Library Journal
10/30/2020
Henderson moves from science fiction ("Skyfire Saga" and "Supernatural" series) to crime fiction with a title where wilderness collides with wanton greed and murder. A gunman almost kills conservation biologist Alex Carter for supporting a wildlife habitat in Boston, where Alex has reluctantly lived a city life. When her former professor at UC Berkeley contacts her to study wolverines at a protected land trust in Montana, she jumps at the chance. Upon her arrival at her new home—an abandoned ski resort reminiscent of TheShining—it's clear the residents in the area don't want her there. One leaves a threatening note on her windshield, and someone tries to run her off the road. But Alex is hard to scare. Dangerous things continue to happen and when she spots a bizarre creature deep in the forest, she's convinced something sinister is in play. Someone is trying to kill her, but who and why? Not sure whom she can trust, Alex's survival skills are put to the ultimate test against men with high-powered rifles hunting her in a blizzard. VERDICT Fans of ecological fiction will enjoy the juxtaposition of the natural environment with the best and worst of human nature in this exciting backwoods thriller. —K.L. Romo, Duncanville, TX
Publishers Weekly
09/21/2020
Idealistic biologist Alex Carter, the heroine of this middling series launch from Henderson (the Skyfire Saga), did an environmental study in Boston that thwarted plans to turn a tract of wetlands into commercial real estate. At the dedication ceremony for the nature preserve that was established instead, a man who lost money as a result is about to shoot Carter when an unknown sniper blows his head off. Traumatized by the violence, Carter leaps at a job offer to study wolverines in Montana on land donated to the Land Trust for Wildlife Conservation. After she arrives, someone leaves a note on her windshield warning her off, and someone else almost drives her off the road. She has apparently become the target of those who object to land being used to benefit animals rather than people. The stakes rise when Carter finds a badly injured man in the woods who disappears before she can return with help. A plot that strains credulity is matched by characters who lack depth. Readers interested in conservation-themed thrillers will be better served by the novels of Jon McGoran. Agent: Alex Slater, Trident Media Group. (Nov.)
Douglas Preston
A Solitude of Wolverines by Alice Henderson is a thriller with a heart, a riveting story of conspiracy, murder, and wilderness survival that will keep you turning the pages. Vivid characters, a pulse-pounding plot, a fascinating wildlife-conservation background, and beautifully realized settings make this an exceptional read. This is the first book in a series about wildlife biologist Alex Carter; I can’t wait for the next one.
James Rollins
A true stunner of a thriller debut. Both a mystery and a survival story, here is a novel written with a naturalist’s eye for detail and an unrelenting pace. It reminded me of the best of Nevada Barr, where the wilderness itself is as much a character as the feisty wildlife biologist who must solve a crime in a remote town where no one is talking, and everyone is a suspect. It’s so fraught with excitement and wondrous details that it demands to be read in one sitting and savored afterward. Don’t miss it
Owl Goingback
Alice Henderson has proven she is a true master of suspense. A Solitude of Wolverines is not for the faint of heart. It is a compelling, nail-biting story that kept me on the edge of my seat from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down."
Michael Laurence
"Looking for a little action with your activism? A Solitude of Wolverines delivers in spades. A page-turning read that will definitely leave you guessing. Alice Henderson is an author to watch!"
Lisa Morton
"A Solitude of Wolverines is a rare species indeed: an edge-of-your-seat thriller that engages not just the adrenaline glands but the heart and soul as well. With an engaging heroine, an incredible setting and pulse-pounding action, this one is truly a breed apart."
Nevada Barr
What a treat! Alice Henderson has delivered a treasure of a novel—and, to readers' delight, a promise of more where this came from. Her depiction of the natural world in all its beauty and terror is spot-on. Into this she weaves a cast of characters both original and fascinating, as well as a heroine who does the unbelievable, yet one can believe it. A great read!
Terry Shames
"A thriller that combines non-stop, breathtaking action with lyrical descriptions of a haunting landscape. I could not put it down.
Fresh Fiction
Best thriller of the year so far. Seriously.
The Nerd Daily
"The combination of environmentalism, suspense, and action strategically placed throughout A Solitude of Wolverines makes this novel distinctly different than others in its respective genre... A Solitude of Wolverines is filled with twists and turns that keep readers interested and engaged.
CriminalElement.com
"Alice Henderson at this point takes what might have been the first animal-activist/naturalist thriller I can recall and combines chills, thrills, and heart right up through the breathless finale. I look forward to the next Alex Carter novel!"
Denver Post
The novel is packed with action. Alex is smart, with an impressive knowledge of wildlife as well as guns and self defense tactics. It’s no plot spoiler to say she survives and will be back…
