Panther Gap

by James A. McLaughlin

"Chock-full of adventure, runs the gamut on the human experience....One hell of a good yarn.” ―David Baldacci

The thrilling new novel from the Edgar Award–winning author of Bearskin, about two siblings on the verge of inheriting millions but who discover dark secrets in their family’s past.

Named a most anticipated book by Crime Reads and BookPage

Siblings Bowman and Summer were raised by their father and two uncles on a remote Colorado ranch. They react differently to his radical teachings and the confusions of adolescence. As young adults, they become estranged but are brought back together in their thirties by the prospect of an illegal and potentially dangerous inheritance from their grandfather. They must ultimately reconcile with each other and their past in order to defeat ruthless criminal forces trying to extort the inheritance.

Set in the rugged American West and populated by drug cartels, shadowy domestic terrorists, and nefarious business interests, Panther Gap shows James McLaughlin’s talents on full gorgeous environmental writing, a white-knuckle thriller plot, and characters dealing with legacy, identity, and their own place in the world.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Crime, Nature, Suspense, Audiobook

360 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 4, 2023

Reviews

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crime thriller with a wonderful ambiance.

My first novel by James A. McLaughlin and I'm impressed!

On the surface, Panther Gap appears like a basic crime thriller; close siblings who gone their separate ways are united for a secret inheritance left to them by their grandfather. Sounds like a good day except for dangerous people are also after that money!

Set in the rugged lush valley called Panther Gap, a Colorado ranch. McLaughlin masterfully weaves childhood stories through flashbacks bringing wildlife and landscapes to life! I love nature and his literary prose is compelling and insightful. The story has a native mythical feel on top of being an action-packed thriller.

I was intrigued by the title and requested this audiobook which is expertly narrated by MacLeod Andrews. The nonlinear timeline wasn't confusing with the chapter headings and is easy to follow.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for my advance listening copy.
Released April 4th, 2023!

[Sandra Hoover · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this great big reading world, I consider myself lucky to come across a book that holds me captive from start to finish. One that I quickly become totally immersed in to a point of becoming one with the characters and story. These elusive books are rarer than hen's teeth and yet, I finished Panther Gap satisfied in the knowledge I held one in my hands. Panther Gap is a larger than life story that defies genre and boundaries. One laden with a complex, multifaceted plot line and atypical characters refusing to be locked in a box. One that delivers a stunning message to humans residing on planet earth.

Panther Gap is a mesmerizing story featuring siblings Bowman and Summer whose early years are spent running wild and free on their father's secluded, off-the-map ranch, hidden away from public eyes in a remote location rich in the history of the "Others" with ancient hidden subterranean passages forming a honeycomb in the Colorado canyon walls. Since losing his wife, their radical environmentalist father appears to be slipping away in fits of paranoia, experiencing psychotic episodes in losing battles with ghosts from his past while guarding dark secrets with his life. His irrational warnings of unknown danger frighten his children, but even so both siblings absorb his lessons in survival skills and love for nature like a sponge as they grow into misfit teenagers.

Bowman is especially psychic when it comes to the wildlife living in the natural habitat surrounding their refuge, often venturing off for extended periods of time to live among the animals as one. At times, he becomes dangerously close to losing touch with reality as he often transcends space in a hallucinatory state during which time the fragile lines between his human form and animal counterpart merge. Much of the story, especially anything pertaining to Bowman, is engulfed in a surreal, phantasmal state. During these times, Summer fears she may lose her brother to the same apparent madness that drives her father.

Bowman and Summer eventually become estranged when he leaves the security of the ranch to pursue the elusive panthers in Central America, with hopes of discovering his own true identity and place in the universe, and she is left to take over the running of the family ranch which is bordering on financial disaster. It's only in later years when their father's warnings prove to be sound and the much maligned inheritance from their late grandfather comes into play that they reunite to battle the crime and mafia drug forces threatening them and their way of life. The story that ensues is a dark, gritty, raw, sometimes heartbreaking thriller that this reader could not put down.

Panther Gap is a beautifully written, action packed thriller that swept me away. I love a story that integrates the surrounding environment into the plot line as an extra character as McLaughlin does in this one. Add a cast of nonconformist characters pushed over their physical and mental limits, and I'm one happy reader. Top that with a family drama - estranged, eccentric family members forced back together in the battle of their lives against bad guys coming at them from every direction in a multifaceted plot line, and I'm in book heaven. Panther Gap is rendered through the points of view of Bowman and Summer in riveting past/presence chapters. This allows readers to understand the radical upbringing that shaped them into the adults they've become in this place and time with an appreciation for the environment as well as the source of the deep sorrow they bear in the knowledge that many of the earth's resources and species are being depleted and destroyed by climate change in the name of progress. When it's all said and done, will they be able to say they made a difference? Can you?

