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Jodi Luna #1
Hollow Beasts
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Dirty Girls Social Club comes a wilderness thriller featuring Jodi Luna, a rookie game warden who takes on a terrorist group in rugged New Mexico.
After a long stint in academia, Jodi Luna leaves Boston for the wilds of New Mexico to start a new life as a game warden. Jodi is no stranger to the wilderness; her family has lived here for generations. Determined to protect her homeland, she nabs a poacher in her first week on the job.
But when he retaliates by stalking Jodi and her teenage daughter, a cat and mouse game leads Jodi to a white supremacist group deep in the mountains. She learns that new recruits are kidnapping women of color to prove their mettle to the organization’s leader.
When the local sheriff refuses to assist, Jodi joins up with young deputy Ashley Romero. Together, they set out to take down a terrorist network that will test not just their skills as investigators but also their knowledge of the land and commitment to its people.
But will Jodi’s fierce resolve to protect the voiceless put her loved ones in harm’s way?
After a long stint in academia, Jodi Luna leaves Boston for the wilds of New Mexico to start a new life as a game warden. Jodi is no stranger to the wilderness; her family has lived here for generations. Determined to protect her homeland, she nabs a poacher in her first week on the job.
But when he retaliates by stalking Jodi and her teenage daughter, a cat and mouse game leads Jodi to a white supremacist group deep in the mountains. She learns that new recruits are kidnapping women of color to prove their mettle to the organization’s leader.
When the local sheriff refuses to assist, Jodi joins up with young deputy Ashley Romero. Together, they set out to take down a terrorist network that will test not just their skills as investigators but also their knowledge of the land and commitment to its people.
But will Jodi’s fierce resolve to protect the voiceless put her loved ones in harm’s way?
253 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2023
1958 people are currently reading
5173 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 397 reviews
December 5, 2025
Nature
Hollow Beasts is an engaging eco-thriller that hooks you early with its sharp pacing and memorable sense of place. Alisa Lynn Valdés introduces Jodi Luna, a rookie game warden, single mom, and compellingly flawed protagonist, who brings both grit and heart to the story. The New Mexico landscape feels alive in the background, giving the book a grounded atmosphere that makes the early tension especially effective.
Valdés weaves in themes of extremism, misogyny, and environmental harm with a generally steady hand, and the novel shines most when it lets Jodi’s instincts and personal stakes guide the momentum. The relationship between Jodi and her daughter adds welcome emotional depth, breaking up the suspense with moments that feel intimate and real. The action moves quickly, and for the most part, the story balances message and momentum well.
A few of the twists land a little too hard in service of the book’s political and social commentary, which is why I gave it 4 stars. While the intentions are clear and often compelling, some revelations feel more engineered or convenient than organic to the narrative. Still, the book remains smart, fast-paced, and entertaining, with a heroine who’s easy to root for and a setting that’s rich enough to return to. I recommend this book, and I’m eager to continue the journey with her second book, Blood Mountain.
Hollow Beasts is an engaging eco-thriller that hooks you early with its sharp pacing and memorable sense of place. Alisa Lynn Valdés introduces Jodi Luna, a rookie game warden, single mom, and compellingly flawed protagonist, who brings both grit and heart to the story. The New Mexico landscape feels alive in the background, giving the book a grounded atmosphere that makes the early tension especially effective.
Valdés weaves in themes of extremism, misogyny, and environmental harm with a generally steady hand, and the novel shines most when it lets Jodi’s instincts and personal stakes guide the momentum. The relationship between Jodi and her daughter adds welcome emotional depth, breaking up the suspense with moments that feel intimate and real. The action moves quickly, and for the most part, the story balances message and momentum well.
A few of the twists land a little too hard in service of the book’s political and social commentary, which is why I gave it 4 stars. While the intentions are clear and often compelling, some revelations feel more engineered or convenient than organic to the narrative. Still, the book remains smart, fast-paced, and entertaining, with a heroine who’s easy to root for and a setting that’s rich enough to return to. I recommend this book, and I’m eager to continue the journey with her second book, Blood Mountain.
March 5, 2023
It was a read that sucked me in and I couldn't put it down, but the characters were a bit contrived. Too much trauma/tragic experiences for Jodi (dead husband/stolen baby). Mila was amazing but not realistic for a 14-year-old. Lyle is awesome but confusing; the author implied too much back-story for him without resolving anything. I understand that this is a series and more will come out later, but it was just too much. The neo-Nazis were stereotypes and cookie-cutter. No real depth (not that you really want it, but it would make everything more compelling). I feel like the author did a little too much: a mile wide and an inch deep.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2023
There were things I really liked about this book, but I had trouble overall with the execution. Despite the shortcomings, I will probably read the next Jodie Luna book.
What I liked: the main character was well-drawn and I couldn't help but like someone who named her horses Frida and Diego, and who quoted Marge Piercy poems. I also liked the portrait of the local culture. It felt very genuine. The pacing was well done.
What I didn't like so much: The writing at times felt a bit amateurish. For instance, 1) when a woman at a party asks another woman to accompany her to the ladies room, any adult of whatever gender knows the subtext of this. I really didn't need her spelling it out for me by telling me it was a "fake request." It makes me feel a little talked down to; 2) about guns. There is a reason cops, soldiers, etc are instructed to aim for the torso. It is extremely difficult to shoot a gun out of someone's hand. But these characters did that multiple times; 3) the bad guys were over the top in their evilness. These kinds of things made this book seem like a novice effort, although we are told the author is a best-seller.
Overall, I liked it well enough to try her again.
