BY JULIE SIMMONS
Have you been looking around corners, conducting interrogations and collecting clues to find a great mystery novel? Look no further, because we have your answers. Following the evidence, we have put together a lineup of suspense thrillers that are sure to have your heart pounding all the way to the last page.
Colorado authors have written all of our featured mysteries, and most of the stories are set in different parts of the state. Murder can be found anywhere, from the peaceful Poudre Canyon to the desert of the southwest. No one is safe until the culprits are found. Where there’s murder, there’s a killer. Where there’s a killer, there will be someone looking to bring him or her to justice.
Follow in the footsteps of the characters as they search for the truth one clue at a time. We hope you enjoy the solutions we have discovered to solve the mystery of finding a great read, whether it’s a mystery, a travel book, an historical novel, a kids book or one of the many other books we’re reviewing here and at Colorado Country Life magazine.
The Girl with Braided Hair (A Wind River Reservation Mystery)
Murder has been uncovered on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. It’s not recent, but that doesn’t stop lawyer Vicky Holden from searching all the way to Denver for the killer of the woman with braided hair found buried in the desert.
The age of the case isn’t the only obstacle that Vicky must overcome in order to find justice for the murder victim. The woman was killed in the 1970s, a dark time when political and racial unrest turned the reservation into a dangerous place for everyone. Anyone who knows the shadowy past of the American Indian Movement at Wind River refuses to talk for fear that they too will be killed as a snitch. To the residents of the reservation, all things concerning AIM and the skeleton with the braided hair are better left unremembered.
A wonderful murder mystery, The Girl With Braided Hair will keep you on the edge of your seat as you piece together the story of the murder victim. Readers will also enjoy learning about the historical background of the American Indian Movement and its effect on the Native American people.
This novel is part of Margaret Coel’s Wind River Reservation Mystery series. This book is available at most major retailers or online.
Body Copy: A Novelalt
Donald Tremaine has a problem. The ex-surfer and private investigator has plans for a vacation in Australia, surfing his favorite waves, but a beautiful woman has shown up on his doorstep in Malibu, California — a beautiful woman with a murdered uncle.
Nina Aldeen wants Tremaine to solve the mystery of the death of her uncle, the advertising mogul Roger Gale, found dead in his L.A. office a year earlier. The police investigation found nothing, and Nina wants answers.
The case will be everything but easy for Tremaine, despite his desire to help the beautiful woman. The famous ad man lived an eccentric life, and everyone has his or her own guesses about how much he was hiding. Tremaine must sort through the perspectives of employees, competitors and family members to find the elusive answer to his most important question: Who was Roger Gale? If Tremaine can only understand the victim, he can finally find the killer.
An entertaining read with a unique voice, Body Copy is the first novel of Boulder advertising writer Michael Craven. Language and adult situations make the book more appropriate for adult readers. Body Copy is available at most major retailers or online.
New Pictures of an Old Murder: A Highlands Ranch Mystery
The life of a pastor’s wife and mother of five children always has its difficulties, but Valerie Atwell has found herself encountering more than the usual.
On the three-year anniversary of her sister’s death, Val finds pictures on an old roll of film of her sister’s that seem to have captured a fatal accident. But what if Brandi witnessed more than an accident? What if it was her pictures that got her killed?
In her quest to understand the mystery surrounding the disturbing pictures, Val gets more than she bargained for. Clues lead her to accuse an important member of her husband’s church of involvement. Soon, the church, her family and her friends have all turned against her and are pleading with her to stop the investigation. But Val won’t give up. She knows that her sister saw something that shouldn’t have happened, and the mystery of Brandi’s death needs to be unraveled in order for both her and Val to finally find peace.
Though tedious at times with the details of life as a housewife, the story is an intriguing tale of murder and mystery. Jonna Turner, a Colorado resident, places her second mystery novel in the familiar setting of Highlands Ranch. All readers will enjoy the subtle humor of the sassy and stubborn Val as she searches out the truth. New Pictures of an Old Murder is available at most major retailers or online.
