All the Creatures that Breathe: A Novel Based on Real Events

by D. Dauphinee

“From Harvard Yard to the Andes, a story of discovery, love, and loss.”


In 1985, three Harvard archaeology and anthropology graduate students travel to Peru to seek beauty, culture, and ancient ruins. While exploring the remote, snow-capped eastern slopes of the Andes, they witness an unspeakable tragedy — one they can do little about.
Suddenly, and without warning, their enchanting trip becomes a fight for survival.
The three friends must come to terms with their experiences. Each student’s healing process becomes intensely personal and offers different results.

424 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 13, 2022

About the author

Dee is an American author of novels, biographies, and essays. His writing has gained a following with readers interested in the out-of-doors, history, travel, human interest, fly fishing, and the construction of essays. He has been a farmer, a photographer, a fishing & mountaineering guide, and an orthopaedic physician’s assistant. For seven years he was a semi-pro wide receiver in the Canadian Football League’s farm system, and in the Eastern Football League. Dee has lived in Europe and South America.
Dee was born with wanderlust in Bangor, Maine. After graduating from high school, he made his way to Wyoming. He spent the next decade splitting his time between Jackson Hole, WY, and Vancouver, British Columbia. Living in Jackson Hole in the 1980's was Heaven, he recalls...he was climbing mountains or fly fishing every second he could. Photography and climbing too Dee to many places including El Salvador, Peru, the Arctic, throughout Europe, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Iraq, Israel, Egypt, Ecuador, Jordan, the UK, Panama, Lebanon, Kenya, Algeria, Columbia, and many places in between where he did contract and spec work for several media outlets, including United Press International.
Dee has led or co-led mountaineering, desert, and jungle expeditions on 5 continents, and has climbed above 20,000 feet above sea level fourteen times; at one time, more than any Maine native. He has been involved in several state and international Search & Rescue teams.
Dee has contributed articles, photographs, and essays to many periodicals for thirty years, including National Geographic, The Canadian Geographic, Outside Magazine, Mariah, Backpacker, Climbing, and Ascent, magazines, to name only a few.
Dee has had two books published by North Country Press; Stoneflies & Turtleheads, a collection of fly-fishing essays from Maine and around the world, and The River Home, a novel. Highlanders Without Kilts, an award-winning historical fiction about a Canadian family’s ordeal during WWI and a Nova Scotia battalion’s odyssey in that war was released May 2015 by Kicking Pig Press. Dee’s new book, When You Find My Body, is about Appalachian Trail hiker Geraldine Largay who became lost in Maine in 2013. Despite the largest manhunt in Maine’s history, Gerry was not found, and she perished. It was released in June 2019 by Rowman & Littlefield (Globe Pequot Press). By the second week of June 2019, it was recorded on two Bestseller lists.

Dee lives in Middle Maine with his wife and two children, who all hike and fish.

Dee is represented by Janklow & Nesbit Literary Agency.

Reviews

[Katie Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to receive an advanced copy of this book. This is a departure in content for Dee Dauphinee (author of When You Find My Body) and I hope he continues down this path.

This story is rich with flawed and likable characters, beautifully described settings, and emotional and political complications. The stories of the characters in this book need to be told. From Jack, Claire, and Casey to Alberto, Marisol, and Maria, each character brings a unique voice and experience to this text.

Dauphinee’s prose is very readable and easy to follow. His ability to transport his reader into Peru and engage them on multiple emotional levels is wonderful.

Jack, Claire, and Casey will stay with you long after you read their stories. Kudos, Dee! I am already looking forward to your next book!

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to receive an advance reading copy of this book.
Get ready to be immersed in this story in the first chapter. Dauphinee’s story of 3 Harvard grad students melds adventure and culture in a compelling page turner. He tells their tale with intersecting North and South American locations with a big dose of Peruvian and Incan history, foods, political strife, anthropology and archeology.
The interplay of the characters has integrity and Dauphinee makes you feel like you know them intimately.
Follow the journey and be ready for a completely captivating experience.

