Provocative, sobering and potentially prescient, Cold Burn is a compelling combination of thrilling action, Native American culture, and climate science. A.J. Landau (pseudonym for the writing team of Jon Land and Jeff Ayers), delivers a thought-provoking and heart-pounding novel that exercises your mind and your nerves in equal measure.

Theft of Native American artifacts. Suspicious deaths in the Everglades and Alaska. The mysterious deaths of a submarine crew. A billionaire with designs on getting to Mars. A Russian general with grandiose plans. It’s all connected, and only National Park Service ISB special agent Michael Walker and FBI special investigator Gina Delgado can put the pieces together and stop catastrophic events that would reshape the world…and possible end life on Earth as we know it.

On its own, the murder and theft investigations and military action storylines would hold their own against any traditional thriller. However, Cold Burn differentiates itself by interweaving those elements in a bigger story about humanity’s connection to nature and how ambitious pursuits that don’t consider the consequences can kick off an irreversible chain of events that could have dire long-term consequences. And adding in the juxtaposition of modern military operations and aerospace pursuits versus indigenous worldviews and sacred relationships with the land, result in a book that carves out its own unique, intriguing niche in the genre.

This is the book for readers looking for something more than just a thriller. It’s pensive, spiritual, scientific and suspenseful. An exciting and frightening adventure that you’ll hope isn’t a glimpse into our future.

I read this as a standalone, but after reading this one, I'll go back to read the first in the series. The opening Prolog had me hooked, it was intense with an avalanche and creatures, it kept me wanting more from the beginning. The story is a police procedural but it takes place with the National Parks Service. This is timely in our political environment and kept me interested as I was not aware what all duties are up to the National Park Service. This is not a story to skim as it gets a little complicated with all the different agencies, acronyms, and locations in the story. If you enjoy Michael Crichton you will enjoy this story as science is very much involved. I look forward to reading more of this series.

This is a fast moving story that jumps between a murder in the Everglades and mysterious deaths in Alaska. They're connected, but how and why? It's a pleasure to see Michael Walker, Special Agent of the National Park Service, and Gina Delgado, FBI Agent, working together again on an explosive case with international ramifications.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Apr. 29, 2025
A.J. Landau has created a police procedural series with a twist- his protagonist, Michael Walker, is an agent for the National Parks Service. In “Cold Burn”, the second novel in the series, the mystery Michael is investigating spans all the way from the Florida, Everglades, to the Arctic tundra of Alaska.
Michael Walker is called to Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska after a group of scientists disappear. On the other side of the country, FBI agent Gina Delgado is investigating the death of an environmental science researcher. Somehow, though thousands of miles apart, the two mysteries appear to be connected to an extremely deadly material that has the possibility to change the world, especially in the hands of the wrong people.
A.J. Landau is a pseudonym for a pair of authors, Jon Land (author of the Caitlin Strong series of novels, among others) and Jeff Ayers. Together, they have used their combined experience and writing talent to create a taut, pulse-pounding crime thriller that had me on the edge of my seat.
“Burn”, similar to the previous novel in the series, “Leave No Trace”, is not a novel you can skim (not that you’d want to). There are so many government agencies at play here, with all of their acronyms, and all of their important players, plus the residual scientific organizations and multi-billionaires across the globe that take part in the plot, it is definitely one of those “blink-and-you’ll-miss-it” type plots. Although the characters are plenty, they are also all relevant to the detailed, yet well-crafted, plot.
“Burn” has a scientific component that fans of Michael Crichton will adore, and with its modern and relevant focus on environmental climate change, it is definitely an engaging and informative story with powerhouse characters.
There are police procedurals aplenty out there, and I have been known to enjoy many, but Landau’s National Park Services novels provide an enjoyable new spin on the genre. Not only is the plot full of non-stop action and plot twists, but “Burn” also served the dual purpose of teaching me quite a few things, without burying me in scientific or technical jargon (something that is difficult to do). Landau’s “Burn” is a great addition to the Michael Walker series and I look forward to hearing more from these authors.

