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Powder River Poison: A Mary Macintosh Novel
Butch Anderson, a born-in-the-saddle cowboy world famous for his days on the rodeo circuit, owns a pristine ranch with his wife on the outskirts of the magnificent Big Horn Mountains in northern Wyoming. MethZap, a coal bed methane gas company, promised the Andersons that the gas retrieved from their ranch would entitle them to receive large royalty checks and that the ranch would be returned to its immaculate condition once the mining was complete. Unfortunately, MethZap didn t keep its word to the Andersons, and when sludge oozes from the Well from Hell, contaminating their groundwater, destroying their rangeland, and poisoning the Powder River Basin, they hire Mary MacIntosh to represent them in a class-action toxic tort crusade that threatens to divide their community. How much do we owe the people we love? Are we all stewards of the environment? Is a multi-million dollar jury verdict enough to replace what has been lost in the battle? In trying to win justice for her clients, Mac learns the answers to some of these questions and the value of respect for the environment, loved ones, and, most importantly, for herself.
292 pages, Paperback
First published July 31, 2006
3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 3, 2025
Maureen Anne Meehan’s Powder River Poison: A Mary MacIntosh Novel is an electrifying legal thriller that will grip readers from the first page to the last. Set against the awe-inspiring backdrop of the Big Horn Mountains in northern Wyoming, this novel combines environmental activism, legal drama, and heartfelt emotion to deliver an unforgettable reading experience.
The story centers around Butch Anderson, a legendary rodeo cowboy, and his wife, who own a pristine ranch on the outskirts of the Big Horn Mountains. Their idyllic life is shattered when MethZap, a coal bed methane gas company, fails to keep its promises. Instead of receiving large royalty checks and having their ranch restored, the Andersons are left with contaminated groundwater, destroyed rangeland, and a poisoned Powder River Basin due to the notorious “Well from Hell.”
Enter Mary MacIntosh, the formidable attorney known for her tenacity and dedication to justice. Hired to represent the Andersons in a class-action toxic tort case, Mac embarks on a crusade that threatens to tear apart their close-knit community. As she navigates the complexities of the legal battle, Mac grapples with profound questions about love, stewardship, and the true cost of justice.
Meehan’s masterful storytelling shines through in Powder River Poison. The novel’s vivid descriptions of the Wyoming landscape transport readers to the heart of the Big Horn Mountains while the intricate plot keeps them on the edge of their seats. The environmental themes are both timely and thought-provoking, raising important questions about our responsibility to protect the natural world and the people we love.
The story centers around Butch Anderson, a legendary rodeo cowboy, and his wife, who own a pristine ranch on the outskirts of the Big Horn Mountains. Their idyllic life is shattered when MethZap, a coal bed methane gas company, fails to keep its promises. Instead of receiving large royalty checks and having their ranch restored, the Andersons are left with contaminated groundwater, destroyed rangeland, and a poisoned Powder River Basin due to the notorious “Well from Hell.”
Enter Mary MacIntosh, the formidable attorney known for her tenacity and dedication to justice. Hired to represent the Andersons in a class-action toxic tort case, Mac embarks on a crusade that threatens to tear apart their close-knit community. As she navigates the complexities of the legal battle, Mac grapples with profound questions about love, stewardship, and the true cost of justice.
Meehan’s masterful storytelling shines through in Powder River Poison. The novel’s vivid descriptions of the Wyoming landscape transport readers to the heart of the Big Horn Mountains while the intricate plot keeps them on the edge of their seats. The environmental themes are both timely and thought-provoking, raising important questions about our responsibility to protect the natural world and the people we love.
January 28, 2025
Mary MacIntosh, or Mac, to her friends, has been drawn into an ugly legal battle. This feisty attorney has been hired by Butch Anderson, a long-in-the-tooth cowboy who owes his fame to exploits on the rodeo circuit. He and his wife now live on a beautiful spread of land close to Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains. The couple are paid by MethZap, a coal bed methane gas company, to strip the land of its bounty of natural gas. They claim they will restore it to its former pristine splendor, but, unsurprisingly, they go back on their word. It sets up a tense courtroom battle that will put Mac’s legal acumen to the ultimate test.
Powder River Poison, by Maureen Anne Meehan, is the third book in the crime-thriller series starring Mary MacIntosh. Quite a bit of this novel takes place in the courtroom, making it reminiscent of certain works by John Grisham.
The Mary MacIntosh series is anchored by its protagonist, the inspiring and heroic Mac. She loves her community and is often called into service defending it, as well as the outlying parts of mostly remote Wyoming. The citizens of this part of the country seem to get themselves involved in a lot of trouble, as Mac seldom has a quiet moment to herself. Who knew a rural lawyer’s life could get so complicated?
