"To manage men, one ought to have a sharp mind in a velvet sheath." Eliot

This enchanting story opens at Yellowstone National Park. It mixes the serenity of a natural animal preserve with a number of unscrupulous character who use the park for their own agendas.

Rachel Stanley is a bear biologist. She makes a grim discovery of a scientist who appears to have been killed and partially eaten by a bear. It is unusual for a bear to attack humans in the park and this unusual animal behavior is magnified when Rachel finds a number of animals that have been born deformed.

Rainey is a former P.I. who meets Jen Donahue, while he was fly fishing. Jen is a Chicago cop who is on leave. Rainey is a rare character who is totally honest and possesses so many good qualities that both Jen and Rachel are drawn to him.

There are multiple stories in this complex mystery such as a corrupt sheriff who is trying to open an illegal business that would sell elk horns to a Chinese man,  there is a crazed poacher who believes that the devil is after him and he has to offer sacrifices and there is also a black ops government agent performing experiments in the park.

The characters at first seem interesting but turn out to be extraordinary. The scene when Rachel discovers that the black ops agent is performing these expirements and that might be effecting animal life, is most memorable.

I was totally satisfied with the story and sad to see it end.