Panther Gap has all the best of an old timey, shoot 'em up western - rugged setting, conflicted family, dirty money and a slew of bad guys gunning to claim a legacy. The action is swift, the characters damaged and the outcome in question until the final page. I was hopelessly and totally captured by the brilliance of McLaughlin's writing as he wove this tale of a family in crisis, of a man and woman searching for their identities as individuals - one that "fit" . . . or at the very least, one they can live with. I like that the ending is a bit open, not all wrapped up in a box with a bow. Yes, there's much needed closure and yet one is left to wonder, what if?

In reality, I haven't come close to conveying the magnitude and magnificence of Panther Gap in this review so I'll just say I highly recommend this entertaining book to fans of suspense thrillers, crime fiction and anyone who loves to get lost in a fantastic story that doesn't let you go until the end.
5++++++Stars! Words can't express how much I loved this story and how grateful I am to the publisher for inviting me to join the book tour. This review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and is now available at Cross My Heart Reviews. It releases on April 4, 2023 by Flatiron Books.

[Luke Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

After really enjoying Bearskin, I was highly anticipating the next release from this author. And though Panther Gap has a lot of interesting rivers of subject, they don't all connect at the sea.

Panther Gap is the story of two adult siblings - Bowman and Summer - who have been raised in a bit of seclusion by their father. From their home at an off-the-map ranch in Panther Gap, Colorado; their father has allowed the elder Bowman to explore the Native American side of his ancestory which seems to include a lot of animal mysticism and communing with "The Others". While on the other hand, Summer - lacking in Bowman's spiritual gifts - has been set upon a more traditional life path. The story develops in a very herky jerky back and forth of past and present of the two siblings working toward a common goal of protecting their family and their home at Panther Gap but in a very conviluted way. Take two siblings - already disjointed by their father's non-traditonal parenting - set them half a world away and then throw in such factors as unheard of wealth from dark money stolen(??, it's not real clear) by their great grandfather, a Mexican drug cartel, were-jaguars, a very confusing assualt by some sort of militia (??, again it's not real clear) that doesn't seem to be that big of a deal to any one under attack, Bowman's out of body visions brought on by toxic animal venom and who knows what else, a commuter plane crash that doesn't seem to be that big of a deal, scientists who are also agents for a drug cartel, and you've got one very confusing bowl of stew.

As a big Cormac McCarthy fan, I enjoyed some of the more Borderland Trilogy-esque parts of the story. And while I agree with the author on the last minute (and a bit heavy handed) talk about the environment it just comes out of nowhere mostly and doesn't really make sense. You've just survived an assualt on your home and family, your long lost brother has only just reappeared (against his will) to have his life potentially lost, you've just inherited Russian oligarch type wealth, you've got a driveway full of dead bodies, you may have to live the rest of your life in hiding, and the only thing anyone is talking about is how are we going to save the planet? I'm sorry, but it's just too outlandish for me. To me, that makes about as much sense as why an eagle you released 20-ish years ago is leaving dead animals on your parents' graves.

[Sharon Huether · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two siblings, Summer and Bowman stand to inherit their grandfather's fortune.
When they were younger, their Uncles and father raised them at a remote ranch in Colorado.
Now they are young adults and trying to stay clear of evil forces that are trying to extort the inheritance.

I won this ARC book from Flatiron books.

[Marian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Abandoned it halfway through.

[Laurie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Such great promise. Immediately made me think of Cormac McCarthy but unforunately all the threads rather than weave into a great story turn into a frayed knot. In the interest of time while I'm trying to get my kid off to college I direct you to Luke Johnson's review here on Goodreads. Absolutely spot on and I couldn't say it any better.

[Ray Palen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author James McLaughlin won multiple book awards for his debut novel BEARSKIN released back in 2018. That novel took us to the deep forests of Appalachia and featured a man dealing with everything from Mexican Cartels to poachers as he sought to defend protected land there all under the metaphor of bear skinning.

Now, his long-awaited second novel PANTHER GAP is released and continues McLaughlin’s unique vision and brand of storytelling. This tale originates on a remote ranch in Colorado and the descriptions and language contained within are so different they may as well be taking place on another planet.

Brother and sister Bowman and Summer have been raised on this secluded ranch by their father and two uncles. We begin their tale back in 1983 where the siblings are being raised in a style that can only be described as off the grid. They live as one with nature and the various animals of the region and have even been known to put together and wear skins to imitate different animals, most frequently the wolves. Their father’s pet eagle specifically loves it when they wear the wolf pelts as it practices attacking them.

