Raptor Canyon

Relic #2

by A.W. Baldwin

An impromptu murder leads a hermit named Relic to an unlikely set of dinosaur petroglyphs and swindlers using the unique rock art to turn a pristine canyon into a high-end tourist trap. When attorney, Wyatt, and his boss travel to the site to approve the next phase of financing, Wyatt learns the truth about their unorthodox role in the project. A corrupt security chief runs Relic and Wyatt off of the site and the unusual pair must endure each other while fleeing though white-water rapids, remote gorges, and hidden caverns. Faye, who shares covert ties with the treasured site, catalyzes their desperate plan to fight back and to recast the fate of Raptor Canyon.

342 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2018

About the author

A.W. Baldwin has written seven novels featuring “Relic,” a moonshining hermit living deep in the remote canyons of Utah. The Antidote features a botany student, a couple of "old-timers," and genetically modified seeds that could provide the antidote for climate change. Against the Wind features a teenage pilot with a stolen airplane and a physicist who has developed a breakthrough in quantum computing.

His first novel, Desert Guardian (2017), received a five-star Readers’ Favorite rating. His second novel, Raptor Canyon (2018), received the Grand Master Adventure Writers’ Finalist Award and was a finalist in the 2019-2020 Screencraft Cinematic Book Contest. His third novel, Wings Over Ghost Creek (2019), received the Grand Master Adventure Writers’ Finalist Award and the Global Book Awards Silver Medal. His fourth novel, Diamonds of Devil’s Tail (2020), received a five-star Readers’ Favorite rating. His fifth novel, Broken Inn (2021), received the Grand Master Adventure Writers’ Finalist Award, the Global Book Awards Silver Medal, and the New York City Big Book Award Featured Favorite Award. His sixth "Relic" novel, Moonshine Mesa, won a gold medal in the Reader's Favorite international writing competition and a gold medal from Global Book Awards. Three of his novels have received rave reviews from New York Times Bestselling author Dirk Cussler. His latest release is The Antidote (2022), which Readers' Favorite calls "a gripping novel" and onlinebookclub calls "phenomenal." You can learn more about the author and his novels at awbaldwin.com.

An avid backcountry hiker, canoer, and whitewater enthusiast, the author takes his readers on adventures in ancient lands that shape the motives and spirits of his characters.

A graduate of Wright State University and the University of Idaho School of Law, Baldwin has practiced law for more than 35 years. He began his career with a poverty law fellowship award on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming, where he later became a staff attorney and then Executive Director of Wind River Legal Services, a legal aid program serving the Reservation and southeastern Wyoming. After successful civil rights and class action lawsuits, the Northern Arapaho Tribe hired him as in-house counsel from late 1988 to 1992, when he established a private firm that continues to represent the Tribe as well as individuals and other tribes in the Rocky Mountain West. He has appeared before the U.S. Supreme Court, Ninth and Tenth Circuit Courts of Appeal, and other Federal, Tribal, and State Courts. He won the right of the Northern Arapaho Tribe to operate (and self-regulate) the full gamut of casino-style gaming without state control. He has successfully litigated First Amendment religious liberties, voting rights, Tribal sovereignty, and for environmental justice. He earned his private pilot’s license in 1997.

Reviews

[Anthony Policastro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raptor Canyon, written by Andrew W. Baldwin, is the sequel to the novel Desert Guardian and is more than a thriller, as we follow the continued adventures of Relic, as he strives to maintain, preserve, and protect the sacred and pristine canyons, gorges, and rivers of Utah.

When Raptor Canyon is invaded by corporate attorneys and intruders, seeking to exploit the natural resources of the land and build a tourist attraction like Jurassic Park, the purpose of which is to create wealth primarily for themselves, Relic, with the help of Wyatt, a young disillusioned attorney, and Faye, a young woman and the granddaughter of old man Snow, the original owner of Little Horse Canyon, until he is swindled by the attorney Todd William Winford, IV, and his henchmen, Schmidt and Lynch, the chief of security in the canyon, must do something. Witnessing the murder of an artist by one of the intruders, Relic infiltrates the corporate camp and walks among the intruders to find out why they are there, and ultimately to prevent them from destroying the pristine natural resources of the land.

