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There are currently 20 member reviews
for Panther Gap
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Patricia G. (Washington, DC)
A gripping story by a talented author
I generally try not to judge a book by how quickly it draws me in—some books just build slowly—but within the first 20 pages of Panther Gap I knew I would have a hard time putting this down. Full disclaimer: this is not my normal genre of reading, but I sincerely hope that James McLaughlin is working on another book.
Panther Gap revolves around the lives of siblings Bowman and Summer, who, for reasons that unspool throughout the story, were raised by their father and two uncles on an isolated property in Colorado. McLaughlin moves back and forth in time to explain how and why each of them react to the immediate threat to their existence: an unknown and unexplained inheritance from their grandfather. Bowman is the more mystical of the siblings, able to commune with animals and overwhelmed by the modern world outside of their ranch. Summer is the more practical, but needs her brother to keep the ranch and themselves safe. At one point a seemingly random passerby, Sam, is thrown into the mix, but McLaughlin blends him into the story well.
The book is a skillful blend of mysticism, mystery, international drug dealing, family and survivalism, and McLaughlin pulls it all together so well, with compelling characters, that it's hard to put down. The reader is compelled at the end of each chapter to simply keep reading--and them McLaughlin goes back into the past to help explain the present. At times this seemed a bit convoluted, and then it all becomes clear and drives toward the dramatic ending.
My only complaint is that I felt I had picked up the third book in a trilogy, and missed out on a lot of the backstory. McLaughlin just gives hints at the fascinating lives of Leo, the father of the sibs, their long-deceased grandfather and mother, and their uncles Darwin and Jeremy (who play major roles in the present day dilemma). Note to Mr. McLaughlin's editor—please, give us at least one prequel to Panther Gap!! These characters—especially the older family members--are so rich and engaging that they deserve their own story. Fingers crossed!!
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Jennie R. (Plymouth, MN)
Beautiful sense of place…
First, I have to say my favorite thing about this novel were the descriptions of the environments and animals/animal spirits. These were magical, mystical, and in depth enough I could picture much of it in my mind's eye.
The chapters jump from past to present which I initially found off-putting…but got used to. Not my favorite story telling method,
In a nutshell, a pair of siblings are finally to inherit their grandfather's money that they hope will allow them to keep the ranch where they grew running and in the family. They had a very different upbringing, much of it out in nature in the wilds of Colorado, near the family ranch. When their father realized how limited their social environment had been he sent them both to boarding schools. The siblings had a complicated relationship. When they discover this money they will inherit may be tainted and that some very unsavory people, including the Mexican drug cartel, are aware of their plans, things get intense.
I felt the author brought in too many situations and characters which for me, muddied the storyline a bit, but overall, I enjoyed reading Panther's Gap and hope you do, too!
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Julie P. (Fort Myers, FL)
Panther Gap
This is one of those books that defies genres: it's a thriller, an environmental diatribe, a saga of two siblings, and an exploration of mystical relations between human and animals. I quickly became immersed in the plot and characters, although the writing is extremely dense. There was more than one occasion when I had to reread (and reread again) a particular passage. This is not a novel that can be skimmed or read quickly, nor would you want to. The character of Bowman, recreated from McLaughlin's award-winning previous book Bearskin, is thrust back into society from a life lived off grid when a possibly dangerous inheritance from his grandfather threatens his and his sister's existence. Bowman returns to the beautiful, remote ranch in Colorado where he and Summer were raised and educated by a non traditional father, and where he had numerous mystical encounters with wildlife. The environmental message of the author is hard to miss; McLaughlin's writing is deeply layered, and there were many terms I wanted (and needed) to research further. I had a few plot issues - Summer and Bowman's characters had such deep discussions that it was hard to believe that they were teenagers. Also, I doubted whether Sam's character was even necessary. That said, this is a novel that delves deep into many facets including the environment, ancient civilizations of the West, and man's future with the earth.
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Antoinette B. (Charlottesville, VA)
A Real Cliff Hanger
I loved Panther Gap. The book is a page turner and held me captive till the end.
I devoured the it in two days. This book has something for everyone : crime, cartels, secrets, mysteries, mysticism, etc I found the plot very intriguing.
The relationship between the father and his son and daughter was fascinating. The descriptions of the land in Colorado called Panther Gap were wonderful. They made me want to find this special place and live there. I think many book clubs would enjoy Panther Gap and it would create lively discussions on many levels. I went on to read his other book Bear Claw and enjoyed that too. If you like Don Winslow, this is a book for you. Yet despite all of these wonderful comments, the book switched back and forth too many times for me. Many times I was left hanging and caught myself saying "wait what?" If there was a half star rating I would have given a 4.5, instead I gave it a 4 star rating.
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Carolyn B
Twists and Turns
This book definitely had a lot of twist and turns. Just when you think you know what is happening next, it takes another turn. I did have some trouble following the characters. The back and forth from now to the past helped some but I found myself rereading sections.
The author did a magnificent job describing the scenery of the area. It made me want to go to see it for myself.
It was not a page turner for me, but I looked forward to reading the next chapter.
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Ellie B. (Mount Airy, MD)
thrilling family drama
Initially, upon meeting brother and sister Bowman and Summer, I was entranced by their inquisitive, intelligent response to their life in a beautifully described remote corner of Colorado. Bowman's relationship with all the wild creatures is fascinating, including his ability to train eagles for hunting.
While Bowman yearns for an honest life, settling in Costa Rica, Summer experiences college but returns to her roots to run the ranch.
When the possibility of inheriting a great deal of money, possibly earned illegally, brings random travelers into their lives, the plot becomes very thick and at times muddy. Ruthless members of a drug cartel cause thrilling chases and drama at the Mexican border. I prefer to remember the author's ability to create memories of the interactions with the animals, the picturesque beauty of the region, and reference to the history created by the Indians who settled the area.
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Frances N. (San Francisco, CA)
Crime and Ecology
This is a big book; not particularly long (about 350 pages) but big in scope. It involves a strange family, living well, off the grid and the bond between a brother and sister, both familial and psychically. The crime involves a long-time feud and then the Mexican drug cartel and a lot of money. It is almost too much to keep straight; but the images of the environs and the animals and nature keep watch over it all and keep the reader involved.
This is not my normal reading choice but I did enjoy it and appreciate receiving the ARC from the publisher (Flatiron Books) and BookBrowse.
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