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

“My calls weren’t returned so I felt I had to make a personal visit. Mr. Montaine, pleased to meet you. I’m Paul Blanchfield.”


Those weird messages. Jared shook his smooth hand. “I’m a little busy, Paul. What do you want?”


“It’s not what I want, Mr. Montaine, it’s what you want. You want some security for your refuge, yes? Some financial stability, I presume?”


“What’s your angle?” Not another reporter looking for a story. This man was more than that


“May we sit down? An old war injury, you understand, I can’t stand for very long. We could sit in the car.”


“Come in here. We’ve got picnic tables.”


Blanchfield looked pained for a second. “Certainly. That would be fine.”


Jared opened the gate enough for the man to slip through. The driver moved back inside the car and Jared heard classical music from the limo’s interior.


Chapter 73