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Yosemite Lies review: ‘A riveting tale about friendship and betrayal’ (Kirkus)

The first reviews are in for Yosemite Lies, my new mystery-thriller that’s now available on Amazon.

Kirkus Reviews dubbed the novel “a riveting tale about friendship and betrayal.”

The story is about a getaway to Yosemite National Park’s vast and rugged backcountry that turns life-threatening when two women camping alone realize they are being stalked—and long-hidden secrets pose new perils.

“Everyone hiking in Yosemite seems to have secrets,” Kirkus wrote in its review.

In Yosemite Lies, best friends Kate and Veronica welcome the escape as Veronica copes with a brutal divorce that jeopardizes her role in the company she founded with her husband. Yet a sense of menace looms from the outset. A handsome hiker with a mysterious past triggers alarms for Kate. An encounter with two aggressive strangers drives the women deeper into the wilderness.

When the danger ratchets up, Kate must discover who means to harm them—while seeking the courage to save herself and Veronica in a page-turner that will keep readers guessing until the end.

“Catron’s gripping story delivers a lot of intriguing twists and turns, and the big reveal is a shocking one,” Kirkus wrote, adding, “Readers will enjoy the thrilling action.”

You can order Yosemite Lies through Amazon in hardcover, paperback, and e-book formats. The book is a bargain in any version: $24.99 for hardcover, $14.99 for paperback, and just $4.99 for the e-book. Click this link to order today.

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Mystery-thriller ‘Yosemite Lies’ on sale at Amazon

It’s finally here: the release of a modern mystery-thriller that’s been simmering in my brain since one of my own camping trips in 2015.

A getaway to Yosemite National Park’s vast and rugged backcountry turns life-threatening when two women camping alone realize they are being stalked—while long-hidden secrets may pose even greater perils in Yosemite Lies.

This one is a major departure from the historical Westerns I wrote with the Trail Angel trilogy. But like those books, Yosemite Lies is filled with strong characters, riveting action, and a propulsive story that will hold you to your seat.

Best friends Kate and Veronica welcome the escape as Veronica copes with a brutal divorce that jeopardizes her role in the company she founded with her husband. Yet a sense of menace looms from the outset. A handsome hiker with a mysterious past triggers alarms for Kate. An encounter with two aggressive strangers drives the women deeper into the wilderness.

When the danger ratchets up, Kate must discover who means to harm them—while seeking the courage to save herself and Veronica in a page-turner that will keep readers guessing until the end.

Fortunately, my camping trip wasn’t nearly so eventful—though memorable enough to spark the idea for the story you can now read. You can order Yosemite Lies through Amazon in hardcover, paperback, and e-book formats. The book is a bargain in any version: $24.99 for hardcover, $14.99 for paperback, and just $4.99 for the e-book, which will be released July 11.

If you need to see a sample first before diving in to the adventure, you can read this excerpt on my website, derekcatron.com.

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‘Yosemite Lies’: It started as a campfire story

Since I announced the July 11 publication of Yosemite Lies, I’ve gotten some questions about the inspiration for my newest novel. It’s a story I’m happy to share. My first visit to the national park was in 2007 as part of a backcountry camping trip hosted by the Sierra Club. I’ve done a few of these excursions and never had a bad time – or met a bad person. Among the best people I’ve met through Sierra Club is my hiking buddy Fred, who was also on that trip. I can’t recall the specific routes our group took or how many miles we hiked. I can only say the experience was magical. 

After hearing me talk so much about the trip, my wife, Lori, and our friends Paul and Sarah set out with me on our own journey into the backcountry eight years later. This time I took careful notes, even as my imagination roamed. 

Fittingly, it was around campfire that the embers of what would become Yosemite Lies were stirred into a flame I nurtured for years before finally committing to the page. I hope you’ll agree with me that it was worth the wait. Join the adventure and order your copy on Amazon today. 

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Coming soon: ‘Yosemite Lies,’ a mystery-thriller set in Yosemite National Park

A getaway to Yosemite National Park’s vast and rugged backcountry turns life-threatening when two women camping alone realize they are being stalked—and long-hidden secrets pose new perils.

That’s the setup for my new novel, Yosemite Lies. As a modern thriller, it’s a major departure from the historical Westerns I wrote with the Trail Angel trilogy. But like those books, this one is filled with strong characters, riveting action, and a propulsive story that will hold you to your seat.

Best friends Kate and Veronica welcome the escape as Veronica copes with a brutal divorce that jeopardizes her role in the software giant she founded with her husband. Yet a sense of menace looms from the outset. A handsome hiker with a mysterious past triggers alarms for Kate. An encounter with two aggressive strangers drives the women deeper into the wilderness.

When the danger ratchets up, Kate must uncover who means to harm them—while seeking the courage to save herself and Veronica in a page-turner that will keep readers guessing until the end.

Yosemite Lies will be on sale July 11 on Amazon in hardcover, paperback, and e-book formats. If you can’t wait until then, you can get a sneak peek in this excerpt available on my website, derekcatron.com.

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‘Trail Angel’ series now available as e-books

I’m excited to announce that my first three novels are now available in e-book versions on Amazon. The publisher who did such a wonderful job producing the hardback versions of Trail Angel, Angel Falls, and Avenging Angel decided a few years back to stop making e-books that are so popular on Kindles, iPads, and smartphones.

While I still love to hold a hardback in my hands — and see it on a shelf! — I also enjoy the convenience of e-books. Best of all from an author’s perspective, they can be sold at a price that encourages more readers to give a new author a chance.

Most of the people reading this note probably already own one or all of my books, and I thank you for that! Now, though, I hope you’ll recommend my books to the friends and family you haven’t trusted enough to lend your signed copy to. I’m offering Trail Angel at the introductory price of $3.99. The price for the others starts at just $4.99. Print-on-demand paperbacks and hardcovers are also available for those who prefer to hold their books — or haven’t seen their loaned-out copies returned.

This isn’t about the money, obviously. It’s about building awareness at a time when it’s never been harder for new authors to get noticed — even when their books are a fun read that earn good notices from the likes of Kirkus, Booklist, and the Historical Novel Society, among others.

I hope you’ll help me spread the word about these books you’ve enjoyed, so that more people can share in the adventure. I’ll have a new one for you, coming really, really soon. Yosemite Lies is a modern thriller — no history this time — but filled with characters you’ll love, or love to hate, and twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end.

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Josey Angel Rides Again

Avenging Angel, the third Josey Angel novel, got this terrific write-up from my old friends at The Daytona Beach News-Journal. And it was a special treat to get to share the spotlight with my dear friend and former editor, Cal Massey. Jim Abbott is a wonderful writer. Here’s a little of what he wrote, plus a link to the full story.

“For fans of historical westerns, writer Derek Catron has returned with “Avenging Angel” ($25.95, Five Star, 319 pages). It’s the conclusion of a trilogy that follows the adventures of Josey Angel, a taciturn gunslinger in the aftermath of the Civil War, famous for his speedy draw with a rifle or pistol.

“For Catron, a former managing editor at The Daytona Beach News-Journal who now works as an investigative team editor at USA Today, the new “Avenging Angel” continues the evolving story of the marquee character, Josey Angel, his resourceful, independent-minded wife, Annabelle, and a cast of historically based characters that includes legendary Indian warrior Crazy Horse.

“Those characters powered the plots of Catron’s 2016 debut, “Trail Angel,” and its follow-up, “Angel Falls,” a little over a year later. After enduring the treacherous Bozeman Trail and bloody attacks in the early days of the Plains Indian War in the first two books, Josey and Annabelle now aim to leave the war behind, but they find themselves drawn into danger again.”

Read more about Avenging Angel, plus Cal’s book, Own Little Words on The News-Journal website.

It’s always a thrill to open the first box of new books.

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Surprising joys of editing

When you’ve been working for a year on a new book, you take your pleasures where you can find them. Deep into editing the third Josey Angel novel, it wasn’t enough to have a bird singing in the trees. I needed to know what kind of bird and what it sounded like. A lengthy Google and YouTube search into the birds of Wyoming and their calls got me an answer while providing this pleasant diversion into a Fort Collins band with just the right name. Enjoy the music and check back soon for more updates on “Avenging Angel.”

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‘Angel Falls’ is a gritty, emotionally charged love story

Great review for Angel Falls in the News-Journal. The link below includes a special podcast on the background of Trail Angel and Angel Falls.  Hope you enjoy!

‘Angel Falls’ is a gritty, emotionally charged love story

By Jim Abbott

When readers were first introduced to Josey Angel, the marquee character in the 2016 novel “Trail Angel,” he was a taciturn gunslinger in the aftermath of the Civil War, famous for his speedy draw with a rifle or pistol.

That trait remains a defining characteristic in the new “Angel Falls” ($25.95, Five Star, 328 pages), a historical western by Derek Catron that picks up the tale of the title character and the woman he loves, the independent-minded Southern war widow Annabelle Rutledge…(Read the rest of the story and listen to my book review podcast Here).

Buy Angel Falls at Barnes & Noble.

Buy, share or read a free sample on Amazon below.

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Jackson Hole News & Guide Review

I really enjoyed this great write-up in the Jackson Hole News & Guide. Isa Jones was a terrific interviewer, and I’m thrilled someone so close to the setting of Angel Falls shared my appreciation for the landscape and history – while really getting into the fun of the story. “The story really sucks you in,” she wrote, calling the book “a classic Western.”

 
‘Angel Falls’ is more than just a Western

By Isa Jones, November 22, 2017

 

A classic Western is rare these days.

There are books and movies and television shows that spoof Westerns, or meditate on the genre or use it in a modern setting. But rare nowadays are the gunslingers, rowdy saloons and long winters set in a remote place.

“Angel Falls” takes the genre and creates a classic yet refreshing story. Written by Derek Catron, who serves as the managing editor at the Daytona Beach News-Journal, the book is a sequel but also a stand-alone take on life in the early days of the West…(READ the rest of the story Here).

Buy Angel Falls at Barnes & Noble.

Buy, share or read a free sample on Amazon below.

 

 

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Newspaper editor’s new novel hits bookstores

If you’re looking for insights into what went into creating the characters and story for Angel Falls, check out this Q&A I did with The Daytona Beach News-Journal‘s Austin Fuller. For a bonus, follow the link to a recorded interview with even more background.

Newspaper editor’s new novel hits bookstores

By Austin Fuller

Entertainment writer Austin Fuller sat down with News-Journal Managing Editor Derek Catron to discuss the publication of his second novel, “Angel Falls,” which comes out this week. In a pre-publication review, the Historical Novel Society said, “This well-written western has suspense in every chapter. … A page-turner that is difficult to put down.”

The book ($25.95 from Five Star Publishing) is a follow up to last year’s “Trail Angel” and is available locally at Barnes & Noble as well as online retailers.

What is “Angel Falls” about?

“Angel Falls” is a story of love and war. It’s set in Wyoming in 1866 at the height of Red Cloud’s War, which climaxed with the army’s deadliest defeat to that point in the Indian wars. The story focuses on Josey Angel, a Union cavalryman who finds redemption and some degree of healing through his love of Annabelle Rutledge, a Southern war widow who’s come west to rebuild her family’s fortunes. They must come together to survive the threat of a Lakota war leader determined to preserve his people’s way of life at any cost. In the end, the triumph of love is offset by the tragedy of war, which brings great costs even to the victors.

With “Angel Falls” coming out just a year after your first book, were the ideas for it coming together during “Trail Angel?”

(Read the full interview Here.)

 

Buy Angel Falls at Barnes & Noble.

Buy, share or free preview on Amazon – link below.