This book has everything I love: a strong female protagonist, an intense thrill ride, and, maybe my favorite part of all, much of it occurs outside in beautiful Montana with lots of vivid description of the natural habitat and animals that live on the fictitious wildlife sanctuary.

I have to admit that I stayed up way too late to finish A Solitude of Wolverines. Once I started up the trail with Alex Carter on her adventures, there was just no turning away.

I’m so excited that this is Book 1 of the Alex Carter Series, because I am already completely hooked!

I enjoyed this first book of a series by author Alice Henderson. Naturalist Alex Carter is threatened with bodily harm in the very first chapter of this book so, of course, you are 'hooked' immediately. Things seem to calm down a bit when she leaves Boston for the wilds of Montana to research the wolverine population on a remote wildlife preserve. This is very misleading. Our girl Alex is a cross between Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon and Nancy Drew, meeting each challenge that comes her way. She's almost too good to be true, but that didn't stop me from reading.
This is a page turner and I will look forward to reading more about Alex Carter.

4.25 strong female character stars

This book was a fun surprise, it started out in a pretty straight-forward manner with a wildlife biologist starting a new project studying wolverines. Except for an action-packed press conference shooting in the first half, I was engrossed in how Dr. Alex Carter was doing her work trying to track down and monitor wolverines in the wilds of Montana. It was fascinating that an old ski resort had been turned into a wildlife preserve. I enjoyed reading about how she set up traps to capture fur samples with alligator clips and cameras to identify them.

Then, around the half-way part, things took a wild turn – literally—and Dr. Carter showed her stuff and that she can take care of herself. I was remined just a bit of Lisbeth Salander from the “Girl with a Dragon Tattoo”. I would be fine to have Lisbeth or Alex on my side in a fight.

I rooted for Alex in almost impossible odds and this was a fast-paced sprint to the finish. I did not predict how this one would end, nor did I do a good job of figuring out who the bad guys were in this one. Thoroughly enjoyable and then I remembered that this is the first in a series.

Dr. Alex Carter is at a wetlands dedication and will be giving an interview. The area was saved to protect hundreds of species of birds from luxury condominiums being built. Not everyone is thrilled with the outcome. As a reporter is interviewing Alex, chaos erupted among the crowd, as a man pushed his way toward the stage aiming a gun at Alex. A game of cat and mouse began as Alex, and the founder of Save Our Wetlands, Christine Mendoza, ran to seek cover. Then another shot, and Alex expecting to be hit, is surprised that the shooter has been hit, but doesn't stop him. The shooter is on the move again towards Alex, where she and Christine are taking cover behind trees and a second shot takes out the shooter.

Alex makes it home after the ordeal, only to be swarmed by reporters. Alex has been trying to cope after her long standing relationship with Brad went south. Not hearing from Brad, nor able to reach him, Alex accepts a job in Montana to study Wolverines, where she will be living in an old ski resort that sits on donated land.

Alex is picked up by Jolene Baker, an older colorful woman, who had beads braided in her hair and streaks of purple, who is Alex's closest neighbor. Jolene rambles on about how creepy the lodge is, that there were murders, ghost hunters, and swears she saw Sasquatch!

As Alex begins to get comfortable in her new surroundings, and has some comforts like water and electricity. Although, Alex is met with some unwelcoming greetings and complaints to Sheriff Makepeace are not met with much concern, Alex is determined to do the job she was hired to do.
A job, she loves, but will test her survival skills and her wits to stay alive.

I loved that the setting was in the Bitterroot Valley in Montana, having been raised in Montana, I was very familiar with the area. I learned some interesting facts about the wolverine. This was an engrossing read, where the ending left a hook for the second book, that I, very much look forward to.

I received an ARC from NetGalley via William Morrow and I have voluntarily reviewed this book.

A very fast paced thriller that starts the action on page 1.

Alex Carter is a wildlife biologist who has accepted a position in remote Montana to study wolverines. With her personal life in a questionable place, this study will take her away from stress of her job in Boston. While her living conditions may be rough, the wildlife sanctuary is an excellent place for her study....except the locals are not welcoming, in fact her camp and equipment are vandalized and she gets no support from the local law enforcement.

The scenery and remoteness of the sanctuary are definitely characters in this book. With so much wilderness available, the wolverine population should have rebounded. When her study does not validate the projections, Alex will take steps to figure out why, even if it means she puts herself in danger.

First of all, a big thank you to Scene of the Crime and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. What a thrilling adventure that takes place in the mountains of Montana. Alex Carter is working at an old ski lodge in Montana studying wolverines and everywhere she turns, there are people who want her gone for one reason or another. The writing style was excellent and the ending makes me wish I could read the next book right away. I usually do not like reading books in a series, but this book was so exceptionally written, I am looking forward to more by this author.

When I learned that A Solitude of Wolverines was a mystery with a wildlife biologist as the main character, I perked up. When I learned that the book was written by an actual wildlife biologist, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Now I can say that this first Alex Carter mystery is a winner, and I can't wait to read more.

Wildlife and the wilderness are at the center of this story, and you can really get a feel for the type of conservation work wildlife biologists do. If you love all creatures great and small, there's even a bibliography so you can learn more about the animals being studied in the book. But if the wilderness is at the center of A Solitude of Wolverines, Alex Carter is its beating heart. When asked to lie about her findings for her bosses who have taken bribes in a previous job, Alex refuses in spectacular style knowing that she has a lot to lose by telling the truth.

This is not your usual female character. Her mother was an Air Force fighter pilot who devised games for her daughter that taught Alex how to think on her feet and use the items at hand for her survival. When something like that is mentioned in a book, you can take it to the bank that this is going to be a big factor in the story later on-- and it is. There are plenty of high octane action scenes in A Solitude of Wolverines, and there is no candy-coating of the consequences for neither man nor beast. (I mention this for those readers who might be a bit squeamish.)

The only thing that made me wonder about Alex is her choice of best friend and boyfriend. Anyone with two working brain cells should have been able to deduce that her boyfriend was a high maintenance waste of space, but I suppose that tells us that she makes mistakes like the rest of us mortals. Her best friend is a typical high rolling Hollywood actress, and that makes for an odd combination with the middle-of-nowhere loving Alex. I do have to admit that it's probably not a good idea for a main character-- no matter how dynamic-- to be a hermit. There's also a shadowy third character in Alex's orbit. One that she didn't realize she had, and it would appear that this dangerous shadow will figure more prominently in the next book. Why is this person a "dangerous shadow"? Because he's Alex's serial killer guardian angel. How's that for a shocker!

A Solitude of Wolverines is a momentous opening chapter in Alex Carter's story, one that changes her: "A new sensation spread inside of her, a loss of innocence." I, for one, am looking forward to seeing what she does next.

This is my first book by Alice Henderson, and it was definitely worth me trying a new author. This is a fast paced thriller. Alex is sent to Montana to study the wolverines and runs into something illegal and sinister. Not knowing who to trust, she must fend for herself to come out of this alive. Can not wait for the next book in the series.

After a shooting incident at a Boston park, where Dr. Alex Carter is saved by an elusive sniper, she is ready to leave the city. An opportunity arises when her former advisor from Berkeley calls. The Land Trust for Wildlife Conservation is conducting a study of the wolverine population in Montana. Their current scientist had been called back to England on a family matter. Quarters are provided in an abandoned ski resort on the property.

Alex is more at home roaming the hills than in a city, but shortly after her arrival she receives a warning to leave and her car is later run off the road. Many in the area had used the old resort’s property for hunting and grazing their cattle so the Conservation’s ownership of the resort is resented by the locals. Her complaint to Sheriff Makepeace is met with indifference, but she does find an ally in his secretary.

Back on the mountain, Alex sets camera traps and hair snares to track wildlife. As they are set and as she monitors them she has the constant feeling of being watched. As a young girl, she had learned survival skills from her mother and must now draw on those skills. Being new to the area there are few people she can trust as she deals with attacks from both animals and men with their own agenda. However, she is resourceful and . they have underestimated her abilities

Alice Henderson has written a thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Her descriptions of the mountains of Montana offer a breath of fresh air and she brings a message of the importance of conservation. While the story culminates in a high-action chase through rugged terrain, she also leaves a question that begs for a sequel. This is one thriller that you will not want to put down and comes highly recommended. I would like to thank NetGalley, Harper Collins and Scene of the Crime for allowing my review of this book.

