Canyon Sacrifice (National Park Mystery Series) Paperback – June 10, 2014

Emblazoned across the front cover of CANYON SACRIFICE is "A National Park Mystery." You might be forgiven for wondering if this was a new Nevada Barr mystery, written under an alias. However, the designation "debut novel," also on the front cover, might set you straight. In any case, although Anna Pigeon does not appear anywhere in the novel, Scott Graham has clearly set his sights on Barr's territory, and he's done a rather phenomenal job of it.The novel has the same mix of character-driven and plot-driven mystery that Barr does so well. In this case, our sleuth is not a park ranger, but rather an archaeologist who has made his name by searching for Native American artifacts before national park projects get underway. Chuck Bender has always been something of a loner, but just before the book opens he has met and married a much younger woman who comes with a ready-made family. Much of the book is concerned with Chuck's adjustment (or lack thereof) to his new family. In the process, the reader comes to know Chuck very well, and this is a great set-up for a new series.Chuck has brought his family on a camping trip to Grand Canyon National Park, where he has overseen several archaeological projects over the years. His new family is trying to get to know him, but just as he's starting to make inroads into the mom-and-two-daughters family he has married into, one of the daughters is kidnapped. The kidnapper may be the girl's estranged father, or it may be someone who is targeting Chuck, or it may be part of a plot that casts suspicion on Chuck's new wife. Chuck struggles with the possibilities as he attempts to rescue the girl and find his place in the family at the same time.The author is an amateur archaeologist, and the historical knowledge about the Anasazi and about archaeology in general is in plain evidence. It is woven well into the plot, however, so the reader does not ever feel as though (s)he's sitting in a lecture hall. Rather, when the information is supplied, it is to further the plot and/or provide substance to Chuck's role as an archaeologist. I was pleased to learn more about the Grand Canyon and the Anasazi while at the same time being deeply engaged in the action.I've visited the Grand Canyon, and I felt as though I was right back there while reading CANYON SACRIFICE. The writing about the location brings it into clear focus so that I now feel as though I have visited even the remote backcountry areas of the park that I could never actually see in person. Graham has created a beautifully balanced book, incorporating intense action scenes, depth of characterization, realistic landscapes, and historical perspective. I am looking forward to reading the next in the series, MOUNTAIN RAMPAGE, when it is released.This review first appeared at www.reviewingtheevidence.com.

This mystery is set at Grand Canyon's South Rim, and a newly minted family is on their first vacation with their new dad. New dad is a contract worker who does archaeological studies for construction companies, parks, etc., to determine whether work will impact cultural items, and to locate cultural resources. His new wife has two young daughters, 5 and 7, and it turns out that she hasn't told him all of the backstory to her life.They met and fell in love in the space of a few weeks, so they are still learning about each other. Camping at the South Rim seemed like a good way to experience a part of his world while getting acquainted with the family dynamic.Chuck Bender goes for an early run and accosts a man who is throwing rocks at a ground squirrel. The man takes offense and they fight briefly, with Chuck putting him on the ground. The woman with him attacks Chuck as well, all while hordes of Japanese tourists film the action. He finally breaks off contact and heads back to his camper. It takes a lot more time to get the women all cleaned up after breakfast with a trip to the shower house. By the time they're ready to be tourists, the day has gotten hot, and Chuck makes the mistake of catching the canyon shuttle to tour canyon viewpoints. It's hot, crowded, and slow. Along the way he notices that there's a lot of law enforcement and emergency services people at the place where he fought the man. As a former Parks person, he has some inside contacts, and quickly learns that a man fell off the rim that morning.Did he hurt the man that badly? Meanwhile his family is overheated, bored and miserable, and he heads for an air conditioned museum back at the main village. Things go a little better but he's still upset about what's going on...and that night his oldest daughter disappears. There's a note, "No Cops", left in her bedding.Did his wife's former husband kidnap her to extort money? He's done it before. Did somebody else take her to extort information and cultural artifacts that he knows about? Years ago Chuck found a pair of large ollas in an Anasazi granary, one full of turquoise necklaces, one full of coin-like discs. He did not report them to his employers, and never shared them directly with anyone since they were safe where they were. Unfortunately he stupidly mentioned to his friend and now brother-in-law that he knew of something incredibly valuable that could set him up for life if he were to sell it. He has no intention of selling these things on the black market, but he's not ready to share them with the world yet. He's been criticized in the past for the way he's handled major finds, and that makes him wary of reporting this granary's treasure.Now his big mouth has endangered him and his new step-daughter. The kidnapper is relaying instructions to him and ordering him to hike deep into the Canyon in the heat of mid-day to get something. That hike might kill him.It is a little over the top how this guy can take such physical abuse and keep on ticking, but overall, the story is a lively and engrossing adventure.

Waded through 20 pages or so and was treated to a highly capable, fit man and a spoiled woman with a revolting teenaged daughter and a sort of likeable daughter. Action from the hero? Hitting a man with a rock (who deserved it but a questionable thing for a hero to do) and sitting around the campsite not doing anything other than trying to please the unlikable female family he had married into. Nothing else to do on the rim of the Grand Canyon? No description of the scenery? And he buys a hatchet for the snarky teen and SHE LIKES IT?

Fast moving.Good read!Mounting tension, intricate plot.I liked it! Author kept your interest and delivered a positive ending.

I love reading about places I know or have been to. This story had a lot of detail, which brought up vivid images and memories of my past visits to the Grand Canyon. The characters were fairly well fleshed out but there were many gaps in the story, only made clear at the end in order to keep the reader from figuring out what was happening. There were so many wrong guesses and suggestive deductions by the main character, my opinion of him went from thinking he was a capable and intelligent person to thinking he was not very bright or intuitive. It was a good book but not perfect. I think the ending deserved more attention instead of dropping it so fast. I felt a little ripped off after having slogged through so much extra irrelevant detail throughout the book. I already had bought another of this author's books, so hopefully he learned from this one.