Tracker’s Canyon by Pam Withers: “Well-plotted …cinematic. …thrilling. … Easy, fast-paced adventure/mystery.”

REVIEW

Tristan enters British Columbia’s Swallow Canyon on an expedition feeling a mix of trepidation and excitement.

His father and climbing teacher, Julian, disappeared there eight months before. Since then, Tristan’s mother has sunk into depression. Her in-home caregiver has charged the …teen with retrieving some item of Julian’s for his mother to grieve over in the absence of a body. Tristan’s guide, Brigit… has another goal. …Mentally ill Brigit has gone off her medications and blames Julian for her mother’s death. Tristan is her pawn.

THE DEEPER THEY GO…

The deeper they go into the canyon, the more layers Tristan uncovers about Julian’s last trip. It seems that Julian was, with Brigit’s mother, searching for gold. Tristan is a believably grieving, dutiful son—a sympathetic character trying to untangle a complicated web. Clues and revelations are well-plotted and the setting, cinematic. Descriptions of the extreme sport of canyoneering, a combination of rock climbing, cliff diving, and caving, are thrilling. … Easy, fast-paced adventure/mystery.

Review Posted Online: May 15th, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4597-3963-5, Dundurn Press

(Mystery. 12-16)

Blogs Pam Withers has written on canyoneering and Tracker’s Canyon:

How I wrote Tracker’s Canyon

First reviews of Tracker’s Canyon

Writing the novel

More on writing the novel

On canyoneering

Tracker’s Canyon by Pam Withers: “Well-plotted …cinematic. …thrilling. … Easy, fast-paced adventure/mystery.”

REVIEW

Tristan enters British Columbia’s Swallow Canyon on an expedition feeling a mix of trepidation and excitement.

His father and climbing teacher, Julian, disappeared there eight months before. Since then, Tristan’s mother has sunk into depression. Her in-home caregiver has charged the …teen with retrieving some item of Julian’s for his mother to grieve over in the absence of a body. Tristan’s guide, Brigit… has another goal. …Mentally ill Brigit has gone off her medications and blames Julian for her mother’s death. Tristan is her pawn.

THE DEEPER THEY GO…

The deeper they go into the canyon, the more layers Tristan uncovers about Julian’s last trip. It seems that Julian was, with Brigit’s mother, searching for gold. Tristan is a believably grieving, dutiful son—a sympathetic character trying to untangle a complicated web. Clues and revelations are well-plotted and the setting, cinematic. Descriptions of the extreme sport of canyoneering, a combination of rock climbing, cliff diving, and caving, are thrilling. … Easy, fast-paced adventure/mystery.

Review Posted Online: May 15th, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4597-3963-5, Dundurn Press

(Mystery. 12-16)

OTHER BLOGS

Previous blogs I’ve written on canyoneering and Tracker’s Canyon:

How I wrote Tracker’s Canyon

First reviews of Tracker’s Canyon

Writing the novel

More on writing the novel

On canyoneering