Thrillers are my absolute favorite book genre, but I’ve read so many that lately they all seem similar. This book broke my streak. In addition to lots of thrills, there is discussion on the environment, conservation and the great outdoors. I’m a city girl at heart that just never gets outside enough.

Alex Carter is feeling a little restless in Boston, so when an opportunity to study wolverine life on a land trust in Montana arises, she takes it. Once she’s there, she’s in her element, but the residents of the closest town are cold towards her. She’s not sure if it is personal, contempt for the land trust, or something else. Then strange things start happening.

The second half of this book is pure thriller. It had my heart going and guessing what was going on. I felt like I was right there in Montana and in fear of my life. At times the thrills seemed a little impossible, but it didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the book. It also gave me a chance to reflect on my actions and carbon footprint as it relates to the environment. I also learned that there are wolverines that don’t involve Hugh Jackman. This is a great start to a new series.

Anyone who thinks protecting endangered species and their habitats is for the meek and mild will change their minds within the first few pages of Alice Henderson's thriller A Solitude of Wolverines. Wildlife biologist Alex Carter needs a change of pace from her current life: the city of Boston, a spoiled and obnoxious boyfriend who's "taking a break" from their relationship, and the trauma of nearly being killed at a wildlife preserve press conference. So when a land trust calls asking her to fill in for their biologist while he's dealing with a family emergency she jumps at a wonderful opportunity. Months in relative solitude at an abandoned ski resort surveying the preserve and looking for wolverines sounds like just what she needs. The small town locals are against the land trust and Alex quickly finds herself the town's least favorite person. But is it more than a rich cattle rancher wanting the land for himself? Stories of poachers, hotel murderers, and Sasquatch quickly become the least of Alex's problems as she stumbles across an operation with some very sick plans for the preserve, and no problem removing Alex from their path by any means necessary.

A Solitude of Wolverines is an edge-of-your-seat thriller written in a fast-paced, descriptive style that plays like a movie inside your head. Author Alice Henderson does a brilliant job taking her personal experiences doing wildlife surveys and her obvious passion for protecting endangered species and their habitats to create her heroine Alex Carter, filling her with a love of nature and the drive to try and save it that can't be faked. The environment around her, beautiful, lonely, often harsh and unforgiving, becomes as much of a character as any of the people and Henderson is brilliant at putting the reader right alongside Alex all the way. Alex is a problem-solver; a planner; and the sort of kick-ass, enterprising, resourceful person you would want on your side in any situation. In short, she's rather like a wolverine's kindred spirit, although she doesn't see herself that way. Her character development throughout the book is well done and I look forward to seeing where the author takes her next.

I freely admit that I picked up this book because of the title (I am an unapologetic lover of all members of the weasel family so when they show up on the cover of a book or in the title I'm going to read it) but I stayed with it for the story. Fascinating, suspenseful, with moments of peace and beauty followed by explosive, nail-biting drama, this book had it all. Twists with characters you don't see coming, and a secondary plot twist (both unexpected and brilliant) that promises to stay with Alex many books into the future. I'm not giving anything away to say that we do get to see wolverines and I cheered when we did. People who don't know anything about this large member of the weasel family will get to learn about them without feeling preached to and Henderson puts a nice bibliography in the back to direct readers to excellent sources for learning more about wolverines and how to help them.

Fans of authors like Nevada Barr and C. J. Box will enjoy this new voice on the wilderness thriller scene. A Solitude of Wolverines is non-stop action, suspense, and surprises and you won't be able to put it down once you start!


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I will leave a review on Amazon and B&N on Oct. 27, 2020

A Solitude of Wolverines is the first book in a new series, and I found it to be a thrilling read. This is a new author to me, and I found her writing to be a very compelling read. Alex is a wildlife biologist who dreams of working in a meaningful job that helps animals, she has broken up with her boyfriend once again. After a horrifying experience, a huge opportunity presents itself and gives her the chance to do what she loves. She finds herself in Montana, and most of the town folks would rather see her gone. Alex is a strong female character that I really enjoyed, and I can just imagine the upcoming books. I certainly would recommend this book to others

I received a ARC from NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishers and I was under no obligation to leave a favorable review, all opinions expressed here are my own.

