Another immersive book with beautiful descriptions of nature by Peter Heller. I read The River a couple of years ago, and while I enjoyed it, I liked the plot of this story much more. I really liked the main character, Ren, and the setting in the National park. It reminded me some of one of my favorite books Once There Were Wolves, with the tension between those trying to care for the natural environment and farmers/ranchers/hunters. Both books contained some nuance and I appreciate that. This book made me long to go to Yellowstone right away!

Ren is a park ranger in Yellowstone National Park. For him, the best part about his job is being in that natural environment. It is a solitary existence except for a few people he interacts with on a semi-regular basis. One is his nearest neighbor, Hilly, a wolf biologist is dedicated and enigmatic. When she is badly injured in a poacher’s trap, it starts a cascade of events that will change the way Ren sees his past and a possible future.

Although Ren is very much present in performing his role as park ranger, his tumultuous past is always impacting how he views the world. The strength of this book is how he finds a way to give himself and others a path towards redemption. Heller has crafted a book that is both meditative and mystery, with beautiful descriptions of the natural world and some of the quirky, dangerous, or sincere people who make up YNP. Recommended. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this title.

Years ago I read and loved The River by Peter Heller, so I was so excited to read his latest. Unfortunately it was a bit disappointing and the writing felt flat.

2.5 stars, rounding up. This book is a bit of a mish-mash, ostensibly about a park ranger at Yellowstone trying to navigate, as the plot synopsis would put it, "a skirmish between a local hunter and a wolf biologist [that] turns violent," but often feeling like a collection of "day in the life" stories about the national park -- and a pretty misanthropic one, at that. Heller's narrative meanders away from the mystery plot (such as it is) and into episodes in three general categories:

- Nature writing (superb; Heller clearly LOVES writing about the wilderness and does it well)
- Misadventures of the park ranger, usually relating to park visitors being giant idiots (fine for what they are, I guess, but tangential to the narrative)
- Character backstory reminiscences (pointless? They virtually never have any bearing on the present-day plot and frankly I didn't care enough about the main character to be all that interested in the time he was rude to a high school date)

Your mileage may vary with those. The mystery plot, too, was unfocused, as he spends all this time investigating some right-wing-activist group that his suspect isn't even in anymore (spoiler, I guess, but it doesn't matter) and could have or should have just followed the guy around at all times - he's rarely hard to find - and done a better job. The book also has a last-minute romance subplot that features some of the worst romantic writing I can remember.

The book shines in its nature writing, so if that's your jam then check it out. It's a shame that virtually everything else falls flat, but hey - there is a LOT of nature writing in it. Enough to salvage the experience, just.

The Last Ranger was written by an author I have never read before! It didn’t disappoint! I first heard about this from modern mrs. Darcy. I really enjoyed the story and the characters. Peters’s writing was smooth and easily followed. He did descriptions and direction the plot seamlessly.

I have had Heller's books on my TBR list for a while and this book just pushed those other novels to the top of the list. This novel will make you feel like you are in the heart of Yellowstone National Park. Beautiful writing about the landscape, elements, and wildlife really evoke the setting of this quiet thriller from Peter Heller. I hope this is the first in a series or at least a trilogy featuring Ranger Ren Hopper, who I feel has many more stories to tell about his life and adventures in the park. I also highly recommend this Washington Post article for some background about Yellowstone wolves (https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/03/04/yellowstone-wolves-hunting/).

The Last Ranger is the latest location and character study by Peter Heller. I rate it 4 stars because the plot tended to wander rather than focus on any one thing. The protagonist is Ren Hopper, a ranger in Yellowstone National Park. The story revolves around the reintroduction of wolves to the park, and the competing interests in Yellowstone protecting public land and its wildlife, and the interests of nearby ranchers protecting their livestock from wolves which stray from the park. Subplots include conflict with rights' nationalist groups, over-eager tourists risking their lives for selfies with wild animals, and a sort-of romantic relationship with Hilly, a scientist studying wolves. As usual, Heller excels in describing the landscape and its inhabitants. His prose drew me into the book and I found myself re-reading paragraphs and chapters simply because they were written so beautifully vivid. I thought that the story wandered around from plot to subplot to plot, and from relationship to relationship. But the book is totally worth reading for the wonderful local flavor and descriptions. I rate it 4 stars because the plot seemed to wander rather than focus on any one thing. Thank you to Knopf and Netgalley for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.

The re-introduction of wolves into Yellowstone National Park in 1995 caused some real conflict in the United States. Many ranchers and wildlife enthusiasts thought that wild wolves would ruin the balance of wildlife in the park.

Ren is a park ranger who loves living in this part of paradise. He is always surprised when people come to the park and expect to be able to walk up to the animals and pet them.

