The excerpt of Waiting for the Night Song by Julie Carrick Dalton was a well-written, interesting and captivating read. I loved the opening pages of Caddie, a forestry researcher, investigating beetles on restricted land as indicators of wildfires. The subject-matter is current with the wildfires burning out west, and the character’s passion is evident. Valuing and respecting nature will definitely be part of this novel. But, there is more of a story here. A mysterious text from a childhood friend indicating that “they found him” and “I need you home. They’re questioning my dad” is the impetus for Caddie to reveal a long-buried secret.