What I liked: the main character was well-drawn and I couldn't help but like someone who named her horses Frida and Diego, and who quoted Marge Piercy poems. I also liked the portrait of the local culture. It felt very genuine. The pacing was well done.
What I didn't like so much: The writing at times felt a bit amateurish. For instance, 1) when a woman at a party asks another woman to accompany her to the ladies room, any adult of whatever gender knows the subtext of this. I really didn't need her spelling it out for me by telling me it was a "fake request." It makes me feel a little talked down to; 2) about guns. There is a reason cops, soldiers, etc are instructed to aim for the torso. It is extremely difficult to shoot a gun out of someone's hand. But these characters did that multiple times; 3) the bad guys were over the top in their evilness. These kinds of things made this book seem like a novice effort, although we are told the author is a best-seller.
Overall, I liked it well enough to try her again.
July 3, 2023
Giving up many years in education Game Warden Jodi Luna starts a new position in the wilds of New Mexico, where her family have lived for generations.
A thrilling game of cat and mouse results when Jodi learns that new recruits of a white supremacist group are kidnapping women of colour to prove themselves to the organizations leader.
A page turner that I highly recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
A thrilling game of cat and mouse results when Jodi learns that new recruits of a white supremacist group are kidnapping women of colour to prove themselves to the organizations leader.
A page turner that I highly recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
December 20, 2023
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
I've been reading much more racially motivated crime stories, and they mostly make me angry - that's their goal, so Alisa Lynn Valdes did a great job with that. The crime part itself is sickening but it's also good, something unique in its way.
I'll say - it did get a bit boring around 50%, the backstory of Jodi was somehow important but it was just boring in a way. Also, some things happened too fast - the plot with Lyle and Ashley. I wasn't expecting it, it was okay but also it weirdly happened way too fast for my taste.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
💌 April 11, 2023: E-ARC provided via NetGalley. Big thank you to Thomas & Mercer.
I've been reading much more racially motivated crime stories, and they mostly make me angry - that's their goal, so Alisa Lynn Valdes did a great job with that. The crime part itself is sickening but it's also good, something unique in its way.
I'll say - it did get a bit boring around 50%, the backstory of Jodi was somehow important but it was just boring in a way. Also, some things happened too fast - the plot with Lyle and Ashley. I wasn't expecting it, it was okay but also it weirdly happened way too fast for my taste.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
💌 April 11, 2023: E-ARC provided via NetGalley. Big thank you to Thomas & Mercer.
April 5, 2023
I don't have a good history with books about Game Wardens. Three years ago, I abandoned 'The Poacher's Son', the first book about Maine Game Warden Mike Bowditch because I found Mike so nice and so calm that he bored me. This year, I abandoned 'In Plain Sight' the sixth book in the series about Wyoming Game Warden Joe Pickett because I decided I really didn't like Joe anymore.
Still, I like the idea of stories about Game Wardens so I decided to try 'Hollow Beasts', the first book in a brand new series about New Mexico Game Warden Jodi Luna. Now, I have a Game Warden I can look forward to reading about.
'Hollow Beasts' was a breath of fresh air. What a difference it makes when your Game Warden is a Hispanic woman in New Mexico rather than a white man in Wyoming.
'Hollow Beasts' is also a real page-turner, As soon as I started it, I wanted to sit down and read it until it was done.
Some of it, especially the start, is a tough read. The plot involves a White Supremacist terrorist group that behaves like a cult. Their hate and acts of violence against women were graphic, credible and repugnant. I spent a lot of the rest of the book waiting for these guys to get their arses kicked. I wasn't disappointed.
This is an entertaining and engaging book. It's also one which seemed to me to have a clear agenda: expose the twisted thinking and behaviour of white supremacists fighting their 'war' against The Great Replacement', to remind people of the history of New Mexico, including how it became part of the United States, and to show how strong, well-armed, women can work together to put an end to violent men. Most of the time, that agenda provided more energy to move the action forward and to help to define the characters and the culture that they live in. Once or twice, it felt more didactic than that. If it wasn't so closely based on the reality of the current situation, it might have felt like propaganda.
It was rescued from that by two things: I liked Jodi and her daughter and the newly-returned-to-town police detective she was working with; the clever way that Valdés built tension throughout the book, keeping me focused on the action and the risk rather than on the bigger political picture.
Parts of the plot did involve some remarkable co-incidences, mainly with regards to things that establish key relationships for Jodi Luna. I was happy to swallow these because they didn't mess with the main action of the plot or its resolution and because the relationships that were established set up the potential for some interesting twists and turns in the next few books in the series.
I'll certainly be back with Jodi Luna in New Mexico when the next book comes out.
Still, I like the idea of stories about Game Wardens so I decided to try 'Hollow Beasts', the first book in a brand new series about New Mexico Game Warden Jodi Luna. Now, I have a Game Warden I can look forward to reading about.
'Hollow Beasts' was a breath of fresh air. What a difference it makes when your Game Warden is a Hispanic woman in New Mexico rather than a white man in Wyoming.
'Hollow Beasts' is also a real page-turner, As soon as I started it, I wanted to sit down and read it until it was done.
Some of it, especially the start, is a tough read. The plot involves a White Supremacist terrorist group that behaves like a cult. Their hate and acts of violence against women were graphic, credible and repugnant. I spent a lot of the rest of the book waiting for these guys to get their arses kicked. I wasn't disappointed.
