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Murder in Mexico #5
Strike Zone
STRIKE ZONE
When the Federales discover that wealthy San Miguel resident Barbara Watt has the legendary fifth Mayan codex, they offer her a deal. Give it up, or we’ll hound you through the courts for the rest of your life. When she comes up with an alternative scheme to furnish them instead with the long lost gold of the last days of the Aztec empire, cast in the form of a human skull, they accept.
Now all she has to do is get her hands on it.
The Zacher Agency springs into action in Oaxaca, where the skull was last seen in the possession of an old GI. When Paul and Cody cut a deal with him, they find there are several others interested as well, one of them the son of Hermann Goering, playing by his own rules. The usual mayhem follows in short order.
Strike Zone is the fifth of the Murder in Mexico series of mysteries.
When the Federales discover that wealthy San Miguel resident Barbara Watt has the legendary fifth Mayan codex, they offer her a deal. Give it up, or we’ll hound you through the courts for the rest of your life. When she comes up with an alternative scheme to furnish them instead with the long lost gold of the last days of the Aztec empire, cast in the form of a human skull, they accept.
Now all she has to do is get her hands on it.
The Zacher Agency springs into action in Oaxaca, where the skull was last seen in the possession of an old GI. When Paul and Cody cut a deal with him, they find there are several others interested as well, one of them the son of Hermann Goering, playing by his own rules. The usual mayhem follows in short order.
Strike Zone is the fifth of the Murder in Mexico series of mysteries.
173 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 6, 2011
23 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
John Scherber
61 books33 followersJohn Scherber, a Minnesota native, settled in México in 2007. He is the author of 15 Paul Zacher mysteries, (The Murder in México series), set in the old colonial hill town of San Miguel de Allende, as well as his three award-winning nonfiction accounts of the expatriate experience, San Miguel de Allende: A Place in the Heart, Into the Heart of Mexico: Expatriates Find Themselves Off the Beaten Path, and Living in San Miguel: The Heart of the Matter. In addition, two volumes of the Townshend Vampire Trilogy have appeared, and a paranormal thriller titled The Devil’s Workshop.
His work is known for its fast pace, irreverent humor, and light-hearted excursions into the worlds of art and antiques––always with an edge of suspense. Neither highbrow nor lowbrow, his books are written as entertainments and dedicated to the enjoyment of reading. While he has acknowledged being no single one of his characters, he also admits to being all of them.
His work is known for its fast pace, irreverent humor, and light-hearted excursions into the worlds of art and antiques––always with an edge of suspense. Neither highbrow nor lowbrow, his books are written as entertainments and dedicated to the enjoyment of reading. While he has acknowledged being no single one of his characters, he also admits to being all of them.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 18, 2018
Fascinating
Suspenseful and fast paced book with well-fleshed characters I could relate to. I very much enjoyed the twists and unexpected turns I discovered within this plot, I'll definitely read more of this author's mysteries.
Suspenseful and fast paced book with well-fleshed characters I could relate to. I very much enjoyed the twists and unexpected turns I discovered within this plot, I'll definitely read more of this author's mysteries.
February 22, 2020
I really like the characters in this series. I thought the story line was a little thin. Barbara wants to get the golden skull to give to the Mexican government so they won’t take away her codex.
November 3, 2025
Review
I am really enjoying this series. This one was quite bloody and most of the bad people had a fitting end. Ready for the next one.
I am really enjoying this series. This one was quite bloody and most of the bad people had a fitting end. Ready for the next one.
July 12, 2012
BEC'S REVIEW
Despite this being the 5th or so book in a series of detective novels about these particular characters I found myself enjoying Strike Zone without feeling that I was missing too much of the past. Sure there were times when references to past events were brought up but these were never done in a way that made me feel like I was missing a vital clue that would solve the current mystery, rather they instead provided a glimpse into each of the characters pasts and how they got to this point, similar to what would happen in a standalone novel. So if the fact that this book is a part of a series is putting you off, don’t let it.
