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Wildlife biologist Alex Carter returns in The Vanishing Kind by Alice Henderson a tense, immersive novel of suspense  set in a vast wildlife preserve in New Mexico— and the his may be her most dangerous assignment yet!

Originally Posted June 2025 Revsed and Updated April 2026

📖 What’s It About?

Searching for the Elusive Jaguar  in the Wild of New Mexico with Alex Carter…..

In her fourth outing, Alex Carter accepts an assignment to determine whether any reclusive jaguars roam the preserve. Once a species that was prevalent throughout the US the species is now endangered.  Alex hopes that her study can find at least one of these great cats!

Alice is not alone in this vast preserve and the lands surrounding it.  First there is a dangerous group of anti-immigrant vigilantes are  terrorizing the nearby town and the archeological dig. The dig is excavating the grave site area of a sixteenth century Spanish conquistador near where Alex has setup her camp. When the vigilantes discover the purpose of Alex she becomes a target of their wrath! The groups fear is that if Alex finds a jaguar it will impend the completion of the border wall.

Alex also encounters a local farm couple, a couple helping the immigrants, the eccentric funder of the archeological dig and at least one person out to kill any jaguar she may find!

🧠 My Thoughts About The Vanishing Kind by Alice Henderson

Once again Henderson constructs a novel that provides both suspense and action, coupled with educating the reader about endangered species. In her previous assignments Alex has study wolverines, polar bears and caribou, and I learned more about those species then I ever knew! In addition,  I learned a lot about how a wildlife biologist sets out to study these endangered species. (Who knew jaguars are attracted to Obsession perfume).

I believe The Vanishing Kind  contains a larger and more diverse cast of characters then any of Alex’s previous assignments. But it still provides the feeling that it’s Alex against the world!

As always Henderson creates a strong sense of place in The Vanishing Kind. The presence of the archeoligical dig not only adds to the cast f characters but the importance of the jaguar in the culture of the American southwest and the Spanish presence  in the area.

If you enjoy thrillers with a strong sense of place and a capable, independent protagonist, this series is for you. While this novel can be read independently from the series, since the series is only four books old go back to the fist book A Solitude of Wolverines to get the complete backstory of Alex Carter.

So if you like novels that provide both excitement and education check out The Vanishing Kind. As for me, I can’t wait for Alex’s next assignment! Hmm, maybe my next read will be The Medici Return by Steve Berry his Cotton Malone stories also educate and entertain!

A Final Wrap – The Vanishing Kind by Alice Henderson

I will say that throughout the book, while I was enjoying it I wasn’t that impressed. I didn’t find it  all that suspenseful. That ended a little over halfway through the  book,  when the rich funder of the dig asked the members of the dig and Alex for dinner and cut off the digs funding! After that all help broke out and the novel shot along to its conclusion. And I wasn’t expecting Alex’s savior to appear!

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If You Enjoyed The Vanishing Kind, Here’s Where My Reading Went (and Where It’s Going)…

• Nora Kelly (Preston & Child) — archaeological thrillers I’m planning to dive into, a natural next step after the dig storyline here
• Breaking Wild — Diane Les Becquets — a gripping wilderness survival story that I couldn’t put down (see my original post)
• Peter Heller — The Last Ranger / The River — atmospheric wilderness novels blending nature, danger, and reflection (see my posts)

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