Father’s instruction tends to go well beyond that of a love and respect of nature and the local wildlife. Bowman and Summer have been taught to not trust those from the outside world and to recognize almost everything they see as a threat until proven otherwise. They must learn to think like prey in order to work their way out of nearly every situation. As the two of them grow to young adulthood, these teachings will shape their personalities and psyches to make them two very different people. They also become estranged from each other and grow apart.

The two are brought together when they are in their thirties as a result of death in their family and an inheritance that has been left to them. Now, Bowman and Summer must reconnect and also find a connection to their past in order to face a new threat that they did not expect and have grown distant from. Bowman has always been a bit psychic, like his radical father always claimed to be, and he foresaw the dangers that would be placed in front of him should he return to the wilderness he had once been so tied to. Summer, meanwhile, fears that she may once again lose her brother to the same madness that so consumed their father.

The inheritance that the siblings have been called upon to claim comes from their late grandfather. However, this gift is far from free and comes with a hefty price. The details of the inheritance will place them directly in the midst of a long-fought battle with not only deadly drug cartels but also various members of illegal crime syndicates in the area who want it all. Bowman and Summer will now be called upon those very same survival skills that shaped their lives and once were all they knew. It is like riding a bike for them but may not be a ride they are willing to take.

PANTHER GAP is a novel that definitely goes there. The places that James A. McLaughlin takes the reader is indeed special and unlike anything I have read recently. The landscape, language, and deep dive into the off-the-grid lifestyle that Bowman and Summer are raised in is so alien at times it is hard to grasp the fact that the action is taking place in the United States and not within the boundaries of a well-imagined fantasy novel.

Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had lots of great building blocks, including anthropomorphism and quantum mechanics and a view of mankind I agree with. But it just didn’t grip me. And the character development was subpar. And the whole premise is prettttty unrealistic. But I loved the idea of living close to nature and rejecting life’s status symbols. Although the kids did not spend enough time reading to be able to quote all the science and literature they casually threw around.

I did think the eagle training scene was gripping and the rest was just not quite there.

[Lynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC from Goodreads in exchange for writing this review. This book was very strange. It's about 2 siblings who are inheriting some kind of account from their late grandfather that if accepted is going to bring them all kinds of danger from different groups that their grandfather had bad relations with. I found it a little confusing at times because it jumped around a bit in years. When it jumped back in time that chapter would be labeled with the year but when it jumped back to present it wasn't labeled. It was also a little difficult understanding the brother because he just had a very weird way of thinking. Overall there was a good story in there.

[Sascha · Rating 5 out of 5]

As children, siblings, Bowman and Summer were inseparable, but as they grew up on their beloved ranch, Panther Gap, their father decided that they needed experiences outside of their insular world. While Bowman who possessed a preternatural psychic connection with the wild things of Panther Gap vehemently rejected the idea of going to boarding school, his sister fell in line. After an argument with his father, Bowman leaves to follow the trail of a jaguar into Mexico. Summer goes to school and then returns home to run the ranch with her Uncles, Jeremy and Darwin.

Bowman’s father tracks him down in Mexico. He informs Bowman that on Summer’s 35th birthday, the two will inherit money from their grandfather, money that may have come from unsavory dealings with people/organizations with long, long memories who will do anything to get the money back. Bowman shrugs away the warning as more of his father’s paranoid blatherings, but when it comes up to Summer’s 35th birthday, he heads home to warn his sister in James A. McLaughlin’s powerful, Panther Gap.

A subplot involves East Coast lawyer, Sam, who is hiking with his best friend, Mac, when Mac picks up a woman, not knowing that the woman is on the run and that her electric yellow backpack carries some highly desirable items. Mac and the woman get kidnapped, stranding Sam who stumbles into the seemingly impenetrable Panther Gap where Summer and her Uncle Jeremy aid Sam in resolving the kidnapping.

Panther Gap blends a few of my very favorite genres: mystery/suspense and environmental writing with a tinge of paranormal/magic realism. The mystery has enough twists and speculation to keep the pages turning while the environmental aspect is thoughtfully and insightfully written.

Despite the fact that Panther Gap came in at 368 pages, I would happily have read more and actually desired more. I was fascinated by Bowman’s character and his ability to touch the minds of other creatures. However, I would have loved more of his story regarding his adventures in Mexico and Central America. In fact, most of the characters provided an interesting read from the savvy Uncle Jeremy, restaurant-ready chef Uncle Darwin, unflappable agent of mystery, April, to the fish-out-of-water lawyer Sam. They were highlights that made me wish for more.

