Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Cold Burn by AJ Landau Series: National Park Thriller #2
Published by Minotaur Books on April 29, 2024
Genres: Thriller
Pages: 336
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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In Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park, a frozen woolly mammoth is uncovered by a geological survey team. When all of them are found dead at the site of the thawed-out carcass, National Park Service ISB special agent Michael Walker is called in to investigate.
In Florida’s Everglades National Park, FBI special investigator Gina Delgado traces the murder of an environmental science intern back to another U.S. Geological Survey team’s ongoing experiments that are decimating the fragile ecosystem.
Beneath the icy waters of Alaska’s Elfin Cove, the crew of a stranded Los Angeles class attack submarine is wiped out by a mysterious contagion, inexplicably causing their lungs to freeze. The link between these apparently disparate events lies in a deadly, prehistoric microbe that killed the mammoth the same way it did the USGS survey team in Glacier Bay and the crew members of the submarine. A microbe that a rogue billionaire is desperate to attain, and a Russian strongman will do anything to weaponize to achieve even greater, wide-ranging power. Fighting a battle on several fronts—militarily, intellectually, and biologically—Walker and Delgado are running out of time to stop a devastating attack that would reshape the entire world
I loved Leave No Trace is a chilling story of terrorists employing methods and gathering insurrectionists in much as the attack on the Capital in 2021. The leaders are demented narcissists, so really similar. We are introduced to Michael Walker who works for the national park system in their law enforcement. The other key player is Gina Delgado, who has lots of Army experience in explosives, now FBI, and currently as a Special Agent assigned to the President.
Cold Burn combines climate change issues with the greedy and corrupt, along with growing fascism. Michael is sent to find a US Geological team. He needs to work with a Native American tribe whose land they are on when an avalanche hit. Someone took them and looking into that finds that both a wealthy industrialist who is trying to go to Mars and the Russians are both after a natural resource here.
Gina is sent to find out about a dead body who is also from a geological team. The project he was an intern for was actually an experiment to lower the overheating Atlantic Ocean. They are having some success when he is murdered.
The pacing is quick with lots of investigative information and action. The technology aspects, although fiction, are enjoyable. The parties who want the natural resource devolve to more murder, theft and outright military attack in the end. Michael and Gina are both in danger trying to uncover and share the truth.
The National Park Thriller series seems to focus on these two main characters, who ordinarily would not work together being in different agencies but have a trust and friendship which makes them allies in global disasters. I’m happy to go on more of this thrill ride.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
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Wow this sounds really good. And very scary! I’m adding this series to my list, I think I would enjoy it😁
I’ve really enjoyed this series. Very interesting scientific things but also historical facets.
*sigh* Another series I missed out on. Great review, Anne💜
I’ve really enjoyed the National parks and the international and scientific aspects.
Wow, this does cut close to reality even with the thriller elements. Sounds good.
yes I really enjoyed both the scientific and historical aspects as well as some political ones.
I’m starting this one today after I finish Steel’s Edge. I’m almost done and didn’t attend the chat because I hardly remembered anything once I started! I think it’s my favorite of the four books! I’ll come back to your review here once I finish. Glad to see your 4 stars.
I’m enjoying this series. It’s got a nice mix of thriller, good guys fighting evil, science and cultural history.
That sounds scary. I don’t like anything I can imagine under water so that would just make it more creepy for me. Sounds like a good storyline though.
There are certainly scary parts Mary. I like the science of it.
“Cold Burn combines climate change issues with the greedy and corrupt, along with growing fascism,” sounds a little too realistic! Did you ever read State of Fear by Michael Crichton?
yes except this has good guys in the thick of it with science handling the issues. No I didn’t read that one.
On my list of series to try. I love the park aspect.
There’s really cool science and historical aspects as well.