Path of the Dead

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What to expect

The battle is one of wits and cunning, where the strong heart will overcome his enemy.

Ex-marine Arthur Nakai spent years as a member of the Shadow Wolves, an ICE tactical unit tasked by the US government to hunt human traffickers and drug smugglers on the US/Mexico border. He put that life of confronting violence in the darker contours of the desert landscape behind him and settled into a quiet existence in New Mexico with his wife, Sharon, a local TV reporter.

But when Sharon goes missing after crossing paths with a serial killer who has just added to his list of young victims, Arthur’s calm world is shattered. He must return to the darkness of the life he left behind in order to save what matters most to him, and the future he and his wife plan to share together. He can only hope that she is still alive, and that his skills will be enough to find her.

So begins the hunt—to find a ruthless killer and save the love of his life.

Critics Review

  • “Combining the gait of a fine horse, the comfort of your favorite Indian blanket, and the ease of a well-worn saddle, Mark Langley’s Path of the Dead is one heck of a debut novel coming out of the gate.”

    Craig Johnson, New York Times bestselling author of the Walt Longmire Mysteries, basis for the Netflix drama Longmire
  • “A dark and gripping novel, filled with suspense and heart-stopping twists you won’t see coming. Surely Arthur Nakai, Navajo outfitter and ex-member of the Shadow Wolves, trained to hunt down criminals on the border, is one of the most compelling sleuths to come along in some time. Path of the Dead is a smash debut. Don’t miss it.”

    Margaret Coel, New York Times bestselling author of Winter's Child
  • Path of the Dead is the debut of Mark Edward Langley as a novelist, this inherently riveting read showcases his genuine flair for character and narrative-driven storytelling…Unreservedly recommended.”

    Midwest Book Review
  • “The book sustains a high level of page-turning suspense. Here is a villain with no redeeming qualities pitted against a determined hero.”

    Roundup Magazine
  • Path of the Dead is a lightning-paced manhunt shaped by Native American lore and full of rich detail. This character-driven tale will keep you on the edge of your seat to the last page…I can’t wait to read Langley’s next story.”

    David Thurlo, author of the critically acclaimed Ella Clah novels
  • “This thriller has legs under it. When they get pumping—when the chase is on—you will sweep yourself to the end in a flurry of turning pages. Guarantee it, you are going to close Path of the Dead saying to yourself, ‘Damn, Mark Langley can tell a story.’”

    Jerry Peterson, author of Early's Fall (Kirkus starred review) and its sequel, Early's Winter

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