Are you in the mood for your next thriller? Pick up Cold Burn. You won’t regret reading this book. It was great.

At first, I was not sure what I thought of this book, as there were so many different plots that it seemed like overkill. There are several plots (deadly microbe, miracle fuel source) that could easily support a full-length story of its own. However, as the story progressed, the plots began to tie together better. It was an interesting approach to have National Park Service Investigator Michael Walker spend the story in Alaska, while FBI Special Agent Gina Delgado spent much of the story in Florida (although she ends up in Alaska as well), with their separate missions intersecting in very unexpected ways. I liked the mix of science (microbiology, ocean temperatures, freezing from the inside it, antibodies), history (changes in territorial control in Alaska, relations between the indigenous people and the US government), culture (Tlingits), and politics.

This was a fantastic read! I love a meaty book and this one was stuffed with so much goodness.

I’m an avid reader of suspense set in Alaska and was impressed right from the start at how quickly I was immersed in the location.

I also love to learn as I read and this one was packed with knowledge of life in Alaska and facts about Glacier Bay. Learning more about locations I’ve been to makes reading more enjoyable for me.

The characters were amazing - unique, well-rounded, and intriguing!

I think the thing that stood out to me the most was how much of the Tlingit culture was incorporated into the story. I appreciated the attention to their language, customs, and their struggle.

If I were to point out three things that irritated me they would be:

(1) that it took quite a while before the two threads (Alaska and Florida) were united. I’d almost given up by chapter 40.
(2) that it felt like the author was beating a dead animal with his repetition of facts. Yes, I even eye-rolled as I read. It wasn’t just once or twice, but multiple times. Overkill.
(3) that the facts immediately below the chapter titles took my focus away from the story and disrupted the flow. More often than not, they didn’t contribute to the chapter.

Regardless, this was a great, tension-filled read about a potential global disaster set in a part of the world I love to visit.

I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Cold Burn joins the pantheon of spectacular sequels in the genre. I wasn't sure if the team of Land and Ayers could up the ante in their second Walker and Delgado adventure, but I'm happy to report they did. This time our protagonists must combat a threat to the entire world in this action packed tale. Cold Burn takes place in locations as dissimilar as Alaska and the Florida Everglades. It grabs your attention from the start and the pacing is pitch perfect. I was really happy to see the respect the authors paid to the indigenous people of Alaska throughout this terrific thriller. It's a major part of why Cold Burn works on every level. I'm already looking forward to the next entry in the series. Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, & NetGalley for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

If you’re fan of Nevada Barrs’ books about a crime solving ranger in America’s national parks. You’ll love this book by Jon Land. With two park rangers investigating crimes in Glacier National Park and Everglades national Park, this is a book that will appeal to both mystery lovers and outdoor aficionados