I really found myself enjoying Strike Zone, especially some of the twists involved. There are a number of different characters at play who are after the Golden Skull, the object in question that the agency is expected to retrieve, and each character seems more dangerous than the last. What I found interesting was the few unexpected skull chasers, along with the characters who you may have written off as having been dealt with who make a surprise comeback. You never really know what to expect in this book, or who will end up with the skull next.
Overall I enjoyed Strike Zone and may even look into reading some of the other novels in this series at some point in the future. I really enjoyed the characters and want to know more about what will happen to them next, alone with their past. If you enjoy reading mystery or detective novels then I recommend this one. It’s fast paced, with lots of action and will have you on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next.
Despite this being the 5th or so book in a series of detective novels about these particular characters I found myself enjoying Strike Zone without feeling that I was missing too much of the past. Sure there were times when references to past events were brought up but these were never done in a way that made me feel like I was missing a vital clue that would solve the current mystery, rather they instead provided a glimpse into each of the characters pasts and how they got to this point, similar to what would happen in a standalone novel. So if the fact that this book is a part of a series is putting you off, don’t let it.
I really found myself enjoying Strike Zone, especially some of the twists involved. There are a number of different characters at play who are after the Golden Skull, the object in question that the agency is expected to retrieve, and each character seems more dangerous than the last. What I found interesting was the few unexpected skull chasers, along with the characters who you may have written off as having been dealt with who make a surprise comeback. You never really know what to expect in this book, or who will end up with the skull next.
Overall I enjoyed Strike Zone and may even look into reading some of the other novels in this series at some point in the future. I really enjoyed the characters and want to know more about what will happen to them next, alone with their past. If you enjoy reading mystery or detective novels then I recommend this one. It’s fast paced, with lots of action and will have you on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next.
February 8, 2012
Strike Zone is a fast and furious ride through Mexico, in hot pursuit of a skull made of gold.
The story starts with the uncovering of the skull and follows a series of people who are after the skull, each believing they have a right to own it. As you might expect… death and destruction lie in the wake of those who come into contact with the skull.
This book is the fourth in the Murder in Mexico series by Scherber, and follows the Zacher agency, an ex-pat American living in Mexico. What is interesting with this book is that you can tell that Scherber has a real grasp of the political context of Mexico, and understands the social context he refers to. Scherber does an excellent job of taking us on a tour of Mexico. His description of the Hotel Camino Royal is exquisite, and must be based on an actual Camino Royal hotel.
Despite being the fourth in a series, you don’t need to have read the other books. References are made to past events, which I suspect are covered in the earlier books, but this will only add to the story for readers of the series.
Scherber also presents the story from the viewpoint of different characters, with the chapter title providing a guide as to whose position he’s writing from. The pace is fast and furious with groups of characters brought in and followed through the story to a satisfactory conclusion, with loose ends tied up.
All in all Strike Zone is a good solid read.
The story starts with the uncovering of the skull and follows a series of people who are after the skull, each believing they have a right to own it. As you might expect… death and destruction lie in the wake of those who come into contact with the skull.
This book is the fourth in the Murder in Mexico series by Scherber, and follows the Zacher agency, an ex-pat American living in Mexico. What is interesting with this book is that you can tell that Scherber has a real grasp of the political context of Mexico, and understands the social context he refers to. Scherber does an excellent job of taking us on a tour of Mexico. His description of the Hotel Camino Royal is exquisite, and must be based on an actual Camino Royal hotel.
Despite being the fourth in a series, you don’t need to have read the other books. References are made to past events, which I suspect are covered in the earlier books, but this will only add to the story for readers of the series.
Scherber also presents the story from the viewpoint of different characters, with the chapter title providing a guide as to whose position he’s writing from. The pace is fast and furious with groups of characters brought in and followed through the story to a satisfactory conclusion, with loose ends tied up.
All in all Strike Zone is a good solid read.
October 10, 2021
Wealthy patron with a love of artifacts, doesn’t want to give up the Mayan codex, so she devises an alternative. With the Zacher Agency they go to Oaxaca.The details, the settings of Mexico is good. Along with the mayhem that seems to follow Paul and Cody
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews