Desert Lost

Lena Jones Mystery #6

by Betty Webb

While on stakeout, Scottsdale private investigator Lena Jones finds the body of a woman whose clothing and hairstyle indicate she's from the polygamist cult Second Zion. Lena has witnessed the sordid and abusive world of polygamists while working undercover, and she's worried this fundamentalist sect, rife with multiple wives, welfare fraud and child abuse, is reaching into Scottsdale. With the help of a friend, an escaped "sister-wife" who recognizes the victim, Lena tries to help the dead woman's son. Jonah is one of the "lost boys" thrown away by the cult so other men can have multiple wives. He's living on the streets, addicted, turning tricks, and now he's been arrested for his mother's murder. Lena believes Jonah is innocent. To prove it, she follows the trail to the truth about who killed Celeste King and why -- and in the process, discovers secrets both tragic and disturbing.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Adult Fiction, Detective, Polygamy, Religion

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

As a journalist and literary critic for more than 20 years, Betty -- a resident of Scottsdale, Arizona, where her detective Lena Jones also lives -- has interviewed U. S. presidents, Nobel prize-winners, astronauts who’ve walked on the moon, polygamy runaways, the homeless, and the hopeless.

Now retired from journalism to write full time, she also contributes the Small Press column for Mystery Scene magazine and teaches creative writing at Phoenix College.
In her writing, Betty makes liberal use of her own varied background. She earned her way through art school by working as a folk singer but eventually gave up singing to concentrate on her art career. At various times she has picked cotton, raised chickens which laid blue eggs (Speckled Hamburgs), worked in a zoo, been a go-go dancer and horse breeder, taught Sunday School, founded a literary magazine, helped rebuild a long-abandoned 120-year-old farm house, and back-packed the Highlands of Scotland alone.

In 1982, Betty moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, where her Lena Jones novels are set, but her roots are in Hamilton, Alabama, where most of her extended family still lives. In 2000 she published The Webb Family of Alabama: Survivors of Change, which focused on the descendants of her half-Seneca, half-English great-great-grandfather, William Douglas Webb, who ran away to sea at the age of 16, then after 14 wild years, settled down to farm peacefully in Hamilton. Recent DNA testing, however, has revealed that her seafaring ancestor harbored a big secret: he might not have been a Webb after all, but the descendant of a New Jersey colonist family named Price. Betty is now working to unravel this real-life mystery: did William Douglas Price change his name to Webb. Was he on the run from the law? (As a mystery writer, she kinda hopes he was)

On her mother’s side, Betty can trace her roots back to the Barons of Riddell in medieval Scotland. The Riddells, friends and financial supporters of the poet Robert Burns, did not always enjoy the best of reputations. The opera, Lucia di Lammermore, about a young bride who decapitates her husband on their wedding night, was based upon a real life incident in the Riddell family. But the Riddells maintain that Lucy (her real name) merely scratched her bridegroom, and that he simply overreacted when he screamed out, "Murder!" Anyway, that’s the Riddells' story and they're sticking to it.

"The impact of my unusual family upon my life has been profound," Betty says. "That's why I thought it would be intriguing to create a detective who had no idea of where she came from or who her parents were. Creating the orphaned Lena Jones has helped me appreciate my own ancestral heritage - both the good and the bad." About the recent DNA testing results, she adds, "All this time the Webbs were keeping an even bigger secret than the Riddells -- and they didn’t even know they were! How could I not have become a mystery novelist."
(from http://www.bettywebb-mystery.com/bio....)

Series:
* Lena Jones Mystery
* Gunn Zoo Mystery

Reviews

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the ridicule and sarcasm of the MC's as she talked about her surroundings, the people, etc. It was kind of humorous. She speaks my language. Now there were some gross generalizations that could be honed in, but I liked her descriptive strokes. Her characters and the setting were vivid and complete.

The main plot evolved around a murder of a woman who belonged to a polygamist sect. That part felt well researched, but some of the info was a little repetitive. I don't mind a well worded phrase or description used more than once, but some of them felt overused.

There were also a few elements that didn't feel like they belonged, especially with the stalker thread. She made a few assumptions with that one, that were never revealed or explained. And the MC's romance just seemed odd. I found it hard to believe because it was literally all over the place. But I liked the main plot and will read more in this series. This was enjoyable.

[Melodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid 4.5 stars on this one. Betty Webb knows a thing or 2 about polygamy in the US Southwest. It's a sickening practice and a horrible way of life for the women and children forced to endure it. The "lost boys" or throwaways are another thing that comes out of this awful existence that even fewer people are familiar with. This was another great offering in this top-notch and very underrated series. RECOMMEND!

[Stephania · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I could rate this two and a half stars, I would. I initially got excited to find this book, because I'm always eager to read something with a female detective, or a female PI, or a woman whose profession is solving murders, not just stumbling on them (not that I don't have a love for those, but I digress).

While the polygamy thread was certainly educational, and I was definitely interested in the characters, the mystery was average at best. However, what caused me to knock this down to two stars were four errors that took me out of the book completely. One the errors was an incorrect name used during one of the scenes, which honestly confused me for a minute. I don't know if this is due to the age of my copy, but either way, it detracted from my enjoyment.

Overall, while it wasn't awful, I'm not going to read the rest of the series.

[drowningmermaid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oddly, I find this one the least-offensive fictional portrayals of polygamists.

Despite the fact that the author does use a few generalizations (like the insistence that all polygamists look the same, ouch), and has the LDS insistence on referring to the cultists only as polygamists, not as fundamentalist Mormons (which is what they refer to themselves as), the author has clearly done honest research-- a rarity for fictional books about the FLDS people, which tend to rely heavily on shock value, grotesque stereotypes, and "hooray for us, we aren't polygamists."

I think it helps that the story is told from outsider's perspectives, and so you don't have the garish absurdity of having a person raised in a cult walk and talk like everybody else.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read most the Lena Jones series and found them educational about Polygamy. The stories are set mostly in Scottsdale, Arizona. Lena is watching and storage area for trespassers when she finds a woman's body dump near it. She doesn't recognize her but see clues to lead her to feel she was a polygamist. She is dismayed to realize that a fraction of Arizona's polygamy has been set up Scottsdale. She is reunited with her favorite favorite mother and more about her life is revealed. I look forward to reading the rest of the books. This a favorite.

[Shirley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book not as good as the usual Betty Webb in my opinion. The polygamy information and plot around that were excellent, undoubtedly because of her former journalism work on this topic. However, the subplot regarding a stalker of a tv personality was weak--eventually she just deciding that a certain person was guilty with no case to explain why.

[Jamie Wyatt Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yay no more Warren! haha but besides that I am actually sad I read this book. As of right now there is no more in the series after this, but I hope that changes! I was so glad to see someone from Lena's past come into the picture and draw her out of her shell. I see a lot more hope for her and she is becoming more of a likeable character with every book.

[Arizonagirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lena Jones series, book #6. During a routine surveillance job, Lena Jones inadvertently discovers the dead body of a wife from a polygamist colony that has recently developed in the warehouse district of Scottsdale, AZ. Things also go sour with Lena's movie director boyfriend, Warren, but a new relationship develops when Lena reunites with her foster mom.

[Frank Cavanaugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

6 of 10 7/14/14 the author uses a mystery book format to inform the reader about the human abuses of polygamist cults. The characters are interesting and the writing is good but the mystery is not as well done. Think Grafton or Evanovich only trading the humor for a graphic message.

[Lindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfectly satisfactory easy mystery to read and follow (and possibly solve before our illustrious detective). I do wish Lena's personal story would move a bit faster through this series, but overall, continue to be happy with this light bedtime reading.

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the fact that the story was based on events uncovered by the author when working as a journalist.

[Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

So-so but startling revelations about polygamy and the polygamist church, and the truth of what is still going on!

[Ken Kelley]

The book was insightful regarding the polygymy cult. Fascinating and scary. Her background as an investigative reporter makes her a very incredible source.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Betty Webb writes about social issues in the SW USA. In this book, she writes about a fundamentalist polygamy sect. I liked the book, but have liked others by her better.

[Victoria Shepherd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Riveting mystery exposes the sordid underbelly of a polygamous religious sect.

[Andy Plonka · Rating 4 out of 5]

The parts about polygamy are much more interesting than Lena's love life.

