he was visiting his mother, he goes to lend a hand. So, too, does his sister Dorion, a disaster relief specialist. For now, the spillage from the partially collapsed levee is contained in a spillage pond. However, if the rest of the levee gives way, the entire town could be flooded.

When I read the first few chapters of South of Nowhere, I thought of the spectacular collapse of the St. Francis Dam near Los Angeles in 1928, which killed hundreds of people. That dam showed signs of weakness that were ignored before it failed. I think that disaster may have inspired the author’s thinking in South of Nowhere. This book has a ticking time clock feel to it, as several chapters begin with a note indicating the time elapsed since the initial levee collapse. The underlying uncertainty about whether or when the levee will collapse adds to the suspense of the entire book.

While Dorion places sandbags and tries to evacuate the town, Colter does what he does best… locate missing people. Here, it was a family driving along the top of the levee when it gave way, dumping their car into the rushing waters of the Never Summer River. In his search for the vehicle, Shaw is guided by the survival rules drilled into his head since childhood by his now-dead father. He knows just how to search the surroundings for helpful clues and how to handle himself in a fight. (“Never act prematurely when you’re being attacked. Assess.”) Colter also has a knack for figuring out if people are lying to him, which comes in handy later in the book. I learned more about what makes Colter Shaw good at his job by reading South of Nowhere than I gleaned from watching over 20 episodes of the TV series Tracker.  

There’s much more to South of Nowhere than the search for a missing family and their car in a raging river. (Colter also looks for another missing woman later in the book.) Dorion soon determines that the levee did not collapse on its own. Instead, someone planted explosives at the top of the levee and may have planted more explosives lower down to bring down the entire structure. At this point, about one-third of the way into the book, the story morphs from action suspense to a mystery. Colter attempts to determine who was responsible for the sabotage and why. Part of the answer to the first question is easy. Colter is attacked by a burly individual whom he dubs “Bear” while searching for the missing car and guesses Bear is up to no good. However, figuring out Bear’s accomplices, employer, and motive is far more difficult. One suspect is eliminated soon (and permanently) in an explosion, turning the story into a murder mystery as well. Colter also sees his share of traditional action, including engaging in a long-distance shootout with Bear and some accomplices.

Those familiar with Jeffery Deaver’s books know that the answers to these types of questions are seldom straightforward. South of Nowhere has several of Deaver’s patented plot twists along the way. Knowing that the author has a few tricks up his sleeve still won’t prepare readers for the answers the author provides. I admit to being fooled a couple of times along the way. The question of the arch-villain’s motive will be challenging for readers to figure out unless they have a sound scientific background.

The author is quite familiar with the scientific information he dispenses in South of Nowhere, as well as aspects of Native American culture. (One resident of Hinowah who refuses to relocate is Native American.) He avoids lengthy information dumps but usually provides the needed information in connection with Colter’s investigation. This material gave me a genuine sense of place for the story. The author also creates some colorful secondary characters, such as the town’s mayor, who becomes the de facto police chief during the crisis. He struggles with the job since his only relevant “training” has been watching episodes of series like Blue Bloods.

Fans of the TV series Tracker should enjoy South of Nowhere a great deal, even if they haven’t read any of the earlier Colter Shaw novels. The book describes Colter’s background and training in greater detail, showing exactly how he is so skilled as an investigator and a fighter when needed. The book also reveals additional information about Colter’s family, including the revelation he may have a previously unknown half-sister. (That revelation is the basis for an entertaining subplot.) Colter Shaw fits perfectly in Jeffery Deaver’s stable of characters, and the story is typically enjoyable Deaver, with action and plot twists aplenty. Perhaps best of all, the book ends with a hint that Colter Shaw is headed to New York City for his next job, where Deaver fans can only hope he encounters Lincoln Rhyme. For the present, however, South of Nowhere is Jeffery Deaver at his best.   

NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own.