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Jodi Luna #2
Blood Mountain
New Mexico game warden Jodi Luna disrupts a murderous wilderness adventure in this thrilling second installment from Alisa Lynn Valdés, New York Times bestselling author of The Dirty Girls Social Club.
Former poetry professor Jodi Luna hasn’t quite adjusted to life as a game warden. Her boss thinks she’s better with animals than humans, and the man she’s seeing wants a real relationship. Still reeling from her husband’s death, Jodi has to admit that she keeps people at a distance.
After her new friend, wealthy actress Claudia Evans, gathers with family members in the New Mexico wilderness, Jodi gets some unsettling news—that Claudia’s brother-in-law is missing. Eager to help, Jodi ventures into the wild to investigate, only to be thwarted by a blizzard that leaves the entire group stranded at a fishing lodge.
Jodi is no stranger to extreme weather, but when these reluctant adventurers start turning up mauled around the snowed-in lodge, Jodi suspects the this was no bear. This was murder.
And inside the snowy confines of this rustic hideaway, everyone is fair game…
…for a killer.
Former poetry professor Jodi Luna hasn’t quite adjusted to life as a game warden. Her boss thinks she’s better with animals than humans, and the man she’s seeing wants a real relationship. Still reeling from her husband’s death, Jodi has to admit that she keeps people at a distance.
After her new friend, wealthy actress Claudia Evans, gathers with family members in the New Mexico wilderness, Jodi gets some unsettling news—that Claudia’s brother-in-law is missing. Eager to help, Jodi ventures into the wild to investigate, only to be thwarted by a blizzard that leaves the entire group stranded at a fishing lodge.
Jodi is no stranger to extreme weather, but when these reluctant adventurers start turning up mauled around the snowed-in lodge, Jodi suspects the this was no bear. This was murder.
And inside the snowy confines of this rustic hideaway, everyone is fair game…
…for a killer.
331 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 16, 2024
338 people are currently reading
3561 people want to read
About the author
Alisa Lynn Valdes
2 books136 followersAlso published as Alisa Valdes and Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez
Alisa Lynn Valdés is an award-winning print and broadcast journalist and a former staff writer for both the Los Angeles Times and the Boston Globe.
With more than one million books in print in eleven languages, she was included on Time’s list of the twenty-five most influential Hispanics and was a Latina woman of the year as well as an Entertainment Weekly breakout literary star. She is the author of many novels, including Playing with Boys and The Husband Habit.
Alisa divides her time between New Mexico and Los Angeles.
Alisa Lynn Valdés is an award-winning print and broadcast journalist and a former staff writer for both the Los Angeles Times and the Boston Globe.
With more than one million books in print in eleven languages, she was included on Time’s list of the twenty-five most influential Hispanics and was a Latina woman of the year as well as an Entertainment Weekly breakout literary star. She is the author of many novels, including Playing with Boys and The Husband Habit.
Alisa divides her time between New Mexico and Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
March 30, 2024
This was actually the book that inspired me to read the series from the start. I really liked the first one and was excited to pick up this second installment. I like Jodi, a widow who left her career as a college professor and her home in MA, with her teenage daughter, Mila. Jodi goes back home to New Mexico, where she becomes a Game Warden in the forests and national parks of New Mexico, north of Santa Fe. I highly suggest that you start the series from the beginning to get the background info for this installment. There are scenes in this installment that make reference to the first installment, but not enough that, I think, to get the full understand the scene. JMHO
The book summary is pretty vague regarding the various storylines, so I do want to elaborate just a little on that. The primary storyline has Jodi playing hunting guide to a rich family of hunters at the behest of her boss (and subsequently his boss the Governor) after he wrote her up for caring more about animals than humans on her last case (the previous installment). Gee, what a strange and bizarre attitude! A game warden caring more about the animals being killed by poachers than who the poacher’s friends are. Without getting into the nitty gritty details of the previous installment or any spoilers, suffice it to say that Jodi’s boss (and subsequently the Governor) are money-grubbing, @$$-kissing, jerks!!!
There are secondary storylines too like Lyle, a local Ranch Manager, who wants to make he and Jodi’s situationship something less casual because Lyle, also a widow, is crazy in love with Jodi. There is also the burgeoning relationship between Jodi and Ashley, who I don’t want to say too much more about because it would be a spoiler for those who want to read the first installment. There is also the friction between Jodi and her daughter, Mila, some of which results from Mila’s trauma from the last installment (you really need to read the first installment). Jodi isn’t sure about how to address and deal with it, especially now that Mila is dating Sterling, Claudia Evans’s son, who are both from the rich family of hunters.
The story flips back and forth between Jodi and pretty much every other character in the book getting a chapter or two from their perspective. Most of the story revolves around Jodi’s assignment with the Evans family in their atrocious mountain “cabin”. Call me crazy, but I don’t consider humungous, multi-level, mansions as “cabins”, but whatever. As for the Evans family? Without getting into the nitty gritty details, suffice it to say that they are a bunch of entitled, obnoxious, despicable, rich jerks.
By the halfway point, the horrendous blizzard that has hit the mountain has extinguished any hope of bagging an elk but does happen to reveal a murder scene. This has Jodi switching from hunting guide to homicide inspector and when her crazy-@$$%&, bad@$$ goddess emerges and takes over to kick @$$!. WHOO HOO!!! LOVE JODI!!! Oh, and the blizzard has Jodi, Mila and the entire Evans family and their guests and staff stranded at the “cabin”. The best part though (without getting into any spoilers)? Suffice it to say, Mila is a chip off the old block and Jodi raised that girl right!!! LOVE MILA!!!
This was a great story that was filled with a cast of characters that I not only loved, but ones that I also loved to hate. For me, characterization is the most important element of the story. Without great characters, it doesn’t matter how interesting story or the writing is. JMHO Anyway, the pacing was really good too and the storyline and writing flowed really well. However, that final scene has me concerned about the next installment. I’m sitting here looking at a nearly perfect rating making it an easy 5star rating for me. I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas Mercer for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #ThomasMercer #BloodMountain
The book summary is pretty vague regarding the various storylines, so I do want to elaborate just a little on that. The primary storyline has Jodi playing hunting guide to a rich family of hunters at the behest of her boss (and subsequently his boss the Governor) after he wrote her up for caring more about animals than humans on her last case (the previous installment). Gee, what a strange and bizarre attitude! A game warden caring more about the animals being killed by poachers than who the poacher’s friends are. Without getting into the nitty gritty details of the previous installment or any spoilers, suffice it to say that Jodi’s boss (and subsequently the Governor) are money-grubbing, @$$-kissing, jerks!!!
There are secondary storylines too like Lyle, a local Ranch Manager, who wants to make he and Jodi’s situationship something less casual because Lyle, also a widow, is crazy in love with Jodi. There is also the burgeoning relationship between Jodi and Ashley, who I don’t want to say too much more about because it would be a spoiler for those who want to read the first installment. There is also the friction between Jodi and her daughter, Mila, some of which results from Mila’s trauma from the last installment (you really need to read the first installment). Jodi isn’t sure about how to address and deal with it, especially now that Mila is dating Sterling, Claudia Evans’s son, who are both from the rich family of hunters.
The story flips back and forth between Jodi and pretty much every other character in the book getting a chapter or two from their perspective. Most of the story revolves around Jodi’s assignment with the Evans family in their atrocious mountain “cabin”. Call me crazy, but I don’t consider humungous, multi-level, mansions as “cabins”, but whatever. As for the Evans family? Without getting into the nitty gritty details, suffice it to say that they are a bunch of entitled, obnoxious, despicable, rich jerks.
By the halfway point, the horrendous blizzard that has hit the mountain has extinguished any hope of bagging an elk but does happen to reveal a murder scene. This has Jodi switching from hunting guide to homicide inspector and when her crazy-@$$%&, bad@$$ goddess emerges and takes over to kick @$$!. WHOO HOO!!! LOVE JODI!!! Oh, and the blizzard has Jodi, Mila and the entire Evans family and their guests and staff stranded at the “cabin”. The best part though (without getting into any spoilers)? Suffice it to say, Mila is a chip off the old block and Jodi raised that girl right!!! LOVE MILA!!!
This was a great story that was filled with a cast of characters that I not only loved, but ones that I also loved to hate. For me, characterization is the most important element of the story. Without great characters, it doesn’t matter how interesting story or the writing is. JMHO Anyway, the pacing was really good too and the storyline and writing flowed really well. However, that final scene has me concerned about the next installment. I’m sitting here looking at a nearly perfect rating making it an easy 5star rating for me. I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas Mercer for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #ThomasMercer #BloodMountain
November 11, 2023
Many thanks to both Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Blood Mountain. This book is #2 in the Jodi Luna series and the expected publication date is October 16, 2024.
And inside the snowy confines of this rustic hideaway, everyone is fair game ... for a killer.
I didn't enjoy Blood Mountain as much as I did Hollow Beasts, probably because this one was a little heavy on religion, particularly Catholicism. I still loved Jodi and her two daughters, and the Goat Lady was quite interesting to read about. (Maybe she should have been named the Bear Lady?) As in the previous book, Mila seemed older than her age but I was still charmed by her.
In my opinion, Blood Mountain can be read as a standalone. Prepare yourself, though. This book has lots of mystery and suspense!!
And inside the snowy confines of this rustic hideaway, everyone is fair game ... for a killer.
I didn't enjoy Blood Mountain as much as I did Hollow Beasts, probably because this one was a little heavy on religion, particularly Catholicism. I still loved Jodi and her two daughters, and the Goat Lady was quite interesting to read about. (Maybe she should have been named the Bear Lady?) As in the previous book, Mila seemed older than her age but I was still charmed by her.
In my opinion, Blood Mountain can be read as a standalone. Prepare yourself, though. This book has lots of mystery and suspense!!
April 26, 2024
'Blood Mountain' is the second book in the Jodi Luna series about a poetry professor who, after being widowed in her forties, returns with her daughter to her native New Mexico and becomes a Game Warden.
'Blood Mountain' is a good thriller that has the misfortune of standing in the shadow of the excellent first book. 'Hollow Beasts'. I had fun with 'Blood Mountain' and I'll definitely be continuing with this series but it didn't grip my imagination in the way that 'Hollow Beasts' did.
In 'Blood Mountain', Jodi has been sent by her boss to lead a weekend elk hunt for a family of billionaires who have bought up land in the mountains to create a 1,000 square-mile ranch on which they have built a behemoth of a 'Fishing Lodge' that they occasionally vacation in.
The Elk hunt faces some problems. The first is that the Lodge can only be accessed by a road that passes through the land of the only local who refused to sell the land her family has owned for centuries to the billionaires. She is a tough, eccentric octagenarian who speaks only in Bible verses, lives in a shack with her goats and a black bear that she raised from a cub, and has a habit of firing homemade arrows at people who pass through her land. The second is that a major snowstorm is likely to shut down the hunt and to cut the Lodge off from the rest of the world. The third and most important is that the billionaire brothers are aggressive, entitled, sociopathic narcissists who can't stand each other.
A lot of the fun in this book comes from the 'male billionaire freakshow' aspects of the story. At one time, I might have thought that their behaviour was too monstrous to be real Nowadays, all I have to do is think of Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr for everything to seem well-grounded in reality.
There is more to the story than billionaires behaving badly. Someone is trying to kill them.
The book opens with Dona öourdes Lavato taking her pet bear for a walk and finding the corpse of man with an arrow in his back. Then the action rolls back a day and we see Jodi being told to get herself out to the ranch.
The 'Who is the killer and what motivates them?' part of the book works well. Even though killing either of the brothers off might easily be seen as a service to humanity, there are lots of other people at risk who are easier to like. Inevitably, Jodi ends up being the only law officer for miles around. She has to find a way of keeping everyone safe and trying to find out who the killer is. This plot kept me guessing and also served to put Jodi under significant stress.
The part of the plot that required the biggest suspension of disbelief on my part was that Jodi brought her teenage daughter, Mila, to the elk hunt. True, it was on a weekend and there shouldn't have been anything dangerous going on and her daughter is kinda sorta the girlfriend of the son of one of the billionaires but even so, this seemed like a bad idea to me.
Of course, it was a bad idea that made for a much more exciting story. Mila is an engaging character and, from the events of 'Hollow Beasts' we know she can take care of herself.
I liked that Jodi and Mila effectively got a storyline each. It added to the tension, doubled the action and increased my emotional investment in the story.
Unfortunately, the story felt a little uneven to me. There were times when Jodi seemed less competent and less in control of herself than her daughter. Perhaps that's just realism given that Jodi is much more emotional than her daughter and was under a lot of stress but it still felt as if Jodi wasn't holding her own.
I liked the strong and slightly unconventional relationships in Jodi Luna's family They were vividly described, they felt real and they provided a contrast to the constant conflict and aggression exhibited by the bilionaires family.
Even so, there were points towards the end of the story when the Luna family relationships were so portrayed with so much sentimentality that I felt they were becoming candidates for living on Walton's Mountain. But that's probably just me.
'Blood Mountain' is a good thriller that has the misfortune of standing in the shadow of the excellent first book. 'Hollow Beasts'. I had fun with 'Blood Mountain' and I'll definitely be continuing with this series but it didn't grip my imagination in the way that 'Hollow Beasts' did.
In 'Blood Mountain', Jodi has been sent by her boss to lead a weekend elk hunt for a family of billionaires who have bought up land in the mountains to create a 1,000 square-mile ranch on which they have built a behemoth of a 'Fishing Lodge' that they occasionally vacation in.
The Elk hunt faces some problems. The first is that the Lodge can only be accessed by a road that passes through the land of the only local who refused to sell the land her family has owned for centuries to the billionaires. She is a tough, eccentric octagenarian who speaks only in Bible verses, lives in a shack with her goats and a black bear that she raised from a cub, and has a habit of firing homemade arrows at people who pass through her land. The second is that a major snowstorm is likely to shut down the hunt and to cut the Lodge off from the rest of the world. The third and most important is that the billionaire brothers are aggressive, entitled, sociopathic narcissists who can't stand each other.
A lot of the fun in this book comes from the 'male billionaire freakshow' aspects of the story. At one time, I might have thought that their behaviour was too monstrous to be real Nowadays, all I have to do is think of Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr for everything to seem well-grounded in reality.
There is more to the story than billionaires behaving badly. Someone is trying to kill them.
The book opens with Dona öourdes Lavato taking her pet bear for a walk and finding the corpse of man with an arrow in his back. Then the action rolls back a day and we see Jodi being told to get herself out to the ranch.
The 'Who is the killer and what motivates them?' part of the book works well. Even though killing either of the brothers off might easily be seen as a service to humanity, there are lots of other people at risk who are easier to like. Inevitably, Jodi ends up being the only law officer for miles around. She has to find a way of keeping everyone safe and trying to find out who the killer is. This plot kept me guessing and also served to put Jodi under significant stress.
The part of the plot that required the biggest suspension of disbelief on my part was that Jodi brought her teenage daughter, Mila, to the elk hunt. True, it was on a weekend and there shouldn't have been anything dangerous going on and her daughter is kinda sorta the girlfriend of the son of one of the billionaires but even so, this seemed like a bad idea to me.
Of course, it was a bad idea that made for a much more exciting story. Mila is an engaging character and, from the events of 'Hollow Beasts' we know she can take care of herself.
I liked that Jodi and Mila effectively got a storyline each. It added to the tension, doubled the action and increased my emotional investment in the story.
Unfortunately, the story felt a little uneven to me. There were times when Jodi seemed less competent and less in control of herself than her daughter. Perhaps that's just realism given that Jodi is much more emotional than her daughter and was under a lot of stress but it still felt as if Jodi wasn't holding her own.
I liked the strong and slightly unconventional relationships in Jodi Luna's family They were vividly described, they felt real and they provided a contrast to the constant conflict and aggression exhibited by the bilionaires family.
Even so, there were points towards the end of the story when the Luna family relationships were so portrayed with so much sentimentality that I felt they were becoming candidates for living on Walton's Mountain. But that's probably just me.
March 17, 2024
Finished reading: March 16th 2024
"Here at Sangre Monte Ranch, they were up against Satan himself."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
March 19, 2025
Another interesting adventure for Jodi as her family mixes with the rich billionaire class on a remote, exclusive ranch on a weekend straight out of Agatha Christie. The title lives up to the name. Latin vs Anglo. Rich vs poor. Oil and gas vs green. It's all there as well as the generational divide. A great setting. Nicely paced. Looking forward to her next adventure in Book #3.
January 27, 2024
"Blood Mountain" is the second installment in the Jodi Luna series but is easily read as a standalone. A game warden is assigned to supervise a wealthy family's hunting trip and soon finds herself entangled in their drama.
This book opens with the discovery of a dead body, but readers need to slog through about 25 chapters of family drama before getting to the murder teased in the opening paragraphs. The eventual thrills are bogged down by one-dimensional villains and heavy-handed political references.
All in all, I was disappointed and won't be reading other books in the series.
Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for sending me an advanced copy of this book for review consideration.
This book opens with the discovery of a dead body, but readers need to slog through about 25 chapters of family drama before getting to the murder teased in the opening paragraphs. The eventual thrills are bogged down by one-dimensional villains and heavy-handed political references.
All in all, I was disappointed and won't be reading other books in the series.
Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for sending me an advanced copy of this book for review consideration.
May 23, 2024
To me this felt a little uneven. There were some really good moments, but also some really overdone moments. I loved the description of northern New Mexico, a place and people that I have no experience with. I also enjoyed the way that Christian faith was included in a natural way that didn’t feel preachy to me.
October 30, 2023
I am enjoying this series and was happy to receive a ARC through NetGalley.
This one has it all. A luxurious hunting lodge in the beautiful New Mexico mountains, a dysfunctional rich family with mucho problems, a former poet turned game warden sent to lead them on an elk hunt and her 15 year old daughter, wise beyond her years. What could possibly go wrong?
A blizzard for one and a cranky old woman who resents the family’s incursion on her home, plus did I mention she has a pet bear named Charlie? Wrap all this up with a murder in the family, tie it up neatly with a no electricity, no cell coverage bow and you have a hunt on your hands. But exactly who or what are we hunting?
I really enjoyed the daughter of the main character. Smart, funny, spunky and very capable of handling difficult situations, I felt she made this story. I hope she figures prominently in future books.
This one has it all. A luxurious hunting lodge in the beautiful New Mexico mountains, a dysfunctional rich family with mucho problems, a former poet turned game warden sent to lead them on an elk hunt and her 15 year old daughter, wise beyond her years. What could possibly go wrong?
A blizzard for one and a cranky old woman who resents the family’s incursion on her home, plus did I mention she has a pet bear named Charlie? Wrap all this up with a murder in the family, tie it up neatly with a no electricity, no cell coverage bow and you have a hunt on your hands. But exactly who or what are we hunting?
I really enjoyed the daughter of the main character. Smart, funny, spunky and very capable of handling difficult situations, I felt she made this story. I hope she figures prominently in future books.
November 2, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.
#2 in the delightful entry in the Jodi Luna series as and her youngest daughter babysit a rich family governor's during an Elk hunt. It is not long before Jodi and stumbles along the corpse of someone with the group who was murdered. It is quickly determined that Elk are not the animals being hunted that weekend.
Excellent novel, but they need to replace the editor. Somehow no one catches an error that I immediately noticed, that the killer is hog-tied at one point, and yet he "reached up to feel a head wound," Things like that, which I seldom encountered at least in published books (and I hope they remove before they publish this one, pull me right out of the story, so I had to deduct one star (at least for the version I read).
Until next time, remember to pay attention to details, they are important.
#2 in the delightful entry in the Jodi Luna series as and her youngest daughter babysit a rich family governor's during an Elk hunt. It is not long before Jodi and stumbles along the corpse of someone with the group who was murdered. It is quickly determined that Elk are not the animals being hunted that weekend.
Excellent novel, but they need to replace the editor. Somehow no one catches an error that I immediately noticed, that the killer is hog-tied at one point, and yet he "reached up to feel a head wound," Things like that, which I seldom encountered at least in published books (and I hope they remove before they publish this one, pull me right out of the story, so I had to deduct one star (at least for the version I read).
Until next time, remember to pay attention to details, they are important.
February 11, 2024
I mostly liked this book. I didn’t like how the warden and other Hispanic and women are treated. There is some foul language. I did feel the Jodi is short-sighted not to suspect Sterling just because he is a kid and her daughter liked him. #BloodMountain #NetGalley
April 3, 2024
A poet turned game warden is fine with animals….it’s people who cause her problems.
Jodi Luna, who was raised and has deep family roots in Rio Truchas County, NM, had established a life and career on the East Coast. When her husband died in a tragic accident in full view of their young daughter Mila, Jodi decided to make changes in their lives. Coming back to the more simple and peaceful area where she was raised seemed like the right idea. But she is running into the same type of office politics in her new career that she had encountered in academia. After her new, less-than-competent supervisor issues her a written warning which could well lead her to lose her job, she feels that she has little choice but to do the “favor” her boss requests on behalf of the governor. Jodi is to spend the weekend at the Sangre Monte Ranch, a ridiculously large ranch compound owned by billionaire Teddy Evans and his actress wife Claudia. The couple is hosting Teddy’s family, two brothers and a sister with their spouses, and have promised them an elk hunt, but Teddy has been called out of town and Claudia needs someone to organize the hunt and keep the (spoiled and obnoxious) siblings in line. Jodi brings along her daughter (who has been showing recent signs of rebellion) and since Mila is sort of dating the Evans’ son Sterling, two East Coast-raised kids finding it hard to be accepted by the locals, it is the logical thing to do. It is also only the first decision that Jodi will make and regret during the weekend. The Evans siblings are at odds with one another, and the ranch’s nearest neighbor is making threats against them as they try to convince her to sell her family land. There are bears on the prowl, then a dangerous snow storm moves in and both takes out their electricity and keeps them trapped on the ranch. And then the deaths begin. Can Jodi figure out what it happening and who is behind it before anyone else, including her own daughter, has to die?