This is an entertaining and engaging book. It's also one which seemed to me to have a clear agenda: expose the twisted thinking and behaviour of white supremacists fighting their 'war' against The Great Replacement', to remind people of the history of New Mexico, including how it became part of the United States, and to show how strong, well-armed, women can work together to put an end to violent men. Most of the time, that agenda provided more energy to move the action forward and to help to define the characters and the culture that they live in. Once or twice, it felt more didactic than that. If it wasn't so closely based on the reality of the current situation, it might have felt like propaganda.
It was rescued from that by two things: I liked Jodi and her daughter and the newly-returned-to-town police detective she was working with; the clever way that Valdés built tension throughout the book, keeping me focused on the action and the risk rather than on the bigger political picture.
Parts of the plot did involve some remarkable co-incidences, mainly with regards to things that establish key relationships for Jodi Luna. I was happy to swallow these because they didn't mess with the main action of the plot or its resolution and because the relationships that were established set up the potential for some interesting twists and turns in the next few books in the series.
I'll certainly be back with Jodi Luna in New Mexico when the next book comes out.
April 30, 2025
3.5 stars, rounded up
I was intrigued by the premise of Hollow Beasts. Jodie Luna is a rookie game warden in New Mexico. On her first day on the job, she encounters a poacher. He stalks her, which causes her to dig deeper into him and she discovers he’s part of a white supremacy group hiding out in the mountains. Valdes does an excellent job giving the reader a feel for the New Mexican setting.
I liked that while Jodi was a rookie, she wasn’t a youngster. She had a life as a poetry professor and writer before becoming a warden. She’s a widow with a teenage daughter. Valdes does a good job of fleshing Jodi out. She gives her a dark edge. There are also several secondary characters which provide interest, including a rancher, a wildlife vet and a deputy. Flip side, the bad guys all came across as cliches and very two dimensional. That’s the first reason I haven’t rated this higher. The second is that the plot ends up being a tad too predictable.
This is far from a cozy mystery and there are multiple instances of violence against woman and beast.
This was a decent story but I’m not sure I’ll continue with the series.
I listened to this and wasn’t particularly impressed by Joanne DeLane.
I was intrigued by the premise of Hollow Beasts. Jodie Luna is a rookie game warden in New Mexico. On her first day on the job, she encounters a poacher. He stalks her, which causes her to dig deeper into him and she discovers he’s part of a white supremacy group hiding out in the mountains. Valdes does an excellent job giving the reader a feel for the New Mexican setting.
I liked that while Jodi was a rookie, she wasn’t a youngster. She had a life as a poetry professor and writer before becoming a warden. She’s a widow with a teenage daughter. Valdes does a good job of fleshing Jodi out. She gives her a dark edge. There are also several secondary characters which provide interest, including a rancher, a wildlife vet and a deputy. Flip side, the bad guys all came across as cliches and very two dimensional. That’s the first reason I haven’t rated this higher. The second is that the plot ends up being a tad too predictable.
This is far from a cozy mystery and there are multiple instances of violence against woman and beast.
This was a decent story but I’m not sure I’ll continue with the series.
I listened to this and wasn’t particularly impressed by Joanne DeLane.
April 12, 2023
Since this is the first in the series I am usually more critical. My hopes started to dive with the slow beginning. It was not like reading Stephen Crane but it just felt like I was constantly going uphill. The story took off about a third of the way in and the ending was superb!. I will be interested in reading the next in this series.
April 4, 2023
Finished reading: April 3rd 2023
"Everything about the man seemed as fake as a six-dollar bill. And Lyle should know, because most things about Lyle were fake too."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
May 9, 2024
Crime thriller set in New Mexico, featuring game warden Jodi Luna. The writing was a bit uneven, reading like two star chicklit in the first half but improving and becoming more developed in the second half. Plenty of strong female characters, and the story builds to an exciting ending. I think the author had some difficulty transitioning into the thriller genre, having written chicklit before. Hopefully, the next book in this series will be even better.
November 6, 2023
Liked the setting, good story, easy read, entertaining. The writing and dialogue was a bit amateurish, could easily be an action film.
December 8, 2023
This was a book that had been on my to-read list ever since it came out earlier this year. When I came across the second installment on NetGalley that sounded really good and received the free eARC, I decided to hurry and read this first one before I read the second one. I’m really weird about starting a series from the beginning; I don’t like feeling that I’m missing something and WOW, I would have certainly missed a lot!
Anyway, the book summary lays out the premise for the primary storyline. What the book summary doesn’t mention is that the investigation of the missing women of color started from the discovery of body parts across Jodi and Ashley’s policing territory. The body parts all bear a symbol of a white supremacist/terrorist group that appears to be operating in the area.
There are secondary storylines like one where Jodi being newly widowed and having guilty feelings because she’s beginning to notice the single men she comes across. There is another one where her 14yr daughter is becoming more confident as a rock climber like her dad (she was with her dad when he died in a freak rock-climbing accident) as well as becoming a vegetarian who is somewhat disgusted with Jodi’s love of hunting and meat eating. There is also another one where Jodi and her brother, Oscar, are trying to find the adoptive parents for a baby Jodi had to give up for adoption 30yrs ago.
It's into the second half that the local Sheriff, a total MAGA nut, releases one of the members of the group that Jodi had brought in. After that, Jodi and Ashley team up to go after the terrorist group, the perpetrators for their respective cases of finding a particular body parts of a recently reported missing women of color. The end comes up quick after that in several really scary and intense scenes. However, it was the last couple of chapters that had me first gasping in total shock to actually getting a little emotional. OMG!!! Never saw that one coming!
I like Jodi and her family (except for Uncle Atencio, who I have lost all respect for) and assorted friends and colleagues. I'm excited to see some of the loose ends in this story getting tied up in the next installment.
