The Highest Mountain: Death & Life in the Adirondacks (a novel) (2007) David J. Pitkin 286 pp.  Softcover    $18.95 Meet New York State Police Senior Investigator Dennis Girard. He's a self-described loser. A divorced, nicotine addicted boozer and dangerously close to burn out on his job. Just when he (and we the readers) thinks he can sink no farther he breaks yet another cardinal rule of the State Police and manages to get himself killed. Now the story gets interesting as our unlikely hero comes back to life with a serious mission to complete and unwanted help from the "other side beyond the light" to accomplish it. We ride shotgun with Girard as he travels the Adirondacks on his quest. Along the way we meet Native Americans, Adirondack natives and born killers as well as terrorists with long memories and serious intentions. We travel from Chestertown to Port Henry, Plattsburgh and Montreal and from the Akwesasne Indian Reservation to Potsdam, North Creek and Ticonderoga. The mission is to stop a diabolical plot with serious consequences. As you take the speedboat ride of your life towards the finale perhaps it will have you asking the same question as me of Author Pitkin, "When and what will Dennis Girard be doing next?". This is a great read for all mystery lovers and especially for the Adirondack dreamer in all of us. (c) Review by Jack Armstrong, Proprietor, Northwoods Bookshop In his first novel, Pitkin draws on his fifty years of investigating the world of the dead; in this case the near-dead.  The Near Death Experience (NDE) has gained recognition and interest since Dr. Raymond Moody published his seminal work, Life After Life, in the 1970s. “Every event in THM has happened to someone I know or have met,” Pitkin said, “thus there is a wealth of material to draw on in creating a could-be story for 2008.”  From disembodied spirits, to angels, to long-dead relatives, to terrorists, this book may shed light on “what it’s like” to die and return to a troubled world. Vance L. Kibe from Phoenicia, NY wrote: In The Highest Mountain, Mr. Pitkin takes a sharp turn to fiction in this not too unique, yet very well told, story of a washed up Cop learning life's lessons with the help of a little "death" in the mix. While I am well used to Mr. Pitkin's non fiction style of writing, I have to admit it was weird getting used to his new style of writing. I must say, however, I found myself enjoying the story greatly. As the story unfolded, I almost felt as though I was reading a Stephen King Novel, as Mr. Pitkin's style is very similar to the well known master of horror. I think Mr. Pitkin has found a new niche, though I hope he does not abandon the non- fiction genre all together. I highly recommend The Highest Mountain; just find a nice long weekend, curl up on the sofa, and enjoy! Rupert Pratt, author of “Touching the Ancient One,” from Glenville, NY, wrote: The Adirondack Park covers a huge area of Northern New York, larger even than some states. Interspersed among the mountains and high peaks are numerous villages, unique for their tranquil locations and hardy people. Into this setting author David J. Pitkin has placed his main character, New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation Sr. Investigator Dennis Girard. This is a compelling Adirondack mystery with numerous well-fleshed-out characters, and expanding to several surrounding states, then takes on an international flair. As one who knows the region well, I am impressed not only by Pitkin's extensive geographical knowledge, but also for his ability to weave it so masterfully into the story fabric. The mystery itself is absorbing enough, but the setting gives it a feel of "place." In Girard, Pitkin has created a character who resonates with humanness, a searcher after truth, although in the beginning he doesn't recognize that. It takes an experience of being brought back from the dead to get his attention, then a series of physic events to chisel through his hardheadedness. Often profane, always analytical, Girard struggles not only to solve the mundane problems of his own life, but also to understand and accept the help he is receiving from his guardian angel, his long-dead brother, and ghosts that place themselves in his way to see that he gets it right. Tension is created in this character whose career has been built on "just the facts, Ma'am," as he has to accept that there may be more to life than just facts. This book is full of surprises; things are often not what they seem. The author is one of the country's premier ghost story researchers, having written six books on the subject. This is his first novel, and that researcher mentality is evidenced by the care with which he describes places and events. Pitkin's philosophical ideas and spiritual beliefs are evident throughout, but the book is first a mystery--and a good one.