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Lena Jones Mystery #8
Desert Rage
Ferociously ambitious U.S. Senatorial candidate Juliana Thorsson has been keeping a secret. The horrific slaughter of a prominent doctor, his wife, and their ten-year-old son inside their Scottsdale home brings Thorsson to Private Investigator Lena Jones. The slain family s 14-year-old, Alison, and her boyfriend, Kyle, have confessed to the murders. Thorsson wants to hire Lena to discover if Alison is telling the truth, but before accepting the job, Lena demands to know why a rising political star wants to involve herself with the fate of a girl she s never met. Desperate for Lena s help, Thorsson reveals her explosive secret that Ali son is the candidate s biological daughter, a fact she s kept hidden for years. But that s not all. Thorsson then confides something even more unusual than a mere hidden pregnancy, something that could ruin her political plans forever. Suspecting that Alison s parents had secrets of their own that could have led to the murders, Lena finally accepts Thorsson s assignment. But interviewing those who knew the family well soon puts Lena now a strong defender of the two teens in danger of her life. Fast-paced, probing, and - filled with the trademark twists of the Lena Jones series, Desert Rage once again shows that Betty Webb is unsparing of her characters yet writes their stories with wit and compassion."
400 pages, Paperback
First published October 7, 2014
25 people are currently reading
271 people want to read
About the author
Betty Webb
24 books202 followersAs 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
January 20, 2016
I received a free kindle copy of Desert Rage by Betty Webb, published by Poisoned Pen Press from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. I gave this page turner five stars.
Desert Rage is a Lena Jones mystery. She is a Scottsdale P.I. partnered with Jimmy Sisiwan, a Pima Indian. She meets the Honorable Juliana Thorsson, a U.S. Congresswoman at her home in Scottsdale, AZ. She was requested not to drive the company jeep because it was too well known. When she arrived the Congresswoman asked her to exchange the sunshield to something neutral instead of Jimmy's which read "Paleface Go Home."
She researched Lena's past & told her some information that had been sealed by the court. Lena maintained forced control.
She has been called there about the Cameron house murders where an entire family, a doctor, his wife & a ten year old son had been killed by Kyle Gibbs, the boyfriend of the surviving daughter, Alison, who was supposed to be the criminal mastermind of this crime. Even the family pet was injured. They were charged separately.
Juliana in her youth was an egg donor & was the biological mother of Alison Cameron. Her first egg donation had been to her sister & that resulted in her 'niece' Ilsa.
Lena went to Alison's attorney's office, Stephen Zeller, Esq. & looked up to see the Superstition Mountains. Curtis Racine is Kyle's attorney.
While Lena was looking at the brutal crime scene photos, her partner, Jimmy said: “Don’t let the fact that she showed mercy to the dog fool you.”
“We all practice selective compassion, except for, maybe, the Dalai Lama. He pities everyone.”
After seeing the crime scene photos Lena was depressed so she went to the Olive Garden in search of comfort food.
"Even worse, a party nearby was celebrating a young woman’s birthday, their merriment reminding me that I didn’t know my own birth date. How could I? I had been found at the age of four—at least that’s the age the admitting physician estimated—lying beside a Phoenix street, the bullet in my head wiping out all memories of birthdays. When I emerged from my coma, I couldn’t remember who my parents were or who had shot me."
She experiences post traumatic stress syndrome including screaming nightmares.
After Lena met Felix Phelps who was slowly killing himself with food & drink she thought. "Were we damaged children programmed to love our mothers, regardless?....Somehow, despite all evidence to the contrary, love continued to flow both ways through the polluted maternal stream. Genetic mysteries being beyond my capacity to solve."
There are many suspects in the murders & enough & twists & turns to keep me guessing. How can they narrow the suspect list to find the guilty party? Does the Congresswoman have a separate agenda? How would the hit & run of a prison guard tie in with the other murders? Can Lena recover from her beating in time to help solve this mystery?
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N...
Desert Rage is a Lena Jones mystery. She is a Scottsdale P.I. partnered with Jimmy Sisiwan, a Pima Indian. She meets the Honorable Juliana Thorsson, a U.S. Congresswoman at her home in Scottsdale, AZ. She was requested not to drive the company jeep because it was too well known. When she arrived the Congresswoman asked her to exchange the sunshield to something neutral instead of Jimmy's which read "Paleface Go Home."
She researched Lena's past & told her some information that had been sealed by the court. Lena maintained forced control.
She has been called there about the Cameron house murders where an entire family, a doctor, his wife & a ten year old son had been killed by Kyle Gibbs, the boyfriend of the surviving daughter, Alison, who was supposed to be the criminal mastermind of this crime. Even the family pet was injured. They were charged separately.
Juliana in her youth was an egg donor & was the biological mother of Alison Cameron. Her first egg donation had been to her sister & that resulted in her 'niece' Ilsa.
Lena went to Alison's attorney's office, Stephen Zeller, Esq. & looked up to see the Superstition Mountains. Curtis Racine is Kyle's attorney.
While Lena was looking at the brutal crime scene photos, her partner, Jimmy said: “Don’t let the fact that she showed mercy to the dog fool you.”
“We all practice selective compassion, except for, maybe, the Dalai Lama. He pities everyone.”
After seeing the crime scene photos Lena was depressed so she went to the Olive Garden in search of comfort food.
"Even worse, a party nearby was celebrating a young woman’s birthday, their merriment reminding me that I didn’t know my own birth date. How could I? I had been found at the age of four—at least that’s the age the admitting physician estimated—lying beside a Phoenix street, the bullet in my head wiping out all memories of birthdays. When I emerged from my coma, I couldn’t remember who my parents were or who had shot me."
She experiences post traumatic stress syndrome including screaming nightmares.