One of the key thrusts of Panther Gap is the interconnectedness of all of nature and that, regardless of our all-encompassing self-importance, we are just one species among many others. Everything is inextricably linked. Without synergy, growth flounders, and the all-important human concept of “winning” is just a piece of paper flapping in the wind. Having guns garners nothing but having money does and it will be the rich, as always, at the top of the food chain and on the first space ship to another planet they’ll inevitably destroy. While this is not a literal idea from the novel, it is what I took away. I’m certain that more in-your-face environmental concepts might have been shot down for wider public consumption. Perhaps. Anyway, suffice to say, I was won over by the author’s description of a world intertwined.

With the focus on thriller and environment, it’s almost easy to overlook the beautiful prose. Which, I guess, is the sign of an extremely well-written novel. Everything works together–exquisitely.

There’s really a lot more to say but I’ll stop here. Looking forward to more.

As this is an audiobook, I wanted to mention how deftly MacLeod Andrews told the story, highlighting the thrilling parts and drama while keeping the listener immersed in the experience.

I received an audiobook copy from the publisher (Thank you, Macmillan Audio) for an honest review.

[Kim McGee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bowman and Summer have been raised to respect nature but not to fear it. As youngsters on their remote ranch in Colorado they were home schooled in both book and survival skills - they trained eagles, knew a variety of weapons and could track animals easily. The siblings were close until Bowman took off to Central America leaving Summer the responsibility of keeping the ranch going. Now the pair stand to inherit the ranch and a surprising inheritance but Summer needs Bowman to come home so she can claim it. That would be hard enough but someone else is very interested in taking that inheritance away and settling an old score. The more they learn of their grandfather's history and the money the more dangerous the whole thing feels. The author's love of wild places and the natural world is evident as he skillfully layers the sibling's complicated relationship, the hunt to find Bowman and eluding the dangerous criminals that are after them. You can almost hear the rifle shot echo through the canyon, hear the eagle's cry as you hope they will all make it back home alive. This is a first rate modern western, family drama and crime thriller all wrapped up in one. Fans of the first book, BEARSKIN, the tv series Yellowstone and stories of living off the grid will find their heart happily racing. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

[Matthew Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow. This one was kind of weird. Having read Bearskin last year, I wasn't sure that I wanted to read another McLaughlin, but I saw that this just came out and I liked the title, so I gave it a shot.

Speaking of title, an alternate one for this book could've been "Promethean Leap" as that phrase is referenced several times and is the recurring theme; when humans overcame and became the dominant species. Then proceeded to quickly make poor decisions leading to their impending demise.

Deep, I know.

Another theme running through this story is the idea of becoming the very thing that you are at odds with. Specifically simple, naturalistic lives becoming complicated, modern lives through inheritance (apparently of an astronomic amount of money). The identity struggle after this process would be tough on anyone, but especially for Summer and Bowman Girard.

Overall, I liked this tale, however I felt that the end was a little rushed and incomplete. I would have liked less set-up and less of Bowman's fantastic visions. But as the book says, that's just "Bowmanesque"...

[Laura Hoffman Brauman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summer and Bowman were raised by their father and uncles on a remote ranch in Colorado. Their upbringing was untraditional, with deep connections to nature, a distrust of the modern and political world, and a healthy dose of mysticism. Eventually their life paths diverge with Bowman disappearing into Mexico and Central America and Summer struggling to keep the ranch going after her father's death. When they come into an unexpected inheritance, new choices exist and they must decide first - can this astronomical sum be safely accessed? and should it be? solid mystery/thriller that kept me turning pages. Appreciated the writing but some of the mysticism was a bit too much for me..

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mythical. Native. Savage. The third act began in the first and didn't let up. Some armed engagements end quickly and that's okay, but I sure wanted it all to go on a bit longer. An underlying thread of mankind headed down a dark path. The people all too small to do anything about it, but the author graces us with a nice fiction, if only it could actually come to light.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Panther Gap was hard to put down, once I got used to the constant jumping between past and present. It's a story about two siblings raised by a fanatically nature loving father set in southwestern Colorado that includes detailed southwestern scenes, mystical connections between humans and animals, drug cartels, gangs, smugglers, murder, combat action, travels to Latin America, and a lost tourist.

[Ethan Bragg · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good adventure novel. Credit to McLaughlin for attempting a different vantage point on naturalism and semi-supernatural actions with some characters. While it didn’t completely land for me, it may for some.

[Diane L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starts strong but tangled plot lines make them difficult to keep straight. Terrific writing and it kept me reaching for the dictionary which I enjoy!

