A.J. Landau’s Leave No Trace is a gripping and evocative thriller that delves into the themes of survival, guilt, and the complexities of human relationships. The story follows a young woman, grappling with her past, who finds herself in a precarious situation after a hiking trip takes a dangerous turn.

Landau’s prose is sharp and immersive, painting vivid landscapes that contrast beautifully with the emotional turmoil of the characters. The tension builds steadily, as secrets unravel and the protagonist is forced to confront her own demons while navigating the treacherous wilderness. The author expertly weaves elements of suspense with deep psychological insights, making each twist feel both surprising and inevitable.

The character development is particularly strong, with well-rounded figures whose motivations are compelling and relatable. Landau's exploration of the themes of isolation and connection resonates throughout the narrative, leaving readers questioning what it truly means to leave no trace—both in nature and in life.

Overall, Leave No Trace is a captivating read that combines adventure with profound emotional depth, making it a standout in the thriller genre. Fans of psychological suspense will find themselves eagerly turning pages until the very end.

Such a great action packed thriller! Fast paced and easy to follow. Had great characterization. Really enjoyed this one. I thought the narrator was great and read the story well.

Leave No Trace opens with a terrorist attack on the Statue of Liberty, launching National Park Service agent Michael Walker into a high-stakes investigation alongside FBI agent Gina Delgado. I don't read books like this, but tbh, it was pretty good. The premise is compelling, but as the plot shifts into more familiar thriller territory, some of the initial intrigue fades. Despite this, the historical details and solid character development kept me engaged and I woud definitely recommend it to fans of this genre.

Leave No Trace, written by A.J. landau, is a fictional National Parks mystery. Michael and Gina are two of the many characters that are brought together when attacks begin happening throughout the Unites States at different national parks and monuments. But they have help in many different forms to try to figure out what is happening, who is causing this damage, and what they can do to prevent it while there is still time.

I really enjoyed the plot and character development in this book, and the ways that Native Americans were portrayed. I definitely did a slow clap near the end when Michael works hard to get those Native Americans that helped throughout this book the credit they deserved. I also loved that the chapters started with a fact or interesting piece of information about a different National Park or Monument. I recommend this book to any history buffs, or anyone who enjoys a good mystery! Thank go to NetGalley, and to the author, narrator, and publisher of this book for a free ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This high quality audio throws you straight into the action of terrorism woth an attack on the statue of liberty witnessed and filmed by a young boy.. i love the use of facts between chapters denoting historic fscts.
All the characters were well developed . Their relevant backstory was gradually revealed. It waa engaging. The final act seemed to be over quite quickly. It was full of just enough deta about terrorism for it not be bogged down. Dadly although a work of fiction this could happen. It was rather long but such a worthwhile listen. Highly recommended. Thank you netgallery and publisher and author and narrator.

Leave No Trace by A.J. Landau is packed with action, some thrilling moments and a big mystery for these agents to solve. I didn't know an investigator for the Natl Parks Service was a thing but now I do, and we have one as the main character here. Michael and Gina who works hand in hand to solve these mystery. I loved the representation of the Statue of Liberty mentioned at the end of the book. Also I loved how they put glimpse of historical background before the chapters. I unexpectedly enjoyed this fast paced thrilling novel. Will totally recommend it to my action thriller book lover friends!


Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the ARC! I enjoyed reading it!

When I read the summary for this one I couldn't wait to start, and I the beginning really grabbed my attention and I wanted to keep reading to see where things were going to go. I think that when we left the American landmarks and focused more on the mystery/thriller aspect I started to lose attention because it started to feel very generic and was losing what had pulled me in from the first place. I think overall the story was good, but I don't know if was enough to get me to keep reading. I will have to see what the synopsis reads like. This would be fun to read if you were visiting the US (Statue of liberty, St louis Arch etc)

This book starts off with a literal bang! A terrorist attack has set off explosives at the Statue of Liberty with hundreds of innocent people losing their lives and injured. A National parks investigator comes in to work with the FBI.

A fast, intense, action packed thriller that will keep you on you toes. This is my first book by this dynamic writing duo and I look forward to reading more from them in the future.

Many thanks to @netgalley and #rbmedia for a thoroughly entertaining audiobook 🎧

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

This definitely had plenty of action and twists! I didn't fully connect with it but still enjoyed listening and would be interesting in continuing the series. The narrator was good.

Leave No Trace (National Parks Thriller #1) by A.J. Landau
Narrated by Gregory Abbey
Publisher: RB Media, Recorded Books
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Expected Publication Date: February 27, 2024

Leave No Trace is the first book in the new National Parks Thriller series by A.J. Landau. This is the first book I’ve read by the author and I know it won’t be the last!