After Lena met Felix Phelps who was slowly killing himself with food & drink she thought. "Were we damaged children programmed to love our mothers, regardless?....Somehow, despite all evidence to the contrary, love continued to flow both ways through the polluted maternal stream. Genetic mysteries being beyond my capacity to solve."
There are many suspects in the murders & enough & twists & turns to keep me guessing. How can they narrow the suspect list to find the guilty party? Does the Congresswoman have a separate agenda? How would the hit & run of a prison guard tie in with the other murders? Can Lena recover from her beating in time to help solve this mystery?
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N...
January 11, 2015
Her powerful series, based in part on the knowledge gained during the author’s work as an active reporter in Arizona. That information infuses her novels with a strong feeling of authenticity. Teen aged angst, misunderstandings and over-reaction lead Scottsdale private investigator Lena into a dark place where she must pit her analytical skills and persistence against both official stubbornness and a nearly diabolical adversary.
As readers of this series have come to expect, the writing is excellent, the characters are well-delineated and the story is complicated and real. Two teens, Alison and Kyle, plan to run away to Hollywood and in idle exchanges threaten to murder Alison’s family. When the family is indeed brutally murdered, the teens believe each has separately done the deed and each confesses to authorities.
Arizona Senator Julia Thorsson with secrets of her own, hires Lena Jones to clear the teens and find the real murderer or murderers. The task leads Lena and her partner, Pima Indian computer expert Jimmy Sisawan, into a difficult case with many surprising layers.
The action is mostly intense and persistent although there are chapters in which the author seems to lose focus and the action slows considerably. However, when Lena is focused on the case at hand and not arguing with her partner the action is brisk and logical. There are indications that her journalistic zeal for the story—surrogacy, law enforcement assumptions, public attitudes toward politics gets in the way of the story. Nevertheless, the quality of the work shines through, the story is compelling and well worth any reader’s time.
April 28, 2016
This is my first Betty Webb novel and even though this book is not the first book in the Lena Jones Mystery series, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I want to read the earlier ones to get the back story, but this held up nicely even without that info. Now I did have some problems with this, but nothing that annoyed me so much that I started deducting stars.
I liked the characters. The MC was a female private investigator and she was well drawn. She had some solid relationships that helped create a picture of who she was. I liked the way she found clues and revealed them. Now with that being said, she seemed like the only competent person in all of Arizona who could do it. I like to see some kind of team work. This had a little of that, but I would have liked more.
The story seemed pretty cut and dry in the beginning so I was curious how they were going to debunk the way it looked because apparently things were not as they seemed. I wasn't disappointed in how that played out. Some of my assumptions were wrong. This had some well placed and well thought out twists that kept the plot in motion.
Now there was a fair amount of repetition, especially in specific character traits, in case the reader forgot what they read in the last chapter and the chapter before that. I also didn't like some of the descriptive stokes used to describe the young teen girl. Her vocabulary, her reactions to her slaughtered family, her stint in jail....it just seemed to not fit a modern teenage girl of today. (I have 2 of them, so Betty Webb's descriptions didn't ring true to me.)
But other than those things, I liked this. I look forward to reading more.
I liked the characters. The MC was a female private investigator and she was well drawn. She had some solid relationships that helped create a picture of who she was. I liked the way she found clues and revealed them. Now with that being said, she seemed like the only competent person in all of Arizona who could do it. I like to see some kind of team work. This had a little of that, but I would have liked more.
The story seemed pretty cut and dry in the beginning so I was curious how they were going to debunk the way it looked because apparently things were not as they seemed. I wasn't disappointed in how that played out. Some of my assumptions were wrong. This had some well placed and well thought out twists that kept the plot in motion.
Now there was a fair amount of repetition, especially in specific character traits, in case the reader forgot what they read in the last chapter and the chapter before that. I also didn't like some of the descriptive stokes used to describe the young teen girl. Her vocabulary, her reactions to her slaughtered family, her stint in jail....it just seemed to not fit a modern teenage girl of today. (I have 2 of them, so Betty Webb's descriptions didn't ring true to me.)
But other than those things, I liked this. I look forward to reading more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2019
So happy to find a new mystery series and author! Really liked this mystery as the characters were well developed and true to life. It takes place in Scottsdale AZ and I grew up in Mesa.
October 7, 2014
I was please to find this as I read this series when I find it. This cozy mystery takes place around the Scottsdale, AZ area. Lena Jones is a PI and her partner is a computer expert. Lena is asked to meet a Senate candidate anonymously. The candidate wants her to investigate a triple murder. A prominent Docter, his wife and 10 year son are found ducted tape and beaten to death. Their 14 year old daughter confessed that she plan the murders. Her boyfriend kill them and he agrees. As Lena investigates she vegans to wonder about the confessions. Desert Investigation building is fire bomb. Lena must used all her sources and skills to solve the murders before she loses her own life. Looking to reading another adventure of Lena's'
Full Disclosure: I received a free copy from Poison Pen Press through Netgalley for a honest review. I would like to thank them for opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions are my own.
Full Disclosure: I received a free copy from Poison Pen Press through Netgalley for a honest review. I would like to thank them for opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions are my own.
October 16, 2014
I received a copy of Desert Rage by Betty Webb and did not realize it was part of a series, however I found this to be a delightful murder mystery and will check into her previous books in the series.
August 1, 2019
3.5 stars...I would have given it 4-4.5 stars except for a few things. First it makes no sense that Kyle hurt the Misty. This is inconsistent with his personality. The teens were painted pretty callously in the opening chapters...I mean who stumbles upon a family murder, and they just change clothes and head to Hollywood. This is another book ( there seems to be waaaaaayyyyyy too many) where if people had talked to each other, there would not have been any problems. And who would head to Hollywood with someone who has just killed your family? Once you get past those points, the story hums along and is pretty interesting, and then a great big stop....I was listening to this as an audiobook, so I am not sure how many chapters it entailed, but the whole recuperation in the desert could have been left out....Just get on with the story! Lena could have come to her conclusions in a different way that would not have seemingly endless pages of being bored...because as the reader, I was bored too! I think this could have been a much better story, because the bones are there!
