Justice for the Missing

by Phillip Davis

People are disappearing from National Parks. Rick Minor is one of those people. On the first night of a whirlwind tour of Utah’s Mighty Five, planned by his closest friend Matt, Rick wandered away from camp to answer nature’s call and vanished leaving no trace of where he’d gone.
Matthew and his girlfriend Dianne must now join the search, but the standard work of search and rescue teams aren’t going to be enough. The clue Matthew stumbles on appears to point to the impossible.
When a stranger emerges, issuing cryptic warnings and pointing in directions Matthew would never think to look, it becomes clear there are powerful forces at work. The hunt to find a missing friend will lead Matt and Dianne to face a much larger question. What is really happening on America’s public lands?

188 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2020

About the author

Phillip Davis has been writing short stories, novels, poems, and plays for most of his life, although Peppermint Lightning is his first published book, and decidedly so, for reasons that are quite personal to the author. While in high school, he won awards for two plays that he authored, and later he completed the NaNoWriMo challenge three times, the literary equivalent to multiple Boston Marathons. Phillip was born in Waterloo, New York, but has made dwellings in Texas, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Florida, and Tennessee, ultimately returning “home” to East Liverpool, Ohio. Along the way he has attended Merrimack College, The University of Massachusetts, and he has earned a degree from Western Governors University. Over several decades Phillip has earned his keep warehousing vitamins, renting everything from heavy machinery to automobiles, setting up tents, acting in theater, laboring in a grocery freezer, scheduling service jobs, mixing paint, slinging java, washing dishes, and selling books, eventually answering his calling as a teacher, where he helps his students find lightning, peppermint and otherwise, in the spots it is least likely to strike, and magic in the corners that require a special eye to uncover. Although he has always written, we may now add “author” to that considerable list of vocations. Phillip has parents and step-parents, brothers, aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, and in-laws all of whom he cares for deeply. Inquiries may be sent to peppermintlightning@gmail.com

Reviews

[deidra · Rating 4 out of 5]

let me start by saying that when i read the book description for Justice for the Missing, i was locked, loaded and ready for bear. people going missing in national parks is my jam!! when I'm mindlessly fishing through YouTube and a random video pops up about a disappearance in a national park, i have to click on it. yes, I'm a sucker.
Justice for the Missing is a highly entertaining read. Davis quickly sets up the premise and hits the ground running. there isn't a lot of time to catch your breath and that's a good thing. i stayed up way way past my bedtime, engrossed in this saga and while i was slightly disappointed there were no little green men or Sasquatch putting in an appearance (I'm joking), Davis did provide a plausible explanation behind the vanishings.
so, to sum up:
i highly recommend Justice for the Missing. it's a fun, slick read. just think twice about that trip to the National Park.
4 out of 5 stars.

[Jeletta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story and all of the questions it raised. It doesn't provide a lot of answers, only more questions and pondering on the part of the reader. If you like everything tied up in a nice, little bow, this is not the story for you. I felt like I got to know the characters and their situations as the story went on. I do like it, but I was jolted when I didn't get an ending per se, but I'm still thinking about the story, so that's a good thing! I recommend this for those who like mysteries and suspense! Using the backdrop of national parks was interesting and I thought added to the story in many ways. I recommend for others to read this book.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Generally well written with engaging characters. Suspense kept me reading into the night although felt a bit sci-fi for me. One character had a bit of off-color language but otherwise nothing to offend readers.

Because I found book so riveting, would have given it 5*, but due to the grammatical errors and misuse of words keeping me a bit distracted gave it 4*. This could become a series as there was a bit of a cliffhanger at the end. Worth the read.

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Shannon Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This premise was so intriguing! What happened to all the people who go missing at national parks? There was so much mystery, so many secrets, people knowing more than they let on...I loved getting closer to the truth and seeing a bit about what was going on. There was some good action, and lots of details and information packed into this story.

[Scott Groff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done characterizations and reasonably plausible plot. Not really violent. Heroes vs. the military-indistrial complex