The Prairie Grass Murders (Five Star Mystery Series) (Five Star Mystery Series)
A murder mystery with classic twists, The Prairie Grass Murders is sure to keep you guessing as to which character will turn into a criminal next. Anyone could be a murderer, and that means that death is around every corner.
Sylvia Thorn, a circuit court judge in Palm Beach County, Florida, takes an unexpected trip back to her childhood home in Sangamon City, Illinois, when her older brother, Willie, is committed to a mental hospital for reporting his finding of a dead body. Though several people fall under immediate suspicion for the murder of the man found hidden under brush in a drainage ditch, Willie and Sylvia discover that more people are involved than anyone imagined. Was the murder over the prairie grass that the victim was trying to plant on his wife’s land? Does it have to do with the bone fragments found in the soil? Did someone commit a murder just to keep farmland from becoming protected prairie? Or does it have something to do with the mysterious bales of hay Sylvia uncovers in the cellar of her old childhood home?
The first novel of Colorado author Patricia Stoltey, The Prairie Grass Murders is a great read for all lovers of a good mystery. Exciting to the end but not overdramatic or tedious, the book attains a realism of plot and characters that makes them interesting and sympathetic. The Prairie Grass Murders is available at most major retailers or online.
Dropped Dead Stitch (A Knitting Mystery)
Dropped Dead Stitch is a surprisingly entertaining story with a satisfactorily unexpected ending, despite the mildness implied by a main character more enthralled with knitting than murder. Though Kelly and her friends are regular women and enjoy traditional fiber crafts, they are also unwilling to let injustice slide. Their passion for their friends and the truth leads them into the adventure that makes for this intriguing plot.
The story begins with Jennifer, the party-girl member of the knitting club, being attacked by a man who follows her home from a bar. Though her friends would like to see him punished, Jennifer decides not to go to the police and instead begins the healing process without retribution. Kelly and others eventually convince her to attend a weekend retreat at a ranch to find peace in the beautiful outdoors of Colorado. The peace of the mountains is broken, however, when they discover that the owner of the ranch is the same man who assaulted Jennifer.
The weekend takes a turn for the worse when the man is found dead, supposedly pushed over the railing of the ranch house deck. Jennifer becomes the prime suspect with no alibi.
Though author Maggie Sefton can occasionally include unnecessary information about the characters and their lives, the story still moves at a good pace and keeps the reader interested. The seventh knitting mystery of this best-selling Colorado author, Dropped Dead Stitch is set in the fictional mountain town of Fort Connor, Colorado, a dead ringer for Fort Collins. This book is available at most major retailers or online.
The Prairie Grass Murders (Five Star Mystery Series)
Julie Collins still feels the burning ache of grief that began the day her brother was found dead in the river, his throat cut. When a 16-year-old girl is found in the same river with the same fatal cut, the wounds are opened all over again. Julie will not let this murder go unsolved, pushed under the rug like the death of her brother. She must find justice, both for the dead girl and for her own sanity.
As more of the life of Samantha Friel, the murdered girl, comes to light, the true depth of the darkness surrounding her death begins to unfold. Rape, abuse, neglect and, above all, hate come to the surface of the lives of all involved. No one is innocent. Everyone is responsible in some way for the events that led to her death. But whose hands held the knife?
Julie isn’t an angel either, despite her unstoppable drive to find justice. Her addictions to cigarettes and alcohol lead her into trouble even as she is drowning her sorrows. Her attractions to and relationships with dangerous men continually threaten to destroy her completely. And the stress of the chase, all the darkness and pain she discovers, just might break her.
Well written, Blood Ties by Colorado author Lori G. Armstrong is nevertheless a disturbing book. The main character, with plenty of problems of her own, leads the reader into the darkness of rape, physical abuse, child neglect and murder. The book includes graphic scenes, violence, sex, drug use and strong language and is therefore recommended only for mature readers. Blood Ties is available at most major retailers or online.
White Shell Woman (Charlie Moon Mysteries)
Strange things have been happening on Ghost Wolf Mesa. Can they be attributed to human action? Or have the spirits of the Anasazi wizards decided to walk the sandstone again?