May 7, 2017
this lena series is good! her office gets firebombed by a female body builder on steroids after lena had her hummer towed from their parking lot. she was also on the case of a mother father and son that were murdered and the teen daughter and boyfriend were charged. both confessed to take away guilt from the other one, but neither did it. it was the choc family! the dr was the one putting inmates to death on death row and the family was getting revenge when their brother was executed. lena got the office rebuilt and moved back in. she had a brain injury from a beating by the steroid woman but is better now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2017
As with all in the series that I have read, I liked this book. Except there is an inconsistent feel to the characters in this book. The prologue reads like it belongs to a different book. Almost as if the plot changed as the book progressed. How can Ali and Kyle be "soul-mates" , he rescues animals but doesn't know she cared about the dog. Also the comment that "because she bit me" doesn't fit anything else about Kyle in the rest of the book.
Additionally the relationship between Lena and Juliana doesn't grow. It is barely cool to warm with no progression.
Otherwise a good plot and the killers are always a surprise.
Additionally the relationship between Lena and Juliana doesn't grow. It is barely cool to warm with no progression.
Otherwise a good plot and the killers are always a surprise.
April 24, 2018
I enjoy the issues that this series addresses. Even with the serious subject matter, the stories are fun to read and move quickly. I keep going to bed late because I'm just going to read "one more chapter". I also like Lena. Given her past experiences, much of what she does makes sense. I've read series where you wonder after the 5th time the heroine gets kidnapped or her house is broken into why she doesn't own a gun or take a self defense class. Enter Lena. She's armed, works out, takes water with her into the desert, and clears her apartment when she enters. She makes sense. Thanks for writing these. I look forward to more.
April 16, 2018
My first book with this author but it won't be my last. Loved the characters and drama. While headstrong, Lena has brains enough to work with the police to bring the bad guys to justice. She does refuse help from other people but that comes from her background in the foster system. I just read that her stories are from real life cases and that makes them even more interesting. Newcomers to her books with relate if they are fans of Grafton and J.A. Jance.
August 5, 2021
Good story. Too bad there were editing errors (p. 191 or so, Jones calls the attorney and discusses case matters; five pages later she calls the attorney and discusses case matters - nearly identical case matters - as if the first call never happened. There was another nearly-duplicate pair of passages later. Extra commas; spelling glitches; the way Ali address one character shifts several times near the end.)
[Edit to add:]
OK. That was harsh. Good characters, good plot, well-crafted in general. Those flaws just spoiled it for me. Otherwise, it would have received two more stars.
[Edit to add:]
OK. That was harsh. Good characters, good plot, well-crafted in general. Those flaws just spoiled it for me. Otherwise, it would have received two more stars.
June 2, 2017
Had read this series quite a few years ago. Just discovered the two latest and they keep the tradition with well-thought-out plots, likeable characters, good writing. Glad to have be re-acquainted with Betty Webb and her Lena Jones.
October 12, 2017
#8 in the series that takes place in the Southwest and Webb always paints a vivid picture of Arizona and makes you feel like you are there. A very good whodunit with lots of twists and turns till the end of the story.
June 3, 2018
PI Lena Jones is hired to find the murderer of a family. Lena’s relentless search for the killer under the Arizona unforgiving sun, reveals some family secrets that lead to a surprise ending. Great series.
September 11, 2017
Good fun with a female PI uncovering all the clues . . . a little facile . . . a touch superficial . . . but a fine way to spend a Sunday afternoon . . .
October 6, 2018
Audio edition. Very good book and a series, highly recommend.
April 20, 2019
Lena Jones Mystery series, book #8. Two 14-year-olds are charged with killing the girl's family, but Lena doesn't believe their story.
November 21, 2014
Private Investigator Lena Jones is summoned to the home of a powerful, demanding Congresswoman Juliana Thorsson. Lena is willing to meet with her, but remains skeptical that she could stand this ambitious woman long enough to work the case no matter what it is. That is until she hears the details of the job Thorsson needs done.
A 14-year-old girl and her boyfriend have admitted that they brutally murdered the girl’s family. Her father, mother and 10-year-old brother were slain while eating lunch in their expensive Scottsdale home. After confessing to the crime, both teens have refused to talk to anyone and are being held in juvie with public defenders working their cases.
The Congresswoman wants to hire Lena to find evidence to clear Alison, the 14-year-old murderer. She is convinced that Ali has only confessed to keep Kyle out of prison. Thorsson insists that Kyle worked alone to murder Ali’s family. The killer even attacked Alison’s small dog, almost killing him. She insists Ali would never hurt her dog or her family.
Lena is intrigued, but wary of working for Thorsson. She rolls scenarios around in her head trying to find a logical connection between a young girl and this very public woman that is in the middle of a run for a seat in the U.S. Senate. Unable to walk away from a case where at least one, if not both teens might be incarcerated or put to death, Lena agrees to work for Thorsson.
The P.I. immerses herself in the case and soon believes they are both innocent. She is convinced Ali and Kyle are lying. The evidence just does not add up. But if the teens are innocent, that means a brutal killer is still on the loose. What possible motive would someone have to murder a prominent doctor, his wife and young son?
As the investigation heats up, Lena finds everyone except the young son and dog are harboring secrets. Any one of these lies and indiscretions could have led someone to murder. As Lena gets closer to the truth, she becomes a target. Someone is out to get her, could it be a pumped up chick she infuriated or maybe the real killer of Alison’s family.