Talk about high octane! This read allows you no rest. It starts with a bang and just increases in speed. Multiple points of view, multiple settings, finishing off with a shocking result. This book had me sweating in the Everglades, to feeling the icy burn of the cutting wind in Alaska. It left me jumping around the National Parks learning tidbits at every start of the chapter.

The book begins with a strange death in the Everglades and a possible smuggling ring of Native artifacts in Alaska. From this point on I was on a crime fighting spree. The cast is fantastic and leaves you rooting for them. There is a ton of science to decipher. Which made me feel like I was part of the team and helped figure out why people were dying in this strange way and why!

Thank you to A.J. Landau and Minotaur Books for my gifted copy of this pulse pounding read.

An ancient microbe has been re-released into the world after millions of years. It shows up in the Florida Everglades first, then in a small village in Alaska. A millionaire wants the contaminant because a very small particle can run cars or rockets for a long while and if he has control, he can be the worlds first trillionaire. Russia has found out about it and wants it for a whole other reason.

I liked the plot and enjoyed reading about Tlinglet culture, very interesting.

The going back and forth between the myriad of things happening at once got a little distracting. The last bit of the book was very thrilling and I kept wanting to turn pages.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

Amazing read! Really makes you think about what could happen and you might never know anything about it. Very interesting! Highly recommend!

I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This second book in the National Park series hits the ground running. An avalanche, a sinking stealth submarine, exploding WWII bombs, and stolen native Alaskan artifacts - all in the first few chapters. Park Service Investigator Michael Walker is called to Alaska to investigate a potential artifact smuggling ring. At the same time, FBI agent Gina Delgado is working on a murder case in Florida's Everglades National Park. Once again, their cases converge in a shocking coincidence involving an ancient organism that could potentially eliminate all life on earth. Racing against an egocentric billionaire, Russian agents, and even members of their own government who want to exploit and weaponize the organism, Michael and Gina must find a way to stop them all before armageddon is unleashed. A fun action-packed read! #NetGalley #ColdBurn

A mysterious and ancient microbe that’s killing off everything from fish to humans sets the stage for a battle to protect the planet. But add in a couple of bad guys: a multi billionaire who wants to be the first trillionaire and send people to Mars, for lots of money, of course (not saying it’s Musk but it might as well be) and a Russian strongman who want to return Russia to its former glory AND bring America into submission (not saying its Putin but it might as well be) and National Park Service investigator Michael Walker and FBI special investigator Gina Delgado have their work cut out for them.
From Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska to Florida’s Everglades National Park, Walker and Delgado race to protect the planet in this second National Parks thriller by A.J. Landau, the writing team of Jon Land and Jeff Ayers.

Fortunately for Walker, he has the Tlingit people who land is being threatened, to aid him, including a brilliant scientist, Amka, and her brother, Yehl. And in the Everglades, Delgado is assisted by Law Enforcement Park Ranger Clark Gifford and Director Rosalee Perry of the U.S. Geological Survey who is working on a project to help lower sea temperatures.

This is definitely a page-turner read and if you love thrillers and the U.S. National Parks, it is definitely worth reading!

Thank you to #StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for the DRC of #ColdBurn. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

I received this book unsolicited from the publisher and it brings together several things I love to read about - national parks, indigenous people, political intrigue and old fashioned thriller suspense. This story delivers on all fronts and teaches you a little about our national parks at the same time.
I had a hard time getting started with this book - lots of characters, locations and crimes to keep track of. But once I got it straight, I really enjoyed the story.

Will definitely be checking out the rest of the series.

From Alaska to the Everglades in Florida, Cold Burn was packed with action, and captivating.

This is book #2 from the National Park series, and I believe that if you read book #1 first it will be better.

Suspenseful, and with twisty revelations, this thriller is intriguing, and will keep you turning the pages really fast.

Thank you so much St. Martin’s Press for inviting me to read this book. I highly recommend.

I didn't realize this was the second book so i had to read the first before this one but I love it! I really enjoyed it.

Michael Walker is back on another fast paced, wild adventure through the beauty (and danger!) of our glorious National Parks. From the heat of Florida to the arctic mountains of Alaska, Landau once again shows us the beauty of this land, all while keeping my heart rate up and the pages flying. As a fan of 1990's action flicks, this series speaks directly to my nostalgic heart while still immersing me in modern technology and issues like finite natural resources, climate change, and shady government experiments.

