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J.D. Books Mystery #2
Skeleton Picnic: A J.D. Books Mystery
Third generation Kanab residents Rolly and Abigail Rogers come from a long line of dedicated pot hunters who scour the desert southwest in search of valuable antiquities. When the Utah couple fails to return from a weekend skeleton picnic, (pot hunting trip) along the desolate Arizona Strip, local Sheriff Charley Sutter turns to BLM Law Enforcement Ranger J.D. Books for help.
When Books searches the missing couple’s home for clues about their disappearance, he discovers the house has been burglarized and a valuable collection of ancient Anasazi and Fremont Indian antiquities stolen. Soon a search and rescue operation finds the Rogers’ truck and trailer at an abandoned campsite near an ancient Anasazi ruin that has been recently excavated. Footprints and other evidence lead Books to conclude that the couple may have been overpowered by a small group of unknown assailants.
Sheriff Sutter assigns an attractive young deputy, Beth Tanner, to investigate the burglary of the Rogers’ home under the watchful eye of Books. Together they track some of the stolen property to a pawn shop in St. George, and ultimately to a young Navajo man with a criminal record. Keeping this man alive long enough to make him talk, however, proves difficult.
Books and Tanner soon learn of a shadowy group of armed Indian police who patrol vast swaths of tribal and federal lands in search of anyone desecrating ancient Native American burial sites. They also discover several recent unsolved cases in the Four Corners region where individuals disappeared into the desert wilderness under suspicious circumstances, never to be heard from again. Could the disappearance of the Rogers, and others, be the responsibility of this group?
As Books and Tanner close in on those responsible, Books’ own survival skills will be tested when he is unwittingly drawn into a remote part of the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. There he is forced into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, where the hunter becomes the hunted, and only one person gets to go home alive.
When Books searches the missing couple’s home for clues about their disappearance, he discovers the house has been burglarized and a valuable collection of ancient Anasazi and Fremont Indian antiquities stolen. Soon a search and rescue operation finds the Rogers’ truck and trailer at an abandoned campsite near an ancient Anasazi ruin that has been recently excavated. Footprints and other evidence lead Books to conclude that the couple may have been overpowered by a small group of unknown assailants.
Sheriff Sutter assigns an attractive young deputy, Beth Tanner, to investigate the burglary of the Rogers’ home under the watchful eye of Books. Together they track some of the stolen property to a pawn shop in St. George, and ultimately to a young Navajo man with a criminal record. Keeping this man alive long enough to make him talk, however, proves difficult.
Books and Tanner soon learn of a shadowy group of armed Indian police who patrol vast swaths of tribal and federal lands in search of anyone desecrating ancient Native American burial sites. They also discover several recent unsolved cases in the Four Corners region where individuals disappeared into the desert wilderness under suspicious circumstances, never to be heard from again. Could the disappearance of the Rogers, and others, be the responsibility of this group?
As Books and Tanner close in on those responsible, Books’ own survival skills will be tested when he is unwittingly drawn into a remote part of the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. There he is forced into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, where the hunter becomes the hunted, and only one person gets to go home alive.
- GenresMystery
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2012
3 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Michael Norman
6 books26 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Michael D. Norman lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with his wife Diane and their two pit bulls, Joyce and Eddie. He is a former police officer, state parole board member, and most recently, a Professor of Criminal Justice at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah.
Michael D. Norman lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with his wife Diane and their two pit bulls, Joyce and Eddie. He is a former police officer, state parole board member, and most recently, a Professor of Criminal Justice at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 8, 2020
This crime novel set in Kanab, Utah, is a fun and relaxed mystery with a solid rural setting. The plot is developed nicely, the characters are interesting, especially J.D. Books. It's only significant flaw is the pacing and overly-talky 25 or so pages before the final climax.
April 23, 2019
J.D. investigates the disappearance o a renowned pothunter couple.
July 2, 2021
I listened to the audiobook from the library. This murder mystery novel is suspenseful and engaging with a look into Native American antiquities. Recommended.