With the help of her old partner, a snarky police officer and Thorsson calling in favors Lena moves closer to the truth. Her investigation takes her down a twisted trail turning up more suspects, any one of them have means and convincing motives.
Desert Rage is excellent on so many levels I do not know where to start. Webb paints a vivid picture of life in the hot desert of Arizona. Her characters came alive on the page. My heart broke for Kyle, a good kid living with a foster family because his family can no longer take care of him. Lena’s past as part of the foster system tethers her tighter to the case. Webb gives little tidbits of information regarding the area. She explains little known facts that tie directly to the plot. It is interesting and enriches the plot to pull the reader in even further. The end has a totally unexpected twist. I love when an author masterfully uses her craft to make me gasp.
This is the eighth book in the Lena Jones Mystery series, and the first one I have read, and it works very well as a stand-alone novel. I am appalled that I somehow missed Betty Webb’s previous books when looking for a new favorite writer to add to my list. She also writes the Gunn Zoo Mystery Series which I need to seek out. How can you not love books with titles like The Koala of Death? I am looking forward to reading many more of Betty Webb’s books.
Copyright © 2014 Laura Hartman
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy that I can keep for consideration in preparing to write this content. I was not expected to return this item after my review.
A 14-year-old girl and her boyfriend have admitted that they brutally murdered the girl’s family. Her father, mother and 10-year-old brother were slain while eating lunch in their expensive Scottsdale home. After confessing to the crime, both teens have refused to talk to anyone and are being held in juvie with public defenders working their cases.
The Congresswoman wants to hire Lena to find evidence to clear Alison, the 14-year-old murderer. She is convinced that Ali has only confessed to keep Kyle out of prison. Thorsson insists that Kyle worked alone to murder Ali’s family. The killer even attacked Alison’s small dog, almost killing him. She insists Ali would never hurt her dog or her family.
Lena is intrigued, but wary of working for Thorsson. She rolls scenarios around in her head trying to find a logical connection between a young girl and this very public woman that is in the middle of a run for a seat in the U.S. Senate. Unable to walk away from a case where at least one, if not both teens might be incarcerated or put to death, Lena agrees to work for Thorsson.
The P.I. immerses herself in the case and soon believes they are both innocent. She is convinced Ali and Kyle are lying. The evidence just does not add up. But if the teens are innocent, that means a brutal killer is still on the loose. What possible motive would someone have to murder a prominent doctor, his wife and young son?
As the investigation heats up, Lena finds everyone except the young son and dog are harboring secrets. Any one of these lies and indiscretions could have led someone to murder. As Lena gets closer to the truth, she becomes a target. Someone is out to get her, could it be a pumped up chick she infuriated or maybe the real killer of Alison’s family.
With the help of her old partner, a snarky police officer and Thorsson calling in favors Lena moves closer to the truth. Her investigation takes her down a twisted trail turning up more suspects, any one of them have means and convincing motives.
Desert Rage is excellent on so many levels I do not know where to start. Webb paints a vivid picture of life in the hot desert of Arizona. Her characters came alive on the page. My heart broke for Kyle, a good kid living with a foster family because his family can no longer take care of him. Lena’s past as part of the foster system tethers her tighter to the case. Webb gives little tidbits of information regarding the area. She explains little known facts that tie directly to the plot. It is interesting and enriches the plot to pull the reader in even further. The end has a totally unexpected twist. I love when an author masterfully uses her craft to make me gasp.
This is the eighth book in the Lena Jones Mystery series, and the first one I have read, and it works very well as a stand-alone novel. I am appalled that I somehow missed Betty Webb’s previous books when looking for a new favorite writer to add to my list. She also writes the Gunn Zoo Mystery Series which I need to seek out. How can you not love books with titles like The Koala of Death? I am looking forward to reading many more of Betty Webb’s books.
Copyright © 2014 Laura Hartman
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy that I can keep for consideration in preparing to write this content. I was not expected to return this item after my review.
November 13, 2014
Lena Jones works as a private investigator in Scottsdale, Arizona. Her business, Desert Investigations, is a two person operation. She's assisted in her duties by her partner, Jimmy Sisiwan, who is proud of his Pima Indian heritage. Their latest adventures take place in the book Desert Rage, the eighth Lena Jones adventure.
The book starts out on an unsettling note, when 14 year old Allison Cameron and her boyfriend Kyle Gibbs take her gravely injured dog Misty to the vet. They are very concerned about the welfare of the dog, but the fact that the bodies of Allison's parents and 10 year old brother are in the house with them doesn't seem to bother them very much. After dropping off the dog, they attempt to flee to California, but are caught and returned to Scottsdale. Once in custody, both confess to the brutal beating deaths of the family.
Lena is contacted by Representative Juliana Thorsson and asked to investigate the case. Thorsson has been a very outspoken politician in the area, and is gearing up for a run for the Senate. She confides in Lena that while a struggling college student, she was an egg donor for her sister and for the Cameron family. Allison is her biological daughter. She hadn't been in contact with the family, but she happened to see Allison and her mother in a store one day, and due to the family resemblance, she quickly realized Allison was her daughter. She also believes that the girl is incapable of killing her family.
When Lena begins investigating the case, one of her first stops is the juvenile detention center to interview Allison. Allison is defiant and sticks to her confession, claiming that she hired a "hit man" with her allowance money. The family had been bound, gagged and tortured before being killed, and Lena doubts a hit man would have taken so much trouble (even if he would work for allowance money!). It's also odd that Kyle, a foster child who loves animals, would have hurt Misty the dog while killing the family.
Lena's research finds that the father of the family, an emotionally remote but gifted emergency room physician, has a secret second job. This leads to a line of inquiry that finds plenty of new suspects with a reason to want Dr. Cameron and his family dead.