Landau does a fantastic job of piquing my curiosity with historical and geographical facts, which send me off on a research tangent every few chapters. This was once again a fantastic reading experience and I'm delighted to have discovered this series. While this one could technically be read as a standalone, I'd encourage you to start with the first in the series, Leave No Trace.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and the authors Jon Land and Jeff Ayers for the opportunity to read this book prior to its publication in exchange for my honest review.

** I will share my review to StoryGraph closer to publication and will post to IG (@bookish.moment) on April 24. I will update this page with links to those once they are live.

Cold Burn was a good follow up to Leave No Trace. I liked the multiple plots in different areas and enjoyed seeing how they came together. I would've like to have seen some more of the events that happened between the last chapter and the epilogue but I guess it didn't really impact the story too much. I hope that maybe in future installments we see Amika join Michael and Gina on some other adventure. Definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a good thriller!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for this ARC. #ColdBurn #NetGalley

Michael Walker and Gina Delgado return for another addition of the National Parks thriller series. Unfortunately, I did not read the first installment of this series, so I went in completely blind. Based off my own opinion, this book could be read as a standalone, without needing to read the first, as bits and pieces of the events of the first book are discussed within this one, bringing the reader up to speed.
In Cold Burn, a series of events is leading to a potential extinction event that hasn’t been seen in the world for thousands of years. Michael and Gina, while apart, work together to stop this extinction from occurring with assistance from, most prominently, the Tlingit tribe in Alaska.
When a thousands-years-old substance is rediscovered and begins to kill off humans and animals alike, freezing them to death in normal circumstances, Gina and Michael find a way to stop the spread, in addition to protecting the remainder of the substance that is hidden underneath the Tlingit village, where it has been housed since what feels like the beginning of time.
They are successful in their efforts, though it’s obvious that while this particular situation had been rectified through the various efforts of the characters, an extinction event could occur at any time, and they must be prepared for that.
Cold Burn hints at Tlingit history and knowledges, along with various topics such as politics and climate change and global warming. As I mentioned, I went into this book blind after being invited by the publisher to read and give my honest review. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting but truthfully, this duel author knows how to keep a reader mesmerized through their writing. They often left a chapter off on a cliffhanger, rendering you unable to stop until you learn what happened.
4/5 stars from me on this wonderful scientific thriller. Thank you to Minotaur Books, A.J. Landau and NetGalley for an ARC of Cold Burn. The opinions written within this review at that of my own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of others.

COLD BURN is a fun and fast-paced story from the writing duo known as AJ Landau. This represents the second story in their popular National Parks Thriller series, after 2024’s LEAVE NO TRACE. We are again submerged in the worlds of National Park Service investigator Michael Walker and FBI investigator Gina Delgado. But here, two seemingly unrelated crimes in locations as disparate as possible keep the reader engaged, asking what could possible happen next? What every good thriller strives for.
A group of researchers uncover a frozen wooly mammoth in Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park, only to later be found dead themselves. Why? How? Thousands of miles away, in Florida's Everglades National Park, the murder of an environmental science intern draws Delgado into the case.
How could these murders possibly be linked? The unraveling of that mystery drives this story and make readers madly flip the pages until the solution comes to light. Entertaining and then some.

DP Lyle, award-winning author of the Jake Longly and Cain/Harper thriller series

This is the second book in the Michael Walker National Park Thrillers series. I haven't read the first one but I still really enjoyed this one. Michael investigates a mysterious problem in Alaska with the native culture there who are quite upset with their treatment by the U.S. government. Thefts of their native materials is also on Michael's radar. Everything comes together, including activities in Florida's Everglades. This book is quite good, well-written, with skillfully drawn characters and lots of action. Also included are unusual and wide-spread geographic locations, environmental issues, and scientific solutions. Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for providing an ARC.

This book was a pleasant surprise.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, as it was a quick read and a good time.

Book two of a series. Good characters and story. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for allowing me to read this e-arc early. This books is #2 in the National Parks series. I enjoyed working out the mysteries and I loved getting to know the parks.