[Rosie Malone-Povolny · Rating 2 out of 5]

a disappointing follow-up to amazing bearskin. i never got gripped by the story, though it’s full of action. the characters didn’t resonate with me— i felt like i was waiting for more to be revealed about how they turned out the way they did but then the book runs out. this book felt like too much of too much, and for no purpose that was clear to me.

[Barbara Q · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ambitious novel with a lot of testosterone: Mafia, cartels, guns, quixotic, idealistic characters and death-defying escapades in Mexico, Arizona and Colorado, but it also has lovely descriptions of the landscapes and fauna in these places. There are novels that lack satisfactory coherent endings. I felt this was one, basically because of the hyperbole. Good writer though ..

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set on a remote ranch in the Colorado wilderness, two estranged siblings must work together to evade dangers from a drug cartel and a mob boss in order to claim an inheritance, save their family land, and save their own lives. Flashbacks flesh out the unconventional childhoods of the main characters, and plenty of action and quick chapters keep the story moving forward. Would make a great vacation read.

Received as an ARC via Goodreads Giveaways.

[Steve Payne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Bearskin. This book fell victim to being too smart for its own good. Maybe organizations that smart, evil and powerful really do exist but I seriously doubt it. Made the whole book hard to stomach. It was difficult to empathize with any of the characters outside of Sam, and possibly Darwin.

[Tessa Talks Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's it about (in a nutshell):
Panther Gap by James A. McLaughlin is a stunningly vivid thriller set on a hidden ranch near a small town in Colorado. Siblings Bowman and Summer Girard were living their own lives – Bowman in a remote area of Costa Rica's Pacific coast and Summer trying to keep the family ranch going in Colorado when news of an unexpected piece to their inheritance from their grandfather comes to light. But to claim it, they must join together as a family, the siblings and their two remaining uncles. They aren't the only ones who want this money hidden in an offshore account, though. Criminals feel they also have a claim to the money, and it is not only the location of their hidden ranch that's at stake but also their lives.

My Reading Experience:
WoW! Just wow! This book was such a treat to read, and I couldn't help but devour it in one sitting (minus the first 10% I read the night before). The cover doesn't scream thriller like I'm used to, but the story is just that and an excellent one to boot. From the interactions with the animals, which held thrills all on its own, as the animals are each incredibly dangerous, to the criminals that surrounded the Girard family unbeknownst to them and were closing in fast – I had plenty of thrills, twists, and turns to keep my thriller heart happy and my mind completely engaged.

I love the bit of mysticism in the story too. It added a chilling touch of paranormal to the otherwise very grounded story. Bowman believes animals can hear his thoughts and react to them, and he also believes that they consider him one of their own. And both siblings experience a mysticism (or magic) more on the line of premonitions. It makes my hair stand on end just thinking back on it.

The dark family secrets in the story are like the cherry on top of an already solid thrilling tale. Who doesn't love unearthing family secrets? I know I do, and I enjoyed that part of the story, too, as beliefs were debunked and new realities were put in their place. There is so much they didn't know, and I loved learning the secrets along with Bowman and Summer.

Characters:
The main characters are very different from one another. Summer is steadfast and dependable. After her father's death, she returned to the family ranch. She ran it instead of following her path away from her family home. On the other hand, Bowman is more of a free though troubled spirit constantly communing with nature. And they both are developed so exquisitely and painstakingly that they become as natural as the descriptions of their surroundings. I like Summer and could relate to her. Still, I was fascinated by Bowman and his feelings about nature and the natural order of things.

Narration & Pacing:
The narration is done in the third person but focuses on Bowman or Summer, as the story dictates.
There are two timelines – present day and the 1980s and 90s as Summer and Bowman grew up on the ranch. All these changes never once became confusing and instead flowed seamlessly as the story unfolded. I enjoyed the look back and getting to know their father, who reminded me so much of my dad that it was sometimes eerie.

The pacing was relatively fast. Still, when I went to post my initial thoughts about the book on an app I use, I noticed the two other reviews posted– one that described the pace as slow and one that defined the pace as medium. I find it fascinating that 3 different people who all loved the book had three very different perceptions of the pace. For me, the book read very fast. I read the eBook for the first 10%, but once I picked up the physical book the next day, I noticed that the pages flew, and I couldn't put it down. I read 90% of the book in one sitting.

Setting:
The imagery is so incredibly vivid. I was mesmerized by the natural beauty of the Colorado landscape and its inhabitants. Photos could not have described it nearly as well as McLaughlin does with his words alone. I loved the picture he painted in my mind with its dangers and power, both hidden and out in the open. For the first time, I wanted to visit Colorado and experience what I was reading about in this book. It felt so real, and unlike anywhere I have been before.
From the secret tunnels to the rivers and creeks, the forest, and the pasture lands, I felt like I explored it all in person. I was anxious to return to that area I had come to love in the book.