While investigating the murders, Lena also has personal problems to deal with. As a child she had been found in the street with a gunshot wound to the head, and nothing is known of her family. She grew up in foster care, where she was terribly abused in some of the placements. One of her foster mothers, Madeline, regards her as a true daughter and is a frequent source of friendship and support. Lena still continues to have nightmares about her early childhood, though. Also, she gains an enemy when she has a car towed that is illegally parked in front of her office. That leads to all sorts of physical and property-related problems . . .
Even though this book is part of a series, I enjoyed reading it. It's obvious that the author has a true love for the southwest culture and history (although perhaps not the climate!) and it has made me want to visit Scottsdale -- although probably not in July! I plan to go back and read the other books in the series to get caught up, and I look forward to finding out more about Lena's past in the upcoming books.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of Desert Rage from Poisoned Pen Press in exchange for this review
The book starts out on an unsettling note, when 14 year old Allison Cameron and her boyfriend Kyle Gibbs take her gravely injured dog Misty to the vet. They are very concerned about the welfare of the dog, but the fact that the bodies of Allison's parents and 10 year old brother are in the house with them doesn't seem to bother them very much. After dropping off the dog, they attempt to flee to California, but are caught and returned to Scottsdale. Once in custody, both confess to the brutal beating deaths of the family.
Lena is contacted by Representative Juliana Thorsson and asked to investigate the case. Thorsson has been a very outspoken politician in the area, and is gearing up for a run for the Senate. She confides in Lena that while a struggling college student, she was an egg donor for her sister and for the Cameron family. Allison is her biological daughter. She hadn't been in contact with the family, but she happened to see Allison and her mother in a store one day, and due to the family resemblance, she quickly realized Allison was her daughter. She also believes that the girl is incapable of killing her family.
When Lena begins investigating the case, one of her first stops is the juvenile detention center to interview Allison. Allison is defiant and sticks to her confession, claiming that she hired a "hit man" with her allowance money. The family had been bound, gagged and tortured before being killed, and Lena doubts a hit man would have taken so much trouble (even if he would work for allowance money!). It's also odd that Kyle, a foster child who loves animals, would have hurt Misty the dog while killing the family.
Lena's research finds that the father of the family, an emotionally remote but gifted emergency room physician, has a secret second job. This leads to a line of inquiry that finds plenty of new suspects with a reason to want Dr. Cameron and his family dead.
While investigating the murders, Lena also has personal problems to deal with. As a child she had been found in the street with a gunshot wound to the head, and nothing is known of her family. She grew up in foster care, where she was terribly abused in some of the placements. One of her foster mothers, Madeline, regards her as a true daughter and is a frequent source of friendship and support. Lena still continues to have nightmares about her early childhood, though. Also, she gains an enemy when she has a car towed that is illegally parked in front of her office. That leads to all sorts of physical and property-related problems . . .
Even though this book is part of a series, I enjoyed reading it. It's obvious that the author has a true love for the southwest culture and history (although perhaps not the climate!) and it has made me want to visit Scottsdale -- although probably not in July! I plan to go back and read the other books in the series to get caught up, and I look forward to finding out more about Lena's past in the upcoming books.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of Desert Rage from Poisoned Pen Press in exchange for this review
November 4, 2014
Private investigator Lena Jones never shies away from a difficult case, but this time part of the difficulty is she doesn’t care for her new client, who seems rigid and judgmental. U.S. Senate hopeful Juliana Thorsson has hired Lena to investigate the case of a troubled teenager who confesses to murdering her entire family, with the help of her devoted boyfriend. Juliana’s concern is more than just a politician looking out for the needs of her constituents. She is the biological mother of the alleged murderer, Allison. Lena discovers Juliana, Allison, and her boyfriend, Kyle, aren’t the only ones with secrets. One of the victims, Dr. Arthur Cameron, has a sideline to his medical practice that could be the real motive for his murder. Lena connects with both teenagers, and also comes to respect Juliana more than she thought possible, while she gets to the truth behind this tragic case.
“Desert Rage” is an excellent book. Betty Webb weaves a suspenseful tale, dealing with real issues, but keeps it entertaining. Ms. Webb tackles the foster care system in this story. The story keeps you guessing until the end and it’s surprising how even the most flawed characters in the book will have you rooting for them. I was surprised by the ending and really enjoyed the twists and turns the story took before coming to an end.
The books’ main character, Lena Jones, is one of the most complex characters I’ve come across in a mystery series. Lena is sometimes her worst enemy, taking dangerous chances, and refusing help from her friends. I’ve read a few other books in this series and I don’t remember there being so much chemistry and tenderness between Lena and her detective agency partner Jimmy Sisiwan. If I didn’t misread the signs, Jimmy seems interested in more than just a business relationship with Lena, but nothing is specifically said and Lena seems clueless about how much Jimmy cares about her. It will be interesting to see if a romance ever develops between the two.
I love the Phoenix/Scottsdale location of the story as well. The details really set the mood for the story and add realism to the book. Desert Rage is another great book in the Lena Jones series. Readers who enjoy the V.I. Warshawski series will enjoy this book. In addition, the setting isn’t the same, but fans of J.D. Robb’s Eve Dallas character will like the character of Lena.
I received this book from NetGalley, through the courtesy of Poisoned Pen Press. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
“Desert Rage” is an excellent book. Betty Webb weaves a suspenseful tale, dealing with real issues, but keeps it entertaining. Ms. Webb tackles the foster care system in this story. The story keeps you guessing until the end and it’s surprising how even the most flawed characters in the book will have you rooting for them. I was surprised by the ending and really enjoyed the twists and turns the story took before coming to an end.
