Ride a Dark Trail

Bounty of Shadows, #1

by

Winter Austin

Intrigue and menace abound in the foothills of the Payette National Forest.

Ride a Dark Trail is the first book in author Winter Austin’s thrilling new series, Bounty of Shadows, and features an emotionally scarred former Army helicopter pilot recuperating from injuries sustained in a crash. Dorothy “Dot” Ybarra returned home to her mother’s Idaho ranch after her service in Afghanistan to fly for the forest service, but an accident during a forest fire crashed her helicopter and put her in the hospital for several weeks. Still not cleared to fly and return to work, Dot keeps busy helping her mother run the hunting and guiding business she operates out of her former sheep farm. Her days were pretty much the same until a young woman, bruised and bleeding, stumbles out of the forest and onto the ranch, claiming her ex had taken their six-year-old daughter as a hostage and was on the run, not only from law enforcement, but from some truly dangerous people also on his trail. 

I loved Dot Ybarra! She’s a strong woman carrying a load of baggage and bad luck, but no matter what gets thrown her way, she always pushes forward. She’s a female accustomed to commanding in male-dominated fields and maintains her status and control without coming across as unnaturally macho, unlike many other characters with similar backstories who are often portrayed as such. She acts authentically and sounds genuine. 

T.J. Roman is a capable and talented bounty hunter whose past with Dot means more to him than he lets himself believe. I loved watching them reconnect. Coincidentally, Sloane Cross, T.J.’s business partner, is Dot’s best friend from high school, and these relationships create the perfect opportunity for the three to join forces to find out who is after Ashley Cooper and her young daughter. 

The plot is well-paced, suspenseful, and fraught with mystery, as several key pieces of the puzzle remain hidden until much later in the story. Sloane and T.J. also have other cases they’re working on that slowly begin to crossover into what’s going on with the Coopers. Keeping things real is Dot’s mother, Angela, who is naturally anxious for her daughter’s safety, both physical and emotional. 

The Idaho setting is rural and wild, with the action extending into the Payette National Forest. The author also incorporates local Basque culture and language, through Dot’s family, into the story, adding an informative and unique touch. 

I highly recommend RIDE A DARK TRAIL to readers of thrillers, action and adventure stories, mysteries, and romantic suspense. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.