Gregory Abbot did a great job narrating Leave No Trace. The inflections in his voice resonated with the drama that was unfolding throughout the story. When it comes to domestic thrillers, I think Abbot is one of the best narrators out there.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for gifting me an ALC to review.

About a month or so ago I had the pleasure of reading an eARC of Leave No Trace, and really enjoyed it. Now thanks to RB Media I’ve gotten to listen to an advanced copy of the audio version. And you know what? I think I enjoyed it even more the second time around. This was my review after my first time through: Reading the opening chapter, the terrorist attack at the Statue of Liberty, it’s so cinematic and I instantly thought ‘this book just begs to be made into a movie/miniseries.’ Special Agent Michael Walker of the National Park Service and Agent Gina Delgado of the FBI need to work together to figure out what happened…and to stop the next attack. This is a fast paced, intense thriller, and given the current state of the world it feels oddly and eerily possibly/disturbing. It’s a well researched ’popcorn flick’ in book form. Now as for the audio version. The audiobook runs just shy of 11 hours (less if you’re like me and prefer to listen at 1.25x to 1.4x) And aside from needing to familiarize himself with the correct pronunciation of some weapons terminology, Gregory Abbey does a really good job with narration. I’m very excited to see where A.J. Landau (aka Jon Land & Jeff Ayers) take the series next. I’d like thank RB Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advanced audio copy of Leave No Trace, the first book in the National Parks Thriller series.

https://www.amazon.com/review/RO7P5AOHFTG1J/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

I enjoyed the quick history snippets at the beginning of each chapter. The narrator was ok. His narration improved as he got further into the story. At the beginning some of the pronunciations were off. Good and interesting story with likable characters.

"Leave No Trace" by A.J. Landau is a gripping roller coaster ride through America's historical landmarks, weaving a tale of mystery, intrigue, and patriotic fervor. From the outset, Landau crafts a narrative that keeps readers guessing as to the identity of the guilty parties, all while seamlessly integrating fascinating historical tidbits that enrich the storytelling experience.

What sets this novel apart is its exploration of military tactics and the theme of citizens going rogue for a greater cause. Landau expertly navigates these complex themes, drawing readers into a world where the lines between right and wrong blur in the pursuit of justice.

One of the most compelling aspects of "Leave No Trace" is the depiction of teamwork across multiple agencies, highlighting the importance of collaboration in the face of adversity. As the characters work together to save the citizens of the United States, readers are treated to a thrilling and ultimately satisfying journey.

For fans of suspenseful thrillers with a historical twist, "Leave No Trace" is a must-read. A.J. Landau's masterful storytelling and attention to detail make this novel a standout addition to the genre, leaving readers eagerly anticipating what comes next.

In a daring, brutal act of terrorism, an explosion rocks and topples the Statue of Liberty. Special Agent Michael Walker of the National Park Service is awakened by his boss with that news and sent to New York as the agent-in-charge.. Walker finds a young boy among the survivors with a critical piece of information - a video linking the attackers to the assault.
This is a fast-paced thriller with historical anecdotes added throughout. The audiobook switches between the two main characters who are both smart and interesting. Some of the intense scenes get complex and intense and on audiobook it can be hard to keep track of all the characters. I like fast-paced stories with short chapters but sometimes the action gets cut off a little abruptly between scenes. That would probably be my main piece of feedback
There is a bit of an unrealistic element to some of the book but it makes you wonder " what it?" so I found it compelling and interesting.
I'd love to read more from this collaboration.

Well this was nonstop adventure. It's not that I loved it, but I sure kept listening to find out what happened. I was pretty invested in the characters and would like to see more of them. What can happen in future books, these people solved all the crimes in book 1!

"Leave No Trace" by A.J. Landau is an action packed national parks thriller. It was so exciting I couldn't put it down! I listened to it straight through!

It starts with a family visiting the Statue of Liberty. Then there is an explosion and Lady Liberty falls over. Michael Walker, Special Agent for the National Park Service, is called in, as is FBI Agent Gina Delgado, lead of the Joint Terrorism Task Force. These two butt heads until they don't. A teenage boy is discovered alive who may have filmed the perpetrators.
Another threat is called in at Independence Hall. Later there is another threat at the St. Louis' Gateway Arch and finally at Zion National Park. I enjoyed hearing the facts about the national parks as the story went along.