A Solitude of Wolverines was an exciting outdoor suspense novel. Alex Carter Is going through a rough time in her life—between jobs, uncertain relationship, and unhappy with her location—when she is offered a job opportunity studying Wolverine activity in the Montana wilderness. She jumps at the opportunity and suddenly finds herself in a small secluded town that clearly doesn’t want her there. As she explores the land preserve around the remote lodge she’s staying at, she’s thrust into the middle of a dangerous group of men who are willing to kill to preserve their wilderness game. Definitely a page turner for readers who like mysteries or outdoor adventures. I can’t wait to read the next in the Alex Carter series

As informative as it is thrilling.
Dr Alex Carter is a biologist who's romantic relationship is disintegrating and finds herself out of sorts in Boston when she gets just the call she needs. A university colleague asks if she'd be willing to do field work for The Land Trust for Wildlife Conservation looking for and studying wolverines in Montana. She couldn't be happier. Once she gets set up and starts monitoring the wildlife, her camera captures a man barefoot and injured on the mountain but when she goes to look for him he has vanished. She needs help with the search but the problem is the locals resent her being there and the sheriff is not very helpful. From here things get very interesting and suspensefull to say the least.
The author herself is a conservationist and she uses her intimate knowledge to craft an all consuming, suspenseful thriller. I was totally invested from the first chapter and all the way to the edge of my seat conclusion. Alex is an endearing character and one I can't wait to follow in future installments in the series. I find this to be a terrific, tightly plotted novel and I highly recommend it to all you wildlife loving thriller readers.

The Mountains Are Calling and I must go.

Y’all, it’s books like this that give me trust issues. 😂 I have so much paranoia, and this was drawn out so well. I really didn’t think I would enjoy this book. I thought, this is so not for me. When I received the opportunity to read and review this, I almost passed it up. I’m not going to enjoy a book about snow and conservationism. Then, I read chapter one and had my mouth open the entire time, jaw dropped. Therefore, this book is so for me. 😂

When Alex is on the mountain, there are several scenes where she feels like she’s being followed. I was holding my breath as she was trying to outrun and out hide whomever or whatever was hunting her down. Was it a bear? Was it a human? Why is my heart beating so fast? Loved it!

There is a lot about the conservationism and wildlife. A lot. I found it to be fascinating, because just like Zoe, I thought wolverines were wolves 😂. If you aren’t into that, there’s a few pages to skip/skim over. However, I do think the author added that information in such a tactful way that I was learning from Alex without it being over bearing or trying to. But let me say this, Alex is so selfless! She was in a very scary position, and instead of Scooby Doo running out of there, she gave all the animals water and then moved on. She truly cares for her work, it was so kind. She’s my hero.

PS: Why do they keep bringing up Brad? Who cares about BRAD?! Brad and Alex’s relationship, Brad did this, Brad did that.. BRAD IS TRASH. He was such a gaslighter. How did she stay with him for EIGHT WHOLE YEARS? When he finally showed up to the Inn, I was surprised, but I was also hoping he would be the next victim or whatever sinister thing was happening. Is that wrong? That’s great storytelling to get me to want to murder off a character.

Thank you Alice Henderson, for that WILD, paranoid ride. Thank you for teaching me about Wolverines and grabbing my attention. I am obsessed with this writing and cannot wait for the next book in the series to come out. Thanks to NetGalley & William Morrow for the copy. This one is out 10.27.2020

Alex, a wildlife biologist, impulsively takes a job in Montana counting wolverines after being shot at during a ceremony in Boston. After all, her relationship is failing and she misses being in the wilderness. Well, wildness she gets at Snowline Lodge - and a whole lot more. The first two thirds of this fast paced read focuses very much on Alex and the wolverines (nature fans take note- there's lot of interesting info) but then the simmering creepiness turns into an outright horror show when she discovers there's something very wrong on the mountain. No spoilers from me but don't trust anyone and be prepared for some gruesome and sad stuff. The immediate problem she faces is solved but there's a lingering question (this is, after all, meant to be the first in a series) = who was the shooter who saved her life in Boston? Is it the same man who saves it in Montana? What do the cryptic postcards and notes mean? Alex is a good character (also like her dad), the atmospherics are good, and if the conflict is implausible, well, I still kept reading. Heads up to the sensitive : there is graphic violence to man and beast (as well as one sweet scene). Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Looking forward to the next one.

