Shell Games: A True Story of Cops, Con Men, and the Smuggling of America's Strangest Wildlife [B1947]

2011 PB, still in excellent condition. A unique blend of natural history and crime drama, Shell Games by Craig Welch is a riveting tale of rogues, scoundrels, and the hunt for nature's bounty in the tradition of The Orchid Thief. A stranger-than-fiction true story centered around a larger-than-life character who pursued a larger-than-life clam-the Geoduck-and then led wildlife police on a two-year-long chase, Shell Games is enthralling and remarkable from page one on.

One detective. One audacious poacher. A cat-and-mouse game for a prize worth millions. Wildlife Smuggling: Follow the trail of the bizarre geoduck clam from the depths of Puget Sound to the lucrative black markets of Asia. Undercover Investigation: Go inside the dangerous two-year chase as wildlife police work with informants to infiltrate a sophisticated poaching ring. A Larger-than-Life Criminal: Meet the audacious poacher at the center of the story-a charismatic rogue who plays a high-stakes game with law enforcement. Investigative Journalism: In the tradition of The Orchid Thief, this work of gripping narrative nonfiction exposes the surprising criminal underworld thriving in America's pristine waters.

From recent-ish Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Incredible, intriguing, inspiring."; "Surprisingly engaging. Having lived on Puget Sound all my life, I now have greater appreciation for the treasure it is and the risks it faces. Top rating for the amazing amount of research by the author. An otherwise esoteric subject became fascinating by the sheer thoroughness of the writing."; "This was a wonderful beach read. Especially interesting for residents of Puget Sound and anyone interested in learning more about what wildlife law enforcement officers are up to. Checking both those boxes, this spoke to me, though it's a worthwhile read for anyone interested in learning more about the otherwise-invisible world of wildlife poaching."; "Great read for those working or interested in biology and natural resource management."