February 13, 2016
Chapter One of “SKELETON PICNIC” sets the scene, graphically depicting the evening Rolly and Abby Rogers, respected and established members of the small community of Kanab, Utah, are confronted right after setting up camp and proceeding to the nearby Indian ruins in search of ancient antiquities, illegal booty, a common and accepted practice in their small Mormon community. They are third generation pot hunters who collected anything they could wherever they could find it, and that included human bones, which is why his grandfather referred to these family outings as “skeleton picnics.” What had descended on them? Angry Indian ghost spirits, or evil greedy mortals? Were they killed, or do they live?
Enters J.D. Books, a BLM Law Enforcement Ranger, called upon by the Kane County Sheriff, Charley Sutter, when the Roger’s daughter files a missing person's report on her parents who went camping Friday afternoon, then missed church Sunday morning. Then the plot thickens when Officer Books goes to the Roger’s home to find it burglarized, and their unequaled personal collection of antiquities were gone; stolen. The potential pool of suspects are many since Rolly Roger’s was a history teacher in the small town of Kanab, and had been for years, and gave tours of his collection in his home on school field trips. Officer Books remembers one such field trip he had when he was a young boy and student of Mr. Rogers history class. As Officer Books begins to unravel the mystery he finds suspects spanning from the poorest most unfortunate of Kanab residents to the highest most privileged of the community, and unfortunately, one within his own family.
I love how this mystery was set up nice and neat in the first chapter, and the answers, at least to Rolly and Abby Roger’s mortality, aren’t answered until the last chapter. And, as in all good mystery’s, the twists and turns in between kept me on the edge of my seat. I also like that this is the second book in the J.D. Books Mysteries, and it didn’t matter a hill-of-beans that I hadn’t read the first book titled “ON DEADLY GROUND”.
As is the custom now-w days I checked out his author website at http://michaelnormanauthor.com/. He is not a has been. “SKELETON PICNIC” was published in 2012. He acquired a Master’s degree from Northern Illinois University in 1969. I attribute his ability to so competently describe my part of the country, the southwest United States, to his being a retired journalism professor. If you’re a lover of mysteries you’ll love Michael Norman’s books.
Enters J.D. Books, a BLM Law Enforcement Ranger, called upon by the Kane County Sheriff, Charley Sutter, when the Roger’s daughter files a missing person's report on her parents who went camping Friday afternoon, then missed church Sunday morning. Then the plot thickens when Officer Books goes to the Roger’s home to find it burglarized, and their unequaled personal collection of antiquities were gone; stolen. The potential pool of suspects are many since Rolly Roger’s was a history teacher in the small town of Kanab, and had been for years, and gave tours of his collection in his home on school field trips. Officer Books remembers one such field trip he had when he was a young boy and student of Mr. Rogers history class. As Officer Books begins to unravel the mystery he finds suspects spanning from the poorest most unfortunate of Kanab residents to the highest most privileged of the community, and unfortunately, one within his own family.
I love how this mystery was set up nice and neat in the first chapter, and the answers, at least to Rolly and Abby Roger’s mortality, aren’t answered until the last chapter. And, as in all good mystery’s, the twists and turns in between kept me on the edge of my seat. I also like that this is the second book in the J.D. Books Mysteries, and it didn’t matter a hill-of-beans that I hadn’t read the first book titled “ON DEADLY GROUND”.
As is the custom now-w days I checked out his author website at http://michaelnormanauthor.com/. He is not a has been. “SKELETON PICNIC” was published in 2012. He acquired a Master’s degree from Northern Illinois University in 1969. I attribute his ability to so competently describe my part of the country, the southwest United States, to his being a retired journalism professor. If you’re a lover of mysteries you’ll love Michael Norman’s books.
April 11, 2012
This is the second offering in the J.D. Books Mystery Series, and artfully tells the story of all those folks out there who dig up Indian artifacts (jewelry, pottery, arrowheads, etc.)
Taking place in the deserted areas of Arizona and Utah, these particular folks are referred to as “Pot Hunters,” and although the majority are not out to hurt anyone - just to collect history - there are those in the ‘industry’ who want nothing more than to make a profit from selling the items, knowing that where they’re digging is completely illegal. And, as we all know, where there’s money to be made…there’s trouble.