Anyway, the book summary lays out the premise for the primary storyline. What the book summary doesn’t mention is that the investigation of the missing women of color started from the discovery of body parts across Jodi and Ashley’s policing territory. The body parts all bear a symbol of a white supremacist/terrorist group that appears to be operating in the area.
There are secondary storylines like one where Jodi being newly widowed and having guilty feelings because she’s beginning to notice the single men she comes across. There is another one where her 14yr daughter is becoming more confident as a rock climber like her dad (she was with her dad when he died in a freak rock-climbing accident) as well as becoming a vegetarian who is somewhat disgusted with Jodi’s love of hunting and meat eating. There is also another one where Jodi and her brother, Oscar, are trying to find the adoptive parents for a baby Jodi had to give up for adoption 30yrs ago.
It's into the second half that the local Sheriff, a total MAGA nut, releases one of the members of the group that Jodi had brought in. After that, Jodi and Ashley team up to go after the terrorist group, the perpetrators for their respective cases of finding a particular body parts of a recently reported missing women of color. The end comes up quick after that in several really scary and intense scenes. However, it was the last couple of chapters that had me first gasping in total shock to actually getting a little emotional. OMG!!! Never saw that one coming!
I like Jodi and her family (except for Uncle Atencio, who I have lost all respect for) and assorted friends and colleagues. I'm excited to see some of the loose ends in this story getting tied up in the next installment.
September 9, 2023
Rating: 2.5 to 3 stars
I enjoyed the way the local culture in New Mexico was portrayed. This book is available on KU and is 253 pages long. Blood Mountain (Jodi Luna, #2) will be published during April 2024.
After a long stint in academia, poet Jodi Luna leaves Boston for the wilds of New Mexico to start a new life as a rookie game warden. Jodi is no stranger to the wilderness; her family has lived here for generations. Determined to protect her home, she nabs a poacher in her first week on the job. But when he retaliates by stalking Jodi and her teenage daughter, a cat and mouse game leads Jodi to a white supremacist group deep in the mountains. She learns that new recruits are kidnapping young women of color to prove their mettle to the organization’s leader. When the local sheriff refuses to assist, Jodi joins up with young deputy Ashley Romero. Together, they set out to take down a terrorist network that will test not just their skills as investigators but also their knowledge of the land and commitment to its people.
I enjoyed the way the local culture in New Mexico was portrayed. This book is available on KU and is 253 pages long. Blood Mountain (Jodi Luna, #2) will be published during April 2024.
After a long stint in academia, poet Jodi Luna leaves Boston for the wilds of New Mexico to start a new life as a rookie game warden. Jodi is no stranger to the wilderness; her family has lived here for generations. Determined to protect her home, she nabs a poacher in her first week on the job. But when he retaliates by stalking Jodi and her teenage daughter, a cat and mouse game leads Jodi to a white supremacist group deep in the mountains. She learns that new recruits are kidnapping young women of color to prove their mettle to the organization’s leader. When the local sheriff refuses to assist, Jodi joins up with young deputy Ashley Romero. Together, they set out to take down a terrorist network that will test not just their skills as investigators but also their knowledge of the land and commitment to its people.
May 21, 2023
Amazon first read
There was something about this book I just didn't like. Maybe it was the cruelty. I could not get into the characters. Jodi was once a poet and teacher. After her husband is killed in a tragic accident, Jodi moves back home with her teenage daughter to New Mexico. Jodi and her daughter are very much like Rambo as they fight while supremacist. People that watch Fox news or eat Chik filet are not all bad people.
Just not my type of book.
There was something about this book I just didn't like. Maybe it was the cruelty. I could not get into the characters. Jodi was once a poet and teacher. After her husband is killed in a tragic accident, Jodi moves back home with her teenage daughter to New Mexico. Jodi and her daughter are very much like Rambo as they fight while supremacist. People that watch Fox news or eat Chik filet are not all bad people.
Just not my type of book.
July 5, 2023
Two stars for the writing, Three stars for the story. This woman would benefit from a good course in creative writing her story was interesting, but, in my opinion, told poorly, I will read her next Jodi Luna book, though, as I liked the characters, and will hope that the writing improves.
June 23, 2023
Simplistic novel that is pretty unrealistic and too stereotypical for my taste. I rolled my eyes several times. It did keep my interest, but I’m glad it wasn’t longer.
March 30, 2023
3.5 Stars, rounded up.
Widowed Jodi Luna returns home to New Mexico for a fresh start and a brand-new career. As a game warden, she is tasked with protecting, preserving, and managing wildlife and improving and maintaining natural habitats. The job isn’t always that straightforward, as Jodi realizes on her first day.
This book is the start of the Jodi Luna series, and there was lots of action as well as lots of tugging of emotions. Hollow Beasts pulled me in from the beginning and I liked Jodi Luna, with her sound moral compass, a lot! Jodi's daughter, Mila, felt a bit older than her age but I still greatly admired her.
In my opinion, the subplot was a little too pat and it felt unnecessary - but that doesn't mean I won't be reading book #2 when it comes out! (I've already marked it as TBR. It's going to be a long wait for the expected publication of October 16, 2024 for Blood Mountain!)
Hollow Beasts definitely provided an interesting look into life in the New Mexico wilderness. I would have rated it higher if not for the spoiler down below.
Widowed Jodi Luna returns home to New Mexico for a fresh start and a brand-new career. As a game warden, she is tasked with protecting, preserving, and managing wildlife and improving and maintaining natural habitats. The job isn’t always that straightforward, as Jodi realizes on her first day.
