Harrison Hosts a Picnic A serious skirmish in the illegal wildlife wars

Drew and Mouse, an ordinary couple, become entangled in an international illegal wildlife trafficking investigation. Drew runs a luxury exotic food business that supplies services to Harrison Watkins, a wealthy Virginia farmer, and prime suspect in the scheme. Both men's wives—Mouse, a Chippewan Indian from Canada, and Harrison's Sioux wife from South Dakota—form a close bond, strengthening the social ties between the couples. Harrison hosts an annual event called the Peregrine Initiative, supposedly to support endangered species. However, many attendees seem more involved in illegal wildlife trafficking, smuggling endangered animals like bears, falcons, and cheetahs. Hester Liu, a USF&WS operative, devises a plan to uncover the identities of the attendees, launching a multi-year investigation spanning continents. The investigation reveals a network of ruthless traffickers and unknowing participants, as Liu's team battles to dismantle the illicit trade.

The author holds a doctorate in geology and paleontology, which earlier led to a career in oil and gas exploration. A lifelong interest and commitment to wildlife conservation and preservation of wild places has grown progressively stronger over time. He has traveled extensively in eastern and southern Africa as a writer, a professional photographer, a birder and a recreational fly fisherman. Allan lives in Colorado with his wife, Jeanne, two dogs and a yard full of well-fed birds and squirrels.