Rolly and Abby Rogers go off on one of their digs and simply vanish. When police are notified of their disappearance, they find that the Rogers’ home has been broken into and artifacts they’d collected have gone missing. Seeing as they were ‘abducted’ on Federal land, the disappearance will be investigated by the Bureau of Land Management Ranger, J.D. Books. His job is to unearth the mystery, and find out the information behind the break-in.
Being that this is a very small community and everyone knows everyone else, Books finds himself running into ‘conflict of interest’ problems wherever he turns, including members of his own family and very close friends who don’t seem to want to speak about what they know.
As hope diminishes and it looks like the Rogers’ will stay lost, Books tries his best to hurry the investigation along as best he can. But bureaucracy rears its ugly head and brings the investigation to a complete standstill, as each organization suddenly decides to fight for the glory and attention of being the ones to solve the case.
Readers who are into mysteries involving police procedure, and the lawful administration that screw things up every chance they get, will find this book very interesting. Deftly taking the history of the Native Americans and tossing it in with a load of red herrings to confuse the reader, the story holds your interest. Although it may seem, at times, to be a little ‘long’ in getting to the end, the many characters will keep the reader’s attention.
My advice? The plot is good and will definitely give the reader a bird’s eye view of the laws being ignored in order to deal with citizens. And although the plot is a little convoluted - with characters coming in and out at warp speed - it’s definitely an enjoyable read.
Until Next Time, Everybody!
Amy
Taking place in the deserted areas of Arizona and Utah, these particular folks are referred to as “Pot Hunters,” and although the majority are not out to hurt anyone - just to collect history - there are those in the ‘industry’ who want nothing more than to make a profit from selling the items, knowing that where they’re digging is completely illegal. And, as we all know, where there’s money to be made…there’s trouble.
Rolly and Abby Rogers go off on one of their digs and simply vanish. When police are notified of their disappearance, they find that the Rogers’ home has been broken into and artifacts they’d collected have gone missing. Seeing as they were ‘abducted’ on Federal land, the disappearance will be investigated by the Bureau of Land Management Ranger, J.D. Books. His job is to unearth the mystery, and find out the information behind the break-in.
Being that this is a very small community and everyone knows everyone else, Books finds himself running into ‘conflict of interest’ problems wherever he turns, including members of his own family and very close friends who don’t seem to want to speak about what they know.
As hope diminishes and it looks like the Rogers’ will stay lost, Books tries his best to hurry the investigation along as best he can. But bureaucracy rears its ugly head and brings the investigation to a complete standstill, as each organization suddenly decides to fight for the glory and attention of being the ones to solve the case.
Readers who are into mysteries involving police procedure, and the lawful administration that screw things up every chance they get, will find this book very interesting. Deftly taking the history of the Native Americans and tossing it in with a load of red herrings to confuse the reader, the story holds your interest. Although it may seem, at times, to be a little ‘long’ in getting to the end, the many characters will keep the reader’s attention.
My advice? The plot is good and will definitely give the reader a bird’s eye view of the laws being ignored in order to deal with citizens. And although the plot is a little convoluted - with characters coming in and out at warp speed - it’s definitely an enjoyable read.
Until Next Time, Everybody!
Amy
August 19, 2012
Roland (Rolly) Rogers is a retired Kanab High School teacher and an avid pot hunter. He is anxiously waiting for his wife Abby to get home from work so the couple could begin their weekend searching for artifacts to add to their collection. When Abby finally gets home the couple begin their last pot hunting adventure. The couple travel into Arizona and drive into a remote area that they discovered the previous fall.
When the couple fails to show up at church their daughter, Melissa, contacts Charlie Sutter, the Kane County Sheriff. A missing persons report is taken when Melissa says her parents left on Friday and had planned to return on Saturday night. Sheriff Sutter phones J. D. Books, a ranger with the Bureau of Land Management, and asks that he check out the Rogers residence since it is close to him. Books is having coffee with Ned Hunsaker, a close friend and his landlord.
