Catamount

by Rick Davidson

Man's sacrilegious infringements on Nature's delicate balance calls down a forgotten Indian curse and releases a raging mountain lion, a catamount, into the North Woods. This creature is not supposed to be here and is not supposed to prey on humans, but two young children and their dog pick up its trail behind an isolated summer camp not far below the Canadian border. The children do not return and a search and rescue party sets out after them, but the rampages of the malevolent, ghostlike cat hinders their efforts and a violent storm sets off a serious fire in the tinder-dry forest. The children manage to survive their first encounter with the stalking catamount because of the heroism of their dog, Virgil, but the rapidly spreading wildfire drives them through a treacherous bog and other dangers, and some of their would-be rescuers become further victims of the mysterious black apparition. Their distraught parents, Ed and Marty Rollins, are part of the search party, but Marty's recent brief affair with a local fish-and-game officer, Rob Schurman, who is acting as their guide, has set off tensions that must be resolved or set aside in order for their efforts to be effective. The catamount is wounded but this only serves to make it more vicious and unpredictable. Shifting winds threaten to endanger towns in the North Country and drive the children, the search parties, and the angry cat to a final confrontation on the edge of Lake Mackapaque.

260 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Rich Sanford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost DNF’d but stuck it through. Three stars for the setting and the story. I did not much like the characters and the only one I found really believable I assume to be somewhat autobiographical. I did not see that the characters developed much nor worked through much of their personal demons while slugging through their external challenges. The shifting perspectives were confusing and the omniscient narrator did not optimize what details were shared when, or why. I was also confused by the frequent italicized passages - the italics did not seem to represent any particular voice or perspective … they came across as random and distracting. Despite my several complaints I did enjoy the storyline enough to follow it through to the end. I did like Virgil - he was a good dog.

[Jane Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inccredible book, could hardly put it down. I was late for work one day, as I couldn't stop reading

[M.J. Fifield · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't believe I read the whole thing. Life is too short for books like this.