Thank you to the author Maryann Lesert, publishers She Writes Press, and BookSparks for an advance paperback copy of LAND MARKS. Thank you also to NetGalley for an accomanying widget. All views are mine.

<i>This was [the oil and gas industry's] ten-year vision, twenty at most. They knew none of it was going to last. That was the point. Take it now, fast and hard. ..."Frack and run," as Kate put it. </i>Loc.1647

LAND MARKS is an excellent eco thriller which takes place in one of my neighbor states, Michigan. I grew up in this area and I'll never forget how the people fought to protect the health of their lands and families from the deleterious affects of fracking. Reading about this topic felt dreadful to me, and also all the terrifying science about poisoning the land and water built up great tension for the final moment of conflict. I loved the idealistic and unflinching fmc with a secret identity and her small army of rebels. The action of the story made me feel hopeful in the face of great darkness, and I really enjoyed my read of this book! I recommend this one for fans of eco disaster stories, social justice stories, or first person thrillers!

<i>At one meeting, we heard, "We don't frack," fifty-eight times. ..."Why do you need deep injection wells if you’re not fracking?” one woman asked. ...The drilling supervisor leaned into his mic. “We don’t frack.” </i>Loc.211

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. I like that this book's big theme is fracking, even though that would now be considered political. It's an insidious form of pollution and doesn't get discussed enough outside of the communities it directly impacts.

2. This author really knows her subject. The details are thorough and the read is immersive. But tge information is not just shoveled at the reader, but delivered in layers that help build tension for the story. Poison is scary. A poisoned setting is pretty freaking terrifying.

Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. The book is very technical for almost two full thirds, at which point the narrative takes center stage and the more technical aspects of the book's subject, frakking, step back. This causes a sudden shift in pace, tone, even narrative voice. It took me a while to figure out what changed so much actually, because it seemed so much had changed all at once! I like that the pace picked up at this turn, but I missed the corporate-espionage-like tone I often experienced!

Rating: 🏞🏞🏞🏞 / 5 polluted waterways
Recommend? Yes!
Finished: Apr 15 '24
Format: Digital arc, Kindle, NetGalley; paperback, BookSparks
Read this book if you like:
🌋 eco disasters
💅 strong female lead
⛑️ social activism
🏕 nature stories

I very much enjoyed this book! As someone interested in environmental causes this was a really great read that felt like a non-fiction book even thought it’s fiction. The characters were relatable and the cause they were fighting for felt real. I would recommended this book.