The Hour of Predators by Lane Stark

Title: The Hour of Predators
 
Author: Lane Stark

Publisher: Lane Stark

Published Date: November 18, 2011 

Buy on Amazon: Paperback / Kindle 

Author Website:  http://www.lanestark.com/

 

Synopsis from Back Cover:

 

It was the hour of prowling bears, circling nightowls, vengeful spirits, and savage hearts. It was the hour of predators.

Two gruesome murders have shocked and divided the community of Bella Coola, a small, isolated village in a remote river valley on the coast of British Columbia. The evidence points to a teenaged Nuxalk boy, and the simmering tension between whites and tribe members heats up.  RCMP Inspector Marcus Chao must sort through misleading clues, cultural conflicts, tangled relationships, sexual scandals, and even rumors of sorcery to find the truth.

My Thoughts:

Lane Stark's, The Hour of Predators, is a thought provoking murder mystery set in the small fishing village of Bella Coola, British Columbia.  Tensions start to escalate between the native Nuxalk Indian's and white community when two white men are murdered by what looks like Daniel, a young Nuxalk boy.  Marcus, a member of the Vancouver RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) is assigned to the case and realizes there is more than meets the eye as he starts to dig around and speak with the people of Bella Coola.  With one twist after another, The Hour of Predators is sure to keep you on your toes and wanting more.

There were several characters in The Hour of Predators that grabbed me from the get go. Claire Lester is a stunning young Nuxalk girl who has dreams of escaping to the big city of Vancouver.  She wants to be successful and powerful not due to her looks, but her intelligence.  However, her reality is that she lives with her elderly, yet scary, great-grandmother in a house where time has stood still.  Claire must quit school in order to work as a janitor in the local elementary to provide for her younger siblings.  Daniel, the breadwinner for his younger siblings and alcoholic father, has loved Claire since they were children.  A responsible and hardworking young man, Daniel soon finds himself the key suspect in the murders of two local men.  With all of the evidence pointing towards him, he is not worried about clearing his name, rather keeping Claire safe.  

Gemma, a linguist from Vancouver, spent some time in Bella Coola studying the Nuxalk language.  While there she grew very close to the young Daniel and mentored him.  Gemma also got to know the beautiful Claire and her family.  When her ex-husband (whom she still loves) asks for her help in translating phrases at the murder scenes, Gemma finds herself torn between her Vancouver life and helping the friends she made during her time in the small village.

 I, personally, am not a huge fan of mystery novels.  They have just never been my 'thing.'  This being said, I started Stark's novel with a bit of trepidation.  However, any worries I at first had disappeared as I started reading The Hour of Predators.  Stark's novel is not just a murder mystery, it has romance, historical content, and some paranormal elements thrown in. I really enjoyed all of this book, and it kept me on my toes as I tried to figure out just what was going on in the town of Bella Coola.  I also found myself invested in the relationship between Marcus and his ex-wife Gemma, as well as many of the characters, including Claire and Daniel. 

I definitely recommend Lane Stark's The Hour of Predators to all fiction lovers.  I truly believe her book has something for all readers, as it delves into a story full of mystery, family ties, suspense, Nuxalk ancient traditions, romance, and even a little sorcery.  I am looking forward to the second book in Lane Stark's Marcus Chao Mystery series, A Premature Death. 

Lane Stark

Lane Stark has provided me with a complimentary copy of her book, The Hour of Predators, for the purpose of review.