write, and does he every reconcile with his mother and brother? Guess I am going to have to read the series to find out! Looking forward to it.
The pace of the books are swift and just enough twists and turns to keep you guessing without a final eye-brow raised “Oh really, that’s just impossible”!
The books are well edited and, thank goodness, no spelling mistakes (ok, just one small one!), so five stars right there!
One thing I do find irritating, (is it only me?), I don’t like it when things are left unexplained or not neatly finished off. What ever happened about the letter he took such pains to write, and does he every reconcile with his mother and brother? Guess I am going to have to read the series to find out! Looking forward to it.
January 21, 2019
The Severed Pines is an action/adventure book by Nick Thacker and Jim Heskett. It is part of the Harvey Bennet Adventure Series.
Ben is volunteering at the Rocky Mountain National Park. His job is to travel around the park and clean the outhouses. He arrives at one of the outhouses to find a murdered ranger sitting inside of it. His cell doesn’t have reception, so he walks a distance to get reception and while he is gone, the body disappears. When he tells his story, no one believes him. Ben starts asking questions, poking around, and generally causing anxiety in others. There are several things going on that Ben has to puzzle out.
Harvey Bennett is a likable and relatable character. He has values and morals that are admirable. I recommend this to those who like authors such as C.J. Box and Paul Doiron books.
Ben is volunteering at the Rocky Mountain National Park. His job is to travel around the park and clean the outhouses. He arrives at one of the outhouses to find a murdered ranger sitting inside of it. His cell doesn’t have reception, so he walks a distance to get reception and while he is gone, the body disappears. When he tells his story, no one believes him. Ben starts asking questions, poking around, and generally causing anxiety in others. There are several things going on that Ben has to puzzle out.
Harvey Bennett is a likable and relatable character. He has values and morals that are admirable. I recommend this to those who like authors such as C.J. Box and Paul Doiron books.
December 21, 2018
When a young volunteer park ranger in Rocky Mountain National Park discovers the body of a ranger which promptly disappears, it sets off a twisted tale of passion, graft, subterfuge and murder most foul. The Severed Pines is a fresh approach to the murder mystery with a hero who is not a detective, has no training or experience at piecing together the complex puzzle of exactly what's going on at Rocky Mountain Park and yet, he's a relentless sleuth of the kind that would make the great mystery writers proud.
The book also contains excerpts from 2 other stories staring Harvey Bennett which provided an a bit more information about the hero.
This book is a great read with a strong hero I'm looking forward to reading a lot more about.
The book also contains excerpts from 2 other stories staring Harvey Bennett which provided an a bit more information about the hero.
This book is a great read with a strong hero I'm looking forward to reading a lot more about.
January 16, 2019
If you have read any of the other Harvey Bennett books don't worry, this will not be useless reading. This shows how Harvey started out, brash, rough around the edges and full of curiosity and doing his own thing. He is working as a volunteer park ranger cleaning toilets - no glamourous job here - and comes across a dead body. Then the fun starts as he decided to investigate by himself.
I love this story and my only complaint would be that it is a little short - I wish the book were longer.
Having said that I still recommend this book, either read before or after the other books in the series.
I love this story and my only complaint would be that it is a little short - I wish the book were longer.
Having said that I still recommend this book, either read before or after the other books in the series.
December 26, 2018
I love all the Harvey “Ben” Bennett series. This second prequel was another great look at Ben prior to the Enigma Strain and how his view from the outside has been a great asset to him. After finding a fellow ranger murdered, he gets caught up in something that even he doesn’t quite know what it is. He starts second guessing himself on who he can or cannot trust. But in the end he finds the truth and who he can trust. For Ben, trusting people or showing his feelings is difficult. But he in each of the prequels, he is learning where to trust his judgement. As always a great book!
December 29, 2018
I received an advance reader copy of this book, and I am thrilled to leave a review. As a believer in supporting new talented authors, I have also purchased my own copy of this book.
Nick Thacker along with his co-author Jim Heskett have given us an awesome treat. This prequel was a perfect continuation of The Icarus Effect and warm up for the reset of the Harvey “Ben” Bennett saga. I always appreciate a good twist in a story and this one definitely kept me guessing. Book is very well thought out and a fantastic read. Looking forward to the next adventure!
Nick Thacker along with his co-author Jim Heskett have given us an awesome treat. This prequel was a perfect continuation of The Icarus Effect and warm up for the reset of the Harvey “Ben” Bennett saga. I always appreciate a good twist in a story and this one definitely kept me guessing. Book is very well thought out and a fantastic read. Looking forward to the next adventure!
January 3, 2019
Thacker I know, the other author was new to me. The story was good overall. I did read places that feel like they were a bit choppy or the swap between the two authors showed. I think they will get better and better the more they work together and the story held up well. I liked how it started, clean up muck and finding a body. The pacing was strong and I'm really looking forward to more in this series. This book is a great way to get to know Ben and then read the rest of the series.
My review is left of my own free will and it contains my thoughts and opinions. My copy is an ARC.
My review is left of my own free will and it contains my thoughts and opinions. My copy is an ARC.
January 17, 2019
My fourteenth read from author Nick Thacker and the second Harvey Bennett Prequel co-written with Jim Heskett. What do you get when you get 2 very good writers collaborating? A very good read! The problem with writing a successful book is amplified in a successful series, the reader's expectations are that this book will be even better than the last. When I reviewed earlier Thacker books I commented that his writings were reminiscent of James Rollins. This is a good book, that you can't wait to turn the next page and read more.
