My Reading Journeys: Murder Of Ravens by Patty Jager-Character Guest Post-Great Escapes Tour/Giveaway

About the book

The ancient Indian art of tracking is his greatest strength…

And also his biggest weakness.

Fish and Wildlife State Trooper Gabriel Hawke believes he’s chasing poachers.

However, he comes upon a wildlife biologist standing over a body that is wearing a wolf tracking collar.

He uses master tracker skills taught to him by his Nez Perce grandfather to follow clues on the mountain. Paper trails and the whisper of rumors in the rural community where he works, draws Hawke to a conclusion that he finds bitter.

Arresting his brother-in-law ended his marriage, could solving this murder ruin a friendship?

And others are saying

I loved the story. Halfway through the book, the identity of the perp is revealed but the ending turned out to be quite surprising.
~The Book Decoder

Murder of Ravens is a fresh and unique mystery by new-to-me author Paty Jager. This traditional mystery, book #1 in a new series, has good character depth and features a strong Native American character.
~The Power of Words

MURDER OF RAVENS is an intriguing mystery set in Eastern Oregon, in the mountains, along the rivers, and in small close-knit communities (read, everybody, knows everybody else’s business).
~Mallory Heart’s Cozies

The blend of nature tracking, clues, and the animals makes for a fascinating mystery that is hard to put down.
~Books a Plenty Book Reviews

Some interesting history is also revealed as we get drawn into the seedy underside of greed and power.
~Laura’s Interests

A solid mystery with a lovely backdrop and some dabs of romance made this one a fun read for me.
~FUONLYKNEW

Character guest post

Tracking is an art. That’s what I’ve been told.

I’m Gabriel Hawke, Oregon Fish and Wildife State Trooper who is Paty Jager’s character in her new Gabriel Hawke series.

Growing up, I didn’t realize how learning from my Nez Perce grandfather to track animals and people would help me secure the job I coveted. Life on the reservation can be hard on a kid. I was lucky to have a mother who always told me I didn’t have to stay on the reservation, I could dream of getting out and do it. When the Army recruiter came to our high school, I saw joining as a way to get off the reservation and get work experience for later.

The military wasn’t much better than high school with there always being someone calling me Chief or Indian, but I didn’t get in too many fights and when I left the military, I had my sights on becoming a game warden in Wallowa County. I was specific about where I wanted to work, because the Wallowa area is where my ancestors wintered and summered. It was a sense of pride that made me want to watch over the animals and land of my forefathers.

To become a game warden, I had to be accepted into the Oregon State Police Academy. I was lucky to get in when they had received funding to put on more patrolmen. I worked patrol for seven years before the Fish and Wildlife division had an opening in Wallowa County. When it came open, I applied and received the job because of my tracking skills. With me in the county, they wouldn’t have to bring in a specialist to find lost backpackers and hunters. It was the first time I fully understood how special tracking, something I had taken for granted, was.

Now I am a seasoned Fish and Wildlife State Trooper who will continue working in the Wallowa Country until I can no longer ride a horse or drive a vehicle. But I will teach others how to track until I am no longer of this earth.

If you would like to learn more about me and how I am as tenacious as a bull dog when I want follow a trail, be it footprints in the dirt or clues to a murderer, check out my first book, Murder of Ravens.

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