This book is the start of the Jodi Luna series, and there was lots of action as well as lots of tugging of emotions. Hollow Beasts pulled me in from the beginning and I liked Jodi Luna, with her sound moral compass, a lot! Jodi's daughter, Mila, felt a bit older than her age but I still greatly admired her.
In my opinion, the subplot was a little too pat and it felt unnecessary - but that doesn't mean I won't be reading book #2 when it comes out! (I've already marked it as TBR. It's going to be a long wait for the expected publication of October 16, 2024 for Blood Mountain!)
Hollow Beasts definitely provided an interesting look into life in the New Mexico wilderness. I would have rated it higher if not for the spoiler down below.
July 21, 2023
I read this book for my US State Reading Challenge in the Travel through Books project, it was my book for New Mexico. Despite the gore and gruesome parts of this book which I usually dislike, I enjoyed this mystery about a rookie game warden on a case involving white supremacists hunting teenage girls they believe are Mexican.
My favorite part of the book was how the Native American and Latin cultural influences were embedded within the story. There was a lot of Mexican and southwestern foods mentioned (posole, refritos, rellenos, queso, enchiladas, etc.), tons of references to wildlife and the landscape, and a lot of history about the area. I learned that the Northern region of New Mexico is populated by a majority of Mexican or Native American people, where white people are the minority. The white supremacists in the book are under the false impression that these residents are "stealing their land and jobs" which is quite ironic considering the land has been occupied by these people for thousands of years, and the US originally stole the land from Mexico.
I also enjoyed the strong and intelligent women characters in the book, who are in positions of authority to get things done, but are of course still underestimated by others. The story was quick-paced with a lot of action. The only complaint I have was that the ending was a little strange and seemed to end abruptly, but I realize the author was planning a sequel to this debut.
Overall, an enjoyable read. I would have finished it sooner if my other library book wasn't due, forcing me to set this one aside for a few days.
My favorite part of the book was how the Native American and Latin cultural influences were embedded within the story. There was a lot of Mexican and southwestern foods mentioned (posole, refritos, rellenos, queso, enchiladas, etc.), tons of references to wildlife and the landscape, and a lot of history about the area. I learned that the Northern region of New Mexico is populated by a majority of Mexican or Native American people, where white people are the minority. The white supremacists in the book are under the false impression that these residents are "stealing their land and jobs" which is quite ironic considering the land has been occupied by these people for thousands of years, and the US originally stole the land from Mexico.
I also enjoyed the strong and intelligent women characters in the book, who are in positions of authority to get things done, but are of course still underestimated by others. The story was quick-paced with a lot of action. The only complaint I have was that the ending was a little strange and seemed to end abruptly, but I realize the author was planning a sequel to this debut.
Overall, an enjoyable read. I would have finished it sooner if my other library book wasn't due, forcing me to set this one aside for a few days.
September 28, 2023
A Good Beginning to What Promises to Be a Good Series
This book probably deserves 4.5 stars. There was very little wrong with it. The characters are believable and interesting. It has a fast pace throughout. The bad guys are destroyed and the good guys walk away with a few scars. I will be tempted to read the next book in th ed series.
This book probably deserves 4.5 stars. There was very little wrong with it. The characters are believable and interesting. It has a fast pace throughout. The bad guys are destroyed and the good guys walk away with a few scars. I will be tempted to read the next book in th ed series.
March 12, 2023
This was another unusual read for me, full of white supremacists, Hispanics, Native Americans, many non-supremacists, etc. Young girls are kidnapped and taken to be dropped into a pit, then sent out naked to be hunted by the villains.
This is the first book I read by this author. I may try her writing again sometime.
This is the first book I read by this author. I may try her writing again sometime.
September 24, 2023
I'm sorry to tell yinz, but this was a miss for me guys.
But it started out so good I had such high hopes and that's why I feel so let down.
Let me start with what I always try to say that I want everyone to buy this book or read it on Kindle Unlimited and wish all the success to this and every author. My shady review just reflects my opinion, with all respect to the author.
It did start out with a Bang, a group of girls kidnapped by white supremacists, in the vast mountainous state of New Mexico. Now these aren't just any random girls, they are specifically and intentionally Mexican/Indigenous girls. New Mexico is one of those states where it feels almost deserted because there is so much land. I will say that the author's love for New Mexico and its culture shines through, but the story she was trying to plot was not connecting.
The main character has a lot of potential but the rest of the characters I felt were too stereotypical. There were some very rushed and not very romantic or sexy romance. The description and personality of the characters were too obvious. The actual plotline was interesting and there were some thrilling parts, but there was also a lot of description and banter with other characters that could have been better used to thrill us with the story.
Also, there is a huge problem with missing and murdered indigenous girls, things I'm reading about and learning about are absolutely horrifying and I feel like this could have been a vehicle to not only entertain us as fiction but also getting some eyes and ears on this ridiculously huge issue that doesn't get the traction it needs. Not saying it's this author's responsibility to do that, I just feel like the issue is so huge in the western states, and with a plot like this it would have served this book better to take this issue up.
Again, the book has enormous potential and I hope yinz pick it up. Maybe you'll see it in ways that I missed or got wrong with my review.
But it started out so good I had such high hopes and that's why I feel so let down.
Let me start with what I always try to say that I want everyone to buy this book or read it on Kindle Unlimited and wish all the success to this and every author. My shady review just reflects my opinion, with all respect to the author.
It did start out with a Bang, a group of girls kidnapped by white supremacists, in the vast mountainous state of New Mexico. Now these aren't just any random girls, they are specifically and intentionally Mexican/Indigenous girls. New Mexico is one of those states where it feels almost deserted because there is so much land. I will say that the author's love for New Mexico and its culture shines through, but the story she was trying to plot was not connecting.
