Winner of the 2020 IPPY Gold Medal for best regional fiction, Ellen King Rice is back with a fourth biological adventure set in the woods of the Pacific Northwest, this time exploring the fascinating world of the Myxogastria slime molds.
At nineteen, Dylan's brilliant mind is an asset as he struggles with severe ADHD and deteriorating living conditions. He's one semester away from completing his college degree in ecology, but he's out of cash, out of soap, and about to be evicted.
A post-pandemic opportunity to survey a rural property sounds like a lifeline. The owner of a creepy faux-chateau is ready to pay a handsome wage for a list of species found on the property. Dylan can't believe his good luck. He's about to be paid to wander in the woods. Sure, there's some bookkeeping, but how hard can it be to make a plant list?
The neighborhood, however, has other residents, including a metal sculpture artist, nudists, two homeless men, and a conservative county commissioner, each with their own definition of freedom and their own ways of interacting with the land.
When a body is found in the woods Dylan's work opportunity is threatened. He needs to uncover the reason for the death, but Dylan's lightning-fast mind is constantly undermined by his poor executive functioning. He can discourse eloquently on the significance of Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, but he can't find his wallet. He longs to adopt an orphaned West Highland terrier, but he's not sure he'd remember to feed a dog. He certainly can't afford a bag of dog kibble, much less the repairs needed on his vintage Honda. How can Dylan's intuitive grasp of ecology and the complex life cycles of the Myxogastria help to expose a killer? And how does he protect his employer, his professor, his friends and a small, confused dog from those who would eagerly embrace violence?
Ellen King Rice is a wildlife biologist who explores the woods while wearing leg braces. Her slow pace has provided opportunities to learn about the Northwest's small and cryptic species. Her vivid adventures shine a spotlight on the richness found on the forest floor, augmented by crisp illustrations from Olympia artist, Duncan Sheffels. This award-winning pair have been charming woodland lovers since 2016.