I really enjoyed this book! I thought it was truly fascinating! This book was intense from the very start and just kept going! Wow!!!!

I thought the narration by Gregory Abbey was wonderful! I loved how he brought this book to life!

I definitely recommend reading Leave No Trace!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

When the places that have become symbols of America's history and progress become the target of a radical terroist group, the FBI must work with the National Park service to investigate and stop these deadly attacks. From the Statue of Liberty to Zion National Park this is a perfect mystery/thriller for lovers of the National Park system. The plot moves at a good pace that keeps you interested. The narrator for the audiobook is easy to listen to and does a great job of building suspense. Thank you to NetGalley and the audiobook publisher for a downloadable copy for an honest review.

A thrilling adventure through the national parks of the USA, highlighting the staggering scenery and the history behind each one makes for a clever tale. A great pair of anti-heroes that explore and investigate the foes leading to a dramatic conclusion!

An explosive attack at the Statue of Liberty sends National Parks Service Special Agent Michael Walker to investigate the crime. As he begins working with FBI agent Gina Delgado, it becomes clear that attacks on other national sites are imminent. Michael and Gina criss-cross the country to prevent what could be the worst attack the country has ever experienced. I found this thriller to be interesting and exciting. I especially liked the historical facts that were included about the various locations.
was given an ARC of Leave No Trace by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#netgalley
#leavenotrace
#ajlandau
#thrillers
#nationalparks

This was a new author for me. I was drawn to the book because of the reference to National Parks. It is a well-researched book with lots of details about each park. This was very helpful to me since I am Canadian and have not been to any of the parks mentioned.
The writing is well done (although I listened to this story) and it could have been a fast read. The beginning started off that way and kept me listening. Unfortunately, halfway through it slowed down and was not as "edge of your seat" as the start so I started to lose interest. It took me longer to finish listening because I was not pulled to keep listening.
As well, there were just too many characters in the story to keep them all straight. Maybe the many characters wouldn't have been an issue if there was not so many POV as well. I don't know. The main characters Gina and Michael were likeable for me but that's all..

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to this story.

Riveting. Really sucks you right in immediately. Twisty and intelligent, this one kept me up all night!

This was a DNF for me, I wasn’t able to get into it because the plot was boring. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC but unfortunately I stopped at about 50%. I’m sure it’s someone’s book but not mine.

Read this if you like: Tom Clancy???

I listened to the audiobook version, and I found the tone monotonous for the first several chapters. I’m glad I stuck it out because the plot was very good as well as the character development. Starting with Danny that witnessed the triggering event through every protagonist and antagonist, I felt like I really got to know each of them.

One item to consider for the audiobook, is the fact at the beginning of each chapter. While interesting to hear, it takes away a bit from the continuity of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to listen to this captivating story!

Leave No Trace is full of action and intrigue with small doses of history intertwined. I loved the use of National Parks and historical sites as the target of terrorist attacks. My love is not of the thought of destruction, but rather how they symbolize much that is good about the United States of America.

The characters and plot worked well together. I wanted to keep listening to see what was going to happen next. A few of the locations I have visited in person and could have conjured up a visual on my own. However, the settings were described well enough that I could envision being there. Also, I liked how each chapter begins with a historical fact about a place or person associated with it.

Considering this book is a joint writing venture (AJ Landau is the pen name of John Land and Jeff Ayers.) I would worry that things would seem disjointed or that a change in voice would be felt. But, it seemed seamless to me.

This is supposed to be the start of a National Parks Thriller series. I'll be eager to see where Michael and Gina end up and which locations are featured in the next title. (Who knows, it could turn into the next TV series on one of the streaming channels!)

Thanks to NetGalley and Recorded Books for the advance copy of the audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Great narration and engaging storyline. Had never considered the role of Park Police before this book but learning about their role was quite interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC." Leave No Trace" by A.J. Landau is a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, the writing really sucks you into the wilds of the Pacific Northwest. Like, you can practically smell the pine trees and feel the mist on your face. It's pretty mesmerizing.

But, I gotta say, the pacing feels like it's trudging through mud at times. You're waiting for something big to happen, but it takes forever to get there. And while the characters are dealing with some heavy stuff—like grief and resilience—their development kinda gets lost in all that beautiful scenery.

And the ending? Meh. It's like the author just decided to leave a bunch of loose threads dangling. I like a little mystery, but this left me feeling more frustrated than intrigued. Still, despite its flaws, "Leave No Trace" leaves a lasting impression with its vivid descriptions and deep themes. It's worth a read if you're into that sort of thing.