Thank you to Minotaur Books for the ARC to read! Out now!
I loved the first National Parks Thriller by this author duo so I was excited to get to read Michael and Gina's next story.

This book is packed with knowledge! So while you get a fictional mystery storyline you also get to learn some things along the way, lol

This story gets wild so buckle in folks. The seemingly unrelated characters and investigations will all converge into an explosive conclusion that left my jaw on the floor. I loved Michael & Gina's characters in the first book and I loved them in this story too. We also get to meet a great cast of new characters, including one of my favorites: Amka.

Well-researched, thrilling moments, multi-POV, PACKED with action, plotting on point: these are all things I love in books and this one made them all work very well!

Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy.

I initially struggled getting into this book which was a big disappointment after really enjoying the first book in this series. I think my issues had to do with the multiple POVs with a lot of information and different settings coming to the reader. The chapters are very short which I generally enjoy, but in this case, I felt like I was just settling into one storyline and setting when we switched again. I found the information the authors were providing about Alaska, climate change, the tribe, etc. was very interesting, but it was a lot to absorb and I found it to take me out of the narrative a bit. I wound up initially putting this book down.

When the book was released, I picked up the audiobook from the library and finished it that way and in the second half of the book I was much more engaged as the story lines begin to weave closer together. We get a lot more fast paced later in the book and I generally had a good time with it.

A futuristic story that could possibly happen. National Park ranger turned investigator tries to figure out a smuggling operation of native artifacts from Alaska. A body shows up in the Everglades after scientists have released a microbe to lower the water temperature to prevent global warming. Somehow these events tie together to create a story that is filled with realistic possibilities. An interesting read that shows the depravity of humanity. It takes a bit to get into the story but once you do, it's hard to put down.

As I started reading this book I was of the opinion that it would be the best of the series. It jumps right in with some mysterious deaths somehow connected even though they occur a continent apart. As the plot goes on, however, it just gets more and more unbelievable, At the risk of spoiling, a former park ranger and former FBI agent solve the murders, stop a global environmental catastrophe which originated in the past, and defend Alaska against a Russian invasion with the help of local natives who summon an ice storm. And there are friendly crocodiles. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the next in the National Parks Thriller series by AJ Landau. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

We connect back with National Park Service special Agent Michael Walker who is called in to investigate a missing geological survey team in Alaska. In the Florida Everglades, FBI special investigator Gina Delgado is investigating the murder of an environmental science intern. Add in a frozen wooly mammoth and a strange contagion causing people to freeze from the inside out and you have the markings of a thriller!

I enjoyed reading about the latest adventures of this duo, even though they were working in separate areas. There's a lot going on here, but Landau skillfully weaves everything together, including themes of climate control and conspiracy. As in the first book, I like the snippets of National Park trivia between chapters. The story is fast-paced and tense, and you'll be rooting for the good guys. Hope there's more to come in this series!

National Park Service Investigator Michael Walker has a major case on his hands as he’s sent to Alaska to contend with the disappearance on a U.S. Geological Survey team who had been studying the melting permafrost and got caught in an avalanche. Turns out they went missing on native American territory, and Michael needs to negotiate access with the government-hostile Tlingit people. Michael’s also assigned to investigate that tribe’s increasingly stolen artifacts and the killing of his lead suspect in the thefts by an assassin. Add on top of this, there’s the sudden massive death of native fish in the Alaskan waters surrounding the tribe’s home.

Simultaneously FBI Agent Gina Delgado, who’s teamed up with Michael in the past, has two intense cases of her own: a best-in-class stealth new military submarine that has sunk to the bottom on Alaska’s Icy Strait, with all the crew on board found mysteriously dead. Gina’s also investigating the death of a crew member in the Florida Everglades who had been working on a team experimenting with changing the water temperatures.

All these complex cases start to converge and tie directly into climate change and a threat that could imperil all life on Earth. There’s also a wonderful satire of a character just like Elon Musk, a billionaire intent to find a new fuel source that will enable a human-led mission to Mars. The investigations prove compelling, Michael and Gina both intrepid and insightful, and the larger concept of what may be lying under the permafrost chilling.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

Well, this was a fast read. so much going on. This is an interesting story that you will read in just one sitting. I look forward to more books in this series!

I found the premise of Cold Burn by A.J. Landau to be intriguing, which is why I added it to my TBR pile. I began reading Cold Burn and I wanted to quit before I finished the first chapter. The writing is overly technical (helpful for insomnia). It reminds me of the notes a ship’s captain might write in his log (or submit to the Navy) about a mission. There are two investigations to follow plus so much more (there is a lot going on). Once the story gets started (it takes a while), there is plenty of action. There seems to be one violent episode after another. I guess the author decided the story needed another component, because they added supernatural/science fiction elements for which the reader needs to suspend their disbelief or not think about too hard (I could not do either). The Tlingit tribe with the overabundance of supernatural abilities was too much (enough was enough). The multiple settings, characters, POVs, scientific jargon, and subplots made the story seem disjointed. It is difficult keeping track of all of it. I can tell that A.J. Landau did their research for this story. The pacing is on the slow side until the last quarter. I found the ending to be lackluster. Cold Burn is a book that could have used another round or two of edits. Cold Burn is the second A National Parks Thriller and it can be read as a standalone. Cold Burn was not my cup of tea.