Gregory Abbey did a top notch job with the narration!

Characters 4/5
Writing 5/5
Plot 5/5
Pacing 5/5
Unputdownability 5/5
Enjoyment 5/5
Narration 5/5
Cover 4/5

They say this is the first in a series and I'll definitely read the rest!

Thanks to Netgalley and RB Media for providing this audiobook to facilitate my review. My opinions are my own.

What would happen if someone attacked the National Parks in the US?

Leave No Trace by A.J. Landau - a pseudonym for 2 authors, Jon Land and Jeff Ayers

This was a thriller unlike anything I've ever read before. Narrated by Gregory Abbey, it read like a detective show mixed with a documentary. Each chapter started with the location where the chapter takes place and some sort of fact about it, which I thought was pretty cool. The main character was a super smart former park ranger who lost his foot in an incident where he also lost his wife. There was a lot of representation in this book. People with prosthetics, missing eyes, different diagnoses, different ethnicities, a woman president, etc. More diversity in this book than I think I've ever noticed before. The chapters were short and quick and seemed to always end on a note that made you have to continue. It was pretty impossible to say "just one more chapter" and stick to it.

As far as I can tell, this is the first book for this pseudonym. Jon Land has written several books, and I'm unclear if Jeff Ayers has written any himself, but he is also a retired librarian and long-time book reviewer.

This book was released today! Happy release day! Thank you, #netgalley and RB Media, for allowing me to listen to and review this book.

If a thriller about someone attacking our great national parks interests you, then pick up this book!

In the book Leave No Trace, author A.J. Landau follows Special Agent Michael Walker of the National Park Service and his pursuit of the terrorists who toppled the Statue of Liberty. But even as he begins his investigation, another attack is beginning. Can Walker stop the next attack? And the next one and the one after that? And who is this group that is so organized and well funded? Who is really pulling the strings? This was a great story and the plot and action kept everything moving. I also love the fact that the author had Walker lose part of his leg in an accident and show the struggles he faced and overcame while wearing his prostheses. I would recommend this book. The audio-book narration was very good. I received a copy of this audio-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Statue of Liberty has been toppled! An explosion at the base of the monument has gone off and the statue is down. Hundreds of people have been killed and injured. It is a terrorist attack and the first of many, targeting the country’s most important landmarks.

How could you not want to read this! it was a wild, fast paced action thriller that will keep you guessing and holding your breath. I loved the inclusion of a National Parks Investigator working with the FBI at the very highest level.

An easy book to binge, the narrator did a fantastic job with all the different characters.

Published February 27th, hold onto your hats. Thanks to RB Media for the advanced listening copy of this book.

Thanks to netgalley for my digital copy!
I listened to this book in two days and that’s only because i had to stop and do life other than that i would’ve listened in one sitting!
Imagine witnessing the status of liberty toppling after a bomb attack while on vacation in New York!!! What would you have done? I know i would have been terrified and also invested to get to the bottom of it with agent Michael and Gina (in my head i m a detective)* this book kept me going from start to end! The chapter were short but packed with the perfect amount of suspense and excitement, i was hooked, believe me when i say HOOKED!! I loved how easily it was to connect to the characters and be pulled in, like an open invitation, lots of actions that led to well plotted suspense!
This book is must read!

I enjoyed Leave No Trace by A.J. Landau; it kept me on my tiptoes with gripping scenes, a lot of action, and danger. I also like that I learned a lot about several national parks. It was very interesting.

I like the relationship that Gina and Michael develop throughout the story. They had to lean on each other and trust each other in order to get the bombers of the Statue of Liberty, which resulted in the statue falling, and there is one witness who could identify the bombers.

Overall, it was an intense, fast-paced read.

Thank you, NetGalley and RB Media, for this audio ARC.

Based on the description, I thought this would be an home run for me. Unfortunately, it was just so matter of fact, and with minimal character development, I couldn’t get invested in the story. It was much less police procedural than I anticipated. There was so much happening in different locations, which made the book chaotic to read. I also think it makes this book harder to follow on audio.

Everything also played out so conveniently along the way and in the ending, and if this were to be a real world situation (dare I say that seems far fetched, but I don’t want to jinx us) it is highly unlikely things would fall into place so perfectly.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was gripping and a wild ride. There was so much happening in this book and it sucked me right in from the beginning. I really enjoyed all of the historical facts that opened every chapter as it added something very interesting to the book. I really enjoyed how this book took place all over the US.

