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When the mysterious appearance of an endangered snake leads to murder, special agent Sam Rivers must solve the case before those responsible can slither away.
The appearance of a rattlesnake wouldn’t normally be enough to halt construction on Alta Vista, an upscale housing development in Southeast Minnesota’s bluff country. But this is no ordinary reptile; it’s a rare eastern massasauga rattlesnake (EMR). The endangered snake has not been seen in the region for more than two decades, so Sam Rivers is called in. As a special agent of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Sam takes his responsibilities seriously—especially when it comes to protecting endangered species and their habitats. If he finds EMR dens on the construction site, he’ll close it permanently.
While the developers protest in outrage, Sam enlists the help of herpetologist Gina Larkspur from the Department of Natural Resources. Together, they begin to find anomalies that call the entire situation into question. When Sam’s wolfdog, Gray, tries to sniff out the EMR dens, it isn’t rattlesnakes he finds. Instead, Gray discovers the remnants of a terrible, 25-year-old crime. Were the endangered species merely pawns in a diabolical coverup? As Sam searches for the truth, bodies begin to pile up. He and his team must race to find answers before more innocents die.
Natural history writer Cary J. Griffith brings back Sam Rivers for his fifth outdoors-themed mystery—a suspenseful novel filled with fast-paced action.
“Special Agent Sam Rivers finds himself on the endangered species list in this rollicking page-turner.”
—Jeffrey B. Burton, award-winning author of the Mace Reid K-9 Mysteries
“I highly recommend the Sam Rivers Mystery series for anyone who loves an intricate mystery, a fantastic K-9 officer, and characters you will root for.”
—Kathleen Donnelly, award-winning author of the National Forest K-9 Series
“Griffith’s knowledge of flora and fauna… enables him to masterfully tell this story that will resonate with many readers. Rattlesnake Bluff is Griffith’s finest novel.”
—Brian Duren, award-winning author of Whiteout
“In this tightly coiled fifth Sam Rivers mystery, Cary Griffith proves he’s on par with C.J. Box and Craig Johnson. Griffith’s fast-paced storytelling immerses the reader in equal parts landscape, wildlife, and danger.”
—Sara E. Johnson, New York Times Readers’ Pick author of the Alexa Glock Forensics Mysteries
“Rattlesnake Bluff gave me a pit in my stomach from its tense opening pages all the way to its dramatic and terrifying finale. Whether you’re an existing fan of Sam Rivers or brand-new to the series, Griffith’s taut writing will keep you turning the pages. I loved it.”
—Joshua Moehling, author of And There He Kept Her
“Lovers of wildlife mysteries will not be disappointed.”
—Lois Winston, best-selling author of the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries
Award-winning author Cary J. Griffith grew up among the woods, fields, and emerald waters of eastern Iowa. His childhood fostered a lifelong love of wild places. He earned a B.A. in English from the University of Iowa and an M.A. in library science from the University of Minnesota.
Griffith’s books explore the natural world. In nonfiction, he covers the borderlands between civilization and wild places. In fiction, he focuses on the ways some people use flora and fauna to commit crimes, while others with more reverence and understanding of the natural world leverage their knowledge to bring criminals to justice. In both genres, readers are likely to learn something about our relationship to the natural world and the creatures who inhabit it.
“I was 14 the first time I visited the lakes and boreal forests of northeastern Minnesota,” says Griffith, “and its beauty struck me.”
Griffith is also the author of Wolf Kill, Cougar Claw, Killing Monarchs, Dead Catch, Gunflint Burning, Lost in the Wild, and Opening Goliath. He lives with his family in a suburb of Minnesota’s Twin Cities.