[Doris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exposes deplorable conditions for polygamist women and children in AZ and UT

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder mystery that takes place in Scottsdale, Arizona. Not my usual type of genre to read--I received this book as a "freebie" a few years ago. But the author covered the place in a way that took me back there. (I lived in the Phoenix area for 8 years). The main character, Lena, visited Malee's on Main, a Thai restaurant, that my husband and I once visited for dinner. Her assistant, Jimmy, also visited the Boulder's--a resort in northern Scottsdale--another place where my husband and I once had dinner.
I also found the subject matter interesting: polygamist cults, which thrive in Arizona and Utah border area. Some people often confuse the polygamist cults with the Mormons, who also live in the area. But having lived in the Phoenix area, I came to know several women who were Mormons, and they were not living in polygamist families, and in fact, considered the polygamist families to be "freaks."

[Robin Drummond · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another Lena Jones tale that focuses on modern day polygamist communities and the problems they face. In no particular order, author Betty Webb explains the preponderance of genetic anomalies in such communities (and why disabled children are so rewarding in this setting), how families deal with 'excess' males (if every man has 15 wives, a lot of men will have none), how welfare and disability schemes add huge sums to polygamists' cash flow, and the heartbreak of children forced out of the only life they know with no skills and virtually no education.

At the same time, bits and pieces of Lena's story run in the background. This series covers very difficult topics without undue sentiment and each one adds a new facet to the bigger picture of overworked and incompetent child protective services in Arizona, the real human-ness of individual law enforcement figures, how multiple cultures can figure out an uneasy concomitant existence.

[Ken Finlay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Polygamy is central to the 'Lena Jones Mystery' series.
“Desert Lost” more or less repeats the story of “Desert Wives” - there are differences but the background is exactly the same.
Lena's backstory, which has inched ahead across the series, seems almost bogged down by this stage. Well, she did get shot in the head at age 4 and only recalls some memories in dreams.
There have been few minor breakthroughs but nothing that could form a coherent story.
Because of her difficult childhood and teenage years in many foster homes Lena has never been able to trust or to find somewhere she truly considers home. Her relationship with film producer Warren is on and off so often that most of the time she doesn't know where she stands.
There is a secondary plot concerning a stalker but, just as it gets interesting, it tapers out without any real rhyme or reason.
“Desert Lost” is an interesting read but is also the weakest in the series so far.
3 Stars.

[Mary Nuttelman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent entry into the series. This time out Lena delves back into the polygamist community and it isn't pretty. Webb always provides an eye-opening and informative topic in each of these mysteries and sometimes its hard to believe that such things exist, but they do. I couldn't put this one down.

[Stephanie Tanton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lena uncovers a hidden polygamy sect in Scottsdale while investigating a murder. Webb’s mysteries enhance our understanding of conflicts between the diverse cultures of Arizona.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book and series.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mormon polygamy: interesting, tragic, & disgusting topic told well enough.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened. Central theme was around the polygamists/fundamentalist FLDS. While written several years ago, the insights remain accurate.

[Emily Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. I didn't know polygamy was still a problem and definitely didn't know that much about it

[Ajoyim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arizona is just a sh*t hole it seems when it comes to protecting women & kids

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sixth in the Lena Jones series, but only the second one I have read, this one was better than the other. Lena (and perhaps the author behind her) had much more passion in this story. I get the impression that the Arizona/Utah polygamy sects are a hot-button issue with the author. And for good reason, if the background details in the story are accurate.
Lena Jones is a fearless, indeed sometimes reckless, private detective and ex-policewoman in Scottsdale, Arizona, which gives her the reason and capability to be doing investigations in the first place. (I sometimes get annoyed at librarians and antique dealers and such somehow becoming serial investigators). The story starts when Lena is doing low-level surveillance at a parking lot for RV’s, trying to catch serial vandals. Instead, she hears a dead body being dumped outside the parking lot, and on investigating, discovers it to be an apparent “sister-wife” from one of the polygamy cults. Lena has experience of these cults from a previous book, Desert Wives, and is aware that the penalty for disobedience is often death.
The local police are not only reluctant to investigate polygamy cults, but are now antipathetic to Lena, the old boss having retired, and the new regime remembering only the bad times of her stint with them. This complicates the investigation for her, as she is considered everything from a suspect to a recalcitrant witness. Things get more complicated when Lena and a friend, who is a runaway from one of these cults, go on a rescue mission and instead are ambushed, only just escaping. When Lena films the cult outpost in Scottsdale, and turns the tapes in to the police, the cult enforcers are even more enraged, and attack and kidnap her old friend and one-time foster parent, Madeline. (Actually, I wasn’t sure what the kidnapping added to story, except to demonstrate how far cultists might go to pursue their aims)

