by Nevada Barr
Part of Anna Pigeon, book 18
First published 2014
Anna Pigeon takes a break from her duties as a U.S. Park Service ranger for an autumn canoe trip through Minnesota's Iron Range. She joins her paraplegic friend Heath, Heath's fifteen-year-old daughter Elizabeth, wealthy outdoor equipment designer Leah, and Leah's thirteen-year-old daughter Katie. The expedition serves as a field test for Leah's innovative camping gear designed to help disabled adventurers access the wilderness. On their second evening, Anna paddles alone down the Fox River for a peaceful solo float. She returns to discover four armed criminals holding her companions hostage. The attackers carry rifles, pistols, and knives, and they plan to kill the captives or transport them out of the country within two days. Anna finds herself completely cut off from outside help in the remote wilderness. She must rely on her ranger training and whatever resources she can scavenge to mount a rescue operation. The clock ticks down as Anna fights to save her friends and their daughters from their captors.
Genres: adventure, mystery, thriller, action
Vibes: atmospheric, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: resourcefulness, survival
Setting: Minnesota, Iron Range, Fox River
Period: Autumn
342 pages · Hardcover · Minotaur Books
Content warnings: violence