The books’ main character, Lena Jones, is one of the most complex characters I’ve come across in a mystery series. Lena is sometimes her worst enemy, taking dangerous chances, and refusing help from her friends. I’ve read a few other books in this series and I don’t remember there being so much chemistry and tenderness between Lena and her detective agency partner Jimmy Sisiwan. If I didn’t misread the signs, Jimmy seems interested in more than just a business relationship with Lena, but nothing is specifically said and Lena seems clueless about how much Jimmy cares about her. It will be interesting to see if a romance ever develops between the two.
I love the Phoenix/Scottsdale location of the story as well. The details really set the mood for the story and add realism to the book. Desert Rage is another great book in the Lena Jones series. Readers who enjoy the V.I. Warshawski series will enjoy this book. In addition, the setting isn’t the same, but fans of J.D. Robb’s Eve Dallas character will like the character of Lena.
I received this book from NetGalley, through the courtesy of Poisoned Pen Press. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
October 7, 2014
If you want to read a mystery that gives you a real feel for the Scottsdale and Phoenix metropolitan areas, you can't do better than Betty Webb. But the setting is merely the icing on a cake that is expertly crafted with equal parts character and plot.
Lena Jones is my favorite private investigator, and her partner in Desert Investigations, Pima Indian Jimmy Sisiwan, is more than a mere sidekick. Jimmy keeps the business running-- and tries to keep Lena out of trouble-- while she goes off on her dangerous investigations. Lena is strong, smart, and smart-mouthed-- probably because of her childhood in which she was shot in the head, abandoned by her parents, and raised in a series of foster homes by sometimes abusive adults. This tends to put a different spin on life for the survivors, and Lena has always zealously guarded her privacy while fighting for the underdog.
Desert Rage finds Lena searching for more than the identity of the the killer of young Ali's parents. As she tracks down leads and interviews people, she finds herself looking for an answer to the question "What is a mother?" She has plenty of women to compare. Her own mother, her favorite foster mother, Ali's murdered mother as well as her biological one, Kyle's foster mother... the list is a long one, and each woman's behavior gives Lena plenty of food for thought.
Although Lena is always the star of the series, in this book Webb gives us alternating points of view: Lena's, Ali's, and Kyle's. It's done sparingly, and it's done well because it gives us true insight into all three characters. Best of all was being able to watch Ali's transformation from a self-centered little girl who appeared to be completely capable of murder to a young woman much more aware of the world around her-- and watching Lena's views of motherhood subtly begin to shift even as she's looking for a killer and in the middle of an arson investigation. Desert Rage is a hard book to put down.
It's not necessary to read the books in this series in order, but don't be surprised if you find yourself reading one and then going back to find and read all the rest. This book-- and the entire series-- is Quality.
Lena Jones is my favorite private investigator, and her partner in Desert Investigations, Pima Indian Jimmy Sisiwan, is more than a mere sidekick. Jimmy keeps the business running-- and tries to keep Lena out of trouble-- while she goes off on her dangerous investigations. Lena is strong, smart, and smart-mouthed-- probably because of her childhood in which she was shot in the head, abandoned by her parents, and raised in a series of foster homes by sometimes abusive adults. This tends to put a different spin on life for the survivors, and Lena has always zealously guarded her privacy while fighting for the underdog.
Desert Rage finds Lena searching for more than the identity of the the killer of young Ali's parents. As she tracks down leads and interviews people, she finds herself looking for an answer to the question "What is a mother?" She has plenty of women to compare. Her own mother, her favorite foster mother, Ali's murdered mother as well as her biological one, Kyle's foster mother... the list is a long one, and each woman's behavior gives Lena plenty of food for thought.
Although Lena is always the star of the series, in this book Webb gives us alternating points of view: Lena's, Ali's, and Kyle's. It's done sparingly, and it's done well because it gives us true insight into all three characters. Best of all was being able to watch Ali's transformation from a self-centered little girl who appeared to be completely capable of murder to a young woman much more aware of the world around her-- and watching Lena's views of motherhood subtly begin to shift even as she's looking for a killer and in the middle of an arson investigation. Desert Rage is a hard book to put down.
It's not necessary to read the books in this series in order, but don't be surprised if you find yourself reading one and then going back to find and read all the rest. This book-- and the entire series-- is Quality.
October 21, 2014
I received an ARC of this book from Poisoned Pen Press in return for an honest review. Even though this book is the eighth book in a series and I haven't read any of the other books in the series, I had no trouble understanding the plot or characters.
Desert Rage is about a private investigator living in Arizona. She gets a request to work on a case in which a teenage girl and her boyfriend are accused of the brutal murder of the girl's parents and younger brother. The customer doesn't believe that the teens are guilty of the crime, despite the fact that they already signed confessions for it.
The plot is interesting and fast-paced. Each new piece of information adds another new twist in the story, and even right before the conclusion, I still did not know who the killer was. This book is an excellent example of why I love mystery, as it is realistic and believable, yet also wild and unpredictable.
The narrative is mostly first-person from Lena, with a few short chapters from Ali's and Kyle's viewpoints put later into the story. These add multiple perspectives which are always good, but I didn't like how Ali's last couple of chapters were told in third-person while still keeping her voice. It came off as sounding strange and losing the narrative effect entirely.
Although the plot was intriguing and the motive was believable, I had trouble understanding how
Overall, this book was very good. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in crime fiction.
Desert Rage is about a private investigator living in Arizona. She gets a request to work on a case in which a teenage girl and her boyfriend are accused of the brutal murder of the girl's parents and younger brother. The customer doesn't believe that the teens are guilty of the crime, despite the fact that they already signed confessions for it.
The plot is interesting and fast-paced. Each new piece of information adds another new twist in the story, and even right before the conclusion, I still did not know who the killer was. This book is an excellent example of why I love mystery, as it is realistic and believable, yet also wild and unpredictable.