I was really compelled by the premise of this book (thriller/police procedural featuring the National Parks!? I’m in!) , but the story fell short of expectations. The premise was still interesting (if potentially a little too real to be comfortable) but the writing REALLY needed additional editing. Much of it was stilted, repetitive, and unnecessarily descriptive at times- to a level that took me out of the story. The characterization of Michael also seemed hyper-fixated on his disability– I’m definitely not an expert on disability representation in literature, but to me Michael’s use of a prosthetic foot had an outsized impact on the story. Overall, I thought the general plot and premise could be compelling, but the way this story was written prevented it from reaching its potential.

⭐️ 3.75 |

This is probably the best thriller Ive read/listened to so far! I felt like I was listening to a Netflix show me and my boyfriend would definitely enjoy. It was interesting, kept me with the story and I liked the narrator.

The topic of attacs on Americas biggest national parks and a threat on the prime minister was something different which I really enjoyed! Would definitely recomment reading this or listening to it when it publishes tomorrow!

Thank you Netgalley for giving me this ARC to read in return for an honest review 🤭

Michael Walker is a National Parks Service investigator. The Statue of Liberty becomes a terrorist target and Michael is called to New York to investigate. Once on the scene he meets Gina Delgado of the FBI, who is leading the investigation. Territorial disputes ensue but are forgotten as media outlets are notified of a second attack coming. Walker does not have security clearance so he is essentially dismissed by Delgado and goes to the wreckage scene. Which is a stroke of very good luck, because he meets a young boy, now an orphan, who has observed a strange boat near the Statue before the explosion. He recorded the boat and its occupants, and Michael realizes that it makes him a target. As Michael gets drawn deeper into the investigation, old wounds are reopened. Can they figure out who is responsible and prevent the next attack?

This was a military political thriller. It was set in the National Parks System, which is a unique angle to me. This is the first in a new series, written by A.J. Landau, who is actually two people - Jon Land and Jeff Ayers. There was A LOT of action, bombs, guns, and destruction. But the characters had back stories also, they weren’t flat and without depth. I don’t tend to read a lot of military thrillers but I do read a good amount of politically based works. The struggle in this book seemed very realistic. I believe there are folks out there with viewpoints like the “bad guys” here. Some elements were predictable, it was more gritty than I’m used to, and military jargon was used. But I believe that when the second book comes out, I will check it out.

Intriguing story that holds your attention throughout. The narrator is very good and easy to listen to. The premise was original and scary. Small details about the US National Parks was a bonus.

Leave No Trace by A.J. Landau

Thank you to @authorajlandau, @recordedbooks, and @netgalley for the chance to read this #advancedlistenercopy in exchange for my #honestbookreview! This book is available February 27 so preorder now!

First of all, I really appreciate and enjoy the love for the National Parks system and its employees that shines through this book. The combo of that with the thriller element made this so unique and enjoyable. So many complex and multifaceted characters make up this POV shifting terrorism suspense read and it’s so captivating. I highly recommend this for fans of nature, parks, thrillers, suspense, and police procedurals.

TWs: terr*rism, loss of a loved one, explosion, exploitation, v*ndetta, religious extremism, more

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ - 4.25/5

Leave No Trace is an action-filled, explosive debut from A.J. Landau.

"In a shocking act of terrorism, the Statue of Liberty is bombed and toppled from her base. Hundreds are killed. Special Agent Michael Walker of the National Park Service is sent to the scene. He finds the FBI already on-site and SA Gina Delgado from the Joint Terrorism Task Force running the investigation. Michael finds a young survivor with video evidence of the explosion and stumbles into an even greater conspiracy."

What a fantastic debut from Landau. I did not want to stop listening. The "topple the government" story is not new, but the way he goes about it is - going after the national landmarks. Michael has a tragic back-story but Landau portrays him as someone wanting to do the right thing. SA Delgado has some special talents with her military background that come in handy.
So many wild action scenes - the flooding at Zion and the final battle are insane.

Gregory Abbey does a great job with the audio. The tension and emotion continue to ramp up the closer we get to the end.

Wildly entertaining read from Landau. I look forward to more stories with these characters.