A Solitude of Wolverines is a solid cli-fi, environmental thriller. The story follows Dr. Alex Carter, an environmental biologist that's never happier than when she's out in nature doing research. And after her long term relationship sours and a shooting at a conservation reception leaves her feeling unsettled in Boston, an opportunity to do fieldwork on wolverines seems like the perfect solution. Alex quickly finds out though that most of the locals don't want her around, and she constantly feels on edge in the old broken down hotel she's using as a headquarters for her research. But is it simple animosity for a tree hugger, or is there more going on than that? The book picks up into a breakneck pace as threats emerge which makes it easy to stay engaged. The book also leaves off with a bit of a cliffhanger, making it clear this is not the last the author intends to write about Carter. While good, the book isn't perfect. Henderson is clearly knowledgeable and passionate about environmental issues, which occasionally leads her into lecturing instead of storytelling. The incident at the beginning of the novel doesn't really connect well with the rest of the book, acting more like a heightened reason to leave Boston, which she seems likely to have done anyways. There's also one brief chapter that ties in to an underlying story the author intends to serve as a connection between Carter stories, but it's told in the past from a different point of view and feels wildly out of place in the story.

Wow! What a great read. It was suspenseful and entertainingly educational. It grabbed me from the first sentence: "The wetlands dedication was a resounding success until the gunman showed up." and kept my interest throughout.

Wildlife biologist Alex Carter, who does field studies on endangered species and their habitat, narrowly escaped with her life after a crazed gunman tries to kill her at a wetlands dedication. With her nerves frayed and her relationship crumbling, she jumps at the chance to get back to the mountains and study wolverines at an abandoned ski area in a newly created wildlife sanctuary.

Upon arriving at a small town in northwest Montana, she finds her reception less than cordial. Many of the locals do not approve of losing their hunting and trapping grounds to the sanctuary. In a not-so -subtle warning to leave, she is run off the road by a mysterious truck. Her study is sabotaged and she has the feeling she is being stalked. Things go downhill from there as she tries to discern who she can trust. Is the rancher who is using the sanctuary as grazing land behind the threats? Is the sheriff to be trusted to take the increasingly violent threats seriously? What secrets are the area residents hiding?

This is the first book in a new series by an author who does similar work as the protagonist. I was all set to nitpick the book because it is set in the area in which I live, but the author got it right. And who knows, maybe lupine flowers do bloom in the late fall at higher elevations? At any rate, I learned a lot about the illusive wolverine and the need for habitat preservation. I do admit, however, that she was preaching to the choir. Whatever your beliefs, if you enjoy plausible suspense novels, don't pass on this book.

I received an Advance Reader's Copy for an honest review of this book. Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins publishers for the opportunity to read this book. I can't wait for it to be published so I can buy a copy for my husband.

This fast-paced wilderness mystery mixes fully-formed characters, a unique setting, and a strong plot. Reminiscent of Nevada Barr's books, it is an engaging read. Few books have gripped my attention recently as strongly as this book did. Looking forward to more titles in the series!

*Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free advance copy of this title

A Solitude of Wolverines by Alice Henderson.
Dr. Alex Carter, a wildlife biologist, jumps at the chance to flee from Boston to the isolated Rocky Mountains in Montana to research the wolverine population. Narrowly escaping getting shot at a wetlands dedication ceremony and 'taking a break' from her long-term boyfriend Alex is done with the city and eagerly looks forward to the solitude of nature.
Quickly she discovers perhaps not everything is quite as drama free as she anticipated. Hostile towns people, neighbor's sighting of Sasquatch, a mysterious note left on her truck and tales of previous murders that took place at the gloomy abandoned ski lodge where she is staying, 28 miles from the nearest town make her question the noises she hears in the lodge and the sense of being followed when she is out in the woods.
But she is finally back to the wilderness she loves. She spends her days hiking, setting up and checking her camera traps to conduct a wolverine population census. And then she stumbles across something that she was never supposed to discover.
Alice Henderson wrote a fast paced thriller. The wilderness setting and Alex's isolation is richly described and plays a starring role in the book. There were a couple of implausible moments but on the whole an enjoyable work. Will keep an eye out for future books in this series.