[Lisa Heinsohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

All The Creatures That Breathe, the new novel by D. Dauphinee, is a page turner right from the start. It is all the more affecting because it is inspired by real events. Set largely in Peru, it follows three Harvard graduate students on their treks and explorations through Incan ruins in the 1980’s. I was quickly invested in these characters as their personal and professional lives intersected. Never having been on any kind of expedition, the descriptions of their trips and the areas they explored came alive to me, as did the local experts who became lifelong friends and fellow explorers. Reading about their encounters with groups in isolated areas along with navigating language barriers and local customs made me long to be an archaeologist or anthropologist! Added to this were the very real dangers of a terrorist group called The Shining Path active in Peru during this time that dealt in violence and human trafficking I was in turns anxious for their safety, excited by their discoveries, angered at political machinations and charmed by their complicated love story. I couldn’t put it down and yet didn’t want it to end. This is a great read.

[Andrea George · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, thank you Dee Dauphinee and Goodreads for an advanced, autographed copy of "All The Creatures That Breathe"!
In the informational letter included with my novel, Mr. Dauphinee mentioned that this novel included some "spicey" scenes (unlike his previous novels). There is one particular scene that takes place at the beginning of the novel, that had me thinking, "Yikes, will I be able to read this story to the end?" After completing the novel, my answer is "yes"!
This particular scene set the tone for the entire novel. The story is very well written the characters, plot, and setting had me hooked from the very beginning. Even though this is a fictional novel, it is very believable. "All The Creatures That Breathe" was an easy read, full of adventure, and hard to put down.
If you are looking to be entertained, I would highly recommend this novel.
I'm looking forward to reading additional novels by Dee Dauphinee!

[Alan Comeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading my ARC of this book by D. Dauphinee. The author has extensive experience traveling and guiding in the areas of Peru featured in the story, so he has firsthand knowledge of the history and various cultures of the country. This comes through in his vibrant descriptions of the places and people the main characters experience in the novel.

He is also very well acquainted with Harvard University and the types of students who attend the prestigious institution. These elements, combined with his love of travel and keen insights into human nature have allowed him to create a multi-layered tale that is well paced and compelling. There's political upheaval, adventure, danger and romance. What more could you want in a novel?

You definitely need to add this to your reading list!

[Tim Ashe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was extremely fortunate to have been chosen to receive an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of this book. I have to tell you, right from the beginning, I felt transported in to the action by the unbelievable detail of the environments D. Dauphinee describes so vividly. He really makes you feel like you're there. Mr. Dauphinee has a way of telling a story that keeps you reading.

While this book takes a different path from his other books, D. Dauphinee handles the transition effortlessly. His development of the characters engages you in such a way that you become invested in their stories and outcomes. This book kept me wanting more. It will send you on a roller-coaster of emotions right to the end. I hope he continues on this path. I'd love to see what else he comes up with. Bravo!!!

[Alvin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a mixed bag for me – I enjoyed the detailed descriptions of the locations the friends in this book visit, and the adventure along the way. That said, for most of the book I found myself waiting for something to happen. There is the encounter with the Sendero/traffickers, but with everything following that I was questioning, "that's it?" as the novel drags on to the conclusion. My biggest gripe is that in the Kindle Unlimited version I read, a ton of additional editing is needed (eg dialogue consistently doesn't have closing quotations throughout the book) and I found that incredibly distracting.

[Edward Boulay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dauphinee's newest novel is much more than an adventure story. With spectacular prose, he magically describes a country, a culture and a civilization most of us are unfamiliar with. With an amazing attention to detail, the author creates a blend of history and perspective that connects people, places and relationships in a realistic, thought-provoking environment. This is a must read.

[Lex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty interesting. A lot of grammatical mistakes, but I think I got an advanced copy since the author works with my mom. I also would’ve liked an author’s note at the end explaining what’s real and what’s not about the story. But all in all, it’s a good read!