Blood Mountain is the second in this series by author Alisa Lynn Valdés, but reads perfectly well as a standalone novel. There are plenty of quirky characters, including Jodi herself who may have some anger management issues and a problem with men who are controlling, and is dealing both with a daughter entering the minefield that is teenaged life as well as getting to know a second daughter to whom she had given birth as a teenager and whom she had been forced to give up at birth. Add in a wealthy family who do not treat one another, or anyone for that matter, very well, who have promised not to tap into the oil under the land they have bought up from local families to form their compound but may be breaking those promises, and an elderly woman who is the only one to stand in the Evans’ way (but wields a bow and arrow with a great deal of precision and happens to have a pet bear). The area and way of life in this corner of New Mexico, as well as the challenges that confront the local residents as wealthy outsiders start to move in and make changes, are well described, and the many conflicts….tradition vs innovation, teenager vs parent, wealthy outsiders vs ordinary residents, and human vs animal…are all woven into the story. The mystery is a bit of a locked room sort, with a finite group of people as suspects, and red herrings and plot twists sprinkled throughout, all unfolding at a fairly brisk place. Blood Mountain is an entertaining read with a strong female protagonist, and those who have enjoyed the author’s earlier books as well as fans of authors like Vanessa Lillie, Nevada Barr and C J Box should add this to their TBR pile. Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for allowing me access to an early copy of the novel.
Jodi Luna, who was raised and has deep family roots in Rio Truchas County, NM, had established a life and career on the East Coast. When her husband died in a tragic accident in full view of their young daughter Mila, Jodi decided to make changes in their lives. Coming back to the more simple and peaceful area where she was raised seemed like the right idea. But she is running into the same type of office politics in her new career that she had encountered in academia. After her new, less-than-competent supervisor issues her a written warning which could well lead her to lose her job, she feels that she has little choice but to do the “favor” her boss requests on behalf of the governor. Jodi is to spend the weekend at the Sangre Monte Ranch, a ridiculously large ranch compound owned by billionaire Teddy Evans and his actress wife Claudia. The couple is hosting Teddy’s family, two brothers and a sister with their spouses, and have promised them an elk hunt, but Teddy has been called out of town and Claudia needs someone to organize the hunt and keep the (spoiled and obnoxious) siblings in line. Jodi brings along her daughter (who has been showing recent signs of rebellion) and since Mila is sort of dating the Evans’ son Sterling, two East Coast-raised kids finding it hard to be accepted by the locals, it is the logical thing to do. It is also only the first decision that Jodi will make and regret during the weekend. The Evans siblings are at odds with one another, and the ranch’s nearest neighbor is making threats against them as they try to convince her to sell her family land. There are bears on the prowl, then a dangerous snow storm moves in and both takes out their electricity and keeps them trapped on the ranch. And then the deaths begin. Can Jodi figure out what it happening and who is behind it before anyone else, including her own daughter, has to die?
Blood Mountain is the second in this series by author Alisa Lynn Valdés, but reads perfectly well as a standalone novel. There are plenty of quirky characters, including Jodi herself who may have some anger management issues and a problem with men who are controlling, and is dealing both with a daughter entering the minefield that is teenaged life as well as getting to know a second daughter to whom she had given birth as a teenager and whom she had been forced to give up at birth. Add in a wealthy family who do not treat one another, or anyone for that matter, very well, who have promised not to tap into the oil under the land they have bought up from local families to form their compound but may be breaking those promises, and an elderly woman who is the only one to stand in the Evans’ way (but wields a bow and arrow with a great deal of precision and happens to have a pet bear). The area and way of life in this corner of New Mexico, as well as the challenges that confront the local residents as wealthy outsiders start to move in and make changes, are well described, and the many conflicts….tradition vs innovation, teenager vs parent, wealthy outsiders vs ordinary residents, and human vs animal…are all woven into the story. The mystery is a bit of a locked room sort, with a finite group of people as suspects, and red herrings and plot twists sprinkled throughout, all unfolding at a fairly brisk place. Blood Mountain is an entertaining read with a strong female protagonist, and those who have enjoyed the author’s earlier books as well as fans of authors like Vanessa Lillie, Nevada Barr and C J Box should add this to their TBR pile. Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for allowing me access to an early copy of the novel.
September 12, 2024
I had read the first book of Alisa Lynn Valdes, Jodi Luna series, Hollow Beasts and quite liked it and so decided to continue on to her second book, Blood Mountain.
As in the first, I found her main and secondary characters quite appealing, loved the remote New Mexico setting and her concern for wildlife and the environment. Blood Mountain, I found to be a bit uneven both in the prose and the mystery.
The mystery is a stranded in a snowstorm in a mansion trope and thus a limited number of suspects. I wasn't fond of the solution, but that may be my problem.
The writing ranged from quite clever to clunky. Here is a bit I found clever:
"“Hell yeah,” said Zach. He shoveled as much of the cereal as he could into his mouth and chewed it quickly. Lucky Charms are not meant to be chugged, he thought. They are meant to be savored. They are one of life’s most underrated guilty pleasures. Nothing had made him feel more like an independent adult than being able to stock up his little trailer pantry with ten big boxes of his favorite cereal, with money he’d earned himself."
Here is a bit I found clunky:
Her breasts, for instance, appeared to be brand new, perky as two puffy Pekingese puppies, and her lips had a freshly inflated look that went well with the pulled-tight face.
Breast and pekingese pups? Well there is a first for everything.
If you enjoyed the first, you may want to take a chance on the second. If there is a third, I might continue.
As in the first, I found her main and secondary characters quite appealing, loved the remote New Mexico setting and her concern for wildlife and the environment. Blood Mountain, I found to be a bit uneven both in the prose and the mystery.
The mystery is a stranded in a snowstorm in a mansion trope and thus a limited number of suspects. I wasn't fond of the solution, but that may be my problem.
The writing ranged from quite clever to clunky. Here is a bit I found clever:
"“Hell yeah,” said Zach. He shoveled as much of the cereal as he could into his mouth and chewed it quickly. Lucky Charms are not meant to be chugged, he thought. They are meant to be savored. They are one of life’s most underrated guilty pleasures. Nothing had made him feel more like an independent adult than being able to stock up his little trailer pantry with ten big boxes of his favorite cereal, with money he’d earned himself."
Here is a bit I found clunky:
Her breasts, for instance, appeared to be brand new, perky as two puffy Pekingese puppies, and her lips had a freshly inflated look that went well with the pulled-tight face.
Breast and pekingese pups? Well there is a first for everything.
If you enjoyed the first, you may want to take a chance on the second. If there is a third, I might continue.
October 29, 2023
Having only been serving as game warden in the rural Rio Trucas County, New Mexico for six months, officer Jodi Luna is still trying to navigate the ins and outs of her new position, so when her boss tasks her with overseeing a hunting trip for the influential Evans family, she does so begrudgingly, but knows it may be her only shot to prover herself. Plus, it gives her the chance to spend some time with her daughter, that is, if she isn't sneaking off with her boyfriend, who happens to be the youngest member of the Evans clan. Jodi is one tough cookie and can handle the abrasive attitudes of the Evans men, their seemingly crazy and armed neighbor, and even a few bears if she has too, but getting trapped in the mountains with two dead bodies? That might just bring her to the edge.
This is a gripping thriller right from the opening scene. The author does a wonderful job throughout the book of building suspense while also creating vivid and immersive backdrops and expertly detailed characters. This reads like an episode of your favorite crime drama, and it left me wanting to tune into more! It became evident a short way into the book that there was a book prior to this one, with certain scenes referencing a past incident. These nods were woven in nicely and made this easily readable as a stand-alone novel. If anything, these scenes have me wanting to go back and read the first book as the incident that is harkened back to sounds just as gripping as the events of this novel.
