Hollow Beasts is a moving yet disturbing novel that takes dead aim at the current state of this country’s political divisiveness, racism, xenophobia, and threat of domestic terrorism. Alisa Lynn Valdés has constructed a compelling novel that is part commentary on today’s society and part emotional seesaw, switching back and forth seamlessly between touching and enraging moments.
After the untimely death of her husband, Jodi Luna leaves behind her life as a poetry professor in Boston to return home to Northern New Mexico with her teenage daughter for a fresh start. Now a rookie game warden taking over for her beloved uncle, Jodi is barely into her first solo week on the job when she is thrust into investigating the discovery of a severed hand with a weird symbol branded on it. When another severed body part with the same symbol is discovered by sheriff’s deputy Ashley Romero, they join forces to fight what they determine to be a white supremacist terrorist organization living in the San Isidro National Forest, kidnapping women of color and hunting them for sport. As the situation unfolds, it gets extremely personal for Jodi in more ways than one, calling on every ounce of mental, emotional, and physical strength she possesses to take down these evil people and kick start the next phase of her life.
It’d be an understatement to say that Hollow Beasts will make you feel your feelings. It is quite stirring, crafted in a way to touch all points of the emotional spectrum. You’ll feel sympathy and concern one moment, anger and disgust the next, then fear and stress, followed by admiration and contentment. Through this cyclone of emotion, the characters’ depth is displayed, and their motivations made clear, which creates a connection with the reader. Some in a way that makes you want to give them a hug or a high five, others in a way that makes you pray they get a one-way ticket to hell. Kudos to Ms. Valdés for creating a story with captivating characters and gripping plotlines that pull on your heart strings while simultaneously putting a fire in your belly.
On a personal note, having lived in New Mexico for ~6 years, the descriptions of the terrain, the people and the cuisine brought back many fond memories of my time in the Land of Enchantment. It’s a wonderful place with a beautiful culture and delicious food. In fact, the inclusion of posole, carne asada burritos, rellenos, red and green chile, and more in the story made my mouth water and have stoked an already growing yearning to return on a visit to relive those delightful years and satisfy this craving for the outrageously tasty food the state has to offer. All of this is to say that Ms. Valdés descriptions of all things New Mexico are spot on and will resonate with anyone who has had the pleasure to spend time there.
Hollow Beasts is the start of a series worth keeping an eye on. Jodi Luna is a strong female protagonist with a sound moral compass, but with a new line of work to learn and emotional wounds in need of healing. And with the inclusion of several interesting supporting characters, a gorgeous and spacious setting, and an unlimited number of potential storylines, it’ll be intriguing to see what comes next.
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