The Lost Claim is an action thriller novella that continues the Mercer Files series by award-winning author S.F. Baumgartner. The story takes us to Queensland, Australia. Reviewing Queensland mining registers, Lori Callahan discovers an altered date on her father’s land claim in the lease register. The altered date made the claim expire four years early. As Lori starts digging deeper, copies of the documents disappear from her apartment. She receives a letter that her father’s claim was never closed, followed by a threatening phone call. Noah Mercer joins Lori, and a drone hovers above them as they inspect the land. The office of the deceased surveyor who signed the claim is set on fire, trapping them. But will Lori and Noah resolve the mystery of her father’s claim? And will they survive?

The Lost Claim by S.F. Baumgartner is the second installment of The Mercer Files, but I found it easy to read as a standalone. The story moved so fast that I finished it in one sitting. I enjoyed the succinct and dynamic writing style and the discoveries awaiting me on every page. The fast pace reminded me a little of James Patterson’s thrillers, but that was just the alluring tempo. This novella has its own distinct mystery, characters, crimes, conspiracy, pursuit, and discoveries that kept me engaged from the first page to the last. I am glad I discovered Lori and Noah with their brave, defiant determination and camaraderie. But most of all, I liked how the police acted on this case. I highly recommend this fast-moving, suspenseful story to mystery fans. In addition, readers interested in stories involving land ownership will enjoy this novella.

In S.F. Baumgartner’s The Lost Claim, archivist Lori Callahan discovers that her family’s Queensland mining claim was altered, making it appear that the land had legally passed to another company years earlier. The finding draws in Noah Mercer, an American geologist whose family investigation has uncovered a financial trail connected to the disputed transfer. As Lori follows the trail into the Australian Outback, she finds evidence that someone has been protecting the altered version of events for years. Braddock Minerals now operates around the claim and moves quickly to block Lori’s access while questioning her right to investigate. With Noah beside her, Lori pursues the truth behind the claim as the records left by her missing uncle, Patrick Callahan, point to a history someone wants to be kept hidden.

S.F. Baumgartner’s The Lost Claim is an outstanding mystery thriller. The author gives Lori Callahan a terrific archivist’s eye for discrepancies, while Noah Mercer brings geological knowledge that examines the evidence from a different angle. Talk about the dream team of detective work! Corporate counsel Ruth Mallory is one of the strongest characters, turning regulatory procedure into a weapon capable of altering Lori’s position within hours. Queensland’s isolated mining country works superbly, such as the abandoned survey workshop filling with smoke after the pair are locked inside. The pacing is fast as the searches for evidence lead to physical danger, with each discovery changing the reader’s understanding of the case. The twists come from details already planted in the records, which makes every surprise satisfying. I recommend it to readers who love intelligent investigative thrillers built around unusual evidence.