July 30, 2019
For anyone reading the Harvey Bennett series or wanting to get into the series about him, this is a really good read. The story captured my imagination and I could visualise it all happening in such a great setting of the national park. A true thrill ride as you are carried along and kept on the edge of your seat wanting to just keep turning the pages to find out what happens next. It definitely has the "just another chapter" factor. It's a really good addition to the set giving a little more backstory about a character I enjoy reading
I received a complimentary copy.
I received a complimentary copy.
December 27, 2018
I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy this, 1 it being a prequel & 2 being a joint venture but yet again another great read. Giving further insight into what made Ben who he is today. With the murder of his friend & the disappearance of the body Ben is hell bent on finding out who did it & why. With plenty of action, suspense & great descriptions packed into a fairly short book your gonna be hooked, it's a serious page turner. You'll want to read more once you finish.
December 28, 2018
I enjoyed reading this book. The main character Ben is quiet normal man, not a military trained superhero. Ben second guesses his gut thoughts whether it was right or wrong through- out the story. The parts of the story where Ben tried to call out on his cell phone while the trails of the park and not getting any service had me laughing. Many twists and turns in this story. I downloaded a free copy of this book and now I am leaving a voluntarily review.
December 28, 2018
Jim Heskett is one of my go-to authors. I've never been disappointed and this book is no exception. A totally different kind of read than I usually get from him and then I had to remember I was reading "TWO" authors. They actually mesh very well and I really liked the character, "Ben" created by them. What was great was the short after the book. Learning so much of Ben's background you honestly felt you understood him so much better. Another series I'll have to keep looking for.
January 7, 2019
Ben sure seems to invite trouble wherever he goes. He's moved to a new park and funny stuff follows a murder.
I like how Ben makes a few friends along the way. Reese seems to be a good fellow, and believes him when no one else seems to.
Between the two bosses of the park, who to trust? Time seems to be running out to figure out who has killed one of the park rangers, beat him up, and attacked him and Reese.
I like how Ben makes a few friends along the way. Reese seems to be a good fellow, and believes him when no one else seems to.
Between the two bosses of the park, who to trust? Time seems to be running out to figure out who has killed one of the park rangers, beat him up, and attacked him and Reese.
September 4, 2020
The second of the Harvey Bennett prequel books finds Harvey (Ben) working as a volunteer Park Ranger in Colorado at Glacier National Park. As always, he finds himself neck deep in trouble and must use all his faculties and resources to extract himself. This episode provides further background into who Ben is and what makes him tick. If you enjoy thrillers with normal characters who at times appear inept, these early Harvey Bennett thrillers are just the ticket.
December 8, 2018
Harvey “Ben” Bennet is a Park Ranger volunteer in Rocky Mountain National Park. So Ben decides to visit his friend William who has a place deep inside the park. But Ben finds William murdered.
Ben launches his own investigation into Williams’ death. However, most of the suspects are keeping secrets. His problem is staying alive until he finds the man or woman who killed William.
January 5, 2019
First of all, I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a good look into how Ben got his investigation skills. It is an interesting mystery. We are kept questioning who we can trust and who we can’t. In the end, it is wrapped up nicely. We get to see Ben leading and being brave. It is a good glimpse into what he will become in the other books.
This is a good look into how Ben got his investigation skills. It is an interesting mystery. We are kept questioning who we can trust and who we can’t. In the end, it is wrapped up nicely. We get to see Ben leading and being brave. It is a good glimpse into what he will become in the other books.
May 27, 2021
Not on par
The writing doesn’t feel as mature as the other series. Perhaps that is intentional. It was fast paced but short. The mysteries weren’t that mysterious and some weren’t set straight at the end. Hard to develop characters when likely one or two might appear again, but this book didn’t expand on the Ben character as much as the first prequel.
The writing doesn’t feel as mature as the other series. Perhaps that is intentional. It was fast paced but short. The mysteries weren’t that mysterious and some weren’t set straight at the end. Hard to develop characters when likely one or two might appear again, but this book didn’t expand on the Ben character as much as the first prequel.
December 26, 2018
Harvey Bennett is a volunteer Park Ranger who ends up involved in a murder mystery hat includes a lovers triangle. An engaging cast of characters along with a great story lines make this a short and fun read.
December 26, 2018
GREAT BOOK WITH A GRIPPING STORYLINE TO KEEP YOU TURNING PAGES TILL THE END. I RECEIVED AN ARC OF THIS BOOK. THE CHARACTERS ARE GREAT AND LIKABLE. IF YOU LIKE A MURDER MYSTERY SET IN THE WILDS I THINK YOU WILL LIKE THIS BOOK. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT
December 28, 2018
Skilled writing but a little too much weirdness for my taste. Ben breaks more rules than most people would break, takes a lot of chances, and Kathryn was just a very strange red herring to the story.
January 8, 2019
I think the second Ben Bennett prequel was a good read. Ben is still trying to "find" himself in his new career and seems to be happier when he is one with nature than when he is forced to socialize with his peers. You can see Ben maturing in this book and being able to better deal with his anti-social demeanor just enough to recruit help he needs to crack this murder mystery. I thought that the book could have delved more into his thought processes as he pieced together his theories because all of a sudden he "connected all the dots". Usually a reader can kind of connect those dots with the protagonist, but I hadn't a clue as to who the ultimate culprit was. Still a fun read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews