Book 2 of the Walt Fleming series

This is the second book in the Walt Fleming series.  I started the series by reading book 3, then realized it was a series and read book 1, then this one.  There’s a book 4 too, so I’ll probably read that next!  3, 1, 2, 4, totally a great way to read a series of books.

I like the character of Walt Fleming.  He’s a sheriff who has some personal issues (going through a divorce, single dad, doesn’t know how to interact with people sometimes, low on cash, etc.), but is freaking great at sheriffing.  He has good instincts (for his job, not his personal life), which he follows wherever they lead.  He’s a skilled tracker, he can fly glide planes, and he loves his kids and dog.

This story starts out with a lost skier.  Someone dies while looking for the skier, and we’re not exactly sure it was murder at first.  Then we totally are sure, because things just keep getting weirder.  Walt’s friend is missing, then presumed kidnapped.  His friend’s secretary is kidnapped and brutally assaulted for information.  She’s rescued by an unlikely character, which I thought was smart.  Nobody’s all good or all bad in these stories.  You go along with Walt thinking the logical conclusions are being drawn, only to have the rug pulled out and everything you know challenged.

I don’t want to spoil it, because there are a lot of details and twists (not silly ones), and information that keeps you guessing.  I felt like this story was really well researched by the author, because there were many layers to the conspiracies.