I think anyone who likes suspenseful crime novels will enjoy this book. I look forward to seeing more from this series and will definitely be adding Hollow Beasts (Book #1) to my TBR,.
This is a gripping thriller right from the opening scene. The author does a wonderful job throughout the book of building suspense while also creating vivid and immersive backdrops and expertly detailed characters. This reads like an episode of your favorite crime drama, and it left me wanting to tune into more! It became evident a short way into the book that there was a book prior to this one, with certain scenes referencing a past incident. These nods were woven in nicely and made this easily readable as a stand-alone novel. If anything, these scenes have me wanting to go back and read the first book as the incident that is harkened back to sounds just as gripping as the events of this novel.
I think anyone who likes suspenseful crime novels will enjoy this book. I look forward to seeing more from this series and will definitely be adding Hollow Beasts (Book #1) to my TBR,.
April 4, 2024
Since when is an over forty woman over the hill? In the tiny minds of men who need to step on others to be able to look themselves in the mirror. Rant over. Game Warden Jodi Luna left her professorship at an East Coast university to return to home and a messy family history. Her new law enforcement boss is as clueless as the high rollers she is supposed to babysit at a campground. Then comes the nasty blizzard in the mountains and the deaths. Great story that caught me by the nose until I finished it!
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley. Thanks
According to Goodreads Expected publication October 16, 2024 but according to Thomas & Mercer Pub Date 16 Apr 2024 via NetGalley. Go figure.
#JodiLunaNovelBk2
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley. Thanks
According to Goodreads Expected publication October 16, 2024 but according to Thomas & Mercer Pub Date 16 Apr 2024 via NetGalley. Go figure.
#JodiLunaNovelBk2
May 24, 2024
A great plot & characters, ruined by woke politics.
This started out fairly well. The characters became somewhat developed. Then...every page became a cringe fest of climate change, feminist man hatred & oppression of people by rich "colonizers." I didn't finish it...got about 2/3 of the way through, thinking: maybe the end can just be logical & realistic. Nope. There is a nugget of talent in the writing, if the writer could leave woke life out of it. Point a gun at a pregnant woman that you "think" might be a murderer? Yeah, that's what a real LEO would do. If I bought this...no matter how little I paid...I've been cheated. By the way: How did Bryce get killed at the beginning of the book, and then eaten by a bear...and still end up pouting in the Trappers cabin later in the book?
This started out fairly well. The characters became somewhat developed. Then...every page became a cringe fest of climate change, feminist man hatred & oppression of people by rich "colonizers." I didn't finish it...got about 2/3 of the way through, thinking: maybe the end can just be logical & realistic. Nope. There is a nugget of talent in the writing, if the writer could leave woke life out of it. Point a gun at a pregnant woman that you "think" might be a murderer? Yeah, that's what a real LEO would do. If I bought this...no matter how little I paid...I've been cheated. By the way: How did Bryce get killed at the beginning of the book, and then eaten by a bear...and still end up pouting in the Trappers cabin later in the book?
April 23, 2024
This is a fast moving story. I had not read the previous one in the series but this one seems to stand alone.
I liked Jodi and Mila. Two strong women capable of kicking some butt. I will definitely be watching for the next one in this series
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy
I liked Jodi and Mila. Two strong women capable of kicking some butt. I will definitely be watching for the next one in this series
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy
July 2, 2024
The author gives incredible descriptions of the scenery and has a great idea for the story but the dialogue is a little awkward. The ending is predictable and needed either another twist at the end or ended 50 pages earlier.
Read
May 13, 2024Book club. It was fine, but not my usual choice.
November 12, 2024
The characters weren’t believable. The choice of killer was ridiculous.
May 4, 2024
First half of the book grabbed my attention but lost me at the second half. Meh.
November 21, 2023
Sangre Monte. Blood Mountain. The site of the six hundred thousand acre ranch owned by the very wealthy and very unhappy Evans family. Their new home on the mountain will soon be the site of a death. It’s up to Game Warden Jodi Luna to discover what sort of wildlife is responsible. The kind outside…or inside?
A political assignment brings Jodi to the ranch. She is to supervise the Evans’ hunting forays at the request of the governor. She is accompanied by her teenage daughter Mila to keep her out of trouble. She’ll find it at the ranch. She discovers Adler and Bryce Evans arguing violently while armed with crossbows. Then Bryce storms out into a blizzard and disappears. Jodi needs to find him and keep Mila separated from her new boyfriend, teenaged Sterling Evans. If this sounds complicated, it is. Trapped by the blizzard, Jodi must deal with the warring brothers, a supermodel with secrets, an angry, Bible quoting neighbor, a pet bear and more.
Blood Mountain, the second in a series, is easily read as a standalone thriller. Alisa Lynn Valdés describes the remote, atmospheric location lyrically. The characters here are so vivid that you feel you would recognize them on the street. Adler might be a little over the top but he is a sociopath. Claudia and Dakota are charming as is heroic young Mila. I can’t wait for the next in this excellent series! 5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Alisa Lynn Valdés for this ARC.
A political assignment brings Jodi to the ranch. She is to supervise the Evans’ hunting forays at the request of the governor. She is accompanied by her teenage daughter Mila to keep her out of trouble. She’ll find it at the ranch. She discovers Adler and Bryce Evans arguing violently while armed with crossbows. Then Bryce storms out into a blizzard and disappears. Jodi needs to find him and keep Mila separated from her new boyfriend, teenaged Sterling Evans. If this sounds complicated, it is. Trapped by the blizzard, Jodi must deal with the warring brothers, a supermodel with secrets, an angry, Bible quoting neighbor, a pet bear and more.
Blood Mountain, the second in a series, is easily read as a standalone thriller. Alisa Lynn Valdés describes the remote, atmospheric location lyrically. The characters here are so vivid that you feel you would recognize them on the street. Adler might be a little over the top but he is a sociopath. Claudia and Dakota are charming as is heroic young Mila. I can’t wait for the next in this excellent series! 5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Alisa Lynn Valdés for this ARC.
February 11, 2024
READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books
Make sure to check out the full review
Make sure to check out the full review
April 5, 2024
A poet turned game warden is fine with animals….it’s people who cause her problems.
Jodi Luna, who was raised and has deep family roots in Rio Truchas County, NM, had established a life and career on the East Coast. When her husband died in a tragic accident in full view of their young daughter Mila, Jodi decided to make changes in their lives. Coming back to the more simple and peaceful area where she was raised seemed like the right idea. But she is running into the same type of office politics in her new career that she had encountered in academia. After her new, less-than-competent supervisor issues her a written warning which could well lead her to lose her job, she feels that she has little choice but to do the “favor” her boss requests on behalf of the governor. Jodi is to spend the weekend at the Sangre Monte Ranch, a ridiculously large ranch compound owned by billionaire Teddy Evans and his actress wife Claudia. The couple is hosting Teddy’s family, two brothers and a sister with their spouses, and have promised them an elk hunt, but Teddy has been called out of town and Claudia needs someone to organize the hunt and keep the (spoiled and obnoxious) siblings in line. Jodi brings along her daughter (who has been showing recent signs of rebellion) and since Mila is sort of dating the Evans’ son Sterling, two East Coast-raised kids finding it hard to be accepted by the locals, it is the logical thing to do. It is also only the first decision that Jodi will make and regret during the weekend. The Evans siblings are at odds with one another, and the ranch’s nearest neighbor is making threats against them as they try to convince her to sell her family land. There are bears on the prowl, then a dangerous snow storm moves in and both takes out their electricity and keeps them trapped on the ranch. And then the deaths begin. Can Jodi figure out what it happening and who is behind it before anyone else, including her own daughter, has to die?