Charlie Moon has been retired from the Ute tribal police force for several months, but when a graduate student is murdered on Ghost Wolf Mesa, his services are required once again. The girl is found after the chance discovery of a carving in the rock that may point the way to an ancient Anasazi treasure, hidden when the people left the mesa to escape a drought. Charlie has only hunches to go on when the body of the victim is mysteriously burned, destroying any DNA evidence.
The mystery of the archaeological site continues to grow. The bones of another man, long missing, are discovered by researchers. Paw prints are discovered in the dirt and witnesses hear howling on the mesa, bringing to mind the ancient legends of priests who could change into wolves. Are the killings the work of an ambitious “potdigger,” searching for artifacts of value at the site? Or is an Anasazi wizard taking his revenge on those who dare disturb the hallowed ground?
This entertaining story is set in southwestern Colorado, near Ignacio and Durango. Crafting an interesting mix of modern criminology and ancient Native American legend, author James Doss succeeds in keeping readers on the edge of their seats, waiting for the final clue, until the last page. Even skeptics will have a hard time not considering the possibility of supernatural involvement with the natural world of Ghost Wolf Mesa. White Shell Woman is the seventh mystery novel by James Doss. This book is available at most major retailers or online.
The Dying Breath: Forensic Mystery
Though written for young adults, The Dying Breath packs all the suspense and thrill of a longer mystery into its easy-to-read pages. Colorado author Alane Ferguson writes about a chilling killer, Kyle O’Neil, who will make you think twice about who you get close to. Unfortunately, the main character has to learn her lesson the hard way.
Silverton resident Cameryn Mahoney’s life has been changed forever by her relationship with Kyle O’Neil, a fellow high school student who, at first, stole her heart. Now her ex-boyfriend and a known psychopath, Kyle is trying to steal her heart in a different way: by killing her. Though she has the protection of a loving family and Justin, her new romance, Cameryn has doubts that it will be enough to keep her safe.
A brilliantly crafted story set in the Durango area, The Dying Breath creates a suspense that makes the reader impatient to turn the next page and find out what happens. The characters are written potently and realistically, Kyle’s twisted love and manipulation often chilling the reader to the bone. The book is the author’s 32nd novel and the fourth in the Forensic Mystery series featuring Cameryn Mahoney. The Dying Breath can be bought online.
GREAT COLORADO HISTORY NOVELS
Prayers for Sale
The sign on the gate says “prayers for sale,” but Hennie Comfort gives them out for free to neighbors and visitors alike in Middle Swan, Colorado. This mining town in the grip of the Great Depression needs all the prayers Hennie can give, with the constant dangers of the mining dredge, freezing winters and poverty holding the lives of the inhabitants in perpetual uncertainty.
An 86-year-old widow, Hennie finds a particular reason to pray when she meets newcomer Nit Spindle, a young wife whose husband works the dangerous dredge and who recently lost her first child. Through her prayers and many personal stories, Hennie brings the girl into the supportive community of the mountain town. Along the way, she deals with the pieces of her own life story, which, to her surprise, has not come to a close quite yet.
Lovers of tall tales from the old mining towns of Colorado will adore this book. Prayers for Sale is the newest novel by Sandra Dallas, the best-selling Denver author of Tallgrass and New Mercies. This book is available at most major retailers or online.
Breathe: A Novel of Colorado (The Homeward Trilogy)
For the St. Clair family, Colorado Springs offers the hope of new beginnings. Moira wants to enter western society as an independent, talented woman out from under the restrictions of her father. Dominic chafes at the idea of spending his life running a bookstore and finds release in the wildness of his new home.
All Odessa wants is her next breath. Her battle with consumption is what brought her and her brother and sister to Colorado Springs.
However, there is more in store for her than healing. One of her friends at the sanatorium, Bryce, is handsome and kind, stealing a heart that Odessa isn’t sure she has the strength to give. Another friend, Sam O’Toole, meets death when it seems he was on the mend, and Odessa isn’t sure that it was the consumption that took him in the end. With murder fouling the clean air, Odessa and her siblings must find a way to clear the mystery and danger that seems to be shrouding their new lives.
