For fans of C.J. Box, Craig Johnson, and Tony Hillerman — a 1970s Wyoming wilderness thriller about a small-town doctor whose family hunting trip becomes a kidnapping chase through the Bighorn Mountains. It's September 1976, and Dr. Patrick Flint just wants to take his kids elk hunting in the Bighorn Mountains. His wife Susanne refuses to go. His daughter Trish, fifteen, has secretly arranged for her boyfriend to follow them up the mountain. His son Perry, twelve, is game for anything. What could go wrong? Plenty. Back in Buffalo, a convicted killer named Billy Kemecke has escaped from prison — and he knows exactly where the Flint family is going. In the Cloud Peak Wilderness, Trish's arranged meeting with Brandon Lewis gets her kidnapped by the Jones family, who believe Patrick killed their mother through medical malpractice. On horseback in the dark at 9,000 feet with giardia tearing through his gut, Patrick follows hair fasteners dropped by Trish in the snow, a trail of smiley-face breadcrumbs through the wilderness. Susanne — attacked by Kemecke in her own home and left tied to a chair — is already ahead of him. Switchback is the first Patrick Flint novel, set in the Buffalo, Wyoming of 1976 — the town where author Pamela Fagan Hutchins spent her elementary school years, and where her family's real adventures (minus the murders) inspired the entire series. The Bighorn Mountains, Red Grade Road, the Cloud Peak Wilderness: she knows them from the inside. Patrick Flint's Wyoming is as real as the wind. He's a doctor trained in martial arts and tracking. She's a Texas woman tied to a chair with a bowie knife. Their twelve-year-old tackled a kidnapper. The mountains didn't know what hit them. Complete series: 9 novels. "Transports readers deep into the mountains of Wyoming for a thriller that has it all--wild animals, criminals, and one family willing to do whatever is necessary to protect its own. Hutchins writes with the authority of a woman who knows this world. She weaves the story with both nail-biting suspense and a healthy dose of humor. You won't want to miss it." -- Danielle Girard, Wall Street Journal-bestselling author of White Out "As many twists and turns as a high-country trail. Every parent's nightmare is the loss or injury of a child, and this powerful novel taps into that primal fear." -- Reavis Z. Wortham, two time winner of The Spur and author of Hawke's Prey "Starts at a gallop and had me holding on with both hands until the riveting finish. Highly atmospheric and nearly crackling with suspense. Highly recommend!" -- Libby Kirsch, Emmy awardwinning reporter and author of the Janet Black Mystery Series "Best book I've read in a long time!" -- Kiersten Marquet, author of Reluctant Promises What Amazon readers are saying: "A Bob Ross painting with Alfred Hitchcock hidden among the trees." "Edge-of-your seat nail biter." "Unexpected twists!" "Wow! Wow! Highly entertaining!" "Beautifully descriptive, with an underlying story of human connection and family." "Well drawn characters, great scenery, and a kept-me-on-the-edge-of-my-seat story!" "Absolutely unputdownable wonder of a story." "Must read!" "Gripping story. Looking for book two!" "Intense!" About Pamela: 2020 Amazon Top 15 Best Seller 2020 Amazon Top 100 Author 2018 USA Today Best Seller 2017 Silver Falchion Award, Best Mystery 2016 USA Best Book Award, Cross-Genre Fiction 2015 USA Best Book Award, Cross-Genre Fiction 2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter-finalist, Romance Praise for Pamela's other books: What Doesn't Kill You: Katie Connell Texas-to-Caribbean Romantic Mysteries "An exciting tale . . . twisting investigative and legal subplots . . . a character seeking redemption . . . an exhilarating mystery with a touch of voodoo." -- Midwest Book Review Bookwatch "A lively romantic mystery." -- Kirkus Reviews "A riveting drama . . . exciting read, highly recommended." -- Small Press Bookwatch"Katie is the first character I have absolutely fallen in love with since Stephanie Plum!" -- Stephanie Swindell, Bookstore Owner What Doesn't Kill You: Emily Bernal Texas-to-New Mexico Romantic Mysteries "You won't be able to put it down." -- Ken Oder, author of Old Wounds to the Heart "Full of heart, humor, vivid characters, and suspense." -- Gay Yellen, author ofThe Body Business "Hutchins is a master of tension." -- R.L. Nolen, author of Deadly Thyme "Intriguing mystery . . . captivating romance." -- Patricia Flaherty Pagan, author of Trail Ways Pilgrim "Everything about it shines: the plot, the characters and the writing." -- Marcy McKay, author of Pennies from Burger Heaven What Doesn't Kill You: Michele Lopez Hanson Texas Romantic Mysteries "Immediately hooked." -- Terry Sykes-Bradshaw, author of Sibling Revelry "Spellbinding." -- Jo Bryan, Dry Creek Book Club "Fast-paced mystery." -- Deb Krenzer, Book Reviewer "Can't put it down." -- Cathy Bader, Reader What Doesn't Kill You: Maggie Killian Tex