Gator Country Receives Starred Reviews
Publishers Weekly called the book, “fascinating,” and Kirkus found the book, “difficult to put down.”
Howdy Friends!
Today we are celebrating not one, but TWO starred reviews of Gator Country. That’s right. Both Publishers Weekly and Kirkus gave Gator Country a starred review! Publishers Weekly called the book, “fascinating,” and Kirkus found the book, “difficult to put down.” Read their full reviews of Gator Country, online now!
We’ve also received several reviews from those who were sent advanced reader copies. Let’s just say this book is about to make a big splash when it comes out in November. Read the incredible feedback from advanced copy reviewers below:
"In this fascinating blend of true crime and science reporting, Rebecca Renner’s Gator Country tracks Jeff Babauta, an unassuming undercover conservation agent who risks it all to infiltrate an alligator poaching operation in the treacherous Florida wetlands. Told with fierce loyalty to nature and compassion for humans, Renner’s Gator Country delivers all the suspense and subterfuge of a le Carré novel. It’ll even make you love alligators." — Erika Krouse, award-winning author of Tell Me Everything: The Story of a Private Investigation
"Gator Country brims with energy, confidence, and all the hallmarks of a true-life thriller, but Rebecca Renner's unique talent is her keen skill at bringing her characters to life and giving their motivations full color and context. The result is poignant and wonderful. Gator Country isn't just a thrill for thrill's sake, but a generous, thoughtful exploration of what it means for all of us to live in a habitat of predators. Rebecca Renner is a true talent." — Adam Chandler, author of Drive-Thru Dreams
"A gorgeously rendered ode to the wild characters - both human and animal - of Renner's native Florida, Gator Country takes a deep dive into the fascinatingly blurry line that can exist between poachers and conservationists operating in our own backyards." — Rachel Nuwer, author of Poached
"In Gator Country, Rebecca Renner takes us deep into the Florida swamps, where an undercover agent chases a ring of alligator poachers. From dimly lit backcountry bars where outlaws spin wild yarns, to the reptile farm where the agent feeds fish guts to alligators, Renner shows us a hidden Florida that's changing quickly." —Murray Carpenter, author of Caffeinated
"This astonishing book moves as fast as a hungry gator slicing through the water! Rebecca Renner spins an incredible only-in-Florida true-crime tale that's a must-read for anyone who cares about protecting our environment." — Craig Pittman, author of Oh, Florida!
Now is a great time to preorder your copy of Gator Country. Book tour information is coming soon. Stay tuned for more exciting updates!
Yours Truly,
Team Rebecca
Did you enjoy the book, The Body Keeps Score? If so, try reading I Feel Love by Rachel Nuwer. Full disclosure, Rachel blurbed Gator Country, but don’t you love reading books by great people? For more book recommendations, follow rebeccarennerfl on Tik Tok!
The Everglades also known as the "River of Grass" is one of the wonders of the world. It is a vast subtropical wilderness that has been declared a World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve, and Wetland of International Importance.
This landscape is home to over 450,00 acres of mangrove forests, the largest continuous seagrass meadows on Earth, the oldest cypress trees on the planet, and over 350 different animal species, many of them threatened or endangered.
Historically, the Everglades spanned from the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, down to Lake Okeechobee, through the River of Grass, down to Florida Bay and the iconic Florida Keys. In the early 1900s, development in Florida began to boom, and in an effort to support the growing population and spur the growth of the agricultural community, the original flow was cut off, and the water originally flowing south from Lake Okeechobee was redirected East and West into the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries.
Today, this system is still in place, and nutrient pollution continues to make its way into the lake. When Lake Okeechobee rises during the wet season, the levees are opened, and the polluted water is flushed into the estuaries, tainting Florida’s freshwater supply and making its way into our coastal communities, while leaving the Everglades starved for freshwater.
During the summer months, the hot waters and high levels of sunlight stimulate the phosphorus, and it does what it is meant to do – it ignites growth. This growth, however, comes in the form of toxic algal blooms.
The Everglades Foundation was formed by a group of outdoor enthusiasts, environmentalists, and residents of Florida who were concerned over the decline of the Everglades and the resulting damage in the nearby natural and protected areas such as Florida Bay. This group works to restore and protect America’s Everglades through science, advocacy, and education programs.
Founded in 1993 by two outdoor enthusiasts— The Everglades Foundation works tirelessly to bring people together and provide a powerful voice for Everglades restoration at the state and national levels. To support or learn more about their efforts to restore and protect the Everglades, visit their website!
Thanks for reading! Can’t wait to share more exciting news about Gator Country and more with you soon.
Congratulations on these rave reviews!!
Woo! Congratulations, Rebecca!