Blood Mountain is the second in this series by author Alisa Lynn Valdés, but reads perfectly well as a standalone novel. There are plenty of quirky characters, including Jodi herself who may have some anger management issues and a problem with men who are controlling, and is dealing both with a daughter entering the minefield that is teenaged life as well as getting to know a second daughter to whom she had given birth as a teenager and whom she had been forced to give up at birth. Add in a wealthy family who do not treat one another, or anyone for that matter, very well, who have promised not to tap into the oil under the land they have bought up from local families to form their compound but may be breaking those promises, and an elderly woman who is the only one to stand in the Evans’ way (but wields a bow and arrow with a great deal of precision and happens to have a pet bear). The area and way of life in this corner of New Mexico, as well as the challenges that confront the local residents as wealthy outsiders start to move in and make changes, are well described, and the many conflicts….tradition vs innovation, teenager vs parent, wealthy outsiders vs ordinary residents, and human vs animal…are all woven into the story. The mystery is a bit of a locked room sort, with a finite group of people as suspects, and red herrings and plot twists sprinkled throughout, all unfolding at a fairly brisk place. Blood Mountain is an entertaining read with a strong female protagonist, and those who have enjoyed the author’s earlier books as well as fans of authors like Vanessa Lillie, Nevada Barr and C J Box should add this to their TBR pile. Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for allowing me access to an early copy of the novel.
Jodi Luna, who was raised and has deep family roots in Rio Truchas County, NM, had established a life and career on the East Coast. When her husband died in a tragic accident in full view of their young daughter Mila, Jodi decided to make changes in their lives. Coming back to the more simple and peaceful area where she was raised seemed like the right idea. But she is running into the same type of office politics in her new career that she had encountered in academia. After her new, less-than-competent supervisor issues her a written warning which could well lead her to lose her job, she feels that she has little choice but to do the “favor” her boss requests on behalf of the governor. Jodi is to spend the weekend at the Sangre Monte Ranch, a ridiculously large ranch compound owned by billionaire Teddy Evans and his actress wife Claudia. The couple is hosting Teddy’s family, two brothers and a sister with their spouses, and have promised them an elk hunt, but Teddy has been called out of town and Claudia needs someone to organize the hunt and keep the (spoiled and obnoxious) siblings in line. Jodi brings along her daughter (who has been showing recent signs of rebellion) and since Mila is sort of dating the Evans’ son Sterling, two East Coast-raised kids finding it hard to be accepted by the locals, it is the logical thing to do. It is also only the first decision that Jodi will make and regret during the weekend. The Evans siblings are at odds with one another, and the ranch’s nearest neighbor is making threats against them as they try to convince her to sell her family land. There are bears on the prowl, then a dangerous snow storm moves in and both takes out their electricity and keeps them trapped on the ranch. And then the deaths begin. Can Jodi figure out what it happening and who is behind it before anyone else, including her own daughter, has to die?
Blood Mountain is the second in this series by author Alisa Lynn Valdés, but reads perfectly well as a standalone novel. There are plenty of quirky characters, including Jodi herself who may have some anger management issues and a problem with men who are controlling, and is dealing both with a daughter entering the minefield that is teenaged life as well as getting to know a second daughter to whom she had given birth as a teenager and whom she had been forced to give up at birth. Add in a wealthy family who do not treat one another, or anyone for that matter, very well, who have promised not to tap into the oil under the land they have bought up from local families to form their compound but may be breaking those promises, and an elderly woman who is the only one to stand in the Evans’ way (but wields a bow and arrow with a great deal of precision and happens to have a pet bear). The area and way of life in this corner of New Mexico, as well as the challenges that confront the local residents as wealthy outsiders start to move in and make changes, are well described, and the many conflicts….tradition vs innovation, teenager vs parent, wealthy outsiders vs ordinary residents, and human vs animal…are all woven into the story. The mystery is a bit of a locked room sort, with a finite group of people as suspects, and red herrings and plot twists sprinkled throughout, all unfolding at a fairly brisk place. Blood Mountain is an entertaining read with a strong female protagonist, and those who have enjoyed the author’s earlier books as well as fans of authors like Vanessa Lillie, Nevada Barr and C J Box should add this to their TBR pile. Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for allowing me access to an early copy of the novel.
January 31, 2024
Bogged down by the details......
I had high hopes for Blood Mountain after reading the first novel in this Jodi Luna Series. Hollow Beasts #1 showed promise of good things to come. That didn't exactly happen here. Blood Mountain suffered from the Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda Syndrome.
We meet back up with New Mexico Game Warden, Jodi Luna, with a different assignment this time. She's a forty-six year old woman with a teenage daughter starting a new career and returning to the home front in New Mexico. Sean Brady, the new head of New Mexico Fish and Wildlife, has issues with Jodi from the get-go.
New assignment: Oversee an elk hunt in the vast acreage of the Sangre Monte Ranch owned by billionaire Teddy Evans and his actress wife Claudia. They're having problems with Dona Lourdes Lavato, also known as the Goat Woman, who will not sell her land. The Evans Clan must pass through her ranch in order to get to theirs. Lavato also has a pet bear named Charlie.
So far so good. Blood Mountain started layin' bricks for a good read. Until things went sliding down that mountain. Jodi brings her fifteen year old daughter, Mila, who has been carved out as a bad ass with rock climbing and gun toting talents well beyond her years. Then we have a horrendous snow storm. Nobody bothered to check the weather app for hunting that week.
All the Evans clan shows up. Alisa Lynn Valdes couldn't help herself with injecting the privileged stereotypical rich folks with bad behavior like the white supremacists in the last one. At the core of this novel is a landslide of issues that we're faced with every day. Day in and day out. Here's a small suggestion: Readers read fiction for escapism. Give us some hardcore crime, serial killers, and just plain murder without all these issues attached. Just sayin'. And the murderer in this one was beyond the pale. All I can say is to check this one out for yourselves, dear readers. I may just have a cocklebur under my saddle.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to Alisa Lynn Valdes for the opportunity.
I had high hopes for Blood Mountain after reading the first novel in this Jodi Luna Series. Hollow Beasts #1 showed promise of good things to come. That didn't exactly happen here. Blood Mountain suffered from the Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda Syndrome.
We meet back up with New Mexico Game Warden, Jodi Luna, with a different assignment this time. She's a forty-six year old woman with a teenage daughter starting a new career and returning to the home front in New Mexico. Sean Brady, the new head of New Mexico Fish and Wildlife, has issues with Jodi from the get-go.
New assignment: Oversee an elk hunt in the vast acreage of the Sangre Monte Ranch owned by billionaire Teddy Evans and his actress wife Claudia. They're having problems with Dona Lourdes Lavato, also known as the Goat Woman, who will not sell her land. The Evans Clan must pass through her ranch in order to get to theirs. Lavato also has a pet bear named Charlie.
So far so good. Blood Mountain started layin' bricks for a good read. Until things went sliding down that mountain. Jodi brings her fifteen year old daughter, Mila, who has been carved out as a bad ass with rock climbing and gun toting talents well beyond her years. Then we have a horrendous snow storm. Nobody bothered to check the weather app for hunting that week.