Read if you like:
Spine-tingling thrillers
Strong character development
Vivid imagery

[Fiction Majorette · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://fictionmajorette.blogspot.com...

I think the most stand-out element of this book for me was the prose. This is my first read from McLaughlin, but after skimming through some reviews of his other works, it seems like this writing style is one of his signatures. It had a more literary quality than I normally prefer in my thriller plots, but he found a good balance of when to really lean into that and when to leave it out. A lot of the more literary (dare I say even flowery) sections were surrounding a particular character who really leans into the more mystical or magical way of the natural world.

The pacing was also fantastic and really built up well over the course of the book. I loved the way we are just dropped into this isolated setting without any real introduction and the book just goes from there. We don't get into the thriller-y elements until around the 40% mark but once that plot kicks in, we are pretty much full throttle until the end. McLaughlin does a great job at increasing the tension bit by bit so that it is a gradual tightening as you read.

There is a dual timeline element and while I normally love a dual timeline, in this case I felt like it was maybe used too much. I think if the past timeline chapters were shorter or overall we spent less time in that timeline, I don't think it would have detracted from the story. We get a good amount of a character mentioning a certain event off-hand in the present time and then seeing that event play out in the past but there often was such a long delay between that by the time we see the event in the past I wasn't really intrigued anymore.

The character dynamics are really great and it is interesting how relatively little backstory we get throughout the story. It feels like we don't have a lot of concrete details about these characters but their interpersonal dynamics really speak volumes. The POV in the story bounces around a fair bit so we get some inner thoughts of some of the characters which helped me not feel too disconnected given the minimal information.

Overall, this was a really fun read. The prose was more literary than I was expecting, but I loved the way that contrasted with a very action movie-esque plot. The characters were interesting and their relationships were dynamic. I enjoyed the dual timeline element but wished it was used just a tad less overall.

Thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the ARC

Expected publication date is April 4, 2023

[Bookreporter.com Mystery & Thriller · Rating 3 out of 5]

James A. McLaughlin won multiple awards for his debut novel, BEARSKIN, which released in 2018. The book took us to the deep forests of Appalachia and featured a man dealing with everything from Mexican cartels to poachers as he sought to defend protected land, all under the metaphor of bear skinning.

McLaughlin’s long-awaited second novel, PANTHER GAP, continues his unique vision and brand of storytelling. Its descriptions and language are so different that it could very well be taking place on another planet. Siblings Bowman and Summer have been raised on a secluded ranch in Colorado by their father and two uncles. They live as one with nature and the various animals of the region. In fact, they have even been known to put together and wear skins to imitate different animals, most frequently wolves. Their father’s pet eagle specifically loves it when they don the wolf pelts as it practices attacking them.

However, their father’s instruction tends to go well beyond that of a love of nature and respect for the local wildlife. Bowman and Summer have been taught not to trust those from the outside world and to recognize almost everything they see as a threat until proven otherwise. They must learn to think like prey in order to work their way out of nearly every situation. As they grow into young adulthood, these teachings will shape their personalities and psyches to make them two very different people. Eventually they will become estranged from each other and grow apart.

It turns out that Bowman and Summer are brought back together in their 30s when their grandfather passes away and leaves them an inheritance, which is far from free and comes with a hefty price. It will place them directly in the midst of a long-fought battle not only with deadly drug cartels but with various members of illegal crime syndicates in the area who want it all. They will now be called upon to use those same survival skills that shaped their lives and at one point were all they knew. It’s like riding a bike for them, but it may not be a ride that they’re willing to take.

PANTHER GAP is a book that definitely goes there. The places that McLaughlin takes readers are indeed special and unlike anything I have read recently. The landscape, language and deep dive into the off-the-grid lifestyle that Bowman and Summer have experienced is so alien at times that it is hard to grasp that the action is occurring in the United States and not within the boundaries of a well-imagined fantasy novel.

Reviewed by Ray Palen

[Sharon Mensing · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those who have spent time in Colorado, James McLaughlin's evocative writing about the remote landscape will bring back vivid memories. Even for those who have not, reading PANTHER GAP will bring the beauty and isolation of the land to life. Bowman and Summer are siblings who have been brought up by their paranoid father beyond the reach of anyone outside of their family. They've learned survivalist skills alongside a wide-ranging homeschooled curriculum with Bowman, in particular, becoming so entranced by the natural world that Summer sometimes believes he may have succumbed to the mental illness exhibited by his father. The book is told from both Summer's and Bowman's perspectives, both in the present and in the past, and Bowman's chapters share his metaphysical leanings. Summer's chapters often allow the reader to ground Bowman's transcendent experiences in the rational world. Together, the two perspectives transport the reader to a world of both beauty and pain.

