The Trackers

A Novel

By: Charles Frazier

Narrated by: Will Patton

Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

From the New York Times bestselling author of Cold Mountain and Varina, a stunning new novel that paints a vivid portrait of life in the Great Depression

Hurtling past the downtrodden communities of Depression-era America, painter Val Welch travels westward to the rural town of Dawes, Wyoming. Through a stroke of luck, he’s landed a New Deal assignment to create a mural representing the region for their new Post Office.

A wealthy art lover named John Long and his wife Eve have agreed to host Val at their sprawling ranch. Rumors and intrigue surround the couple: Eve left behind an itinerant life riding the rails and singing in a western swing band. Long holds shady political aspirations, but was once a WWI sniper—and his right hand is a mysterious elder cowboy, a vestige of the violent old west. Val quickly finds himself entranced by their lives.

One day, Eve flees home with a valuable painting in tow, and Long recruits Val to hit the road with a mission of tracking her down. Journeying from ramshackle Hoovervilles to San Francisco nightclubs to the swamps of Florida, Val's search for Eve narrows, and he soon turns up secrets that could spark formidable changes for all of them.

In The Trackers, singular American writer Charles Frazier conjures up the lives of everyday people during an extraordinary period of history that bears uncanny resemblance to our own. With the keen perceptions of humanity and transcendent storytelling that have made him beloved for decades, Frazier has created a powerful and timeless new classic.

©2023 Charles Frazier (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers

the tracker.

the tracker seem to be about hobos the depression era and how mean and depressing life can be. and how a veteran from the world war II was throwing his money around to make himself feel important in life.

disappointed in story

I probably would not have finished but for the excellent narration by Will Patton.

Great writing, great narration

The author's description of characters, events, scenery and story is wonderful and the narrator's interpretation is mezmerizing. I could listen to him all day.

Excellent storytelling

I found myself invested in the characters’ past, present and future. As usual, Frasier paints a realistic picture of human nature.

Will Patton!

Dear Mr. Patton,
Thank you for reading to me.
(And to all the rest of us.)
: )

Where's the rest of the story?

Not Fraziers usual excellence . All charactors remained a mystery from beginning to end. This is the first book of this author that I didn't get lost in. I was waiting for the end in hopes the author would sum up story , BUT it was just an abrupt ending. I have questions.....So many unanswered questions. Will's amazing narration was as usual beyond compare.

Will Patton as usual was incredible.

Felt like Charles Fraser mailed this one in. Charles is at his finest when he stays in one geographical location. Jumping from the Midwest to Florida to the west coast in a lickety-split type manner, greatly distracted from the story. Charles stories often give us insight into history that a textbook would leave out this one M did not open my eyes to anything new or interesting. I look forward to Mr. Frazier‘s next book because he must be saving something inside of him that he did not allow out in this story.

the dialogue

I liked this book a lot. Led me to wonder about those years. Great premise, I loved Val's voice. Typical Frazier, with the oddball characters. Excellent read!

Literary Perfection

The Trackers links the past to the present with richly developed characters, a distinct sense of place and palpable socio-economic tensions. Brilliant writing.

Well read, good story

The presenter was great. The story was engrossing and full of complex sentences, depth of descriptive details fabulous!