Raptor Canyon is significant and deserves your attention because it transcends ordinary adventure stories. Baldwin cleverly inculcates through the narrative and dialogue – especially with Relic’s remonstration with Wyatt, the young attorney – that the idea of preserving the natural resources of the canyon, and its milieu is the right thing to do, and that mankind and society will benefit from taking these protective measures.

As Baldwin describes Relic’s and Wyatt’s journey through Raptor Canyon, and along its gorges, and the white-water river, you will begin to sense the innate beauty of this land. You will discover that the natural beauty of Raptor Canyon supersedes any contrived and artificial beauty that is man-made. According to Baldwin and Hopi legend and faith, the rocks, the gorges, and the river have a life of their own, a spirit of their own. This land, this “sacred place,” embodies the spirit of life, and possesses the power to heal.

The author doesn’t preach or hit us over the head with this significant and powerful message. But shows and conveys it to us subtly through his narrative description and dialogue. From reading Raptor Canyon, your takeaway will be not only the memory of an exciting adventure but the greater awareness of the beauty and natural resources of this great land, that surprises and sustains us, and which must be protected and preserved.

Thus, I highly recommend Raptor Canyon to all readers.

[Toni Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raptor Canyon
By A.W. Baldwin

A.W. Baldwin, a gifted story-teller and author of this fast-paced thriller, knows how to pull you in. With a well-paced story, fully-drawn characters who stay with you long after the final page and clear descriptions of place that settle you into each scene, Raptor Canyon is truly a satisfying read.

Raptor Canyon is the action-packed story of Wyatt, a lawyer with a strong moral compass who finds himself in the employ of deadly, corrupt men scheming to destroy a sacred southwest canyon, and of Relic, a lone wolf with Hopi blood who shows Wyatt how to stop them.

I highly recommend Raptor Canyon for anyone who has an interest in the southwest’s ancient civilizations and to readers of suspense, thriller, and adventure genres. It’s a both an easy, comfortable read and one that has you sitting on the edge of your seat.

[S.D. Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This next installment in the Relic series does not disappoint! Baldwin is brilliant in his storytelling, and a true master wordsmith.

[Bookoholiccafe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book, this novel has a real sense of atmosphere by all the details and description provided by the author. I enjoyed the dialogues very much. the amount of effort put into research in order to create the plot and character is remarkable.

The characters are very well developed, and I was able to connect with every single one of them. This book was an adventure ride for me a combination of humor and thriller.

This is the first book that I can not write a summary of the story because of all the twists and the way the plot was laid out.

It is a great thriller if you are looking to have an adventure, thriller read.

Many thanks to the publisher and Goodreads for this gifted copy.

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed for Reader’s Favorite by Melinda Hills

Beautiful, rugged and remote, Little Horse Canyon has been compromised by a shady land grabbing deal and will become a tourist destination in ‘Raptor Canyon’ by A W Baldwin. Wyatt, a bottom level associate at a prestigious law firm, is called to join his boss, Todd William Winford IV, on a trip to the site of a major development in Utah. The renamed Raptor Canyon is the site of ancient petroglyphs that the partners hope will bring in scientists and tourists alike to make their proposed resort and dude ranch a big success – and a big money maker.

Relic, an old-timer who has lived his whole life in the expanse of what used to be Little Horse Canyon comes across several men discussing the wall of petroglyphs when one is suddenly shot by another. Sickened by the experience and curious about the construction, Relic wants to find out what is going on. When Relic is leaving the mess tent and is then confronted by the head of security who is actually the murderer, he accidentally bumps into Wyatt and the two flee as Lynch fires off some shots. Together, they escape through the rugged terrain and devise a plan to bring down the partners and save the natural beauty of the canyon along with the priceless petroglyphs. That is if they can escape with their lives.

Fantastic descriptions of the majestic canyon and tense action sequences keep you anxiously turning the pages in ‘Raptor Canyon’ by A W Baldwin. Realistic dialogue and well-defined characters move the exciting story along with plenty of surprises and scares. Terrific fiction for readers who appreciate a fast-moving story that is relatively short but action packed.

[Peter Greene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. Raptor Canyon is a fast-read thrill ride set in the wilds of the west's mysterious Canyonlands that never lets up! A.W. Baldwin masterfully weaves action, complex plot twists and great protagonists who are pitted against the environment, time and totally reprehensible villains right out of today's headlines. Saddle up, it's going to be a thrilling but bumpy ride! No wonder it was a finalist in the Adventure Writers Competition!

