🔺 Blood Mountain by Alisa Lynn Valdés 🌨️🩸

Blood Mountain had me totally hooked! Valdés weaves a chilling mystery in the rugged New Mexico wilderness, where survival isn’t just about braving the elements—it’s about staying one step ahead of a killer.

Jodi Luna, our main character, is a former poetry professor-turned-game warden who’s still finding her footing in a role that demands as much courage as it does isolation. Haunted by her past and wary of closeness, Jodi isn’t expecting her latest case to push her to her limits. But when her friend Claudia Evans’s brother-in-law goes missing, she heads into the wild to help, only to find herself stranded in a remote lodge as a snowstorm hits. Things take a deadly turn as one by one, the guests are found mauled—leaving Jodi convinced they’re dealing with something far worse than a wild animal.

Valdés’s blend of suspense and atmosphere is top-notch, pulling you into the icy grips of the storm and the tangled secrets of the lodge’s guests. Every page heightens the tension, leaving you questioning who to trust. If you’re a fan of locked-room mysteries with a rugged twist, Blood Mountain will keep you up all night, wondering just who—or what—might strike next.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Would you survive a snowed-in wilderness thriller? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 🏔️🔍

One of my new favorite heroines. I read the first Jodi Luna book and this one back-to-back because I enjoyed her so much, and would highly recommend both! Her character is developed and written so well, and as a mystery/thriller junkie, it's always very exciting to see a new female protagonist -- and an indigenous one at that. I'm looking forward to seeing where her character continues to go!

Here you are following former poetry professor Jodi Luna who is still settling in as a Game Warden in New Mexico. She is also dealing with a teenage daughter who she has moved with her after her husband and the girl's father died. Leaving Massachusetts for New Mexico is different, Jodi has also found her daughter whom she gave up for adoption when she was a teen when she lived in New Mexico. Now Ashley is the sheriff in the town. There is a lot and it only becomes more as she is asked by the governor to oversee a rich family at a lodge for the weekend elk hunting trip. What starts okay turns into a hunting trip of the family members at the lodge and she must find the person or person responsible. Her daughter helps also. An excellent book with mystery, suspense, and family drama and just wondering who the person is, I was surprised. An excellent book with fabulous characters, very much worth the read.

Jodi Luna’s new career is a lot more political than she thought it’d be.

Her boss has warned her to check her anger, & to start taking the side of people more often than animals. He’s also told her she needs to go supervise a wealthy donor that the governor wants to keep happy on a hunting retreat at their luxury wilderness getaway. But luxury can’t make up for a storm that knocks the power out & snows them in, & then there’s the discovery of a body that’s been partially eaten by a bear…

I enjoyed this second installment in the Jodi Luna saga, & liked seeing where she was at with her evolving family situation (& her evolving romantic relationship). Jodi’s going through some periods of self-discovery, & therapy is helping her realize some things about her past. It was fun that the chapters all had titles, & I love the recurring theme of deep appreciation for nature. Also the new characters were creative & interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley & Thomas & Mercer for the ARC in exchange for an honest review - I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for Book #3!

The book was interesting but I still find somehow missing that thrilling moment we all
Need to be given …. Whatever , I liked it at the end .

I discovered Alisa Lynn Valdes last year with Hollow Beasts, and I fell in love with Jodi Luna and her world in New Mexico. I could not wait to get my hands on Blood Mountain, and it did not disappoint,

I love the story, of a snowed-in pack of awful people at a private hunting lodge. But more importantly, I love the characters and the world that they fill. Alisa Lynn Valdes has begun a beautiful, action-packed series where you come for the excitement and and stay for the relationships and the wilderness of New Mexico. Bravo!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Jodi Luna is starting to feel a little more comfortable in her job as a game warden in New Mexico, and in the new life she is trying to build for herself and her daughter. However, her new boss is not thrilled that Jodi is more willing to protect the animals than the poachers and other criminals she must deal with while on duty. He forces her to fulfil an unexpected request from a wealthy actor, Claudia Evans, who has invited her husband's family to her luxurious, isolated hunting lodge. It's her boss' intention that Jodi make Claudia happy, monitoring the family's hunting activities, so Claudia will make a donation to the governor's campaign. (Jodi's boss is a slime).