Michael Walker National Park Thrillers Book 2. Having read the first book in the series I was excited to read this book. This book can easily be read as stand-alone and if you enjoyed it you might want to go back to the first one. I do not think you will regret it. Our agent Michael Walker is a unique character. In Glacier Bay National Park (Alaska) He is trying to determine who is behind the stolen antiquities. At the same time FBI special investigator Gina Delgrado is trying to solve the murder of an environmental scientist in Florida’s Everglades National Park. Before long, the two find a connection between both cases. The involvement of a rogue billionaire and a Russian strongman makes this a deadly game. This is a book of friction but if you think of what happening in 2025 were we have talk of mining and drilling in these pristine American Native Lands, no recovery to what we have will ever be possible. When big money is involved, our government does not see the importance of keeping our environment safe for the next generations.

Cold Burn
by A. J. Landau; Jeff Ayers; Jon Land
Pub Date: Apr 29 2025

Cold Burn is the second book in the national park thriller series. Great character development of Michael and Gina, who are the two main characters in the story. The book covers a lot of police procedures, non stop action and many plot twists and turns. Although it is the second book in a series and can be read as a stand a lone. Definitely a book I recommend reading!

Synopsis: Agent Michael Walker returns when multiple deaths at Glacier Bay National Park are just the first steps in a potential global disaster. In Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park, a frozen woolly mammoth is uncovered by a geological survey team. When all of them are found dead at the site of the thawed-out carcass, National Park Service ISB special agent Michael Walker is called in to investigate. In Florida’s Everglades National Park, FBI special investigator Gina Delgado traces the murder of an environmental science intern back to another U.S. Geological Survey team’s ongoing experiments that are decimating the fragile ecosystem.

Many thanks to #ColdBurn #NetGalley & #StMartinsPress #MinotaurBooks for providing me with an E-ARC of this awesome book!

Cold Burn is the 2nd National Parks Thriller by A.J. Landau.

"National Park Service Investigator Michael Walker is running down smugglers when he is sent to Alaska to find a missing team of scientists.
Special Agent Gina Delgado is in the Florida Everglades investigating the murder of an environmental science intern.
A top secret US Navy submarine sinks with all crew dying in an impossible way.
What is the common thread between the incidents and why do the Russians care about a small village in Alaska?"

This book has the feel of James Rollins and Sigma Force. There's an unknown thing that's been dormant for thousands of years. Now it's back and civilization is in danger of extinction. The author takes his time getting you invested but once the pieces start connecting it's a wild, fast-paced story. The bad guys come from an unexpected direction.

The wild ending is history repeating itself but with a different result. And watch out for those gators

Cold Burn tense chilling that kept me turning the pages.Interesting that there was also an aspect of science fiction.# NetGalley #Col Burn

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I loved Leave No Trace is a chilling story of terrorists employing methods and gathering insurrectionists in much as the attack on the Capital in 2021. The leaders are demented narcissists, so really similar. We are introduced to Michael Walker who works for the national park system in their law enforcement. The other key player is Gina Delgado, who has lots of Army experience in explosives, now FBI, and currently as a Special Agent assigned to the President.

Cold Burn combines climate change issues with the greedy and corrupt, along with growing fascism. Michael is sent to find a US Geological team. He needs to work with a Native American tribe whose land they are on when an avalanche hit. Someone took them and looking into that finds that both a wealthy industrialist who is trying to go to Mars and the Russians are both after a natural resource here.

Gina is sent to find out about a dead body who is also from a geological team. The project he was an intern for was actually an experiment to lower the overheating Atlantic Ocean. They are having some success when he is murdered.

The pacing is quick with lots of investigative information and action. The technology aspects, although fiction, are enjoyable. The parties who want the natural resource devolve to more murder, theft and outright military attack in the end. Michael and Gina are both in danger trying to uncover and share the truth.

The National Park Thriller series seems to focus on these two main characters, who ordinarily would not work together being in different agencies but have a trust and friendship which makes them allies in global disasters. I'm happy to go on more of this thrill ride.

This is the second book in the National Parks Thriller series and I loved it! I love when there are several threads in a story that come together to make you go "WOW". This was that book!!

Although you do not need to read the first book to read this one, I was glad I had because I had some of the back story about a few of the characters. There are several characters, 2 main ones, and I initially had trouble keeping track of who was who, but knowing 2 of them really helped.