The main character has a lot of potential but the rest of the characters I felt were too stereotypical. There were some very rushed and not very romantic or sexy romance. The description and personality of the characters were too obvious. The actual plotline was interesting and there were some thrilling parts, but there was also a lot of description and banter with other characters that could have been better used to thrill us with the story.
Also, there is a huge problem with missing and murdered indigenous girls, things I'm reading about and learning about are absolutely horrifying and I feel like this could have been a vehicle to not only entertain us as fiction but also getting some eyes and ears on this ridiculously huge issue that doesn't get the traction it needs. Not saying it's this author's responsibility to do that, I just feel like the issue is so huge in the western states, and with a plot like this it would have served this book better to take this issue up.
Again, the book has enormous potential and I hope yinz pick it up. Maybe you'll see it in ways that I missed or got wrong with my review.
April 23, 2023
Short novel that I was able to finish in a day as I was doing housework. Very simplistic; the good guys are brave and smart and at one with the land (even though they have spent many years in the city) and the bad guys are all cartoonish dumb asses. A romance is thrown in for the heck of it and seems forced. Lots of plot lines going on ... white supremacists, kidnapped girls, wolf poaching, attraction to a much younger man, romance right off the bat with another man, a secret past, Mexican-American issues, political opinions ... it's all just a lot for a 250-page book, so much that none of those really felt that compelling. The characters all sounded alike and 3/4 of the way in the author was still over-explaining things. For example the daughter hears a noise and "thought it was her mother, Jodi."
April 11, 2024
Jodi took a long moment to consider this before agreeing to it. She had never felt like Graham had her back, not in this old-fashioned big-brother kind of physically protective way. Graham had been supportive of her work and loved to listen to her poetry, which was everything, for a time. Graham had been hard core about feminism and felt that it was important to give Jodi agency, not infantilize her by opening her doors, or asking her whether she had changed the oil in her car, or whatever it was other husbands did. She had loved him for it, at first, because she had been raised in such a rigidly structured world with regards to gender roles. But, she realized now, maybe it was okay to let people help you. Maybe it was ok for a man to offer to look after a woman he cared about. Maybe Lyle's offer to see her home safely wasn't any more sexist or controlling than Diana offering to help her out b y driving Oscar back to his monastery. Friends help you out, she reminded herself, and this is what community feels like.
~~As a New Mexico game warden, one of Jodi's duties (among many), is to monitor and protect the endangered wolf population. When she hears that Dr. Bethel, the new wildlife veterinarian for the district, has found a wolf den with pups, she's eager to check in on their health. Wolves, despite being pictured on the book cover, play a minor note in the story arc. However, parallels can be drawn between the wolf matriarch and Jodi. Both are strong, agile, and fiercely protective of their young. But both occasionally need help to survive when faced with human predation.
Vital statistics: Year written: 2023
Length: 244 pages
Author's hometown: Divided between New Mexico and Los Angeles
Genre: Thriller with horrific elements in a western setting.
Read if: You're looking for a new series with a complex, tough, female lead.
First few sentences: Natalia had no paper and no pen. No pencil. Nothing really. Just her rasping breath and her asthma.
Synapse: In many ways, Jodi knew what she was getting into when she signed on to succeed her uncle as game warden for a rural district in New Mexico. Wardens almost always work alone, deep in the back country. Her only partner is her dog, Juana. She counted on checking permits and licenses, and possibly having to confront illegal poachers who are trying to feed their family. Her first day on the job, she has a tense encounter with a hunter, and notes a strange emblem on his attire.
Then, things get truly strange when she goes to a "glamping" site in response to a distressed 911 call from campers. They've found a severed hand, branded by the same symbol. Jodi is justifiably concerned about what could be happening in the back country, and concerns escalate when a young deputy calls her after finding a severed foot with the same symbol. Can Jodi find the monsters behind these missing girls while keeping herself and her family safe?
My two cents: I really enjoyed this offering by Valdes, and devoured it in a few short days. The dialogue is a bit clunky at times, but the prose is crisp, and the story arc slowly builds tension, before letting loose and running full throttle for the final third of the book. Warning: this will keep you up well past your bed time. Plan accordingly. I also really enjoyed rooting for our protagonist, Jodi. It's refreshing (especially in contrast to many romance genre novels) to see a female lead who can be strong without always having to be right. She isn't perfect, and isn't afraid to admit it. I also love the supporting characters--Mila, Oscar, Lyle, and Ashley to name a few. My only complaints are that the villains are evil to the point of caricature. And maybe that's the point. Their hatred has become the driving force of their lives, to the exclusion of all else. But some scenes are tough to stomach, so know that going in. I also felt that the ending wrapped up in a very neat bow. Overall, given a rating of 3 stars or "Good." Recommended as a library checkout, especially if you are looking for a thriller.
Other favorite quotes: "Mom's got a stalker," said Mila, jutting her chin toward the truck by the gate. "With a shitty truck."
"Language," said Oscar.
"People who curse are more honest, according to science," said Mila.
~~The inside of the main building was dark but not exactly cozy. It had something of a dungeon feel to it, if dungeons had wagon wheels hung on the walls as decoration. There was a rock foundation in one corner that probably would have been a lot happier outside somewhere.
