Drawing inspiration from a childhood spent exploring the natural landscapes of eastern Iowa, this author crafts narratives deeply connected to the environment. A pivotal encounter with a renowned short story cemented his dedication to the craft, leading to a lifelong commitment to daily writing. Years of diligent practice have honed his prose into a distinctive literary voice. Readers will find works that resonate with the tranquility and complexity of the natural world, rendered with thoughtful precision.
The story revolves around Holden Riggins, a notorious poacher found nearly frozen on his fishing boat, alongside the body of a missing conservation officer. As Sam Rivers, a special agent and Holden's childhood friend, investigates, he faces the challenge of uncovering the truth behind Holden's illegal activities and the mysterious death. With the state's walleye population in decline, the tension escalates as Sam navigates a web of deceit and danger, questioning whether he is pursuing justice or becoming part of the trap.
Two dead bodies and too many coincidences to ignore--in this outdoors mystery, special agent Sam Rivers must stop a murderous conspiracy. As a special agent for the US Fish & Wildlife Service, Sam Rivers has researched and studied a variety of animals. He's visiting sixth graders at Hopkins Elementary to share photographs of the Monarch butterfly--and he's brought along his drug-sniffing wolfdog, Gray, to give students a demonstration of his partner's remarkable skills. Gray finds a sample drug packet, hidden by Sam, but that's not all. The wolfdog keeps following his nose, leading Sam to a utility room where they discover the school's janitor, dead. Local police write it off as a drug overdose, but Sam is no stranger to crime scenes. He suspects foul play. When Sam and Gray come upon a second victim, the coincidences are too great to ignore. Sam starts turning over rocks--and what slithers out is more insidious than anyone could have foretold. Sam's instincts tell him there'll be more deaths, but those instincts put him at odds with conventional law enforcement. Armed with his knowledge of the natural world and his wolfdog companion, Sam must uncover answers to questions that few others believe exist. The Denver Post calls Sam Rivers the "predator's predator." In Killing Monarchs, natural history writer Cary J. Griffith brings back Sam for his third mystery--a thrilling novel filled with action and suspense.
Evidence in the death of a wealthy business owner points to an unexplained-and
unlikely-cougar attack, but special agent Sam Rivers risks his life to uncover
the truth.
Special agent Sam Rivers' investigation of a bizarre wolf attack leads to
evidence of murder, conspiracy, and shocking family secrets in this wildlife-
themed thriller.
