"An absorbing archaeological mystery, rich in historical detail and local atmosphere. With its colorful characters and fast–paced plot, Mesa Verde Victim is a fascinating find." —AUSMA ZEHANAT KHAN, author of A Deadly Divide Hounded by false accusations of murder, archaeologist Chuck Bender and his family risk their lives to track down an unknown killer on the loose in a rugged canyon on the remote western edge of Mesa Verde National Park, where ancient stone villages and secret burial sites, abandoned centuries ago by the Ancestral Puebloan people, harbor artifacts so rare and precious they're worth killing over. SCOTT GRAHAM is the National Outdoor Book Award–winning author of the six–volume National Park Mystery Series for Torrey House Press, including Canyon Sacrifice , Mountain Rampage , Yellowstone Standoff , Yosemite Fall , and Arches Enemy , and five other books. He is an avid outdoorsman who lives with his wife, an emergency physician, in southwestern Colorado. "An entertaining read; a satisfying page–turner that will not be easy to set aside." — THE UTAH REVIEW "Graham educates while he entertains, writing with contagious enthusiasm…Evocative prose conjures vivid images of the tale's breathtaking backdrop." — MYSTERY SCENE MAGAZINE "An expert look at the great outdoors seamlessly incorporated with a focus on the hero's family." — KIRKUS REVIEWS "Agreeable characters are enhanced by beautiful landscape descriptions and intriguing local lore. Fans will be rewarded." — PUBLISHERS WEEKLY "For readers who appreciate history mixed with natural wonders in a fast–paced book. Fans of Mary Anna Evans's archaeological mysteries will enjoy this series." — LIBRARY JOURNAL "Not only will readers be treated to a tense, convoluted plot populated by colorful characters, but to a treasure trove of information about the archaeological wealth to be found in Durango and Mesa Verde." — DURANGO HERALD "An absorbing archaeological mystery, rich in historical detail and local atmosphere. With its colorful characters and fast–paced plot, Mesa Verde Victim is a fascinating find." — AUSMA ZEHANAT KHAN, author of A Deadly Divide: A Khattak–Getty Mystery "In Mesa Verde Victim , long–buried secrets are unearthed in a timeless and riveting tale of greed and plundered history set amid the majesty of one of the Southwest's most beautiful national parks." — ROGER JOHNS, award–winning author of River of Secrets: A Wallace Hartman Mystery "A stunning national park, enchanting local lore, and fascinating archaeology—it's all there in Mesa Verde Victim . Scott Graham's latest standout thriller is as full of twists and turns as a mountain road." — C. C. HARRISON, Colorado Book Award–winning author of Death by G-String: A Coyote Canyon Mystery SCOTT GRAHAM is the National Outdoor Book Award–winning author of the six–volume National Park Mystery Series for Torrey House Press, including Canyon Sacrifice , Mountain Rampage , Yellowstone Standoff , Yosemite Fall , and Arches Enemy , and five other books. He is an avid outdoorsman who lives with his wife, an emergency physician, in southwestern Colorado. Chapter 1 "I hate this, I hate this, I hate this!” Rosie Ortega screeched. She squeezed her eyes shut, her hands gripping the rope affixed to the seat harness belted around her plump waist as she descended on auto–belay to the base of the indoor rock–climbing wall. Chuck Bender wrapped her in a bear hug. “You did fine up there,” he assured her. “No, I didn’t,” she cried, stomping her foot on the padded gym floor. Tears pooled in her eyes. She wriggled from Chuck’s grasp and tore at the climbing rope knotted at her waist. “I barely got off the ground.” Other climbers in the gym averted their gazes as Chuck helped twelve–year–old Rosie free herself from the rope. “Carm’s so good,” she blubbered, her lower lip trembling. She pressed her knuckles to her walnut–brown eyes. “I hate her,” she said to the floor. “I heard that,” fourteen–year–old Carmelita called from where she clung to molded–resin holds thirty feet overhead, working an inverted route extending across the ceiling from the top of the wall. Chuck craned his head at her. “Your sister didn’t mean it.” “Yes, I did,” Rosie declared, looking up. “Well, the good part, anyway.” “That much would be right,” Chuck told her. He massaged the back of her neck below her mane of curly black hair billowing from the bottom of her climbing helmet. “Your sister is good at this sport. Which is a problem for me, too.” Rosie’s watery eyes widened. “For you?” “I’ve always been a rock climber for the fun of it. Nowadays, though, climbing is a big–time sport, with everybody making it into a massive competition. And, like you said, it just so happens Carm’s pretty good at it.” “Because she’s so skinny,” Rosie pouted. “Just because,” Chuck said. “But you and I have to remember we’re climbing for fun when we’re messing