~~It was past midnight, and he had agreed to stay the night in Jodi's house, alone, in case one of the Zebulon Boys tried to come back for whatever reason. This was a risk for him personally, though he did not tell Jodi so, because the ranch owner, Jonas Sauer, had arrived the day before, with his newest former model wife. He'd be up at the ass crack of dawn, looking for Lyle to take him out to do whatever it was he thought cowboys did. Lyle had sent his boss and email letting him know he was needed on an urgent matter with a friend. He did not go into too much detail, and wouldn't. If there was one thing life had taught him, and especially a life as a military interrogator, it was to reveal as little about everything as you possibly could, to the vast majority of people, and especially to the people who thought they knew you but didn't.
Further reading: An interesting article which chronicles the heroic (and often dangerous) work of game wardens. https://www.americanforests.org/artic....
~~As a New Mexico game warden, one of Jodi's duties (among many), is to monitor and protect the endangered wolf population. When she hears that Dr. Bethel, the new wildlife veterinarian for the district, has found a wolf den with pups, she's eager to check in on their health. Wolves, despite being pictured on the book cover, play a minor note in the story arc. However, parallels can be drawn between the wolf matriarch and Jodi. Both are strong, agile, and fiercely protective of their young. But both occasionally need help to survive when faced with human predation.
Vital statistics: Year written: 2023
Length: 244 pages
Author's hometown: Divided between New Mexico and Los Angeles
Genre: Thriller with horrific elements in a western setting.
Read if: You're looking for a new series with a complex, tough, female lead.
First few sentences: Natalia had no paper and no pen. No pencil. Nothing really. Just her rasping breath and her asthma.
Synapse: In many ways, Jodi knew what she was getting into when she signed on to succeed her uncle as game warden for a rural district in New Mexico. Wardens almost always work alone, deep in the back country. Her only partner is her dog, Juana. She counted on checking permits and licenses, and possibly having to confront illegal poachers who are trying to feed their family. Her first day on the job, she has a tense encounter with a hunter, and notes a strange emblem on his attire.
Then, things get truly strange when she goes to a "glamping" site in response to a distressed 911 call from campers. They've found a severed hand, branded by the same symbol. Jodi is justifiably concerned about what could be happening in the back country, and concerns escalate when a young deputy calls her after finding a severed foot with the same symbol. Can Jodi find the monsters behind these missing girls while keeping herself and her family safe?
My two cents: I really enjoyed this offering by Valdes, and devoured it in a few short days. The dialogue is a bit clunky at times, but the prose is crisp, and the story arc slowly builds tension, before letting loose and running full throttle for the final third of the book. Warning: this will keep you up well past your bed time. Plan accordingly. I also really enjoyed rooting for our protagonist, Jodi. It's refreshing (especially in contrast to many romance genre novels) to see a female lead who can be strong without always having to be right. She isn't perfect, and isn't afraid to admit it. I also love the supporting characters--Mila, Oscar, Lyle, and Ashley to name a few. My only complaints are that the villains are evil to the point of caricature. And maybe that's the point. Their hatred has become the driving force of their lives, to the exclusion of all else. But some scenes are tough to stomach, so know that going in. I also felt that the ending wrapped up in a very neat bow. Overall, given a rating of 3 stars or "Good." Recommended as a library checkout, especially if you are looking for a thriller.
Other favorite quotes: "Mom's got a stalker," said Mila, jutting her chin toward the truck by the gate. "With a shitty truck."
"Language," said Oscar.
"People who curse are more honest, according to science," said Mila.
~~The inside of the main building was dark but not exactly cozy. It had something of a dungeon feel to it, if dungeons had wagon wheels hung on the walls as decoration. There was a rock foundation in one corner that probably would have been a lot happier outside somewhere.
~~It was past midnight, and he had agreed to stay the night in Jodi's house, alone, in case one of the Zebulon Boys tried to come back for whatever reason. This was a risk for him personally, though he did not tell Jodi so, because the ranch owner, Jonas Sauer, had arrived the day before, with his newest former model wife. He'd be up at the ass crack of dawn, looking for Lyle to take him out to do whatever it was he thought cowboys did. Lyle had sent his boss and email letting him know he was needed on an urgent matter with a friend. He did not go into too much detail, and wouldn't. If there was one thing life had taught him, and especially a life as a military interrogator, it was to reveal as little about everything as you possibly could, to the vast majority of people, and especially to the people who thought they knew you but didn't.
Further reading: An interesting article which chronicles the heroic (and often dangerous) work of game wardens. https://www.americanforests.org/artic....
April 6, 2023
I really really enjoyed this book about an ex poet turned park ranger in New Mexico. Had a couple of weird continuity errors but seriously I had my heart in my throat for most of it. Scary and harrowing. I really liked most of the “good” characters, with a couple of notable exceptions. But best of all it gave me a perspective on life in the US from a people not often heard from in popular culture and taught me some Spanish
Tw: extreme white supremacist US racism but it’s all in order to tell the story. Sickening to read tho
Tw: extreme white supremacist US racism but it’s all in order to tell the story. Sickening to read tho
May 4, 2023
Good but needs authenticity
Liked the story, thought the writing was very good, but highly annoyed that the place names were faked. Very familiar with the region having grown up in NM, mapped many of these areas as a geologist, and recreated in many as well. Would have been a much more enjoyable read knowing that real locations vs make believe fake locations were used. Love Edward Abbey because you know the exact places his stories take place in. This story would benefit from this authenticity!
Liked the story, thought the writing was very good, but highly annoyed that the place names were faked. Very familiar with the region having grown up in NM, mapped many of these areas as a geologist, and recreated in many as well. Would have been a much more enjoyable read knowing that real locations vs make believe fake locations were used. Love Edward Abbey because you know the exact places his stories take place in. This story would benefit from this authenticity!
