High Desert Malice

The ancient "cowboys vs. sheepmen" conflict and both in conflict with mining and modern environmental protection and research are the themes of this who-dunnit set in Nevada's Great Basin. There is perhaps almost too much plot for one book here, but the author pulls it off well. The heroinne screws up and screws around and is basically a refreshing antidote to extra-brilliant holier-than-thou "female detectives" who'd never dream of bedding someone else's husband or wrecking a project out of personal peevishness. Protagonist Dee Laguerre is a Basque BLM ranger with attitude to spare, a quick and profane mouth, and wit to burn. I hope she does well. It might be worth noting that the book contains violence, profanity and sex--and sexism and racism on the part of the characters--all quite in context but not likely to win an Agatha Award