Hilly is a bit of a loner who wants to study the effects of the reintroduction of the wolves into the park and their natural environment. A group of activists put traps on the trails where the wolves might frequent to help thin the pack. Hilly finds herself caught in one of these traps and is left to die in the wilderness. Ren is able to find her and carries her back to safety.

Peter Heller points out the trials and difficulties of the job. Anyone who aspires to this type of work would do well to read this book. Awesome story and visuals! 5 stars – CE Williams

Published by ‎ Knopf on July 25, 2023

Crime novels are usually set in urban environments, although there is no shortage of crime stories that take place in small towns and rural areas. The Last Ranger is set in a national park. It is more thriller than wilderness adventure, but the forest setting is just as important to the novel as its plot and characters. The novel is an homage to the outdoors, to predator and prey in the animal kingdom, a drama in which humans play an outsized role.

Ren Hopper is an enforcement ranger at Yellowstone. He’s a loner who enjoys nature, so the job is perfect for him. He has a handful of close friends and checks in with at least one of them on most days, but his days off are largely devoted to trout fishing. When he’s working, his job requires him to deal with idiots because idiots are everywhere, including idiots who get angry and point their guns at each other. America on vacation, Ren thinks.

Speaking of idiots, a subplot involves members of a social group/militia who (like too many people) believe public land should not be managed for the public benefit but should be available to every selfish person who wants to hunt or cut down trees or otherwise improve his own life to the detriment of everyone else. People who yak about freedom and imagined rights are often antisocial and irresponsible. The novel reflects that reality, but the militia subplot eventually fizzles out, perhaps because Peter Heller found no reason to clutter a straightforward novel with another storyline after he made his point. Or perhaps the subplot is setting up a sequel.

The main story concerns a biologist named Hilly. She is Ren’s neighbor (meaning her cabin in Yellowstone isn’t far from his) but, like Ren, she lives an isolated life. Wolves are her family. She studies them as a biologist, loves and protects them with the instincts of a mother.

Les Ingraham traps and kills wolves. He claims to limit his hunting and trapping to areas beyond the Yellowstone boundaries, but he’s clearly setting illegal wolf traps inside the park. Much of The Last Ranger reminds readers of the important role that wolves play in the ecosystem and why they deserve protection. Yes, wolves can be a nuisance to livestock owners who don’t build strong fences, but in an environment like Yellowstone, wolves contribute to forest management in ways that most of us never think about, indirectly affecting the course of rivers and the creation of wetlands.

Is Ingraham a bad man? Heller refuses to portray him as a stereotype. The novel presents a surprisingly balanced view of the character, leaving it to the reader to decide. When a conflict develops between Hilly and Ingraham, neither is unblemished. The difference between good and evil is often a question of how well people can manage their anger. Sometimes it’s a question of luck.

The conflict between Ingraham and Hilly drives the story, leading to a couple of low-key, high-tension scenes that are all the more powerful because Heller never tries to take the action over the top. While that conflict gives the novel its bones, Ren gives the story its heart. Heller develops the essential details of Ren’s life, allowing the reader to understand the torment that drives his isolation. Ren’s mother taught him to love fishing but Ren has ambiguous emotions about the role she played in a man’s death before she abandoned her family. Ren married a woman who had an incurable illness, a woman who died young and could not bear children. It’s easy to understand why Ren might be minimizing the risk of further pain.

Ren might be too complex for a job in law enforcement. On more than one occasion, Ren tells a wrongdoer how to avoid arrest. When Ren becomes the target of vague death threats, he feels guilty about having made an arrest that might have ruined a young man’s life. Given a chance to make amends for that arrest, he seizes the opportunity, subordinating his law enforcement role to compassion and understanding. Ren’s personality and his struggle to find and stay upon the path of decency make him a fascinating character. I hope he returns.

RECOMMENDED

The Last Ranger is about a Yosemite park ranger named Ren. When his wolf biologist friend encounters some trouble with local poachers, he steps in to figure out who exactly is behind it.

A very Peter Heller book in that his descriptions of the setting and nature are noteworthy. Otherwise it seemed very different from the other two Peter Heller books I've read (The Dog Stars and The River). They each had some level of suspense and action that was underlying everything but I found that this one sort of fell flat on that front. I wanted to find out what was happening, but there wasn't any urgency.

Also, I wasn't a huge fan of the romance in this one. While I appreciate that it flowed naturally out of relational development, it seemed unusually explicit for Heller and felt very heavy-handed.

I give Peter Heller's The Last Ranger a solid 3 stars.