May 16, 2024
*4.5 stars rounded up*
Chose this as my Amazon First Reads pick awhile back & read it in preparation for the second in the series coming out - loved that this novel wasn't afraid to tackle the myriad of issues that New Mexico residents face while simultaneously keeping up the fast-paced story line of a thriller, & that it also included a lot of pivotal changes being made in the main character's life (plus a little romance as well!).
Chose this as my Amazon First Reads pick awhile back & read it in preparation for the second in the series coming out - loved that this novel wasn't afraid to tackle the myriad of issues that New Mexico residents face while simultaneously keeping up the fast-paced story line of a thriller, & that it also included a lot of pivotal changes being made in the main character's life (plus a little romance as well!).
June 5, 2023
4.5 rounded up. This book started out pretty typical, but the author’s ability to give so much depth to all the characters without overwhelming the reader brought it to the next level. I cared for these characters and the animals and I loved that these women made so many smart decisions, and in ways that actually fit the characters
March 14, 2023
Great read
I enjoyed this book immensely. Wonderful selection of characters. Good story line. Couple of interesting sub stories that I hope get fleshed in following books. I recommend this book.
I enjoyed this book immensely. Wonderful selection of characters. Good story line. Couple of interesting sub stories that I hope get fleshed in following books. I recommend this book.
July 30, 2023
Some of my issues with this book were about my personal tastes and preferences (I guess that's always the case, but I digress), but there were definitely some problems with a promising premise.
I liked the protagonist, professor of poetry turned game warden, Jodi Luna, even though her career change was less than believable. The terrorist plot line was suspenseful, although not on the page as much as I would've liked. Some of the weaknesses of the book, I think, are consequence of it being the first in a series. The introduction of so many characters and tons of exposition might be necessary if the story will continue on for several books. But it was a bit much for a standalone novel, and for me, this may be a standalone.
Most of my reading for pleasure is at bedtime, and a short book like this one shouldn't have taken as long as it did for me to finish. But it just wasn't a page turner. With so many characters, I had to constantly remind myself who they were when they popped into a scene. I was also annoyed by some superficial and juvenile tropes that the author threw in. For example, mentioning several times that a woman who was part of the terrorist group hiding in the woods was "ugly." Why was that significant? I also found it juvenile when Jodi, a grown woman with an academic background, mused about feminism being about men opening doors for women. Talk about a ridiculous straw argument and one that she should've known better than to make. That kind of reductionism made her seem immature and unbelievable. There's also a character relationship that is revealed along the way that takes coincidence to a whole new level, but I won't spoil that.
I had high hopes for this book, which has gotten rave reviews everywhere. Maybe some of my criticisms would be tempered if I continued the series, but I'm not sure I will.
I liked the protagonist, professor of poetry turned game warden, Jodi Luna, even though her career change was less than believable. The terrorist plot line was suspenseful, although not on the page as much as I would've liked. Some of the weaknesses of the book, I think, are consequence of it being the first in a series. The introduction of so many characters and tons of exposition might be necessary if the story will continue on for several books. But it was a bit much for a standalone novel, and for me, this may be a standalone.
Most of my reading for pleasure is at bedtime, and a short book like this one shouldn't have taken as long as it did for me to finish. But it just wasn't a page turner. With so many characters, I had to constantly remind myself who they were when they popped into a scene. I was also annoyed by some superficial and juvenile tropes that the author threw in. For example, mentioning several times that a woman who was part of the terrorist group hiding in the woods was "ugly." Why was that significant? I also found it juvenile when Jodi, a grown woman with an academic background, mused about feminism being about men opening doors for women. Talk about a ridiculous straw argument and one that she should've known better than to make. That kind of reductionism made her seem immature and unbelievable. There's also a character relationship that is revealed along the way that takes coincidence to a whole new level, but I won't spoil that.
I had high hopes for this book, which has gotten rave reviews everywhere. Maybe some of my criticisms would be tempered if I continued the series, but I'm not sure I will.
November 7, 2023
Entertaining
So I read this one quickly. It was entertaining but not actually suspenseful or mysterious. The book really doesn't hide stuff. Instead the criminals are right out in your face doing their horrible crimes. And many of those crimes are inspired by race hatred.
Now while I did feel I knew who the characters were in here - they are all very well written and have detailed histories - the story is very procedural? While I kept reading until the end I really didn't feel any curiosity about the plot. The story didn't make me think or wonder about stuff. Instead its like "this is what is happening" and you just accept it at face value. But an excellent story should grab your thoughts, should make you ponder stuff and to ask questions. This one didn't do that at all.
And while the cover shows a wolf and a small wolf pack has a small part of the story, the great outdoors does not play a big role. The humans are the main challenge in here, not the natural landscape.
At this moment I plan to skip the sequel.
So I read this one quickly. It was entertaining but not actually suspenseful or mysterious. The book really doesn't hide stuff. Instead the criminals are right out in your face doing their horrible crimes. And many of those crimes are inspired by race hatred.
Now while I did feel I knew who the characters were in here - they are all very well written and have detailed histories - the story is very procedural? While I kept reading until the end I really didn't feel any curiosity about the plot. The story didn't make me think or wonder about stuff. Instead its like "this is what is happening" and you just accept it at face value. But an excellent story should grab your thoughts, should make you ponder stuff and to ask questions. This one didn't do that at all.
And while the cover shows a wolf and a small wolf pack has a small part of the story, the great outdoors does not play a big role. The humans are the main challenge in here, not the natural landscape.
At this moment I plan to skip the sequel.
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