When Summer, struggling to keep the family's hidden ranch afloat, is notified of a potentially huge inheritance that can only be theirs if both she and Bowman appear at a meeting with representatives of a Swiss bank, Bowman has left civilization to live in a remote Central American jungle. Circumstances force him to head home at this point, as Summer and her uncles attempt to protect the ranch while still meeting the bank's stipulation. The trajectories of these two plot lines rely on what seems like circumstances as they move toward intersection but, in fact, are carefully constructed to make sense as the book draws to a highly suspenseful end.

There are many characters introduced throughout the book but, while lesser authors might struggle to help the reader keep track of them, McLaughlin does a superb job of making each clearly essential and well-defined. The plot line is highly complex, involving, among other things, mental illness, survivalism, hidden bank accounts, drug cartels, FBI informants, hidden identities, and lots and lots of gunfire. At no point does McLaughlin lose track of the main theme of the book, however, which is personified by both Summer and Bowman: how can an individual use his or her skills, intelligence, and resources to make a real difference in the world without having the world destroy them first. The book can be read simply as a fast-paced thriller, but McLaughlin invites us to think much more deeply than that. The absolutely gorgeous writing only enhances the experience. In the audiobook, the narrator further strengthens the impact of the descriptions with his deep voice and direct delivery.

This is McLaughlin's second novel, following 2018's BEARSKIN. While there are similarities, especially in the remoteness of the outdoor settings, the books are standalones After reading the first, I was unsure that McLaughlin would be able to meet the high standard he had set for himself but, if anything, he has surpassed it with PANTHER GAP. I can only hope it doesn't take five years for him to grace us with his next.

This review first appeared at reviewingtheevidence.com

[Debra Gaynor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Panther Gap
James A. McLaughlin
I’m not sure but this may have been the second book in this series.
This is the unique tale of Bowman and Summer, brother and sister raised by their father and two uncles in the remote/isolated ranch called Panther Gap Colorado. After losing his wife, their father who was a radical environmentalist began having spells of paranoia and psychotic episodes in which he battled with ghosts from his past. Bowman and Summer are afraid of what he is becoming and yet they learn survival skills as well as a love for nature from him. He trained eagles by having his son dress and act like a wolf. The eagle would attack him. I’m surprised the kid lived. It is certainly understandable why Bowman had a strange radical personality. We learn most of their childhood through flashbacks. Bowman appears to be psychic and has a special connection to animals. There are many times when he seems to be hallucinating being part human and part animal.
Bowman settles in Central America as he searches for the elusive panthers and his identity. Summer is left to deal with the financially struggling ranch. He and Summer reunite in their thirties. They must fight drug lords, the mafia, and mobsters, that want to destroy their way of life. They discover they have a very dangerous inheritance from their grandfather; it is worth millions and perhaps billions of dollars all dirty money.
I found this book fascinating. I listened to the audio book, carrying it from room to room until I listened to the very last words. The plot is complex and so are the characters. I have mixed feelings about the environment part of the plot; I think it is vital to take care of the one earth that we have but I also think that the idea that cattle are harmful goes too far. The tale is told mostly through Bowman and Summer’s point of views. I enjoyed the flashbacks into their childhood and found the information invaluable in understanding the plot. I loved the setting, Colorado, the caves, the rugged terrain. The plot was filled with family conflict, dirty money, bad guys willing to shot anyone or anything. We are left with an open ending leaving room for perhaps another book or perhaps just allowing readers to contemplate the message.

[DJ Sakata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favorite Quotes:

He glanced at the fifth of Maker’s Mark propped up in the passenger seat, reached for it, had himself a snort. That’s how he described it to himself: a snort. It sounded vaguely cowboy, decidedly western. When he drank alone he sometimes entertained himself via self-mocking role-play.

The harsh malignance— the venom— in the man’s voice took Sam aback. This was worse somehow than the message. Live, he didn’t sound like an actor pretending to be a criminal in a movie, which was Sam’s only reference. He sounded like a person who habitually hurt other people, who liked doing it, whose life had been defined by his willingness and ability to hurt others. The vast majority of people weren’t like that. Certainly no one Sam had ever known was like that. He felt childish and naïve, stripped naked, even over the phone.

Sam’s butterflies had been slowly morphing into nauseous abdominal pit bulls...

Summer liked the museums. She said they were like funnels concentrating human endeavor and knowledge in one place where you could soak up a lot at once.

