Move over, Chuck Bender, because it’s Carmelita Ortega’s turn. Fans of Scott Graham’s novels will relish in watching one of their most adored characters take center stage. By turns a life-and-death thriller and a fascinating examination of endurance sports, Death Valley Duel is an adrenaline-soaked journey through one of the most forbidding and alluring places in the United States. Expertly paced and compelling, you’ll find it hard to put down.”
—C. MATTHEW SMITH, Twentymile
“The latest installment in Scott Graham’s National Park Mystery series will not disappoint. Death Valley Duel is a propulsive, page-turning murder mystery with an environmental cold case at its core that asks thoughtful questions surrounding water rights and American colonialism that keeps it from being just another whodunit. I found myself reading into the early hours of the morning, compulsively devouring this dynamic novel.”
—MOLLY IMBER, Maria’s Bookshop
A twisty thriller that promises an epic race to the finish.”
—CLAIRE KELLS, Forgotten Trail
"A winning blend of archeology and intrigue, Graham's series turns our National Parks into places of equal parts beauty, mystery, and danger."
—EMILY LITTLEJOHN, Shatter the Night
Praise for National Park Mystery Series
“Terrific.”
—C.J. BOX, New York Times bestselling author
“Filled with murder and mayhem, jealousy and good detective work—an exciting, nonstop read.”
—ANNE HILLERMAN, New York Times bestselling author
“One part mystery, one part mysticism, one part mayhem—and all parts exciting.”
—CRAIG JOHNSON, New York Times bestselling author
“One of the most engaging mysteries I’ve read in a long while . . . delivers it all and then some.”
—MARGARET COEL, New York Times bestselling author
“Lush descriptions of natural beauty and twisted false leads create an exciting, rewarding puzzle.”
—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
“As always, the highlight of Graham’s National Park Mystery Series is his extensive knowledge of the parks system, its lands, and its people.”
—KIRKUS REVIEWS
“A winning blend of archaeology and intrigue, Graham’s series turns our national parks into places of equal parts beauty, mystery, and danger.”
—EMILY LITTLEJOHN, Shatter the Night
“Engrossing . . . a glorious portrait of one of the most compelling landscapes on earth. Graham clearly knows the territory. A topnotch read.”
—WILLIAM KENT KRUEGER, New York Times bestselling author
“Stunning setting, intriguing plot, and likeable characters.”
—ANDREA AVANTAGGIO, Maria’s Bookshop
“Only a truly gifted novelist is able to keep a reader turning pages while imparting extensive knowledge about the people, the landscape, and the park system. Scott Graham proves yet again that he is one of the finest.”
—CHRISTINE CARBO, A Sharp Solitude
“Graham has a true talent for allowing his readers to feel almost as if they were trekking the park themselves.” —MYSTERY SCENE MAGAZINE
“A multilevel mystery that plumbs the emotions of greed and jealousy.”
—THE DURANGO HERALD
A beautifully balanced book, incorporating intense action scenes, depth of characterization, realistic landscapes, and historical perspective.”
—REVIEWING THE EVIDENCE
“Only the best novelists have the gift of propelling readers into the middle of artfully crafted adventures . . . Scott Graham once again proves he belongs in the very first rank.”
—JEFF GUINN, New York Times bestselling author
“An extraordinary ride! You know when a reader says they couldn’t put the book down? Yellowstone Standoff is one of those rare books . . . a tour de force.”
—WIN BLEVINS, New York Times bestselling author
“Get ready for leave-you-breathless high country southwestern adventure.”
—MICHAEL McGARRITY, New York Times bestselling author
2024-04-05
An ultramarathon in the California desert draws attention to the fight over water rights.
Though he isn’t thrilled when Carmelita Ortega, his teenage stepdaughter, vows to run her first ultramarathon, Chuck Bender knows she has two things that will make her race a success: mental fortitude and willpower. After all, her determination is what has made Carm such an accomplished climber before she’s even out of high school. Little sister Rosie is determined to do what she does best by documenting Carm’s conquest of the 150-mile Whitney to Death race while she and Chuck act as the support team in the absence of Carm’s mom, Janelle, who has to stay in Colorado for work. Race organizers Marian and Doug are excited to see Carm and Margot, another young competitor, enter the race, which they devised 10 years ago as a way to draw attention to water rights near California’s Mount Whitney and Death Valley. And Chuck, who’s happy to support Carm, has a little adventure of his own planned. His archaeological work has uncovered a tooth among ashes in the area, a possible connection to Paiute water rights activist Russell Raining Bird. Chuck hopes that sharing the site with his employer, Tabitha Eddy of Stanford University, will help her work more closely with the Native Peoples Foundation. As troubles on the trail worry Chuck about Carm’s progress, both he and Carm wonder if a string of mishaps befalling the racers could be more than just a coincidence.
A well-informed nature series hits its storytelling stride.
