Blog – Derek Catron

Washington Post exposé reveals same dark history as ‘Avenging Angel’

The Washington Post this week has a terrific series on a dark and little-known chapter of American history – one that drives the plot of my third novel, Avenging Angel. The Post series examines the legacy of the Smithsonian Institution’s “racial brain collection” — gathered for research into long-discredited theories that anatomical differences between races could prove the superiority of White people. It focuses on Ales Hrdlicka, a prominent anthropologist and curator of t ...

Make ‘Yosemite Lies’ your next beach read

Can’t decide between the beach and mountains this summer? Enjoy both by making Yosemite Lies your next beach read! 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 that long-hidden secrets pose even greater perils in Yosemite Lies. The adventure-thriller Kirkus Reviews called “a riveting tale about friendship and betrayal” is available through Amazon in hardcove ...

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 Yo ...

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’: 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 o ...

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 ...

‘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 au ...

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 fol ...

Derek Catron