Breathe is the first novel in the Homeward Trilogy by best-selling author Lisa T. Bergren. An exciting tale of adventure, mystery and romance, the book also gives the reader a unique historical glimpse of the fledging state of Colorado in the 1800s. This book is available at most major retailers or online.
GREAT ROMANCE NOVELS
Love Finds You in Romeo, Colorado (Love Finds You, Book 4)
A newly widowed mother, Claire Caspian searches for peace in the place she grew up: the tiny desert town of Romeo, Colorado. Working as an English professor at her alma mater and living with her wealthy abuelita (grandmother), Claire copes with the loss of her husband by pouring herself into her young son, Graeme.
It is her care for her son that brings her to the office of the handsome town doctor, Stephen Reyes. Claire must face the pain of loss and longing as she begins to realize that Stephen is willing to give her the love that she never thought she would experience again … if only she is willing to let him.
Though a reader might expect this novel to follow the typical plot of a romance, the twists and surprises of this book will delight anyone who loves a good love story. Set in the rural area around Alamosa, the novel also paints a heartwarming picture of the healing that can come through the beauty of home in Colorado. Love Finds You In Romeo Colorado can be found at most major retailers or online.
The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper: A Novel
The typical plot of romance novels can get repetitive, but sometimes you just want a book of love and adventure to curl up with for the day even if you can anticipate the story format. The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper is one of those books. While the plot and the characters can be rather canned, the story, which takes place in Denver and Leadville, still has the ability to leave that warm feeling inside after the last page is turned.
Though the characters and situations are often unbelievable, The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper is a feel-good story by widely published Houston author Kathleen Y’Barbo. The book is available at most major retailers or online.
GREAT CHILDREN’S BOOKS
The Dragon Boy: Book One of the Star Trilogy
He has no name and no family. Brought mysteriously to the house of an old hero by a wizard, the boy only has a home for the first few years of his life. Most of what he knows is life on the street — that, and his love for the dragon.
This heartwarming story of dragons and knighthood is a great read for young and old lovers of fairy tales alike. A first-time novelist but long-time writer, Donald Samson lives along the Front Range. The Dragon Boy is available at most major retailers or online.
Nuni of Nunivak Island, A New Friend – Audio Book/CD
Many children have a favorite doll friend, and Nuni is no exception. A young girl living on the Alaskan Nunivak Island, Nuni has been given a beautiful doll by her mother, made from soft, white rabbit fur and fleece. Nuni loves her new friend and looks forward to naming her, but sadly loses her by accidentally dropping the doll off a cliff and into the ocean.
Written to bring awareness of the peoples of the Alaskan Islands, this book features words from the Cup’ig language of Nunivak Island interspersed throughout the story. A pronunciation listening CD is included along with a lesson guide with activities and worksheets. A New Friend is one of the Nuni series written by P.J. Nickels, a children’s author living in Monte Vista. Nuni of Nunivak Island is available at most major retailers or online.
The Modern Day Billy “The Kid”: The 10-10-10 Lesson
By William Bilderback
(Lazy Y Publishing, $15.95)
Billy loves working for Grandpa and doesn’t expect to get paid, but when Grandpa gives him $10 for his hard work, Billy wants to spend it all at once. His grandpa explains that instead of spending everything at once, he should save 10 percent for the future, 10 percent for something big he wants, and 10 percent for giving away to others who need it. Though the idea seems hard at first, Billy decides to take Grandpa’s advice and learns a life-long lesson in how to use his money.
It can be hard to teach kids good habits, especially when it comes to money. Reading The Modern Day Billy “The Kid”: The 10-10-10 Lesson is the perfect way for kids to learn about saving and giving. Every page has a colorful illustration to help kids understand the ideas behind smart saving and spending. In the back, kids can take a quiz that tests the knowledge they have learned in the book and sign a certificate where they can pledge to apply the 10-10-10 saving method.
