Panther Gap - by James A McLaughlin (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

"Chock-full of adventure, runs the gamut on the human experience....One hell of a good yarn." ―David Baldacci

The thrilling new novel from the Edgar Award-winning author of Bearskin, about two siblings on the verge of inheriting millions but who discover dark secrets in their family's past.

Named a most anticipated book by Crime Reads and BookPage

Siblings Bowman and Summer were raised by their father and two uncles on a remote Colorado ranch. They react differently to his radical teachings and the confusions of adolescence. As young adults, they become estranged but are brought back together in their thirties by the prospect of an illegal and potentially dangerous inheritance from their grandfather. They must ultimately reconcile with each other and their past in order to defeat ruthless criminal forces trying to extort the inheritance.

Set in the rugged American West and populated by drug cartels, shadowy domestic terrorists, and nefarious business interests, Panther Gap shows James McLaughlin's talents on full display: gorgeous environmental writing, a white-knuckle thriller plot, and characters dealing with legacy, identity, and their own place in the world.

Review Quotes

"I marvel at McLaughlin's research and sheer passion. Panther Gap . . . is chock-full of adventure, runs the gamut on the human experience, and bestows on the fortunate reader a treasure trove of marvelous insights about the animal world, and nature in general. And it's just one hell of a good yarn." --David Baldacci

"Panther Gap has rattlesnakes, shoot-outs, drug cartels, and international intrigue, as well as a riveting plot and characters who will stay with you long after you finish. On top of all that, there's flat-out amazing prose and some of the best nature writing you'll find anywhere. Panther Gap is a modern classic of the American West." --David Heska Wanbli Weiden, Anthony and Thriller Award-winning author of Winter Counts

"James McLaughlin has done it again, created a multi-layered thriller filled not only with relentless, heart-pounding suspense, but achingly beautiful writing about our deep, sometimes mystical relationship to nature and each other. You'll definitely want to clear your calendar for this one." --Angie Kim, Edgar Award-winning author of Miracle Creek

"With Panther Gap, McLaughlin has surpassed his award-winning debut and offered up a complex and brutal installment in the rural thriller wheelhouse. If picture perfect settings, plotting as skilled as McCarthy, and prose reminiscent of Larry Brown, is what you're looking for, McLaughlin is your huckleberry. He's one of the finest storytellers out there today." --Brian Panowich, author of Bull Mountain, Hard Cash Valley, and Nails

"An exciting, action-packed suspense novel that's also a book about many other things--about the natural world and its demise, about family fortunes and misfortunes, about the responsibilities we all have to one another, about crime and betrayal and greed and heroism. A remarkable book." --Chris Pavone, bestselling author of Two Nights in Lisbon

"With nods to William Faulkner and Cormac McCarthy, Panther Gap is that rare combination of heart-pumping action and raw beauty, a vividly rendered story of inheritance--in all its forms--set in the stunning American West. The twists arrive like switchbacks on a mountain pass, and I found myself ripping through the final pages, beholding new revelations at every turn." --Adam White, author of The Midcoast

"Set in the Colorado mountains and the desolate scrub of the Mexican border, Panther Gap is steeped in the soul of the West. It's also a high-stakes thriller that pits shadowy cartels and brutal prison gangs against a family that must depend on the complicated, fractured love that binds them to survive. The narrative tension is so gripping that I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough. An ambitious, exquisitely crafted novel." --Heather Young, author of The Distant Dead

"McLaughlin's writing is absolutely electric." --CrimeReads

"[An] impressive crime novel. . . .Fans of Breaking Bad will be satisfied." --Publishers Weekly

About the Author