In this instance, Mac is going up against a giant corporation interested only in profiteering from the strip-mining of natural resources, so it’s not exactly hard to get behind our hero. With her usual enthusiasm, she uses her pluck and legal skills to cross swords with the slimy conglomerate that has poisoned the Anderson’s land. The only real shock is that Butch and his wife would have ever believed an entity so cartoonishly evil would keep their word and restore their property to its former natural glory when the job was done.
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that Mac finds a way to sort out the Anderson’s legal woes. What’s perhaps most commendable about this novel, though, is how the author highlights the often very real concern of greedy companies trying to destroy the environment for the sake of the almighty dollar.
Powder River Poison, by Maureen Anne Meehan, is the third book in the crime-thriller series starring Mary MacIntosh. Quite a bit of this novel takes place in the courtroom, making it reminiscent of certain works by John Grisham.
The Mary MacIntosh series is anchored by its protagonist, the inspiring and heroic Mac. She loves her community and is often called into service defending it, as well as the outlying parts of mostly remote Wyoming. The citizens of this part of the country seem to get themselves involved in a lot of trouble, as Mac seldom has a quiet moment to herself. Who knew a rural lawyer’s life could get so complicated?
In this instance, Mac is going up against a giant corporation interested only in profiteering from the strip-mining of natural resources, so it’s not exactly hard to get behind our hero. With her usual enthusiasm, she uses her pluck and legal skills to cross swords with the slimy conglomerate that has poisoned the Anderson’s land. The only real shock is that Butch and his wife would have ever believed an entity so cartoonishly evil would keep their word and restore their property to its former natural glory when the job was done.
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that Mac finds a way to sort out the Anderson’s legal woes. What’s perhaps most commendable about this novel, though, is how the author highlights the often very real concern of greedy companies trying to destroy the environment for the sake of the almighty dollar.
February 5, 2025
At first, Powder River Poison seems like a straightforward legal battle, Mary MacIntosh is representing ranchers fighting against a powerful gas company destroying their land. But the deeper she digs, the more she realizes this isn’t just about environmental damage it’s about corruption, deception, and danger lurking beneath the surface. What starts as a lawsuit quickly turns into a fight for survival.
The legal details are fascinating, making you feel like you’re right there in the courtroom, but the story doesn’t get dragged down in technicalities. Instead, it focuses on Mary’s connections to the people she’s fighting for, making the stakes feel personal and urgent. The contrast between the beauty of Wyoming’s landscapes and the destruction caused by corporate greed makes the story even more powerful.
For fans of legal thrillers with a social justice edge, Powder River Poison is an addictive read. It’s the kind of book that makes you think while keeping you entertained, with twists that keep you turning the pages until the very end. I, for one, was hooked by every page I turned.
The legal details are fascinating, making you feel like you’re right there in the courtroom, but the story doesn’t get dragged down in technicalities. Instead, it focuses on Mary’s connections to the people she’s fighting for, making the stakes feel personal and urgent. The contrast between the beauty of Wyoming’s landscapes and the destruction caused by corporate greed makes the story even more powerful.
For fans of legal thrillers with a social justice edge, Powder River Poison is an addictive read. It’s the kind of book that makes you think while keeping you entertained, with twists that keep you turning the pages until the very end. I, for one, was hooked by every page I turned.
February 19, 2025
A gripping legal thriller...
In Maureen Anne Meehan's gripping legal thriller, the pristine landscape of Wyoming's Big Horn Mountains becomes a battleground of environmental justice. Mary MacIntosh, a tenacious attorney, takes on MethZap, a coal bed methane company that has devastated the Andersons' ranch through negligent mining practices, contaminating groundwater and destroying rangeland.
More than a simple legal narrative, the novel delves deep into complex themes of community resilience, corporate accountability, and personal integrity. Meehan crafts a compelling exploration of environmental stewardship, challenging readers to consider the true cost of progress and the profound connections between land, livelihood, and human relationships. The story resonates with authentic emotion and moral urgency, making it a powerful testament to the fight for justice. "Powder River Poison" is a compelling page-turner that comes highly recommended. Five stars.
In Maureen Anne Meehan's gripping legal thriller, the pristine landscape of Wyoming's Big Horn Mountains becomes a battleground of environmental justice. Mary MacIntosh, a tenacious attorney, takes on MethZap, a coal bed methane company that has devastated the Andersons' ranch through negligent mining practices, contaminating groundwater and destroying rangeland.
More than a simple legal narrative, the novel delves deep into complex themes of community resilience, corporate accountability, and personal integrity. Meehan crafts a compelling exploration of environmental stewardship, challenging readers to consider the true cost of progress and the profound connections between land, livelihood, and human relationships. The story resonates with authentic emotion and moral urgency, making it a powerful testament to the fight for justice. "Powder River Poison" is a compelling page-turner that comes highly recommended. Five stars.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews