The elusive, possibly extinct Tasmanian tiger brings together an American environmental journalist and an Australian grazier in Victoria Gordon's predictable but enjoyable down-under romance (after The Horse Tamer's Challenge
, written as G.K. Aalborg). Judith Bryan gets a plum assignment that requires working with Derek Innes, a backstabbing eco-journo rival who's bested her before, and Bevan Keene, a rugged Aussie stockman who's supposedly seen one of the rare Tassie tigers. Bevan leads the publisher-backed expedition to find the creature with Judith, Derek, a photographer, some conservationists and Bevan's rural friends Roberta Jardine and Ted Norton. Bevan is an appropriately macho romantic hero, a more aggressive Crocodile Dundee sans crocodile (“...don't you think I've got better things to do than bugger about in the scrub with a bunch of conservationist wankers...?”) and Judith is a too wide-eyed reporter (“What's a wanker?”). The group's problems in getting along (greenies vs. anti-greenies; steak vs. lentils and tofu) as they head into the Tarkine Wilderness, coupled with the prime duo's jittery chemistry, makes this a keeper, although the resolution might register as a giddy copout. (Jan.)