3.5 stars. There were parts of this book that I absolutely loved. I loved the setting. The author writes in way that immerses you in nature, and I felt like I was in the park surrounded by its magic. I also loved learning about the wolves, their pack rituals, and their importance to the ecosystem. The book touches on some important topics—like human impact on wildlife, particularly illegal poaching. But parts of the story lost me. It was slow in parts, but then would pick up and regain my interest. The characters were complex and the setting was lovely. Overall I enjoyed this and would read more from this author.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

One of my favorite things about reading The Last Ranger is that it is coming out at at time we are seeing one video after another of "Tourons," Tourist/Morons, many at Yellowstone National Park, interacting inappropriately with the wildlife or sticking their hands in dangerously hot springs and generally creating havoc. Because this novel introduces us to Ren, an enforcement ranger living on site and responsible, among other things, for handling Touron types. Someone is killing wolves and engaging in threatening activities toward Hilly, a wolf expert studying a pack at Yellowstone. Ren, too is being threatened... he thinks. Heller weaves a great story about personal, political, community, academic and tourist experiences of Yellowstone. He includes elements of current issues with addiction, childhood trauma and transcendence. This is a well plotted story with characters we connect with as their stories unfold and some surprises that are pleasing to the reader. The setting, a small part of Yellowstone and the nearest town, is wonderful. It's a book that cannot be described sufficiently due to the potential for spoilers, but a very, very good read.

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoy Peter Heller’s books set in the outdoors. This one takes place in Yellowstone National Park, which is very much a character in this book. We follow Ren who is an enforcement park ranger. We follow him and the things he has to deal with inside the park. I also learned things about wolves. He is on the trail of poachers inside the park. I have read The River and The Guide and will read any Peter Heller books set in the outdoors. I recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf for this advance copy. I’ve read several Peter Heller books and this one has maybe his most beautiful and poetic writing in his descriptions of the animals and the land. Truly breathtaking and paints an incredible image for the reader. But I think the story almost got lost in it. Heller’s novels are never super plot driven, but this one was just a little too slow. I will still pick up whatever he writes next.

Typical Peter Heller. If you love a damaged but very descent hero in the great outdoors, this is for you. Ren is a Park Ranger in Yellowstone dealing with all of the dangers and annoyances that come with mixing clueless tourist and wildlife. Things turn more sinister when Ren discovers someone is poaching wolves. Now threatening notes are being left for Ren and someone may have attempted to kill his best friend.

I love Peter Heller's writing and he does the nature/mystery genre so well. This book was exactly what I've come to expect from him. The Last Ranger follows the story of Ren, a park ranger in Yellowstone National Park. He becomes entangled in a clash between his neighbor--a wolf biologist, and a poacher. I just really enjoy his writing and being so drawn in to a world so different from my day to day. I highly recommend anything he writes.

A beautiful book about forgiveness and the struggle and heartbreak of living close to nature. Peter Heller cannot write a bad book!

I have really enjoyed Peter Heller's books. This one I did enjoy yet there was a little too much violence. I love the outdoor storylines, the wildlife, the fishing etc. But some in this one were a little graphic for me. It also didn't seem to get into the characters as much as the past novels have, I missed that.

This was a compelling read, set in and around the great nature preserve that is Yellowstone National Park. Ren Hopper is a park ranger, tasked with maintaining the safety of both human visitors and non-human residents of Yellowstone. His job is made more challenging by the foolish behavior of tourists, by the willful ignoring of rules by poachers, and by personal animosities and rivalries among members of the local community. A good and decent man with his own complicated history, Ren often struggles to balance all these competing needs, especially when his own life and those of other close to him are threatened.

Heller's descriptions of the natural world of Yellowstone, and of the habits and interactions of its non-human residents, were fascinating to read. Both human and non-human characters were brought vividly to life in his writing. The ambiguous conclusion left me a bit unsatisfied, but also left an opening for a sequel which, if it does come out, I will read eagerly.

If you enjoy the outdoors and camping, you will be immersed in The Last Ranger. At the least, you will recognize the stupidity of some of the tourists of America's National Parks. Fighting over campsites and noise along with engaging with wildlife far to closely (please don't) will have you shaking your head in consternation. Influencers and instagrammers are not left out of the burgeoning problems occurring with the wildlife and landscape.
Ren, a park ranger located in Yellowstone National Park, seems more connected to the wildlife than to the human life that inhabits the park during the tourist season. Ren appears to be hiding his life's worth of loss in daily tasks of maintaining order within Yellowstone. Hilly, is a local biologist with a deep love for her subjects, the wolves. But Hilly and Ren have both made enemies of the two-legged variety. It's Ren's job to find out who is stalking him and why and could it be the same individual that is threatening Hilly.
Beautiful descriptions of both the topography and the wildlife allow the reader to experience what Ren sees every day. The Last Ranger is compassionate toward the plight of our National Parks, acknowledges the problems with the local ranchers and the conflict between the ecosystems. And it is into this landscape that a story of a vindictive individual(s) is weaved in and out to the ultimate showdown.

A grateful thank you to Knopf for access to my early e-copy. All opinions are my own.