Earth Dragon Run

by David Pinault

Jobless, friendless, restless and adrift, ex-librarian Daniel Quirk knows he needs a change. Off-again, on-again (at best) in his Catholic faith, he makes an impulse-stop at a church that leads to a flash leave the States and make a new life overseas.He finds work at an animal refuge in South Africa, where he meets fellow volunteer Zhang “Minnie” Meixing, who’s devoted to protecting the endangered “earth dragon” pangolins that are her special love. But Quirk discovers Minnie’s in hiding from her past. The Communist Party in China has announced a cash bounty for her capture. When her animal rescue efforts threaten to reveal the Party’s involvement in a network of clandestine enterprises—from wildlife poaching to human trafficking to cyberscams—the authorities decide to do what is needed to keep all this abduct Minnie and the animal she loves best.Minnie’s uncle, a missionary Catholic priest who is himself on the run from the Party, has a plan to free both his niece and her pangolin. But he’ll need the help of Daniel Quirk—who’s not sure he has the strength, or the faith, to extricate prisoners from a Chinese jail cell.As urgent and timely as tomorrow’s headlines, Earth Dragon Run propels us from San Francisco to the African bushveldt, from Hong Kong to Vietnam and on to a confrontation amid the jungle ruins of ancient Angkor.

Genres: Fiction, Catholic

416 pages, Paperback

Published September 13, 2025

Reviews

[Charles Percy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Earth Dragon Run and I find, weeks later, that I miss the main characters, especially Daniel Quirk and Minnie Meixing. The at times somewhat contentious relation between the brave young woman and humble, sometimes stumbling but adventurous older man is admirable and enjoyable. The story took me places geographically, culturally and zoologically whereto I had never ventured before. There were surprises and satisfactions to be enjoyed throughout. The excellent whole would not have been achieved without much experience and erudition on the part of the author. As one learns from the writer's end notes, the author has ventured forth in this world and one suspects that many of the stories were experienced first hand, only the names have been changed to protect the guilty. I admired Danny's strength in dealing with an overabundance of rude and incompetent academic deans. I loved the interaction between Daniel Quirk and Minnie Meixing. Such a rich panoply of characters! and the plot that takes one places, in every sense of the word.

[Audrey Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that this book was amazing! I love the way that different perspectives are shown, it’s a great spiritual reading! Quirky Quirk is relatable especially in today’s times, and the story keeps you latched on.