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The Last Ranger
The Last Ranger: A novel | Peter Heller
15 posts | 16 read | 13 to read
The bestselling author of The River returns with a vibrant, lyrical mystery set in Yellowstone National Park where a skirmish between a local hunter and a wolf biologist turns violent, and a park ranger, adrift in his own life, becomes obsessed with discovering the truth. Officer Ren Hopper is an enforcement ranger with the National Park Service, tasked with duties both mundane and thrilling: Breaking up fights at campgrounds, saving clueless tourists from moose attacks, and attempting to broker an uneasy peace between the wealthy vacationers who tromp through the park with cameras, and the residents of hardscrabble Cooke City who want to carve out a meaningful living. When Ren, hiking through the backcountry on his day off, encounters a tall man with a dog and a gun chasing a small black bear up a hill, his hackles are raised. But what begins as an investigation into the background of a local poacher soon opens into something far murkier: A shattered windshield, a series of red ribbons tied to traps, the discovery of a frightening conspiracy, and a story of heroism gone awry. Populated by a cast of extraordinary charactersfamous scientists, tattooed bartenders, wildlife guides in slick Airstreamsand bursting with unexpected humor and grace, Peter Heller masterfully unveils a portrait of the American west where our very human impulsesfor greed, love, family, and communityplay out amidst the stunning beauty of the natural world.
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Hilary427
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Mehso-so

This was ok - it‘s hard, because The River was the first book by PH that I ever read and I absolutely LOVED it. But I just can‘t find that in any of his other books! Not the worst, not the best. (49)
⭐️: 3/5

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Blueberry
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Eggs Beautiful cover 👍🏼👌🏼 5mo
43 likes1 comment
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Decalino
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Pickpick

In this emotionally complex novel, Ren Hopper, a park ranger at Yellowstone, finds himself exceeding his jurisdiction while trying to get to the bottom of the threats and sabotage escalating in the park. A beautifully written novel so evocative of the natural world that it will make you want to head for the forest ASAP, while also deeply compassionate and painfully human. This one's going on the keeper shelf next to Dog Stars.

readswellwithothers This is a follow up to The River, which I highly recommend! 6mo
Decalino I did not know that! I will definitely read it. Thanks for the tip! 6mo
Tamra Love that cover 😍 6mo
25 likes3 comments
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Blueberry
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Pickpick

4⭐. I enjoyed this until the end which was unsatisfactory with left to many strings left hanging. The author writes beautifully of nature. Set in Yellowstone National Park.

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Blueberry
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"The night of the buffalo it rained."

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

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Blueberry
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I looked up from my reading and this was happening. Beautifully creepy.

Sace Excellent picture! 8mo
AnnCrystal 💝😍🤩💝. 8mo
tpixie Great photo!!! 8mo
42 likes3 comments
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Blueberry
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Started today. This is my 5th book by Peter Heller. I enjoy his settings, his characters, and his storylines.

42 likes2 stack adds
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Megabooks
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Pickpick

This moved a bit slowly for me, and I didn‘t enjoy it quite as much as The River or The Guide, but a door was opened for another story about Ren, the Yellowstone park ranger, and I‘ll probably read it.

Someone is setting illegal animal traps in Yellowstone, and one seems to purposely ensnare a person. REN must race to save both the animals and the people who watch them. Plenty of tourist drama, too!

Aimeesue Ha! My daughter is a park ranger and her boyfriend is a park LEO. I‘m going to pick up a copy for them! 😁Thanks for the review! (edited) 10mo
Megabooks @Aimeesue oh fantastic! I hope they enjoy it! 10mo
ShelleyBooksie Daffodils!!! I love park ranger books! 10mo
71 likes3 comments
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Kappadeemom
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The story about a Ranger in Yellowstone and his life in the park, where he has to put up with tourists who don‘t know how to act around animals (anything for the Gram) poachers who want to make Yellowstone public land, and the other Rangers who like animals more than people. Beautiful writing and a novel that makes me want to head out West ❤️⭐️⭐️⭐️

38 likes2 stack adds
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CaitlinR
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Mehso-so

I‘ve always enjoyed Heller‘s writing, and his talent saves this somewhat clumsy plot. Ren Hopper works in Yellowstone as a National Park Service Ranger. Someone is setting traps and stalking wildlife, particularly his friend Hilly‘s beloved wolves. The sense of place is fascinating, as are the tragedies from Ren‘s past. The characters and groups that are introduced, but never tied in to the story are annoying. Maybe a sequel?

CaitlinR Photo of the author by John Burcham 14mo
24 likes1 comment
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Bookwormjillk
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Pickpick

A low pick. I love Heller‘s nature writing, but thought he did so much better describing it without the lectures in his other books. I know wolf hunting in National Parks is bad. I‘m just here for the story. He‘ll remain an auto buy for me though because of where he sets his books.

61 likes1 stack add3 comments
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bookishdawg
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Pickpick

Loved this novel about an enforcement officer at Yellowstone. Heller writes so beautifully about place… smell the woodsmoke, see the glint of sun on the river rocks, hear the wolves howl. ❤️👍🏻

LeslieO I loved this one, too. He‘s an auto buy author for me. 1y
Bookwormjillk Glad to hear it! I plan to start this tomorrow. 1y
18 likes1 stack add2 comments
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AvidReader25
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Panpan

Skip this one. I had high expectations but it just dragged on with no purpose. Read Heller's The River or American Wolf by Blakeslee instead. I think Heller‘s fatal flaw is that he can‘t write women well. Scratch that, Celine his novel about an elderly PI based on his mother, is excellent. He just can‘t write women as a romantic interest. They are hollow & their actions never feel genuine. Hoping for better next time because I loved The River.

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Twocougs
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Pickpick

If I could write like one author, not the content but the actual stunningly, beautiful writing, it would be Peter Heller. His stories are often dark but boy are they good. Seriously though, to be able to write like him🥰.

Bklover A new one?! 👏👏👏 1y
28 likes2 stack adds1 comment