ARCHES ENEMY
by Scott Graham
Also by the author:
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SCOTT GRAHAM is the author of the acclaimed National Park Mystery series, featuring archaeologist Chuck Bender and Chuck’s spouse Janelle Ortega. In addition to the National Park Mystery series, Scott is the author of five nonfiction books, including Extreme Kids, winner of the National Outdoor Book Award. Scott is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys backpacking, river rafting, skiing, and mountaineering. He has made a living as a newspaper reporter, magazine editor, radio disk jockey, and coal-shoveling fireman on the steampowered Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. He lives with his spouse, who is an emergency physician, in Durango, Colorado.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A famed sandstone arch in Utah’s Arches National Park collapses and takes a woman atop it to her death, ensnaring archaeologist Chuck Bender and his family in lethal questions of environmental monkeywrenching and political intrigue. As more deaths follow, Chuck and his spouse Janelle Ortega race to uncover the killer even as they become murder targets themselves. As if that weren’t enough, Chuck’s long-estranged mother, Sheila, has moved to Moab, gateway town to the national park, and wants to get to know Chuck’s stepdaughters—but Chuck and Janelle aren’t so sure that’s a good idea. Fifth in Scott Graham’s acclaimed National Park Mystery Series, Arches Enemy provides insight into complex cultural and environmental concerns of the American West, an inside look at the inner workings of a wildly popular national park, and a page-turner of a tale set in the uniquely breathtaking red rock landscape of southern Utah.
June 2019 | Fiction | 978-1-948814-05-8 | 200 pp
PRAISE FOR ARCHES ENEMY
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“Fans of Nevada Barr’s Anna Pigeon series and readers of environmental mysteries may appreciate this lush tale.”
—LIBRARY JOURNAL
“Archaeologist Chuck Bender’s contract for preservation work in Utah’s Arches National Park is disrupted by a sudden death that turns out to be only the first of several. Where will it all end?”
—KIRKUS REVIEWS
“Those interested in national parks and the environmental threats to them will be rewarded.”
—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
“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, author of Lost Lake
“Masterfully plotted in confident prose, Arches Enemy is not only an adventurous and fascinating mystery you can’t put down, it delivers important insight on ancestral cultures and their sacred lands. 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, author of A Sharp Solitude
PRAISE FOR SCOTT GRAHAM'S NATIONAL PARK MYSTERY SERIES
“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 of Sulfur Springs: A Cork O’Connor Mystery
“Filled with murder and mayhem, jealousy and good detective work—an exciting, nonstop read.”
—ANNE HILLERMAN, New York Times bestselling author of Cave of Bones
“One part mystery, one part mysticism, one part mayhem—and all parts thrilling.”
—CRAIG JOHNSON, New York Times bestselling author of Depth of Winter
“Along with archaeologist Chuck Bender, we experience the evocative wonder and amoral beauty of the Grand Canyon while at the same time learning the inside—and often frustrating—workings of a contemporary national park. The omnipresence of the ancient Anasazi civilization enriches the atmosphere”
—C. J. BOX, New York Times bestselling author of The Disappeared
“Graham has created a story [of] richness and depth
....Graham’s comfort and familiarity with his subject make the story an enjoyable read.”
—DURANGO HERALD
“Graham has created a beautifully balanced book, incorporating intense action scenes, depth of characterization, realistic landscapes, and historical perspective.”
—REVIEWING THE EVIDENCE
“Graham’s clever tale is tailor-made for those who prefer their mysteries under blue skies.”
—KIRKUS REVIEWS
“This zippy tale uses lush descriptions of natural beauty and twisted false leads to create an exciting, rewarding puzzle.”
—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
“Description and dialogue balance to bring both the rounded characters and the Rocky Mountain setting alive in this tale of danger, death, and intrigue
....Scott Graham has created a satisfying and suspenseful adventure.”
—FOREWORD REVIEWS
Cover art by David Jonason