The narrative is mostly first-person from Lena, with a few short chapters from Ali's and Kyle's viewpoints put later into the story. These add multiple perspectives which are always good, but I didn't like how Ali's last couple of chapters were told in third-person while still keeping her voice. It came off as sounding strange and losing the narrative effect entirely.
Although the plot was intriguing and the motive was believable, I had trouble understanding how
Overall, this book was very good. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in crime fiction.
April 15, 2015
Every once in awhile, I figure out the mystery in a whodunnit well before the end of the book. At that point, only the most talented writers can succeed in keeping me fully engaged until the big reveal.
Betty Webb managed to do this for me in Desert Rage – anyone who's read any of Ms. Webb's earlier works should not be surprised by this. NOR should it be a surprise to anyone (except this reader) that at the very end, the rug was pulled out from under me and I found out that I had TOTALLY pegged the situation incorrectly – the author managed to pull some sleight of hand using only her imagination and a word processing package to change the ending I projected early on.
The basic plot: The local US Congresswoman hires Scottsdale AZ detective Lena Jones and her firm, Desert Investigations, to look into the truth of a massacre – a local family is found murdered, and it appears that the teenage daughter and her boyfriend are responsible for the crime. The congresswoman has a personal interest in this case and in the family, and wants the girl to receive the best defense possible – not just to prove her not guilty, but to find out who actually did it. Even though everything appears to point to the police having gotten it right to begin with.
Ms. Webb's forte is her ability to discuss social issues through her novels, taking a solid side without resorting to preaching. In this book, we deal with some issues regarding modern medicine and we take on the death penalty for good measure.
This has been my favorite “read” of 2015 to date – in quotes, because I listened to the audio version of the book, narrated by the wonderful Marguerite Gavin. I give this book my highest recommendations.
RATING: 5 stars.
Betty Webb managed to do this for me in Desert Rage – anyone who's read any of Ms. Webb's earlier works should not be surprised by this. NOR should it be a surprise to anyone (except this reader) that at the very end, the rug was pulled out from under me and I found out that I had TOTALLY pegged the situation incorrectly – the author managed to pull some sleight of hand using only her imagination and a word processing package to change the ending I projected early on.
The basic plot: The local US Congresswoman hires Scottsdale AZ detective Lena Jones and her firm, Desert Investigations, to look into the truth of a massacre – a local family is found murdered, and it appears that the teenage daughter and her boyfriend are responsible for the crime. The congresswoman has a personal interest in this case and in the family, and wants the girl to receive the best defense possible – not just to prove her not guilty, but to find out who actually did it. Even though everything appears to point to the police having gotten it right to begin with.
Ms. Webb's forte is her ability to discuss social issues through her novels, taking a solid side without resorting to preaching. In this book, we deal with some issues regarding modern medicine and we take on the death penalty for good measure.
This has been my favorite “read” of 2015 to date – in quotes, because I listened to the audio version of the book, narrated by the wonderful Marguerite Gavin. I give this book my highest recommendations.
RATING: 5 stars.
November 4, 2014
As in the previous seven entries in the series, this latest Leno Jones Mystery revolves around a central question. It begins when the Cameron family, father, mother and 10-year-old son, are found brutally murdered, and their 14-year-old daughter. Ali, and her boyfriend, Kyle are arrested for the deed. Each confesses in the mistaken belief that he/she was protecting the other. And thus begins the story which asks the question: What is a mother?
Almost immediately, Lena is retained by Juliana Thorsson, an apparently hard-hearted, right-wing Congresswoman and unannounced candidate for the U.S. Senate from Arizona, to discover what really happened and find the real killer. The reason for her interest is derived from the fact that she was the donor of the egg which grew into Ali after being fertilized with her father’s sperm and gestated in her mother’s womb. And it’s quite a journey from the beginning to the end, illustrating the various permutations of what makes a woman a mother.
Betty Webb is not shy. She takes on all kinds of controversial topics, from polygamy to adoption and foster care. Her description of the Arizona climate and Scottsdale’s geography makes the reader feel the heat and see the environment, and her development of the characters dwelling in the pages of her novels allows the reader to get to know them intimately.
Recommended.
Almost immediately, Lena is retained by Juliana Thorsson, an apparently hard-hearted, right-wing Congresswoman and unannounced candidate for the U.S. Senate from Arizona, to discover what really happened and find the real killer. The reason for her interest is derived from the fact that she was the donor of the egg which grew into Ali after being fertilized with her father’s sperm and gestated in her mother’s womb. And it’s quite a journey from the beginning to the end, illustrating the various permutations of what makes a woman a mother.
Betty Webb is not shy. She takes on all kinds of controversial topics, from polygamy to adoption and foster care. Her description of the Arizona climate and Scottsdale’s geography makes the reader feel the heat and see the environment, and her development of the characters dwelling in the pages of her novels allows the reader to get to know them intimately.
Recommended.
January 30, 2015
From page one of Betty Webb’s involving mystery, nothing is ever what it seems. The book pushed all my “I like to read” buttons with strong female characters, an injured Yorkie, and teens in trouble. How can you ignore the opening line of the Prologue: “The first thing Ali saw when she came through the door was the blood. The next things she saw were the bodies. ‘Why’d you kill my dog?’ she asked Kyle.” Why indeed?
Webb’s desert series set in Arizona is ripe with delightful inconsistencies that knit and purl and weave a composite picture of people with more secrets than reliability, more lies than honesty, and more immorality than fidelity. All of these mores make for an absorbing story that surprised me with one of my favorite human assets—integrity, a much sought after commodity these days—making a valuable appearance. Webb spends pages explaining the bizarre and horrendous relationship of Ali and Kyle, but less would have been more. At times, it slowed the story perceptively. That said, this book reveals effectively many of today’s societal problems, including political graft, illegal drug use, alcoholism, children left to raise themselves, isolation, and love gone wrong, that need to be talked about and improved. This is a good introduction to that discussion.