All the Evans clan shows up. Alisa Lynn Valdes couldn't help herself with injecting the privileged stereotypical rich folks with bad behavior like the white supremacists in the last one. At the core of this novel is a landslide of issues that we're faced with every day. Day in and day out. Here's a small suggestion: Readers read fiction for escapism. Give us some hardcore crime, serial killers, and just plain murder without all these issues attached. Just sayin'. And the murderer in this one was beyond the pale. All I can say is to check this one out for yourselves, dear readers. I may just have a cocklebur under my saddle.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to Alisa Lynn Valdes for the opportunity.
May 15, 2024
After the loss of her husband, poetry professor Jodi Luna heads back to her New Mexico roots. Needing a new start . Jodi takes a job as a game warden. Her boss thinks she's better with animals than people. After a slight disagreement she agrees to his strongly worded request to lead adventure weekend for the new, very wealthy, family of her friend, Claudia Evans. Jodi, with her daughter Mila, reluctantly head to the Evans' lodge. When Claudia’s brother goes missing, it's left to Jodi to investigate. What at first looks like a bear attack, Jodi begins to suspect is something more. As mauled bodies begin to turn up on the property a blizzard descends on the area cutting off power and communications. With only herself and her daughter to rely on, Jodi is forced to use her limited investigative skills as she realizes more than a wild animal is on the loose.
This is the second book in the series, but it can be read as a stand alone. Background and history is provided through regular intervals in the story. I found Jodi difficult to warm up to, though I suspect she’s purposely written this way. With background and history interspersed through the story, we learn more about her, though. Knowing her history and understanding how deeply she stills feels the lose of her husband, it is clear why she tends to hold herself apart, even from Mila. Watching the extreme dysfunction of the Evans family members leads Jodi to re-evaluate her relationships even as the body count rises. When the danger ramps up it’s her daughter Mila Jodi turns to for support And Mila, for her part, has learned much from her mother and proves she can take care of herself and provide the back up her mother needs.
The sarcastic and often mean spirited exchanges of the Evans family members, the encroaching danger and the stress of isolation continually ratchets up the suspense and keeps the reader guessing and the story moving. This mystery will keep the reader enthralled until the last gasp of surprise as the culprit is revealed.
This is the second book in the series, but it can be read as a stand alone. Background and history is provided through regular intervals in the story. I found Jodi difficult to warm up to, though I suspect she’s purposely written this way. With background and history interspersed through the story, we learn more about her, though. Knowing her history and understanding how deeply she stills feels the lose of her husband, it is clear why she tends to hold herself apart, even from Mila. Watching the extreme dysfunction of the Evans family members leads Jodi to re-evaluate her relationships even as the body count rises. When the danger ramps up it’s her daughter Mila Jodi turns to for support And Mila, for her part, has learned much from her mother and proves she can take care of herself and provide the back up her mother needs.
The sarcastic and often mean spirited exchanges of the Evans family members, the encroaching danger and the stress of isolation continually ratchets up the suspense and keeps the reader guessing and the story moving. This mystery will keep the reader enthralled until the last gasp of surprise as the culprit is revealed.
November 15, 2023
Blood Mountain is the second title in the Jodi Luna series by Alisa Lynn Valdés. I devoured the first title, Hollow Beasts, and was so excited for the opportunity to review Blood Mountain in exchange for an ARC from #NetGalley.
I find Valdés writing to be poetic without being overbearing about it. Her words flow together and weave such beautiful imagery while not getting lost in the plot. As soon as I opened #BloodMountain I began highlighting. I was hooked right from the very first paragraph.
Our FMC is Jodi Luna, Game Warden and she finds herself shipped off to a hunting ranch owned by the richest citizens in town... in several towns actually. She didn't want to be there, but her boss is unhappy with her job performance and due to political glad-handing requires her to be there for a hunting trip. What happens next? Why MURDER of course! And a blizzard, power outages, suspicion, and a surprising amount of unrestrained aggression on all parties.
While I did love this title, I did not love it as much as the first in the series. Blood Mountain reminds me of Agatha Christie here. Specifically 'And Then There Were None', and follows many similar mystery tropes. Think Arcadia/Black Sheep/Butler Did it/Closed circle etc. The ending felt rushed, and while it definitely left an opening for further books in the series, it left me as the reader feeling a little letdown. It was missing closure in my opinion.
So overall the author I give a resounding 5 stars to for her ability to create imagery with her words, but Blood Mountain fell flat for me and I'll leave it with a 3.5/4 stars. I will likely read more, but I also expected more. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to review this book as an advanced reader #ARC for #NetGalley. Thank you again!
I find Valdés writing to be poetic without being overbearing about it. Her words flow together and weave such beautiful imagery while not getting lost in the plot. As soon as I opened #BloodMountain I began highlighting. I was hooked right from the very first paragraph.
Our FMC is Jodi Luna, Game Warden and she finds herself shipped off to a hunting ranch owned by the richest citizens in town... in several towns actually. She didn't want to be there, but her boss is unhappy with her job performance and due to political glad-handing requires her to be there for a hunting trip. What happens next? Why MURDER of course! And a blizzard, power outages, suspicion, and a surprising amount of unrestrained aggression on all parties.
While I did love this title, I did not love it as much as the first in the series. Blood Mountain reminds me of Agatha Christie here. Specifically 'And Then There Were None', and follows many similar mystery tropes. Think Arcadia/Black Sheep/Butler Did it/Closed circle etc. The ending felt rushed, and while it definitely left an opening for further books in the series, it left me as the reader feeling a little letdown. It was missing closure in my opinion.
So overall the author I give a resounding 5 stars to for her ability to create imagery with her words, but Blood Mountain fell flat for me and I'll leave it with a 3.5/4 stars. I will likely read more, but I also expected more. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to review this book as an advanced reader #ARC for #NetGalley. Thank you again!
January 28, 2025
I received a copy of Blood Mountain from Netgalley to review.
Rating of 3.75.
I just reviewed the intriguing and entertaining thriller, Blood Mountain by Alisa Lynn Valdés. The second book in the author’s Jodi Luna series, Blood Mountain was an interesting novel that saw a contentious group caught up on a mountain with a killer on the loose.
Blood Mountain was a compelling and fast-paced read from Valdés that sought to combine a whodunnit in an isolated location with over-the-top characters, a great natural setting and other intriguing elements. An intriguing sequel to the author’s previous Jodi Luna, Blood Mountain was a great book that works well as both a standalone novel and part of the larger series. This was an entertaining read that I had a lot of fun getting into.
Starting off in a memorable way with a bear, the main plot sees protagonist Jodi Luna trapped in the central story location with a dysfunctional family, with a murderer on the loose. Clashing with the elements and the entitled rich people she is forced to babysit, Luna tries to wrangle everyone through the night while discovering their secrets and motives for murder. I felt the result was a decent whodunit narrative, and I liked the mystery that emerged. The big personalities of the supporting cast allowed for a very exaggerated story at times, which helped to disguise the motives of the real killer to a degree. While I do think that Valdés might have overplayed her social messaging to an unfortunate degree, for the most part Blood Mountain was a fantastic read that I was really glad I decided to check out.
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
Rating of 3.75.
I just reviewed the intriguing and entertaining thriller, Blood Mountain by Alisa Lynn Valdés. The second book in the author’s Jodi Luna series, Blood Mountain was an interesting novel that saw a contentious group caught up on a mountain with a killer on the loose.
Blood Mountain was a compelling and fast-paced read from Valdés that sought to combine a whodunnit in an isolated location with over-the-top characters, a great natural setting and other intriguing elements. An intriguing sequel to the author’s previous Jodi Luna, Blood Mountain was a great book that works well as both a standalone novel and part of the larger series. This was an entertaining read that I had a lot of fun getting into.