Books and Hunsaker go to the Rogers' residence only to find that someone has broken in through the patio doors. When Books gets inside, he finds that the Rogers cat has been killed and is lying in a pool of blood. The display case for the antiquities that Rogers has collected over the years is broken and the contents have been removed.
A search discovers the Rogers' truck and trailer at an abandoned campsite near an excavated
Anasazi ruin. Footprints and other evidence indicate that the Rogers couple had visitors at their campsite.
Inquiries bring to light the fact that law enforcement authorities in the area have identified several unsolved missing person cases involving pot hunters who have gone missing. Books along with Sheriff Sutter and his young deputy, Beth Tanner, begin the investigation and soon find that they are treading on dangerous ground.
Skeleton Picnic is an exciting mystery with strong characters that keep the story flowing.
When the couple fails to show up at church their daughter, Melissa, contacts Charlie Sutter, the Kane County Sheriff. A missing persons report is taken when Melissa says her parents left on Friday and had planned to return on Saturday night. Sheriff Sutter phones J. D. Books, a ranger with the Bureau of Land Management, and asks that he check out the Rogers residence since it is close to him. Books is having coffee with Ned Hunsaker, a close friend and his landlord.
Books and Hunsaker go to the Rogers' residence only to find that someone has broken in through the patio doors. When Books gets inside, he finds that the Rogers cat has been killed and is lying in a pool of blood. The display case for the antiquities that Rogers has collected over the years is broken and the contents have been removed.
A search discovers the Rogers' truck and trailer at an abandoned campsite near an excavated
Anasazi ruin. Footprints and other evidence indicate that the Rogers couple had visitors at their campsite.
Inquiries bring to light the fact that law enforcement authorities in the area have identified several unsolved missing person cases involving pot hunters who have gone missing. Books along with Sheriff Sutter and his young deputy, Beth Tanner, begin the investigation and soon find that they are treading on dangerous ground.
Skeleton Picnic is an exciting mystery with strong characters that keep the story flowing.
November 21, 2013
This review is for audiobook version of the second book in the JD Books Mystery Series. The story sets J. D. Books, law enforcement ranger with the Bureau of Land Management against the disappearance of a couple who were digging for antiquities in the Arizona desert.
This is my first foray into this series and I likeit. Author Michael Normal pens an interesting and detailed world surrounding the protagonist and creates a believable perfect storm of events that intertwines the reader into the story.
The main character is likeable and believable. Unlike many stories in the genre the various law enforcement types are not fighting in internal turf war. This is a welcomed relief and places the reader on the side of the protagonist searching for the clues and not getting distracted with smaller over-done story lines.
The audiobook is well made and the narrator Patrick Lawlor has an interesting voice that for some reason reminds me of Case Casem. I keep thinking I’m listening to American Top 40 at times. This distraction aside the story is well read and the Lawlor brings the characters to life giving them each a unique voice.
I look forward to reading more from this author and this series.
This is my first foray into this series and I likeit. Author Michael Normal pens an interesting and detailed world surrounding the protagonist and creates a believable perfect storm of events that intertwines the reader into the story.
The main character is likeable and believable. Unlike many stories in the genre the various law enforcement types are not fighting in internal turf war. This is a welcomed relief and places the reader on the side of the protagonist searching for the clues and not getting distracted with smaller over-done story lines.
The audiobook is well made and the narrator Patrick Lawlor has an interesting voice that for some reason reminds me of Case Casem. I keep thinking I’m listening to American Top 40 at times. This distraction aside the story is well read and the Lawlor brings the characters to life giving them each a unique voice.
I look forward to reading more from this author and this series.
March 22, 2012
This is the first book I've read by Michael Norman. It is a well written mystery set in one of my favorite locales...the Southwest. It is mainly set in the town of Kanab, Utah which is very close to one of the most amazing places I've ever been: Zion National Park.
This is a story about pot hunting. I never realized how prolific pot hunting has been. I just assumed everyone would leave artifacts in place for the archaeologists to properly catalogue...how very naive of me! The amazing Tony Hillerman wrote of pot hunters in a few of his mysteries but I never realized the extent that the desecration happens. This novel is indeed an eye opener.