Jodi's daughter Mila is still recovering from her horrible experience (in book one) and has started dating Claudia's son, Sterling, who attends her high school. Jodi is uncomfortable with the relationship, and decides to take Mila with her, to keep an eye on the two teens and assess what kind of person Sterling is.

The two women arrive at the Evans lodge and are quickly treated to the incredibly dysfunctional and nasty dynamics of the Evans family. If this was not bad enough, the snow keeps falling, the road back to civilization is blocked, and the power goes out. And then one of the Evans brothers gets killed, and it's clear that one of the people trapped at the lodge is the killer.

We also meet an elderly woman whose property is circled by the Evans' much larger property, and her unwillingness to sell to the wealthy family. She has a number of animals, including a bear, and it's clear that one of the Evans is trying to implicate her in the murder.

Author Alisa Lynn Valdés reconnects us with Ashley Romero, the new Sheriff, and the complicated relationship she has with Jodi. And deals with some of Mila's lingering trauma from her experience, and the difficulties Jodi and she are having relating to one another. But whatever problems these three women might have together, they all are instrumental in resolving this situation. Mila has a terrific moment that had me cheering.

I thoroughly enjoyed this entry, and appreciated how Jodi is still wrestling with her return to her home town, while dealing with all the emotional baggage from her former marriage, her upset teen, and her fear of starting a new relationship with Lyle, a ranch manager. She's making mistakes at her job, and in her personal life, but is doing her best, and is also improving in her skill as an investigator.

The pacing was good, and I liked all the frictions and messes Jodi had to deal with, and with hers, Mila's and Ashley's character development. I am looking forward to the next instalment in this series.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Thomas & Mercer for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Blood Mountain by Alisa Lynn Valdes tells the story of former poetry professor Jodi Luna who is dealing with grief of losing her husband. Ready for a fresh start, Jodi decides to head back to her home in New Mexico with her daughter Mila. There she takes a job as a game warden and is eventually asked to lead an adventure type weekend for a wealthy family. When one of the group goes missing, Jodi begins to investigate. At first it seems like a bear attack, but as more bodies begin to turn up and a blizzard starts, Jodi is forced to investigate more than a wild animal attack.

I really am drawn to these type of atmospheric, survival, locked-in, "and then there were none" tropes and this was not a disappointment. The beginning of the book was a lot of descriptions of people and places, but not in a bad, long drawn out kind of way. There weren't too many characters that I lost track of them and needed to keep a list. I loved that Jodi and Mila were two really strong main characters ready to take care of business. Yes, it is book 2 in a series (which I didn't realize when I quickly requested this one based on the synopsis), but it reads very well as a stand alone. I myself will be going back and reading book 1 because if it's anything like this one, it's going to be a great read.

Good adventure with likable, fierce intelligent women but with a few flaws that are hard to overlook. The unique job and setting of this series is highly intriguing to me. I liked the first book in the series enough to want to listen to this one and I liked this one enough to read book 3 whenever it releases. The author does a great job with describing the people, characters, setting, and the land of New Mexico, so much so I’d love to visit there one day. Jodi is a tough, intelligent lady who tries to do right for her area of the world and the people in it. Mila and Ashley are highly likable, fierce, and smart.

The story and mystery of Blood Mountain were also very good. I did not immediately guess the killer.

I had a few problems with the story events and one thing I believe was a continuity error involving Carmelo and Charlie. I do believe Jodi holding a gun to someone’s head, even under duress and in very tough circumstances, would/should warrant her immediate firing. I was shocked when that happened, it absolutely detracted from her character and is the main reason why I’m giving Blood Mountain 3 stars instead of 4. Also bringing her teenage daughter on an assignment I thought was dumb and highly unbelievable.

Thanks to the author and publisher for the e-arc I received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Jodi Luna, a former poet turned game warden in New Mexico has been ordered to provide security for a group of wealthy people at a weekend hunting retreat. She is accompanied by her teenaged daughter. The expected boring weekend shifts rapidly to a murder investigation, a blizzard, and bear attacks.

I enjoyed this second Jodi Luna Mystery much more than the first. Characters, many of them being entirely unlikeable, were well written and believable. Jodi is not the stereotypical investigator. She doesn’t know it all and frequently seems to be out of her depth. I like that she is learning and growing as a game warden. It is refreshing to read about a character that doesn’t have it all together but matures along the way.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the arc.

After the loss of her husband, poetry professor Jodi Luna heads back to her New Mexico roots. Needing a new start . Jodi takes a job as a game warden. Her boss thinks she's better with animals than people. After a slight disagreement she agrees to his strongly worded request to lead adventure weekend for the new, very wealthy, family of her friend, Claudia Evans. Jodi, with her daughter Mila, reluctantly head to the Evans' lodge. When Claudia’s brother goes missing, it's left to Jodi to investigate. What at first looks like a bear attack, Jodi begins to suspect is something more. As mauled bodies begin to turn up on the property a blizzard descends on the area cutting off power and communications. With only herself and her daughter to rely on, Jodi is forced to use her limited investigative skills as she realizes more than a wild animal is on the loose.

This is the second book in the series, but it can be read as a stand alone. Background and history is provided through regular intervals in the story. I found Jodi difficult to warm up to, though I suspect she’s purposely written this way. With background and history interspersed through the story, we learn more about her, though. Knowing her history and understanding how deeply she stills feels the lose of her husband, it is clear why she tends to hold herself apart, even from Mila. Watching the extreme dysfunction of the Evans family members leads Jodi to re-evaluate her relationships even as the body count rises. When the danger ramps up it’s her daughter Mila Jodi turns to for support And Mila, for her part, has learned much from her mother and proves she can take care of herself and provide the back up her mother needs.

The sarcastic and often mean spirited exchanges of the Evans family members, the encroaching danger and the stress of isolation continually ratchets up the suspense and keeps the reader guessing and the story moving. This mystery will keep the reader enthralled until the last gasp of surprise as the culprit is revealed.

The second Jodi Luna book and another gripping thriller. I like how Valdés builds suspense in her novels and writes very descriptive scenes. I adore the character of Jodi! She is a tough woman! Loved the nods to the previous book - Hollow Beasts, which was a five star read for me. Recommend!! Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the arc of this one.

BIPOC Police Procedural Mystery Thriller featuring a New Mexico game warden as she investigates a missing man only to be thwarted by a blizzard and several people turning up supposedly mauled by a bear.

4/5 stars: This is the second entry in the Jodi Luna series, which is a Police Procedural Mystery Thriller that takes place in New Mexico and features a former poetry professor turned New Mexico game warden as she investigates a wealthy actresses brother-in-law who goes missing and winds up stranded in a blizzard as several people start turning up supposedly mauled by a bear. With plenty of twists and turns, Valdes delivers an action-packed, non-stop wilderness adventure has that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the last page. Additionally, Valdes' writing and character work is stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. Jodi is the main POV but there are a couple others that help move the plot. I really like catching up with Jodi. She's tough and as a single mom trying hard to raise her daughter, do her job (even though she prefers the animals to the people she has to deal with) and navigate a new relationship. Valdes tackles some serious topics, so take care and check out the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Hollow Beasts.

I received this eARC thanks to Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

This is a fast moving story. I had not read the previous one in the series but this one seems to stand alone.
I liked Jodi and Mila. Two strong women capable of kicking some butt. I will definitely be watching for the next one in this series
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

Blood Mountain is book 2 in the Jodi Luna Series by Alisa Lynn Valdés.
I enjoyed Hollow Beasts and found BM to be just as entertaining.
This is an entertaining and engaging book.
Alisa Lynn Valdés creates and develops her cast of characters wonderfully in this atmospheric thriller.
A terrifically engaging and compulsive read, packed with twists, suspense and tension.

Thank You NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I really love Jodi and the family she is building around her. In the second installment, we get less of the people around her and are more immersed in the mystery. A wealthy family has recently purchased much land in the New Mexico wilderness. They have promised not to drill for oil and protect that land. All but one older woman have sold to them, but the town in now waiting to see what this family will do. Their son has shunned private school and has instead enrolled in the local public high school, where he has started dating Jodi's daughter.

