A very solid start to a new series. Joni Luna is in the midst of a very big life change. She has left her life as an academic and poet behind is returns home to northern New Mexico as a game warden. On her first day and branded human hand is discovered and she is drawn into a case involving a dangerous Neo Nazi cult.

Jodi is an strong protagonist. She has deep ties to family, community and the land. The book is short and incredibly well paced. I will definitely be continuing with the series.

The story and the characters grabbed me from the first chapter and I read it straight through in one day. I enjoyed the fast paced plot, strong female protagonists, and the relationships between the various characters. Well written and well worth reading. I am excited that this is the beginning of a new series. I will anxiously be waiting for the next book. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced reader copy

There are quite a few things about this book that will resonate with me for a long long time. The absolute terror for one thing. I can't even imagine.
The love in the game wardens family is another. They were so flawed and so perfect at the same time. I loved how Jodi and Oscar fought.
I also love the quote that was about how culture isn't genetic. It is about where you grow up. That hit me right in the soul. That's why I can't move somewhere without Mexican food -and mexicans. That's why it bothers me when other white women call it "ethnic" food. It is the food of our region, not ethnic food. That's weird as hell.

Anyway is there anything more terrifying that white supremacist men?
I felt cold dread the entire time I was reading this.

All of that said - I am literally never going to forgive the author for the emotional damage I suffered from reading this book.
Please write another.

This is a quick read, maybe a little too quick--there were a few times when a lot happened off-page and then a character told us what had happened. I did like the characters, wildlife/nature issues, and the New Mexico setting, and as the first of a series, the book leaves some mysteries unexplained as to characters' behavior and relationships. Seems to be lots of room for the series to develop and expand.

While reading it, I was thinking it was going to be either a 3 or 4 star review. I'm on the main character's side of the culture war, but I'm sick of reading about it in the news, much less in a light novel, and I really hope a game warden (already a very dangerous job, as is noted) would not choose to provoke criminals as happens here. But ultimately I went with the higher rating after reading some of the aggravated comments by offended right-wing readers.

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the copy to review.

Sometimes a book just calls to you and demands to be read, and this is exactly what happened as soon as I first saw Hollow Beasts. I'm not only talking about that eye-catching cover, but also about the blurb itself. I loved the sound of the New Mexico setting and the focus on local culture as well as the game warden angle, and the case itself sounded fascinating as well. I couldn't resist diving straight in, and I have to say that I very much enjoyed the ride.

Hollow Beasts is the first book of a new series, and one that I will be looking out for in the future. What makes this book stand out from your regular crime thrillers is both the previously mentioned New Mexico setting and the fact that the main character is a game warden and not a police officer. The focus on the wilderness and the important role the Rio Truchas County setting plays in the plot give the story an unique touch, and one that really took the story to the next level for me. There is even some focus on the wildlife (wolves) and the setting itself is integral to the plot.

I could also appreciate the focus on local culture, with its Mexican heritage, customs and descriptions that made me crave Mexican food. There is also an important focus on xenophobia and racism, and the whole white supremacist group made for an interesting contrast with the rest of the characters. It's sad that these beliefs are still all too realistic even in present days, and it's definitely a scary thought to have those with such extreme beliefs run wild. There is also focus on other heavy topics including teen pregnancy, forced institutionalization, religion, death, grief, animal cruelty, abuse and torture. All in all Hollow Beasts isn't exactly a light read, although it does have moments of banter and especially family bonds and friendship.

As for the characters... I liked Jodi's character from the very beginning, and I enjoyed spending time with her. There is quite a cast of characters in Hollow Beasts, and it might take some time to get used to, but once you do it is very easy to just keep turning those pages. Especially with the pace picking up more and more as the plot evolves... There were plenty of other characters to like as well, but I do have to say that the 'bad guys' were a bit too cliche. I could appreciate the fact that there wasn't too much focus on romance in this first book, although there were hints at a possible love triangle coming forward in the future.

All in all Hollow Beasts turned out to be an entertaining, twisted, unique and impactful crime thriller and I will definitely be looking forward to see what will happen to Jodi Luna and the rest of the characters in the future. The New Mexico setting is a bonus!

This book surprised me in the best of ways: gritty, action-packed, and just plain good!

Jodi Luna has left her life in academia to return to her home state of New Mexico to become a game warden. Others in her family have followed this career path and after many challenges in the academic world, Jodi leaves with her daughter to start anew. In her first week on the job, she apprehends a poacher who quickly threatens to retaliate. Jodi finds herself and her daughter being stalked and in the middle of a fight with a white supremacy group. The group has been kidnapping women of color and hunting them for sport. Jodi is met with resistance from the local sheriff and turns to his young deputy, Ashley Romero for help. Together the two work to stop the group and keep those in the area safe.