Hermit- turned hero, Relic witnesses murder and the wanton destruction of the beautiful Raptor Canyon by greedy and unscrupulous developers. Young wanna-be lawyer Wyatt must come to grips with his personal choice: do the right thing, or pursue a heady career in a top notch law firm. Faye is heir to property in the Canyon, but via the villains taking advantage of her Alzheimer-affected grandfather, she has lost the land she loves.

What I loved was the way Baldwin gets the team together, all with different backgrounds and personalities and unites them in a common cause. They are underdogs in life and purpose, yet their beliefs in the "right stuff" carry them through life-changing decisions and unforeseen futures. Never preachy or pretentious, Raptor Canyon will have you holding your heart and your breath at the same time.

[Jake Avila · Rating 5 out of 5]

A ripping adventure romp set in the twists and turns of Utah’s canyon country where corrupt men try to impose their evil on a deeper spirituality. Baldwin has an exquisite eye for detail, painting moments and settings that stay in your mind with a handful of well-chosen words. His enigmatic protagonist, Relic, a mix of dry humor and elemental wisdom, is a perfect foil for Wyatt the scrambled city lawyer trying to make sense of his life. Thoroughly entertaining!

[Shelley Wildgrube · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to win this in a giveaway a while back and Mr. Baldwin was kind enough to autograph it for me, thank you sir! I really enjoyed this fast-paced adventure novel with a great twist on an investment hoax. It took me back to the times I travelled through this area and brought back great memories. My first introduction to the fascinating character of Relic, a very fit and knowledgeable hermit who lives in the canyon. I want to read more about him!

[Landon Beach · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Raptor Canyon' is a ton of fun. Baldwin’s descriptions give the novel a real sense of atmosphere, and the playful dialog between Wyatt and Relic was a pleasure to read. The novel’s plot is tight, and the story flows easily from one chapter to the next. The amount of research done to establish the setting and characters’ motivations was also impressive. Highly recommended!

[Sarah Reilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this was an adventure with an old friend. Relic finds himself caught up in a crazy adventure, yet again, and his knowledge of the Canyonlands of Utah saves the day. This story is awesome all the way through, with just the right amount of suspense and a little bit of humor! I definitely recommend this book!

[Jaime K · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Sorely tempted to give it 2, but it did keep me hooked.

This is an extremely fast-paced novel with very short chapters. I’d say about 50% are two [Kindle] pages long, 40% are one, and 10% are three (very rough estimates). The short chapters make it very easy to read through.
What I don’t like is that none of the chapters have headings, so it is often extremely difficult to figure out when one chapter ends and the next begins, especially if the characters remain the same.

I feel like the end isn’t actually an end, but seeing as this is Book 2 in the Relic series (and I didn’t read book 1 but I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary), I could only assume Book 3 picks up where this leaves off.

I was uncertain about this book because the concept of “flesh-eating dinosaurs” sounds very odd. It would make more sense to say “carnivorous dinosaur” instead. I’m glad that specific ones, like a triceratops, were named later on.
And now that I’m writing this review, I realize just how little those dinosaurs form the full plot of this book, though they are the basis of the story.

A dude named Wyatt works at a law firm and is asked by his boss Winford to accompany him to a canyon to deal with a signature on a certificate. There, Wyatt learns that Winford has a hand in the deal, and that the two men he’s with--Lynch and Schmidt--are Not Good Guys. But we knew that already given that a man named Relic saw them shoot a third person.

Lynch is a total jerk. Schmidt at least has some decency. Winford is utterly entitled and a whiny annoyance.

The “deal” is that Winford learned about a fossilized dinosaur jaw that had been found in the canyon around petroglyphs. The three realize that they can enhance on the petroglyphs there and create false ones to draw tourists. Then they need to buy the land from ranchers to cut into the canyon and build a resort.
I agree with Wyatt--the premise doesn’t make sense.

At first I thought there was a lot of unnecessary secrecy around the petroglyphs, but Relic’s secret is about the artifacts and belongings of the Hopi. It sounds like a near-eerie yet peaceful and beautiful hidden cave.