BLM Ranger J. D. Books is a native of Kanab who has returned their after spending over a decade on the Denver Police Force. He has family in Kanab who play an important role in this story. And once the investigation begins it quickly becomes apparent that other disappearances in the Four Corners region could be tied to the disappearance of a local couple.
Excellent story, great characters, and a wonderful setting all make for an excellent read. It is out on April 3rd. Be sure to pick up a copy.
This is a story about pot hunting. I never realized how prolific pot hunting has been. I just assumed everyone would leave artifacts in place for the archaeologists to properly catalogue...how very naive of me! The amazing Tony Hillerman wrote of pot hunters in a few of his mysteries but I never realized the extent that the desecration happens. This novel is indeed an eye opener.
BLM Ranger J. D. Books is a native of Kanab who has returned their after spending over a decade on the Denver Police Force. He has family in Kanab who play an important role in this story. And once the investigation begins it quickly becomes apparent that other disappearances in the Four Corners region could be tied to the disappearance of a local couple.
Excellent story, great characters, and a wonderful setting all make for an excellent read. It is out on April 3rd. Be sure to pick up a copy.
March 7, 2012
Skeleton Picnic
Thanks to Poison Pen Press over at Netgalley for giving me a review copy of Skeleton Picnic.
Ranger J.D. Books gets assigned to a missing persons case of The Rogers. The Rogers are local pot hunters and artifacts. Books never thought it would turn out the way it did.
With his farther in hospital with cancer to undergo surgery. Books finds more starling news about case.
They catch one of the middle men of missing persons case. The hunt is on for the rest of gang. Shoot outs and car chases with an unexpected ending.
I enjoyed the story overall Michael Norman made a cop story with interesting plot. His character Ranger Books I would like to see again with another case. 4 Stars
Thanks to Poison Pen Press over at Netgalley for giving me a review copy of Skeleton Picnic.
Ranger J.D. Books gets assigned to a missing persons case of The Rogers. The Rogers are local pot hunters and artifacts. Books never thought it would turn out the way it did.
With his farther in hospital with cancer to undergo surgery. Books finds more starling news about case.
They catch one of the middle men of missing persons case. The hunt is on for the rest of gang. Shoot outs and car chases with an unexpected ending.
I enjoyed the story overall Michael Norman made a cop story with interesting plot. His character Ranger Books I would like to see again with another case. 4 Stars
April 11, 2012
I lived in the southern part of Utah at Lake Powell for awhile and reading this book and the descriptions of the scenery brought it all back of how beautiful that area of the country is. The story of the locals digging for Native American artifacts is a real issue that I've dealt with although, thankfully, never to this degree. Of course this is the second in a series that I didn't even know existed until I read this book, but I'll be sure to go back and read the first one (On Deadly Ground) now. The only problem I had with the book was the amount of characters. It seemed like every couple of pages we were meeting new people- even the last chapter there were two new people.
October 23, 2016
This was a theme I was not all that familiar with. A criminal industry in local artifacts. Interesting enough. I say "enough" because it was different for me, but not any more interesting than an episode of a daily crime drama tv show.
The writing was clear, with enough detail, but it didnt really grasp or wow me. I wish there was more for me to say in more detail except that I did enjoy the read but it took me long enough to finish.
The writing was clear, with enough detail, but it didnt really grasp or wow me. I wish there was more for me to say in more detail except that I did enjoy the read but it took me long enough to finish.
March 30, 2012
This is a good piece of detective fiction, written in a simple and uncomplicated style. It skirts round problems of conflict of interest and political interference with the investigation and arrives at a satisfying outcome.
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August 13, 2018
I can't say enough of this story line, it is different and I really enjoyed the pot diggers and finding out about people who do this and the plot just kept me wanting to read more and find out who actually committed the murder. This is my first time reading Michael Norman, I won this book and I am so glad I did.
September 4, 2012
I "read" most of this book as an audiobook while sewing, but got tired of the foul language which is more noticeable when listening to an audiobook than when reading a book silently. I finally stopped reading it, as I just wasn't enjoying it.
March 4, 2014
A good story, but the dialogue dragged at times. I hope Norman will work on character development and greater plot complexity and come out with more titles in this series.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews