A true thriller indeed! A murder in Florida, a military accident off the coast of Alaska, the theft and smuggling of artifacts, a missing scientific research crew ... all interesting investigations. When they become linked, the danger is around every turn! Although the investigation involves multiple states, none is more central than Alaska. This novel weaves in history of the Alaskan indigenous tribes and the fight for and stealing of their lands. The history comes alive as the wars are fought once again. The book also accurately portrays the American sentiment of apathy towards indigenous people. Through it all is the study of climate change and the science of mitigating the effects on our environment. The author masterfully integrated a pathogen into this ambrosia of intrigue. This story starts somewhat disjointed, but once the threads begin to knit together, you won't be able to put the book down!

Cold Burn is a thriller that hits the ground running and doesn't look back. I simply could not put it down. While investigating what appears to be a classic smuggling ring, NPS agent Michael Walker stumbles upon something more sinister and far, far worse. Meanwhile, FBI agent Gina Delgado investigates a murder in the Florida Everglades before being rerouted to look into the circumstances surrounding the sinking of a U.S. nuclear sub - and the mysterious deaths of the entire crew. The connection? An organism that could wipe out all life - an organism that could make some people rich(er), and one that some would kill for. Fast-paced, sweeping, unexpected, and informative, Cold Burn will keep you turning the pages. While I did not read the first book (Leave No Trace) in this National Parks Thriller series, I do not think that put me at a disadvantage at all - but I am definitely adding Leave No Trace to my reading list! Looking forward to future novels in this series.

I'm grateful to Minotaur Books for the advance copy of this book for review purposes. I had not been familiar with Landau's work (a pseudonym revealed in the end notes) prior to this. This is an excellent story based on a hypothetical--but not impossible--premise. The characters made sense to me, as did their interactions, I'm avoiding spoilers here, but I will say that those who prefer a single protagonist and antagonist might not be as happy with this more complex story.

There were a few times when the authors revealed a bit more than avid mystery lovers would like to know too early, but while it didn't work as well as a mystery, it works extremely well as a thriller. The authors are clearly lover of national parks, and it occasionally felt like a PSA with the chapter intros, but it is a good hook for the series and I can't argue with their intentions.

All in all, yes this is a book I enjoyed and would recommend to others. Well done!

This book takes a little bit to get use to the style of writing. There are several threads that you know will eventually come together, but at first it's a little disjointed as Michael is in Alaska after smugglers and Gina is in the Everglades trying to figure out who murdered a USGS intern. Then you have the billionaire building a rocket, Russians, and a Native Tribe that doesn't trust anyone. It takes a bit but once you settle into the different storylines, the interest in how it all goes together becomes a puzzle that you are anxious to solve. The authors add small facts to the beginning of each chapter which I really enjoyed. It does have a bit of technical language in it but I don't think it would be near as good without it. You can always skip a paragraph or two and still keep the thread of the story going. I stayed up way too late finishing the book as the last third of it is when it all starts coming together and there are a few twists thrown in to keep things interesting. I enjoyed the book enough to go get the previous story in this series.

Cold Burn by A. J. Landau (which is actually the duo Jon Land and Jeff Ayers) is a fast-paced environmental thriller. It’s the second book in the National Parks Thriller series and, while it stands on its own, it is better to have read the first one before you dig in. This is a story that hits the ground running and does not let up, weaving seemingly disparate threads from the far corners of the US into what ultimately becomes one coherent tale. It has a ripped-from-the-headlines feel to it:

-A megalomaniacal tech entrepreneur with his own worldwide social media site, no moral compass, and an overdeveloped sense of self interest that dominates his thought processes.

-Potential environmental catastrophe that is much more complex than “global warming” opponents make it out to be.

-An unqualified Cabinet secretary who knows little about the bailiwick of his agency, and cares even less.

-Out of control Russian military assets bent on world domination.

This fast-paced book is a good old fashioned adventure yarn brought up to date with the latest technology interwoven into it. The ending may be a bit abrupt and far-fetched, but overall it’s a good time.

Thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Money and power can’t control the weather gods.

This book was action-packed from the coastal towns of Alaska to the Everglades in Florida. The first part jumped around. It went from three college interns studying the effects of a glacier in Alaska with climate change to a state-of-the-art submarine that was now at the bottom of the ocean. Then, there was a park ranger tracking stolen artifacts from the Tlingit tribe in Alaska museums. It moved next to the Everglades with a murder investigation.

Yet, the story started to come together and it was captivating with the effects of climate change and the government’s lack of concern for the environment.

There were a lot of characters with long official titles except one: big man who had just killed a married couple in a museum. Michael Walker, Investigative Service Branch of the National Park Serve, was following the husband and wife with a suspicion of theft. Now he went after the big man who was a trained killer. Michael had a prosthetic foot and I was trying to figure out how he could possibly catch up and take this man down.

That’s not all. There was a lot of movement at the same time in Florida with a dead body that had washed up. FBI and National Park Service were on the case. All the characters were fiction except Elon Musk with his starships.

It took some time to get through with my curiosity running high. I wanted to know more about the Tlingit warriors in Alaska and the battle of 1802. I was curious about why Russia would sell Alaska to the US and also why it took so long for it to become a state. And then there was the Everglades in Florida. I wanted to find out how a Burmese python can swallow a body whole. And there was much more.

It’s a story that deserves attention regarding our world and politics. A spiritual man of the Tlingit nation said the gods of the sea are angry. It certainly makes one contemplate what’s important. While it's the second book of a series, I read it as a standalone. However, it makes me want to go back and read more about the first investigation.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of April 29, 2025.

Another exciting entry into the Michael Walker and Gina Delgado series. They are both National Park Rangers. They investigate nefarious doings in National Parks. But, Michael is sent to Alaska to investigate stolen Tlingit artifacts, Gina has a dead body on her hands in the Florida Everglades. How these two investigations come together is well planned and written. I really appreciate that the authors showed the Tlingit culture the respect it is due. It is always refreshing to see details like this woven into the story line of the novel. We have heroes and a megalomaniacal billionaire set to conquer the world. Can our two Rangers stop him before disaster strikes? I recommend this to anyone who likes adventure, thrillers and non-stop drama. I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/ Minotaur Books for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

WOW! This is an excellent thriller. This story reached out and grabbed me from the very first chapter. Could not put this book down. This is my first experience with this author and am looking forward to reading more. Do not miss this one!

Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

In Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park, David Lees and a U. S. Geological Survey team are trapped in a cave by a sudden . . . and massive . . . avalanche.

In Icy Strait, Alaska, the “USS Providence” is on a training mission, testing stealth technology. “Salvor,” a rescue and salvage vessel, is salvaging live World War II mines from the ocean floor. Too late, both ship captains realize the two vessels . . . and the mine . . . face an inevitable collision.

Aboard Holland America cruise line’s MS Eurodam, Michael Walker seeks those responsible for the theft of Tlingit artifacts on loan to the National Park Service.

In Florida’s Everglades National Park, Gina Delgado investigates the murder of an unidentified man.

Soon investigators will discover how these disparate incidents relate to each other and threaten the lives of the investigators.

=========

In this captivating narrative, the second in the authors’ National Parks Thriller series, readers are pulled into the telling of the tale from the outset. There is sufficient backstory for the book to work as a standalone for readers who have not read the first book [“Leave No Trace”] in the series.

Well-defined characters, a strong sense of place, and a captivating premise that keeps readers guessing all work together to keep those pages turning as past as possible. The unfolding narrative keeps the suspense building while some unexpected twists and turns bring surprising revelations. Intriguing and unputdownable, this narrative marries clever storylines with science and spins a tale that leads to a denouement that may surprise readers.

Readers who enjoy thrillers, action-packed stories, and suspense-filled tales with real science included will find much to appreciate here.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books and NetGalley
#ColdBurn #NetGalley

The setting of this book totally stole the show - it was so atmospheric. I thought the mystery was very compelling as well. I will definitely look out for more titles by this author.

“Cold Burn” is the second installment in A.J. Landau’s National Park Thriller series, after “Leave No Trace,” was published in 2024. This book can be read as a standalone, but this thriller series is so good, you should consider reading “Leave No Trace” first — it’ll give you a deeper dive into the backgrounds of the protagonists (why Gina likes to blow things up and how Michael lost his foot). Also, in a scene to remember, you get a park ranger defending himself by putting a rattlesnake into the mouth of the biggest, meanest bad guy. This time, we’re in Florida, and you can bet that alligators might be munching on bad guys.

Michael Walker is still a special agent for the National Park Service’s Investigative Services Branch (ISB), although no longer limited to the Atlantic area. He now can investigate anywhere, but his boss gives him tasks with political sensitivity.
Gina Delgado, an FBI agent formerly with the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, is now also “at-large,” and has been assigned cases with national security concerns, but she really has no clear idea why she’s investigating a murder in the Everglades.

Multiple scenarios emerge: in Alaska, an avalanche traps a USGS (US Geological Survey) research crew on a glacier; a new American submarine accidentally hits a salvage mine and drops to the sea floor; and Michael Walker has been sent to uncover why Tlingit artifacts are disappearing. In Florida, Gina is trying to identify a dead body and understand why this is a priority investigation. In the Bahamas, an Elon Musk competitor is trying to become the world’s first trillionaire and take a ride to Mars.

The action ramps up and seems to go off into a dozen directions (including some sci-fi rabbit holes) until the separate investigative threads both agents are pursuing start to entwine (fairly quickly for the reader) and Michael and Gina are working in tandem.

