by Nevada Barr
Part of Anna Pigeon, book 10
First published 2003
Anna Pigeon returns to her duties as a National Park Service ranger, this time confronting the deadly tensions that arise when hunting season opens near protected wilderness areas. When hunters and wildlife converge in dangerous proximity, Anna must navigate the complex relationships between local communities, federal regulations, and the natural world she protects. The investigation draws her into conflicts that test both her professional skills and personal convictions. As bodies accumulate and suspects multiply, Anna discovers that the most dangerous predators may not be the ones with four legs. The case forces her to examine the thin line between civilization and wilderness, between those who preserve nature and those who exploit it. Anna must use all her experience to survive a hunt where she has become the prey.
Genres: adventure, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water
Setting: National Park
Period: Contemporary
352 pages · Berkley
Content warnings: violence