The Mystery Starts Here

I have one thing to say about “Desert Lost” by Betty Webb. At least I managed to finish the book but I had to grit my teeth and push myself. Why? I simply did not like Lena Jones, the protagonist.  For one thing, I hate her name. Lena sounds like someone who would be living with her farmer husband and six children in a sod house on the prairie in the mid-1800. Lena is a VERY old-fashioned name for a 30-something woman. I also found Lena to be a fairly typical cliched female PI. She is tough as nails, has commitment issues, works out at a gym – well, she talks about it, knows karate – well, she talks about it, and carries a loaded .38 in the pocket of her vest. That one really got me because I shoot pistols in competition and happen to own a .38. It’s heavy!  Okay, on to the plot.

Jones has written a series about PI Jones and several of them revolve around the horrid practice of polygamy. I found that part of the book fascinating. Webb has obviously done her homework and I really learned a lot as well as enjoyed those parts. However, there were several other sub-plots and they were not as interesting and not really resolved. Lena grew up in foster homes and had a rough life but…I really got tired of hearing about it. And, in this books, she cries – a lot. So much for her macho tough PI image.

So, if you’re looking for a good fast read, go for it. As far as I’m concerned, I doubt I’ll read another Lena Jones mystery. This was my second and last.

Want a good, exciting, intriguing mystery? Try my The Worst Evil, available in both e-book and paperback at: www.whiskycreekpress.com

I’ve read most of the “Prey” series and generally liked them all. While “Naked Prey” was good, it wasn’t up to par with the earlier Sandford novels. I think he’s running out of ideas. Hey, that’s one of the reason I don’t write a series!

“Naked Prey” starts with a bang. We see the bad guy capturing, beating the snot out of and then hanging two people, a white woman and black man. It’s winter in a small town in northern Minnesota so the bodies freeze, “like Popsicles.” Because there are few black folk in the area, everyone from the governor on down is being careful not to call it a lynching. Davenport is sent in to do what he does best, “fix shit.”

The book started with an interesting premise, but then sort of meandered around until almost the middle of the book. I was ready to give up when the pace picked up with a couple more killings, the pieces fell into place for Lucas and he once again solved the crime. Like many other reviewers, I was bothered by the fact of two MAJOR crimes taking place in a tiny town – and no one seemed to notice. I liked the character of Letty, the 12-year-old girl who found the bodies. She’s sassy and very independent because her mother “drinks too much.”

We have a major car thief operation, kids being kidnapped, ex-nuns smuggling prescription drugs down from Canada and that cold cold northern Minnesota weather. So, while not my favorite Sandford book, I’d still give it a read. Of course I may be a bit prejudiced – I grew up in Minnesota and always enjoyed reading Sandford’s books because I recognized so many of the areas! And reading “Naked Prey” reminded me once again why I left! It’s too damn cold in the winter!

If you like reading light humorous romance, watch for my latest book, “Call Sign: Love” out 8/1/09 at www.writewordsinc.com.