Announcing my new adventure-thriller series featuring biologist, photographer, and protector of wildlife Clayton T. Porter
Biologist, wildlife photographer, and tactically trained anti-poaching expert Clayton Porter witnesses what appears to be a routine drug-smuggling flight across the Arizona-Mexico border. Instead, he uncovers a sophisticated operation involving a secret lodge high in the Sierra Madre, canned hunts for endangered jaguars, a ring of opioid-dealing doctors in the U.S., and a string of cartel victims partially consumed by a large predator. After Porter unwittingly throws a wrench into the works and those close to him are targeted for vengeance, he embarks on a mission of total retaliation. Get ready for an edge-of-your-armchair ride with Clayton T. Porter, a new kind of action hero who’s as likely to employ a rattlesnake as a rifle against the bad guys.
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A New Kind of Hero
“This was a great read. Initially, I thought the protagonist, Clayton T. Porter, was going to be another Jack Reacher-like hero, but I soon discovered he was much more. Reacher was a former Major in the U.S. Army, and although he is well equipped with survival techniques, he didn't spend his life studying wildlife and the environment. Clayton T. Porter on the other hand is a biologist and wildlife photographer who also happens to be well-trained in military tactics.
This difference rippled through the story in ways that really gripped me. I like that Porter stands up for the animals—in this case, jaguars—as much as the people. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want Porter after me for shooting a friend of his—a crime I'd surely pay for—but he gets the natural world with its conservation challenges and seems to really dislike people who disrupt it.
Most of this book takes place in his back yard: The Tucson area, northern Mexico, and Baja. It's clear that Hanson is intimately familiar with the Sonoran Desert. I found his insertions of its geography, history, and wildlife highly satisfying. Porter's tactical decisions while fighting a Mexican cartel made me think of him as a cross between David Attenborough and Steve Irwin. Jack Reacher might have fought off a drug cartel, but could he survive in the Sonoran Desert without water? Would he know how to deal with a half-crazed jaguar? Or how to capture and use a poisonous snake as a weapon?
I truly hope to read about Porter in a few more parts of the world, maybe going after elephant poachers in southern Africa, or saving endangered tigers in Asia. He's a new kind of hero—one we truly need. I give this book a solid five stars!”
– Robert DeMayo, author of Pithecophilia, The Sirens of Oak Creek, and more
Buckle up for a New Series!
“I admit to having a bit of sleep deprivation this week. It all started last Tuesday when I received my copy of Trail of the Jaguar. I read well into the wee hours of the morning and finished the novel in three nights. Jonathan Hanson has written a thriller that promises to be a great series. His knowledge as a naturalist, sea kayaker and explorer, weapons expert, tracker, and his familiarity with the natural history of the Southwest, particularly Arizona and northern Mexico, creates a multi-colored backdrop for this adrenalin-laced thriller. His protagonist Clayton T. Porter, just like the Sonoran Desert where he resides, can kill you in all manner of ways. Porter uses his desert knowledge and tactical training to dispatch bad guys by the most satisfying of means. Well researched and timely, I highly recommend this book and can't wait for the next installment of the Clayton T. Porter series.”
– John Gentile, author of Baja Redemption (1) The Guardians of Gaia
Thrilling & Fun
“It is absolutely fantastic. Thrilling, poignant in moments, and downright fun. I’m savoring every page.”
– Ben Wilder, Ph.D., research biologist specializing in the Sonoran Desert and Sea of Cortez
“Five stars for a novel adventure that thrills and educates to create a page-turning tale that sucks you in and concludes with the reader wondering, ‘What’s next for our hero, Clayton T. Porter?’"
– Janay Brun, author of Cloak and Jaguar: Following a Cat from Desert to Courtroom
Clayton T. Porter, a Southwestern Renaissance Man and Adventurer
“I anticipated its arrival and, as another has said, was pulled right in and kept up late! I thoroughly enjoyed this well crafted tale. Hanson has created a true renaissance adventurer in Clayton T Porter, a multi-faceted character whose refined tastes in optics, kayaks, vehicles and firearms along with his knowledge and appreciation of the flora and fauna of the Southwest provide well-rounded appeal. You may learn a few things while Clayton is dispensing extrajudicial justice, as many elements of the story are factual—from wildlife biology/conservation to geology, topography and military history. An aside regarding the protagonist’s refined tastes: it’s obvious to anyone who has read Jonathan Hanson’s blog, where Mr Porter’s affinity for quality stems from. It’s not ubiquitous hipsteresque, haughty nonsense, it’s practicality-- a discrimination born from actual use in the field, the pleasure of using to complete a task well, rather than having-- to say you do. It's a philosophy the author has nicely woven into the storyline.
I’m looking forward to Clayton’s next adventure!”
Southwest Action-Thriller
“Storytellers—at least the good ones—have been an integral part of human cultures around the world from long before the advent of the written word. They have always been appreciated, even revered. The stories themselves impart knowledge, carry on traditions, and entertain all at the same time. They are historical reflections of what is taking place during the era in which they are produced.
With Jonathan Hanson’s debut action/thriller novel following on the heels of his Tales of the Southwest short story collection, he has claimed his own niche in the ranks of such narrators. As a collector of esoteric bits of information as well as a wide span of natural history facts from his extensive field experiences, the author is uniquely qualified for the task of getting this tale told. His being a connoisseur of everything from vehicles, firearms, outdoor gear, optics, alcohol, clothing and the like informs the reader that such things do exist, if only one has the necessary funds.
Set for the most part in southwest Arizona and northwest Mexico, there are a few international tangents that add spice to the account and further edify the audience. The dangerous escapades and array of killings should satisfy even the most jaded of armchair adventurers.”
– Dexter Oliver, author of of The Raven’s Beak and Journal of a Wayfaring Writer