Long Road to Mercy

David Baldacci's Atlee Pine series opens in the remote wilderness of the Grand Canyon, where FBI Agent Pine — the sole federal law enforcement presence for hundreds of miles — is investigating a missing hiker and a mutilated mule. The setting is fresh and the pace is fast. Pine's backstory, rooted in the childhood abduction of her twin sister by a serial killer, gives the series genuine emotional stakes beyond the procedural plot. Bookreporter praised the characters and pacing. The weaknesses are real: some reviewers found plot logic shaky and felt the main mystery sat uneasily alongside the more compelling personal thread. Subject matter includes child abduction and thriller-genre violence, so this is solidly for adult readers. For Baldacci fans or anyone wanting a female-led thriller with a strong wilderness atmosphere, it's a solid series entry.