I really like that the authors added quotes about the national parks at the start of each chapter, very poignant right now.

I would like to thank Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This second book in the National Park Thriller series is filled with action and adventure.

In the first book "Leave No Trace", the main characters, Michael Walker and Gina Delgado, joined together to thwart terrorist attacks on national landmarks across the U.S. This time, they are investigating mysterious deaths that have taken place in Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska and in Everglades National Park in Florida.

There was a lot going on in this story. It seemed that no sooner each of the protagonists were deeply involved in important cases, they were removed and assigned to different cases. This was a little disconcerting at first. Nonetheless, Gina and Michael's excellent teamwork eventually link all of the mysterious events.

With the inclusion of an evil nemesis (or two), a prehistoric fuel source, and dangerous microbes threatening mankind, parts of the story were hard to believe and almost read like something out of a science fiction novel. However, the nonstop action and thrilling conclusion kept me glued to the pages. I will be looking forward to reading the next book in this series when it comes out.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Cold Burn is book 2 in the National Parks Thriller series. This story takes place primarily in Glacier Bay in Alaska and the Everglades in Florida. The plot hinges on climate change, evolution, and First Nation folklore and religion. It is also very science heavy, which drags the story down in parts. The main characters, Michael from the National Parks Service and Gina from the FBI, are likable and dedicated, with no hint (so far) of romance. One nice touch is that each chapter starts with a bit of trivia about the location

I didn’t love this book, but I liked it enough that I will keep reading the series.

Not family friendly due to violence (the body count is high) and profanity.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Cold Burn by A.J. Landau is the second book in the National Parks series. The story follows National Parks Service Agent Michael Walker and FBI agent Gina Delgado. They are assigned separate cases. Agent Walker gets assigned to a case in Alaska and Agent Delgado is assigned a case in Florida. While they are working separate cases, they learn that they are possibly linked due to a prehistoric microbe that they discover might be behind the mysterious deaths of the cases they are investigating. This microbe was unleashed by global warming and it’s now a very real threat to life.
Agent Walker teams up with Amka, who is an Alaskan Native from the Tlingit tribe. The Tlingits are hesitant to assist Agent Walker on the case he is working, however, Amka sees it as an opportunity to get his help with a separate issue the Tlingits are facing.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I really enjoyed the storyline of Agent Walker working alongside Amka.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books. All opinions are my own.

At the beginning, this book takes you to seemingly unrelated destinations with unrelated issues. Then people begin dying. At first, there is no real thread between the issues that are happening and the investigators are stymied...how did this happen and why? Michael Walker, Special Agent of ISB, and Gina Delgado, Special Agent of the FBI have worked together before. Now with Walker in Glacier Bay National Park and Delgado in Everglades National Park, they're sharing information and making some connections. The story revolves around climate change, scientific study into how to mitigate the climate crises, corruption, and how power and money are not in the business of helping people. A possible international incident and bad actors in many places, including Washington D. C., and a microbe that might wipe out civilization.

The book is not one that you can skim through since there is so much going on. Lots of scientific data being thrown around, but very easy to understand. The back and forth between Walker and Delgado and their supervisors, and how bureaucracy stymies progress. So much to take in and think about.

As a fan of Nevada Barr and her Anna Pigeon mysteries, I dove into Cold Burn and absolutely LOVED it! Cold Burn is the second book in this series. I have already purchased the first book and can't wait to get started!

4.25 stars
I've read other books by Jon Land, but this even though Cold Burn is the second in the National Parks Thriller series, it's the first I've read. For the most part, I think the important information about the two main characters' backstories is included. There was one scene near the end that confused me a bit, and it may have been because I didn't read the first book. Michael Walker is a special agent for the National Park Service looking into artifacts from indigenous people in Alaska being stolen. In the past, Michael has worked with FBI Special Agent Gina Delgado. Gina is looking into the death of an environmental science intern in the Florida Everglades.

Supporting characters include a ruthless Russian leader, a billionaire who wants to go to Mars, native Tlingit people protecting their land, and researchers looking for ways to reverse the effects of climate change. Somehow all of these loose ends come together in a suspenseful thriller that is part environmental adventure and part political intrigue. Some of the scientific details included in the story went over my head and slowed the pace of the book, but overall, this is a story that moves quickly and is full of action and suspense. I wasn't surprised by the identity of another villain in the story when it was revealed, but I still enjoyed the tense situations and complex story.

I received an advance copy of this ebook for review consideration from NetGalley and Minotaur Books. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

Michael Walker and Gina Delgado are on opposite ends of the country investigating incidents at National Parks. Though not working together they inadvertently find themselves working on the same case. Though one is in the Everglades and the other is in Alaska they find themselves with similarities that bring their investigation together once again. Racing against time to save the environment, they must work together to succeed.