This book is the first in a series of educational books by William Bilderback from Lazy Y Publishing of Bon Carbo. Buy this fun read online.
GREAT MISCELLANEOUS TITLES
Eat This Not That! Supermarket Survival Guide: The No-Diet Weight Loss Solution
Ever wondered what restaurants are putting in your food? Ever tried to determine which items are the healthiest on a fast food menu? Ever started a diet, only to quit because you couldn’t make it fit with your busy life?
Eat This, Not That! books are the perfect guides for any normal person who wants to eat healthier in a fast-food nation. The first book provides a practical approach to eating right, offering helpful tips for cutting empty calories and fat. Not only does it outline the nutrition-packed foods you should eat every day for the health of your body, it also goes through better choices you can make at your favorite restaurants in order to cut down on unnecessary calories. Instead of suggesting unreasonable diets that no person could ever keep or disgusting food alternatives that no one wants to eat, the book demonstrates that losing weight can be as simple as choosing the grilled over the fried.
Along with the first book, which offers easy solutions for losing weight, author David Zinczenko has also published the Eat This, Not That! Supermarket Survival Guide and the Eat This, Not That! For Kids. Zinczenko puts his expertise as the editor-in-chief of Men’s Health magazine and the creator of his own diet plan into all three of the Eat This, Not That! books. The books are available at most major retailers or online.
Ranch Roping: The Complete Guide to a Classic Cowboy Skill
Ranch roping is at the heart of all ranch work. Everyone knows a good roper gets the work done when and where it needs to be done, but most don’t know the differences between types of roping. Unlike the rodeo variation of calf roping, the California “vaquero” tradition of roping calls for techniques that result in a skillful and graceful throw and catch.
In Ranch Roping: The Complete Guide to a Classic Cowboy Skill, world-renowned cowboy Buck Brannaman gives his expert advice to beginning ropers or those just interested in learning more about the vaquero roping tradition. Teaming up with writer and fellow cowboy A.J. Mangum, Brannaman explains the details and tricks behind skillful roping.
Featuring beautiful and helpful photos of Brannaman’s technique, Ranch Roping provides an insider’s view into the history, terminology, method and tradition of cowboy ropers. This book is available at most major retailers or online.
Sunset You Can Build: Wiring
The do-it-yourselfer can find everything they need to know in Sunset Books’ You Can Build series. The latest edition, You Can Build: Wiring provides a comprehensive guide to wiring and electricity in your home.
Readers of this book will learn how to tackle basic home projects, including replacing light fixtures, wall receptacles, and switches. The guide also covers more advanced improvements such as money-saving, energy-efficient projects and solar solutions.
Using simple, easy-to-follow terms and plenty of photos, the guide is geared toward homeowners who want to learn more about maintaining the wiring in their homes. Helpful sidebars focus on finishing touches and troubleshooting. Instructions include detailed lists of necessary materials and tools, degree of difficulty ratings, and estimated completion times. Commentaries by professional electricians provide experienced insight and advice, pointing out easily overlooked details so that readers can avoid common mistakes.
Sunset You Can Build: Wiring is available at most major retailers and online.
Touring the West: With the Fred Harvey Co. & the Santa Fe Railwayalt
When the west was still growing, people had to be encouraged to come explore the wide-open spaces, so different from their east and west coast city homes. That encouragement often came in the form of tourist attractions to the beauty of America’s untamed lands.
Fred Harvey and the Santa Fe Railway teamed up to develop tourism in the American Southwest from the late 1880s to the 1960s. These two companies formed an interdependent alliance that welcomed travelers thirsty for a civilized “western experience.” The Harvey Company provided first class food served by friendly “Harvey Girls” and offered grand accommodations near the stations.
Touring the West describes the history behind the Harvey Company and the Santa Fe railway, taking the reader on a journey through the early west with full-color copies of postcards. Helpful captions explain the age and description of each postcard. Associated values of postcards are included for collectors and history buffs alike.
Paul and Kathleen Nickens have lived all over the United States, including 25 years in Colorado. Their book is available at most major retailers or online.