On the other end of that drone was Wesley Sarmento, a grizzly bear management specialist for Montana’s department of fish, wildlife and parks (MFWP) who has spent the last six years testing different non-lethal methods for scaring bears away from human habitation, a practice commonly referred to as “hazing”. In research forthcoming in the journal Frontiers of Conservation Science, Sarmento – a PhD student at the University of Montana – shows that aerial drones outperformed all other hazing methods tested in his experiments. They provide a way to move grizzly bears away from humans that is safe for humans and animals alike.
This is a lengthy book, and some readers may find that the action occasionally drags. Yet the third act, in which Slim confronts nemeses old and new, is especially thrilling stuff, and I defy any reader to reach the bleak but cathartic conclusion and not want to dive into another adventure with the redoubtable heroine. Porter has been compared to Mick Herron and Gerald Seymour, and it’s easy to see why, but The Enigma Girl is the work of a wholly individual and readable talent.
“Tooth and Claw” is a brilliant bite-sized thriller, with Johnson’s signature Western twang and twisting path on which the plot follows. He delivers on yet another addition to Longmire’s story, one wreathed in forgotten legends, dangerous enemies, and exotic environments. Whether a longtime fan of the series or a first-time Longmire reader, “Tooth and Claw” deserves a place on your shelf.