Blue Wolf In Green Fire

Starred review from August 26, 2002
Compelling ideas and taut suspense distinguish the second in Heywood's series featuring DNR Conservation Officer Grady Service (after 2001's Ice Hunter). Set in the Mosquito Wilderness Tract of Michigan, it's a tense and harrowing narrative most of the way, spoiled only occasionally by the author's tendency to lecture (à la John D. MacDonald) and a predilection for eyebrow-raising names (Wink Rector, DaWayne Kota, Yank Kranker). When protests and bombs planted by animal rights activists apparently result in a double murder at a wolf lab, a rare blue wolf, the symbol for luck, escapes into the wild. But the wolf represents more to the Ojibwa tribe: the animal is an omen for Armageddon if it's captured or killed. Service suspects the murders are more than they seem, and it's up to him to solve them and defuse the potentially explosive situation. Meanwhile, a poaching ring sets its sights on the blue wolf, and Service is up to his badge in trouble. Heywood is best on topical details, if at a price—an overlay of ecological and sociological detail threatens to overwhelm the mystery. No matter. When the action takes over, Heywood is incomparable: "In the waning light he was about to resign himself to another cold night, but movement to his right caught his attention. He froze, moving only his eyes, and saw a cedar limb shudder slightly, spilling snow. Below it protruded the barrel of the fifty-caliber rifle pointed toward him. The bore looked big enough to shoot a round the size of a walnut." One hopes Heywood has a long writing career ahead of him.

September 1, 2002
Formerly responsible for the Mosquito Wilderness in upper Michigan as an employee of the Department of Natural Resources, Grady Service has been promoted to detective. He and his co-workers struggle to neutralize a well-organized poaching ring that preys on large-antlered deer, gall bladder-owning bears, and ultimately, a rare, omen-carrying blue wolf. The murder of a jailed poacher gives Service a break, but further killings and mayhem challenge his abilities-and his relationship with his ambitious lover and her vindictive kinsman, the state's governor. A gripping plot, replete with memorable surrounds and spiky characters, makes this second in the series (after Ice Hunter) an excellent choice for most collections. A good pick also for readers who enjoy outdoor mysteries by such authors as Nevada Barr or Dana Stabenow.

September 15, 2002
Michigan Conservation Officer Grady Service, just promoted to wildlife detective, is being pulled from all directions. He is chasing poachers, helping federal agents track terrorism and animal rights demonstrations on the Upper Peninsula, pursuing a rare blue wolf, and overseeing the opening of deer-hunting season. In a blaze of gunfire and persistent sleuthing, Service gets the poachers and finds the terrorists. This second Woods Cop procedural is well written, suspenseful, and bleakly humorous while moving as quickly as a wolf cutting through winter woods. In addition to strong characters and a compelling romance, Heywood provides vivid, detailed descriptions of the wilderness and the various procedures and techniques of conservation officers and poachers. The tricky, evasive behavior of federal officials recalls the atmosphere of " The X-Files," while the police procedure and banter evoke K. C. Constantine's Mario Balzic series. Highly recommended.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)