If you love visiting national parks and monuments, this is a terrific thriller that will make you remember vacation moments, now tinged with suspense. How many chewed up body parts were there below your airboat in the Everglades? Are your fellow cruise ship passengers shoplifting antiques from Native museums in Alaska ports?

The authors (“A.J. Landau” is actually the pseudonym used by Jon Land and Jeff Ayers) obviously have a lot of respect for the national park system, Indigenous tribes, people with disabilities, and climate science. With two great main characters, the plot, however complicated, benefits from the combined intelligence of Michael and Gina. Let’s see them in action again in another installment of the National Park thriller series, and there should be another animal (grizzly bear? Bison?) getting even with a villain! 5 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO Only the Russian general’s ice blue eye color is mentioned.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO But we have two very disparate landscapes. While Michael is dealing with frozen tundra, Gina is navigating through mangroves.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

Great characters, settings and plots/sub-plots Are difficult to create, but the authors have achieved all three. Set in amazing backgrounds the series continues to amaze. Reading either of these is guaranteed to entertain.

This is a new author for me and I would definitely read him again. Edge of your seat suspense, end of the world potential. It will definitely keep you turning the pages. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

This third installment in the series is a remarkable literary achievement. From the outset, readers will be captivated by the engaging plot and well-developed characters. The protagonist, a formidable female, embodies unwavering determination in pursuit of justice.

The setting serves as a catalyst for the unfolding of the narrative, compelling the characters to confront their own challenges. The author’s creative writing prowess is evident throughout, showcasing their exceptional storytelling abilities. Readers will develop a profound sense of camaraderie with these unconventional characters.

It is not necessary to have read the preceding two books in the series to fully comprehend the narrative or develop an affinity for the story.

I really enjoyed the first in this series, and was eager for the next installment. Unfortunately, I found this one a LOT more technical than the earlier book, with much less focus on the actual mystery (which I'm still uncertain about), and that's where it lost me. This felt like The Hunt for Red October. There's a LOT of submarine tech and geological survey info and it really overwhelmed the actual investigations by both FBI and ISB, and that's where I struggled. I would just get back into the story, via the characters, when things would shift focus yet again and there would be dozens of kindle pages focused on subs and geology and climate change. I don't mind learning things when I read fiction (in fact I usually quite enjoy it), but I still need the story to be the focal point - and it wasn't here, at least not to my reading taste. This one wasn't for me...

My Storygraph review:

Having to raise this to a solid 3, because despite everything I said below being true, I immediately want to start the other in the series, so I guess something in it worked! 🤷🏻‍♀️😂

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Just a notch over 2.5 for me. An interesting story that I enjoyed. But phew does the writing leave much to be desired. Reads like a self published book with only a random friend as editor. 😬 So so many unnecessary pieces, especially in the beginning, which made it really hard to get into and left a sour taste in my mouth, despite eventually turning into a mostly good book.

I finished this one but I didn’t like the dual storyline I felt it jumped all over the place and took forever to get to the point . I also felt it was far fetched and like a hbo special. You have to suspend belief for this one .
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

Cold Burn was an entertaining read but it had a lot going on. There are multiple stories and it jumps quickly between them.

thriller, national-park, prosthetics, artifact, art-theft, Park Ranger, Park Service, amputee, investigations, investigators, detective, unputdownable, smuggling, law-enforcement, suspense, Alaska, crime-fiction, action, FBI, murder, Florida, everglades, undercover, environmental, eco-systems, adventure, avalanche, determination, dramatic, disappearance, due-diligence*****

Alaska Thread: Agent Michael Walker is tracking a smuggling ring when he's sent to Glacier Bay National Park to investigate theft of Tlingit artifacts from museums. The glaciers are slowly melting causing new environmental problems and a group of students looking into climate effect on the Glacier suddenly disappear during avalanche.
Florida Thread: FBI special Agent Gina Delgado is investigating the murder of an environmentalist in the Everglades which eventually ties in with the Alaskan investigations.
There is lots of real science used in the story and the whole is fascinating and too close to plausible.
I requested and received a temporary copyrighted uncorrected digital galley from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Pub Date Apr 29, 2025
#ColdBurn by Jon Land; Jeff Ayers; A. J. Landau #NationalParksThrillerBk2 @stmartinspress @minotaur_books #NationalParkConservationAssnTeams @goodreads @bookbub @Kobo @librarythingofficial #MysteryThriller @barnesandnoble @waterstones ***** Review @booksamillion @bookshop_org #Suspense @bookshop_org_uk #WeatherThreats #Smuggling

Cold Burn with its many subplots that gradually merge to create an ending that is mysterious and Satisfying but very intense along the way, is a challenging read with hopes that this situation never materializes in our world today.