Everything seems to be going as well as it can be, given the trauma that Jodi and her daughter experienced. Then, Jodi is asked to help with the hunting party that the wealthy family is hosting in their cabin. Getting to know a wealthy but terrible family was interesting but I did find myself wanting to spend more time with her brother and other other people in her life. The relationship between her and her daughter is heading in an interesting direction, and I look forward to it.

It was a nice thriller, though I am hoping that in the next one we get to follow some of the people closest to her more.

A trope-y mystery thriller enlivened by the setting and most of all by Jodi Luna who left academia to work as a game warden in New Mexico. There's rich people, there's a bear, there's a murder, and most of all there's a blizzard. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a fast paced and entertaining read which will grab ou and keep you turning the pages.

Jodi Luna was raised in New Mexico and has returned as a game warden following the death of her husband on the East Coast where she was a professor. Her fifteen-year-old daughter Mila sounds like a typical teenager.

Her new supervisor assigns her a job requested by the governor as a favor that is clearly no request. Billionaire Teddy Evans and his wife invited his brothers and a sister and their spouses to hunt elk on his ranch compound, then splits leaving the guiding up to Jodi.

Of course, the siblings feel ridiculously entitled and obnoxious. The wife just wants Jodi to help organize the hunt and keep them from killing each other.

Oops.

The property is massive, beautiful, and there’s a treacherous storm brewing. There is also a property that straddles the ingress/egress road to the ranch compound owned by a woman been there longer than dirt and has a pet bear. They don’t want her there.

Jodi seems pretty intelligent but makes a few questionable decisions and tends to be grating.

The storyline keeps a good pace, pushes some disbelief, throws in twists and add complexity. It’s entertaining.

Blood Mountain
Alisa Lynn Valdes
April 16, 2024

Jodi Luna returns in another story from the Northern sector of New Mexico. She is game warden for the area in and around Gato Montes.The towns are small unless you count the political areas of Sante Fe and Albuquerque. Her job requires her to patrol the mountainous areas of Rio Trucas County. For her weekend off she had planned on enjoying her time at home with her daughter, Mila. As for the evening she had a date with Lyle Daggett, a local manager of a large ranch. Great plans until she met with her boss, Sean Brady, state head of Fish and Wildlife. He had a message from the governor, Jodi was expected to attend a bash at the home of Teddy and Claudia Evans. They own an old 600,000 acre ranch in theSangre Jesus mountains. They would like her to be present for the family elk hunt. Although she attempted to turn down the offer, Brady gave her trouble over an issue that arose recently with the department.
Blood Mountain will be published by Thomas & Mercer on April 16, 2024. I was able to read the ARC of Blood Mountain via NetGalley. This is the second novel in the Jodi Luna series by Alisa Lynn Valdes. This wild and wooly adventure is a great tale of New Mexican small town life as well as some heritage thrown into the mix. When in the mountain areas of this state there is no WIFI, large hotels or fun shopping. When the blizzards blow snow and the wind becomes hazardous, travel is not an option. I have enjoyed this series and hope Valdez gives us more escapades in the New Mexican mountainous outback. Enjoy this one!

ageism, blizzards, closed-circle-mystery, elitism, entitled-attitude, family, family-drama, family-dynamics, fiction, game-warden, Latinx, misogyny, mystery, New-Mexico, political-corruption, politicians, politics, read, rural, siblings, suspense, thriller, unpleasant-victims, unputdownable, wealthy*****

Since when is an over forty woman over the hill? In the tiny minds of men who need to step on others to be able to look themselves in the mirror. Rant over. Game Warden Jodi Luna left her professorship at an East Coast university to return to home and a messy family history. Her new law enforcement boss is as clueless as the high rollers she is supposed to babysit at a campground. Then comes the nasty blizzard in the mountains and the deaths. Great story that caught me by the nose until I finished it!
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley. Thanks
According to Goodreads Expected publication October 16, 2024 but according to Thomas & Mercer Pub Date 16 Apr 2024 via NetGalley. Go figure.
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