Darwin was unsure whether to believe him, didn’t want to believe him, but kind of did believe him and disliked the implications.


My Review:

This was a thoughtfully written and complicated tale with multiple timelines and multiple plotlines that slowly converged. The intense storylines were well populated with bizarre, oddly unique, complex, and well-textured characters that often weren’t all that likable yet tugged at my curiosity. I was deeply invested and intrigued by the storytelling and deeply perceptive and absorbing writing style that slotted me into each scene, so much so that I often had the urge to bathe while the characters were camping for extended periods or living rough. I was planning to give a 5-star rating until I came to the last chapter and an ending that has left me quite aggrieved. But I know I am rather ridiculous about such things.

[Kassidi. Under The Radar Books. · Rating 5 out of 5]

PANTHER GAP
James A. McLaughlin

I am so excited to be a part of the blog tour for James A. McLaughlin’s latest environmental thriller-Panther Gap.

PANTHER GAP is about siblings Summer and Bowman. Raised in an extraordinary fashion, Summer was taught to follow her instincts, and Bowman to capture his, they grew apart as adults but now must come together to secure their inheritance. Bowman must travel far and wide in a hazy state and Summer must interpret the character of those around to navigate-both using those instincts.

I do not reach for environmental thrillers often, actually ever, but thought that this might be a good one to try and I was right. McLaughlin’s writing, specifically his way of describing people, places, and things is phenomenal. And in this book, he explores the interdependency of our human relationships and how we express ourselves within our environment. How our environment influences us and how we influence our environment.

Our symbiotic nature.

The entire reading experience felt like I was reading in color. McLaughlin has an interesting use of language. He used a few beautiful words I don’t come across very often and used one of my favorite words ever. This book makes the natural feel magical. And I’ll never think of my relationship with others and my environment as being independent ever again.

When he writes about animals and Bowman’s tenuis relationship with his species, it feels like we’re talking about more than just wanting to run wild and free. Perhaps we’re also discussing what it means to be an individual in an ecosystem where one change, changes everything. And how living your life in your truest nature, as you were meant to, is the only way to be free.

PANTHER GAP is for the animal in all of us and I highly recommend you add it to your list.


PANTHER GAP comes out on April 4, 2023.

Thanks to James A. McLaughlin, Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and Flatiron Books for inviting me to be a part of the tour and for the advanced copies!

PANTHER GAP…⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Janis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book almost two weeks ago, but a reread of several sections had to happen before I could write an honest review. The author likes to jump into a scene as the action is happening, especially in Chapter 1. He moves quickly from one scene to another with no reference link to the previous one. When I reached Page 61, I decided to return to the beginning because hints as to whatever happened in the past. Why do the descendants of the grandfather live in a fortified house carved into a cliff in a mountain cliff with no apparent entrance from the outside world. How much so the uncles who raised the sister know about the money? What happened to the father in Africa? Why is the brother living off the grid on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rico. Is the lost tourist a part of a group that also wants the money or is he really lost? The grandfather's, father's, and brother's paranoia stems from money, a lot of money swindled from the Las Vegas mafia and the Mexican Cartel. Once the action begins James McLaughlin keeps the reader on the edge of the seat; however, the flipping between past and present is like watching a suspenseful television show interrupted by twenty minutes of commercials. Book Browse sent this book to me as an Advanced Reader's Copy. I am sure fans of McLaughin's first book Bearskin will multiply when they read this book. He does write action very well; but. new readers should read the first pages very slowly.The rock falls slowly from atop the mountain but does gain speed as it nears the bottom.

[Babs Schmerler · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is 3 1/2 stars, as the magical realism detracts from the plot. Bowman and Summer are siblings, who have been raised by an unconventional, somewhat paranoid father, after their mother dies. They live on a remote Colorado ranch that is purposely isolated from the rest of the world. Their paternal grandfather had mafia ties, and both twins stand to inherit a vast fortune, although they have little knowledge of this. The two grow up with their father and two maternal uncles but are as different as night and day. Bowman is a mystical soul who sees through the eyes of animals and eventually leaves the ranch in search of a jaguar that appears to be his spiritual guide. Summer is more practical and takes on the role of keeping the family together once her father dies. The novel goes back and forth between the past and present, so the reader learns how the family ends up in a huge mess once the inheritance comes due. Into this course of events enters Sam, a recently divorced tax attorney who is on a road trip with his friend, Mac. When Mac picks up a woman who is carrying around a bunch of drugs in her backpack, he ends up getting kidnapped by members of the drug cartel trying to steal Bowman and Summer's inheritance. The author did a good job tying together all the different characters and their stories, and the ending had an exciting, albeit predictable climax. The novel was good escapism.