The police turn up a suspect relatively quickly; a youth of 18 or so, an “outcast” of one of the cult compounds – apparently, once male children turn 18, they are no longer eligible for federal welfare checks (their only asset to the cult leaders) and are expelled from their compounds, with no money and little education. One of these “outcasts” turns out to be the son of the dead woman, and had recently had an argument with her. Of course we know, though the police don’t, that the primary suspect cannot possibly be the real killer!
Lena goes on the hunt, as a promise made to her ex-sister-wife friend, who has now been intimidated into moving out of state. With a mixture of surveillance and infiltration, she works out who the real killer is, which makes for a well-written piece of detective fiction.

There is a second story spliced in between the action of the main story, related to Lena’s second job, that of a subject matter expert on a Hollywood PI show. The primary actress on the show, the separating wife of Lena’s current boyfriend (that must be complicated) is receiving poison pen letters, in which the threatened level of violence is escalating. Lena spends time going back and forward from Scottsdale to Beverly Hills to try to run down the writer of these letters; again the primary suspect turns out to be innocent. This crime wasn’t actually solved in the story; it may simply have been turned off, but the various threads in it were well written also, with all the potential suspects and their various motivations. One of the suspects is even Lena’s boyfriend (Warren) which certainly made for interesting conversation!
And the third story winding its way through the book is that of Lean’s relationship with Warren. At the start of the book, Lena is planning to move in with him, but her past causes her to continue to have commitment issues, which her old foster-mother Madeline helps her with. And of course, we get a nugget more information about Lena’s own past, wherein her mother shot her at age 4.
So three or four stories all intertwined, well, even passionately written, moving along at a fast pace. There is a little insight into present-day Scottsdale, when Madeline contemplates moving back to Arizona. The way it is described, the only thing that matters to Scottsdale is tourism; any planning, budget, or case is always to be considered against that background, though it seems that “snowbirds” are not popular with the locals. We get a little view of the outside countryside, again through Madeline’s eyes, when she contemplates buying an old barn in the middle of nowhere. So, not really a book to read to get insight into the southwest; the only real insights were about the polygamy sects. But well worth a read for the stories and that last insight.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Private detective Lena Jones is doing a stakeout at a RV storage place, trying to catch taggers who have been vandalizing RVs in this Scottsdale AZ business. She witnesses a body dump and the woman turns out to be one of the sister wives of a polygamist compound. Shocked that there might be a compound nearby, Lena investigates. To her peril and to her sadness. The prevalance of polygamy is not civilized and is rife with wife and child abuse, welfare fraud, incest, truancy violence, and murder.

Once boy children turn 18, they are no longer able to collect welfare and the compounds cast them out to the streets of urban cities where they turn tricks, do drugs and die. Lena Jones rips the protective covers off this shadowy world and exposes an awful world.

Intertwined is her failing relationship and a surprising and wonderful reconnection with someone from her past. Lena's own shadowy past is not solved and one more clue is given.

And excellent and compelling read. The plight of polygamy women and children is told in angry and heartbreaking words.

[Danie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazingly written book, great characters, each distinct and interesting and of course, Webb left us wanting just a bit more as she finished the story.

My favorite character in all the Lena Jones stories is her partner Jimmy and the same is true in this book. Sometimes it seems like it's hard for authors to write a male character and female character who are good friends, but not snogging each other, and there are very few authors who are about to write it well, but Webb definitely has the balance right.

And then to the subject of the book. Polygamy. Much like Desert Wives by Webb, this wasn't a happy go lucky book. In a couple of places it was even sorta depressing, but despite the subject matter the book was a quick and (depressingly) interesting read.

I give it a solid recommendation, as long as you're not looking for a cozy bit of fluff.