This event is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and features books that we are eagerly anticipating. My choice for this week is:
by Betty Webb
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Available February 7th
7th in the Lena Jones series
An old wrangler holds the key to hundreds of deaths in secretive Walapai Flats, Arizona, but the only person he’ll confide in is the ghost of John Wayne.
When P.I. Lena Jones’s Pima Indian partner Jimmy Sisiwan is arrested in the remote northern Arizona town of Walapai Flats, Lena closes the Desert Investigations office and rushes to his aid. What she finds is a town up in arms over the new uranium mine located only ten miles from the magnificent Grand Canyon. Jimmy’s sister-in-law, head of Victims of Uranium Mining, has already been murdered, but the opposing side has taken hits, too. Ike Donohue, the mine’s public relations flak, is found shot to death, casting suspicion on Jimmy and his entire family. During Lena’s investigation, she finds not only a community decimated by unsafe mining practices, but a connection to actor John Wayne and the mysterious deaths that occurred during the 1954 filming of “The Conqueror.” Gabe Boone, a wrangler on that doomed film, is one of the only crew members still alive, and it’s up to Lena to penetrate Gabe’s defenses to find out the tragic secret no one in Walapai Flats wants to talk about. By delving into the history of its surrounding desert, Lena learns that old sins never die; in fact, they’re still taking lives. In "Desert Wind," Betty Webb brilliantly evokes the memories of the Cold War, and brings its deadly legacy home to modern-day Arizona.
As with “Desert Wives: Polygamy Can Be Murder,” this seventh book in the Lena Jones series exposes real life crimes, and the reason why local and federal officials want those crimes to remain under wraps.
When P.I. Lena Jones’s Pima Indian partner Jimmy Sisiwan is arrested in the remote northern Arizona town of Walapai Flats, Lena closes the Desert Investigations office and rushes to his aid. What she finds is a town up in arms over the new uranium mine located only ten miles from the magnificent Grand Canyon. Jimmy’s sister-in-law, head of Victims of Uranium Mining, has already been murdered, but the opposing side has taken hits, too. Ike Donohue, the mine’s public relations flak, is found shot to death, casting suspicion on Jimmy and his entire family. During Lena’s investigation, she finds not only a community decimated by unsafe mining practices, but a connection to actor John Wayne and the mysterious deaths that occurred during the 1954 filming of “The Conqueror.” Gabe Boone, a wrangler on that doomed film, is one of the only crew members still alive, and it’s up to Lena to penetrate Gabe’s defenses to find out the tragic secret no one in Walapai Flats wants to talk about. By delving into the history of its surrounding desert, Lena learns that old sins never die; in fact, they’re still taking lives. In "Desert Wind," Betty Webb brilliantly evokes the memories of the Cold War, and brings its deadly legacy home to modern-day Arizona.
As with “Desert Wives: Polygamy Can Be Murder,” this seventh book in the Lena Jones series exposes real life crimes, and the reason why local and federal officials want those crimes to remain under wraps.
I love this mystery series. Betty Webb has a great protagonist in Lena Jones. She's not the easiest person to get along with, but she definitely gets the job done. I love the Arizona setting and have enjoyed all the books in the series, most especially Desert Wives. Betty Webb is a former journalist whose skill at digging out the stories is definitely showcased in her Lena Jones mysteries. She writes another series as well that is set in a fictional California zoo.
This sounds like a good on -- on the list it goes.
ReplyDeleteShe sounds like my kind of protagonist! Thanks for sharing....
ReplyDeleteHere's MY WOW POST – Spin - and here’s
MY WEBSITE
Acquiring books based on your Waiting On Wednesdays is becoming a habit. Nice habit. I love books set in this part of the country. Thanks for you tip on the 99 cent kindle book. That sounds like a great way to meet Betty Webb. I off to Amazon.
ReplyDeleteHm, sounds like an interesting series. I might just have to check it out - it's always fun to find books set in Arizona :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not one for mysteries, but it sounds like a good read! Great pick :)
ReplyDeleteHere's my WoW!
Lena Jones sounds like a person to meet!!
ReplyDeleteHi, and thanks for the kind words about my book, "Desert Wind." One thing though -- I don't think it's available as a .99 cent download. There's another book with a similar title that is, but unless my publisher forgot to tell me somehing (always possible!) my book is still hardback only.
ReplyDeleteDiane, it's a good series.
ReplyDeleteLaurel-Rain, thank you for stopping by.
Margot, yes, you should try DESERT WIVES. I really enjoyed it.
Susan, you ought to try this series. It's set in your country and Lena has her office in Scottsdale.
Jessica, if you are not a mystery lover, this series might be a little gritty. :-)
Staci, Lena is a great character.
Betty, thanks so much for coming by. I'm excited to read DESERT WIND. Yes, I understand that it's DESERT WIVES that is the .99 title. Glad Poisoned Pen is encouraging folks to try a new-to-them series that way. And no, I don't think this one can even be preordered for the Kindle. Just some of your backlist.
Oh this is a new one to me. I should take a look at book 1!
ReplyDeleteGiselle
Xpresso Reads