Webb’s desert series set in Arizona is ripe with delightful inconsistencies that knit and purl and weave a composite picture of people with more secrets than reliability, more lies than honesty, and more immorality than fidelity. All of these mores make for an absorbing story that surprised me with one of my favorite human assets—integrity, a much sought after commodity these days—making a valuable appearance. Webb spends pages explaining the bizarre and horrendous relationship of Ali and Kyle, but less would have been more. At times, it slowed the story perceptively. That said, this book reveals effectively many of today’s societal problems, including political graft, illegal drug use, alcoholism, children left to raise themselves, isolation, and love gone wrong, that need to be talked about and improved. This is a good introduction to that discussion.
March 9, 2016
I'm so sorry.
This is the first, and only, Lena Jones novel I've read, and I know that it's stupid to start with the eight in a series, but I had to read a novel with a cactus on the cover for a Reading Challenge, so... Here we are.
All I see here on Goodreads (and on Amazon) isa lot of 5 stars reviews and I actually started to wonder if I accidentally have got another edition, like the unedited first draft? The language was flat, the characters were kind of one-dimensional and things where told, rather than shown. Characters jumped to (according to me) down right illogical conclusions ().
But what really made my feelings sour was the thinly veiled racism (or Native American stereotyping - or Indians, as they are continously called throughout the novel), a bad grasp of how genetics actually work and a lot of ableism.
No thanks.
This is the first, and only, Lena Jones novel I've read, and I know that it's stupid to start with the eight in a series, but I had to read a novel with a cactus on the cover for a Reading Challenge, so... Here we are.
All I see here on Goodreads (and on Amazon) isa lot of 5 stars reviews and I actually started to wonder if I accidentally have got another edition, like the unedited first draft? The language was flat, the characters were kind of one-dimensional and things where told, rather than shown. Characters jumped to (according to me) down right illogical conclusions ().
But what really made my feelings sour was the thinly veiled racism (or Native American stereotyping - or Indians, as they are continously called throughout the novel), a bad grasp of how genetics actually work and a lot of ableism.
No thanks.
September 6, 2014
Although part of a series about a PI Lena and her partner, Jimmy, who is a Pima Indian, it reads well as a standalone book.
It is set in Arizona which is the tribal home of the Pimas and some of their belief systems and heritage are covered in the book. The author also keeps mentioning about how hot it is in Arizona and it would seem from what she has written in the back of one of her other books (yes I read more after this one...) that she also lives there, and so speaks/writes from experience!
The book also gives enough, sufficient in fact, of Lena's background to explain her behaviour and how she became a PI after being a police officer for some years.
The story says more eloquently than many campaigners, why the death penalty for extreme crimes is a truly awful idea. Its consequential effect on the lives of those related to the execution, however, tangentially, forms the core story within the book.
I found it well written in a sparse and eloquent style with enough red herrings and false leads to leave you wondering. As so often in crime writing though, it is the bit part player who appears only briefly, that turns out to be the villain of the piece.
Highly recommended.
It is set in Arizona which is the tribal home of the Pimas and some of their belief systems and heritage are covered in the book. The author also keeps mentioning about how hot it is in Arizona and it would seem from what she has written in the back of one of her other books (yes I read more after this one...) that she also lives there, and so speaks/writes from experience!
The book also gives enough, sufficient in fact, of Lena's background to explain her behaviour and how she became a PI after being a police officer for some years.
The story says more eloquently than many campaigners, why the death penalty for extreme crimes is a truly awful idea. Its consequential effect on the lives of those related to the execution, however, tangentially, forms the core story within the book.
I found it well written in a sparse and eloquent style with enough red herrings and false leads to leave you wondering. As so often in crime writing though, it is the bit part player who appears only briefly, that turns out to be the villain of the piece.
Highly recommended.
August 22, 2014
I am a huge fan of Betty Webb's Lena Jones mysteries and once again Ms. Webb pens a winner in Desert Rage.
Senatorial candidate, Juliana Thorsson hires Lena to look into the brutal murder of a doctor and his family, including his 10 year old son. It seems the couple's 14 year old daughter and her boyfriend Kyle have confessed to the crime. But what is the real reason the congresswoman wants Lena to prove Alison didn't do it? Before Lena accepts the case she wants the truth and when it is revealed that Alison is really Juliana's biological daughter and she wants her innocence proven, Lena is off on a investigative thrill ride with enough secrets to go around.
I love Lena Jones. She is a mystery in herself with horrible dreams from her younger days and her time in foster care while growing up. I would love to see this side of her character studied more closely, maybe a book in it's own right, and help her to silence the demons that torment her so.
In the meantime, this is another champion addition to the series. Keep them coming Betty!
Senatorial candidate, Juliana Thorsson hires Lena to look into the brutal murder of a doctor and his family, including his 10 year old son. It seems the couple's 14 year old daughter and her boyfriend Kyle have confessed to the crime. But what is the real reason the congresswoman wants Lena to prove Alison didn't do it? Before Lena accepts the case she wants the truth and when it is revealed that Alison is really Juliana's biological daughter and she wants her innocence proven, Lena is off on a investigative thrill ride with enough secrets to go around.
I love Lena Jones. She is a mystery in herself with horrible dreams from her younger days and her time in foster care while growing up. I would love to see this side of her character studied more closely, maybe a book in it's own right, and help her to silence the demons that torment her so.
In the meantime, this is another champion addition to the series. Keep them coming Betty!
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September 11, 2016I love books by Betty Webb. The books move along quickly and there are numerous twists and turns. I also learn much about the subject matter and pursue on my own. Would highly recommend all her books.
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