This book started out on the right foot and took off down a path of suspense, tension, and darn good writing from page one. I loved the rugged setting, characters that weren’t afraid to get after the action, and the ones I was supposed to dislike I sure did, all signs of excellent writing. This was the first book I’ve read by Valdes and from the looks of it there will be more to follow with these characters, making me a very happy reader. I loved that there was nothing trivial in the story; all the events as well as the characters involved all felt right and real. As the story came to a close, I was very satisfied with how it was all playing out even though I can tell there is more that could be done with the characters and continue the storyline in different directions. I live in Texas in a town close to New Mexico, so it was fun for me to read about a rugged area so close to where I actually live. I would recommend this book for adults who enjoy suspense thrillers with hard themes that are written well and a story that can be read in a single day.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Hollow Beasts by Alisa Lynn Valdes has a female game warden who doesn't take anything for granted.

Can Jodi save her fellow citizens from harm?

Jodilynn "Jodi" Luna was born and raised in her small hometown in New Mexico until she left for college and never looked back. She has lived a hard life up to the start of the book and is trying to make things easier for her teenage daughter after being uprooted to move back to her hometown. Jodi seems like a good mother and could be a good game warden. There were just some things that I wouldn't let slide as she did. Then again, different circumstances and outlooks on life. I tried to like Jodi, but I couldn't connect to her like I wanted to be able to. However, I'm sure that some can relate to her better than I can.

The Mystery
Things were fine in Rio Truchas County, New Mexico, until recently, when body parts started to materialize in different parts of the county. Also, the body parts were female and of Mexican/Spanish origin. Jodi finds the first body part, and after a while, another character named Deputy Ashley Romero finds the other one, and they team up to take down whoever is doing this. I have to say that this mystery/story wasn't for me. It definitely is for a mature audience.

Three Stars
I am giving Hollow Beasts by Alisa Lynn Valdes three stars. I wanted to try out this new author and see if I would like her story of a female Latina New Mexico Game Warden, but sadly it wasn't for me. I think I was looking for something like a female Joe Pickett, yet I understand that isn't possible as the differences in gender and ethnicity are immeasurable. Ms. Valdes is good at telling the story and had me outraged at the things that happened in the book. Although, I feel that some of these things could be true. I hope that they are not.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Hollow Beasts by Alisa Lynn Valdes.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

Hollow Beasts is a moving yet disturbing novel that takes dead aim at the current state of this country’s political divisiveness, racism, xenophobia, and threat of domestic terrorism. Alisa Lynn Valdés has constructed a compelling novel that is part commentary on today’s society and part emotional seesaw, switching back and forth seamlessly between touching and enraging moments.

After the untimely death of her husband, Jodi Luna leaves behind her life as a poetry professor in Boston to return home to Northern New Mexico with her teenage daughter for a fresh start. Now a rookie game warden taking over for her beloved uncle, Jodi is barely into her first solo week on the job when she is thrust into investigating the discovery of a severed hand with a weird symbol branded on it. When another severed body part with the same symbol is discovered by sheriff’s deputy Ashley Romero, they join forces to fight what they determine to be a white supremacist terrorist organization living in the San Isidro National Forest, kidnapping women of color and hunting them for sport. As the situation unfolds, it gets extremely personal for Jodi in more ways than one, calling on every ounce of mental, emotional, and physical strength she possesses to take down these evil people and kick start the next phase of her life.

It’d be an understatement to say that Hollow Beasts will make you feel your feelings. It is quite stirring, crafted in a way to touch all points of the emotional spectrum. You’ll feel sympathy and concern one moment, anger and disgust the next, then fear and stress, followed by admiration and contentment. Through this cyclone of emotion, the characters’ depth is displayed, and their motivations made clear, which creates a connection with the reader. Some in a way that makes you want to give them a hug or a high five, others in a way that makes you pray they get a one-way ticket to hell. Kudos to Ms. Valdés for creating a story with captivating characters and gripping plotlines that pull on your heart strings while simultaneously putting a fire in your belly.

On a personal note, having lived in New Mexico for ~6 years, the descriptions of the terrain, the people and the cuisine brought back many fond memories of my time in the Land of Enchantment. It’s a wonderful place with a beautiful culture and delicious food. In fact, the inclusion of posole, carne asada burritos, rellenos, red and green chile, and more in the story made my mouth water and have stoked an already growing yearning to return on a visit to relive those delightful years and satisfy this craving for the outrageously tasty food the state has to offer. All of this is to say that Ms. Valdés descriptions of all things New Mexico are spot on and will resonate with anyone who has had the pleasure to spend time there.

Hollow Beasts is the start of a series worth keeping an eye on. Jodi Luna is a strong female protagonist with a sound moral compass, but with a new line of work to learn and emotional wounds in need of healing. And with the inclusion of several interesting supporting characters, a gorgeous and spacious setting, and an unlimited number of potential storylines, it’ll be intriguing to see what comes next.