Lynch realizes that the murder was witnessed and realizes it’s Relic when the other man is on site and sweeps Wyatt with him while Lynch chases them down with a gun. Relic helps Wyatt out, and ends up bringing in another worker named Faye, who Relic actually knows through her grandfather. She’s bloody awesome.

I liked the ways in which Relic threw a monkey wrench in the plans with toothpicks and sugar. And his obsession with peanut M&Ms is quite humorous--but there is indeed a reason why chocolate and peanuts are in a lot of trail mix!

Really, the chase and the tension as to whether or not Wyatt will be safe and that the baddies will get their comeuppance kept me hooked, and made up the story. I feel like the end didn’t give me the closure I was looking for, especially after Relic, Faye, and Wyatt confront them.


A few things bothered me:
- Having ‘kickboxer’ and ‘switchblade’ be two words (the former occurring more than once).
- Not capitalizing God
- Writing the word ‘butt’ when other coarse language (including a$$) was used
- Comparing the size of a horse’s eyes to a ripe kiwi. I’ve never heard of eyes being “the size of ripe kiwi.” Color? Yes. Size? No. It’s an odd comparison.
- Other odd phrasing like “blinded Wyatt’s eyes.” Adding the last word is a bit unnecessary.

But really, my biggest issue is the fact that the ending is insanely unsatisfying and just...ends like the other chapters do but there is no more to the story. It’s not even a cliffhanger, but a dangling end because there was nothing that made it seem like it was an end.

[Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raptor Canyon by A. W. Baldwin plunges readers into a gripping tale where capitalism clashes with history and ancient relics. Dive into a world where a scheming group, which includes lawyers, unlawfully claims land from an elderly man to set up a resort. Their audacity doesn’t stop there – they plot to place fake petroglyphs on rocks, hoping to lure in more tourists. Yet, within this group, one conscientious lawyer overhears their intentions and bravely opts out, setting the stage for a thrilling chase.

Baldwin's narrative style pulls you in, effortlessly blending action-packed sequences with realistic scenes that address today’s concerns about preserving natural landscapes. In a post-coronavirus world where we're eager to explore, it makes us question: At what cost? The story reminds us that as we seek solace in nature, there are those who exploit it for profit, reshaping and even fabricating its history.

I was particularly enthralled by the vivid portrayal of the protagonist's adventures and escapes. The encounters with sinister characters, the narrow getaways, and the intricate planning elements all craft an exhilarating thriller. While the ending offers hope, Baldwin leaves some threads untied, giving readers a touch of intrigue even on the last page.

Raptor Canyon is a must-read for those craving an adventure tale infused with timely environmental themes. Dive in and get lost in Baldwin's riveting world.

[Danny Glover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raptor Canyon Shifts Elusively in the Arizona Desert

Relic once again mystifies the work-a-day characters as he slips elusively through the story, the plot. He’s the enigmatic main character that no one understands. Always around, always right, always adjusting to the changing plot. A great plot works out without derailing him in any way. A cast of other characters play through it, and it just works. A great read, and an excellent story played out very well indeed! The greatest compliment: looking forward to the next in the series!

[Cara Sanders · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an easy read. Contains elements of a thriller, but also helps attune you to the nature around you and reminds you to breathe and take it all in. I prefer my thrillers to be a little more gripping, however this was a fun adventure out in the desert and canyons of Utah. I wholeheartedly enjoyed the efforts made to "monkeywrench" the operations at the end! Overall, this is a decent, light read that you won't regret picking up.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through the author's mailing list when I signed up for another book through Voracious Readers Only. It was a fairly fun, easy read. Nothing majorly stood out to me, nor majorly disappointed me. As humans, we should all learn to have a little more respect for our natural spaces and the history they preserve - this is a good message, well-conveyed.

[Jeff Dawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book I’ve read in the series and to be honest, while it’s a quick read, it left me flat. Way too much description of the canyons. The characters were actually a sideshow and the ending was absolutely terrible.
There is a formatting issue with Ch 35, an easy fix.

Three stars

[Faithtoms Solution · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping eco-thriller filled with danger, discovery, and nonstop tension. Wyatt and Relic make an unlikely but engaging team as they fight to protect rare petroglyphs and expose corruption in the canyon. With adventure, sharp twists, and vivid scenery, this is an exciting read for fans of action-packed mysteries.