A man. A tiger. A tornado. Jared Montaine owns a big cat rescue in Florida and faces financial pressures, getting over his ex-wife, and the challenge of suburbia creeping ever closer to his enclave for the animals. But when a tornado wrecks part of the refuge, Jared's worst fear comes to life: his Siberian tiger, Sultan, escapes. It's a big cat handler’s nightmare: a tiger on the loose, confused, lost -- and hungry. Jared races against the police, the media, and the hysterical public, all of whom are clamoring for the tiger's hide. He must re-capture Sultan before the cat is killed -- by traffic, by SWAT, or by a civilian who just wants to shoot a tiger. With fellow wildlife handlers at his side, Jared fights desperately to find and capture Sultan before the tiger injures or kills a human. Because that would lead to his worst nightmare -- having to kill the tiger he hand-raised from a cub. Jared’s commitment is tested -- to his animals, his refuge, and his belief that saving the life of even one tiger is worth losing everything.

The Tiger Whisperer

Peter recovered first. “That’s the first we’ve heard of an animal off site. Would you mind giving me a location on that?”


“If all of your animals are accounted for, why would you need a location for a tiger sighting?” Creighton’s voice, smug and gloating. Jared wanted to smack her.


The other reporters tore into it then, shouting questions, pushing the mikes into their faces. Peter tried to calm things down, but Jared pushed back when one camera got too close, and the swirl of people started to look like a rugby match. Little Steve joined them, his size a comfort to Jared; it felt good to have a team mate on his side.


Peter raised his arms and bellowed. “Quiet!” In the silence, Jared could hear the battery packs click and the lenses grind as they focused once more on Peter. “We’ll continue with our repairs and medical care for the animals. I’ll plan to have another statement for you tomorrow at five. That’s all for today. Thank you for coming.”


Chapter 36