Starting off in a memorable way with a bear, the main plot sees protagonist Jodi Luna trapped in the central story location with a dysfunctional family, with a murderer on the loose. Clashing with the elements and the entitled rich people she is forced to babysit, Luna tries to wrangle everyone through the night while discovering their secrets and motives for murder. I felt the result was a decent whodunit narrative, and I liked the mystery that emerged. The big personalities of the supporting cast allowed for a very exaggerated story at times, which helped to disguise the motives of the real killer to a degree. While I do think that Valdés might have overplayed her social messaging to an unfortunate degree, for the most part Blood Mountain was a fantastic read that I was really glad I decided to check out.
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
February 20, 2024
From poetry professor to game warden is quite a jump in terms of careers but in New Mexico, Jodi Luna has made precisely that change.
Still reeling from the loss of her husband, she is struggling to be open to her new relationship, and she is still adjusting to the major shift in her professional choices. A 40-something woman, she also has a teenage daughter named Mila, who takes after her mother in terms of courage and grit.
When Jodie is instructed to lead an elk hunt for a wealthy family to which her friend Claudia belongs, she heads off to the mountain lodge where family members have gathered. But there is a lot of tension in the air and the bickering is not helped by the deteriorating weather conditions. With the blizzard that follows, the end result is a locked room mystery of sorts.
Because after folks go missing and someone turns up dead, Jodi must face the distinct possibility that the killing is not being done by a bear but an ill-intentioned human from within the fractious group...
The treatment of some characters and certain of the behaviours in this story do reflect prejudice and border on a little stereotypical, but perhaps that is simply a reflection of the reality of such attitudes when it comes to power, wealth and privilege.
This is an entertaining story, which by and large holds the reader's attention. The book examines themes of conservation, social justice, and the unfortunate effects of too much money. The strongest point is probably The authenticity and diversity of the characters portrayed, including the Goat Woman.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Still reeling from the loss of her husband, she is struggling to be open to her new relationship, and she is still adjusting to the major shift in her professional choices. A 40-something woman, she also has a teenage daughter named Mila, who takes after her mother in terms of courage and grit.
When Jodie is instructed to lead an elk hunt for a wealthy family to which her friend Claudia belongs, she heads off to the mountain lodge where family members have gathered. But there is a lot of tension in the air and the bickering is not helped by the deteriorating weather conditions. With the blizzard that follows, the end result is a locked room mystery of sorts.
Because after folks go missing and someone turns up dead, Jodi must face the distinct possibility that the killing is not being done by a bear but an ill-intentioned human from within the fractious group...
The treatment of some characters and certain of the behaviours in this story do reflect prejudice and border on a little stereotypical, but perhaps that is simply a reflection of the reality of such attitudes when it comes to power, wealth and privilege.
This is an entertaining story, which by and large holds the reader's attention. The book examines themes of conservation, social justice, and the unfortunate effects of too much money. The strongest point is probably The authenticity and diversity of the characters portrayed, including the Goat Woman.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
April 26, 2024
BIPOC Mystery Thriller featuring a New Mexico game warden as she investigates a missing man only to be thwarted by a blizzard and several people turning up supposedly mauled by a bear.
4/5 stars: This is the second entry in the Jodi Luna series, which is a Police Procedural Mystery Thriller that takes place in New Mexico and features a former poetry professor turned New Mexico game warden as she investigates a wealthy actresses brother-in-law who goes missing and winds up stranded in a blizzard as several people start turning up supposedly mauled by a bear. With plenty of twists and turns, Valdes delivers an action-packed, non-stop wilderness adventure has that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the last page. Additionally, Valdes' writing and character work is stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. Jodi is the main POV but there are a couple others that help move the plot. I really like catching up with Jodi. She's tough and as a single mom trying hard to raise her daughter, do her job (even though she prefers the animals to the people she has to deal with) and navigate a new relationship. Valdes tackles some serious topics, so take care and check out the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Hollow Beasts.
I received this eARC thanks to Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
4/5 stars: This is the second entry in the Jodi Luna series, which is a Police Procedural Mystery Thriller that takes place in New Mexico and features a former poetry professor turned New Mexico game warden as she investigates a wealthy actresses brother-in-law who goes missing and winds up stranded in a blizzard as several people start turning up supposedly mauled by a bear. With plenty of twists and turns, Valdes delivers an action-packed, non-stop wilderness adventure has that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the last page. Additionally, Valdes' writing and character work is stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. Jodi is the main POV but there are a couple others that help move the plot. I really like catching up with Jodi. She's tough and as a single mom trying hard to raise her daughter, do her job (even though she prefers the animals to the people she has to deal with) and navigate a new relationship. Valdes tackles some serious topics, so take care and check out the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Hollow Beasts.
I received this eARC thanks to Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
April 6, 2024
Blood Mountain
Alisa Lynn Valdes
April 16, 2024
Jodi Luna returns in another story from the Northern sector of New Mexico. She is game warden for the area in and around Gato Montes.The towns are small unless you count the political areas of Sante Fe and Albuquerque. Her job requires her to patrol the mountainous areas of Rio Trucas County. For her weekend off she had planned on enjoying her time at home with her daughter, Mila. As for the evening she had a date with Lyle Daggett, a local manager of a large ranch. Great plans until she met with her boss, Sean Brady, state head of Fish and Wildlife. He had a message from the governor, Jodi was expected to attend a bash at the home of Teddy and Claudia Evans. They own an old 600,000 acre ranch in theSangre Jesus mountains. They would like her to be present for the family elk hunt. Although she attempted to turn down the offer, Brady gave her trouble over an issue that arose recently with the department.
Blood Mountain will be published by Thomas & Mercer on April 16, 2024. I was able to read the ARC of Blood Mountain via NetGalley. This is the second novel in the Jodi Luna series by Alisa Lynn Valdes. This wild and wooly adventure is a great tale of New Mexican small town life as well as some heritage thrown into the mix. When in the mountain areas of this state there is no Wifi, large hotels or fun shopping. When the blizzards blow snow and the wind becomes hazardous, travel is not an option. I have enjoyed this series and hope Valdez gives us more escapades in the New Mexican mountainous outback. Enjoy this one!
Alisa Lynn Valdes
April 16, 2024
Jodi Luna returns in another story from the Northern sector of New Mexico. She is game warden for the area in and around Gato Montes.The towns are small unless you count the political areas of Sante Fe and Albuquerque. Her job requires her to patrol the mountainous areas of Rio Trucas County. For her weekend off she had planned on enjoying her time at home with her daughter, Mila. As for the evening she had a date with Lyle Daggett, a local manager of a large ranch. Great plans until she met with her boss, Sean Brady, state head of Fish and Wildlife. He had a message from the governor, Jodi was expected to attend a bash at the home of Teddy and Claudia Evans. They own an old 600,000 acre ranch in theSangre Jesus mountains. They would like her to be present for the family elk hunt. Although she attempted to turn down the offer, Brady gave her trouble over an issue that arose recently with the department.
Blood Mountain will be published by Thomas & Mercer on April 16, 2024. I was able to read the ARC of Blood Mountain via NetGalley. This is the second novel in the Jodi Luna series by Alisa Lynn Valdes. This wild and wooly adventure is a great tale of New Mexican small town life as well as some heritage thrown into the mix. When in the mountain areas of this state there is no Wifi, large hotels or fun shopping. When the blizzards blow snow and the wind becomes hazardous, travel is not an option. I have enjoyed this series and hope Valdez gives us more escapades in the New Mexican mountainous outback. Enjoy this one!
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