Hardrock Stiff: A Kurt Muller Mystery

Kurt Muller #2

by Thomas Zigal

Ned Carr is a "hardrock stiff," a miner of the old school who for years has stubbornly held on to acres of prime real estate right in the middle of Aspen's most popular ski slope. Carr has a habit of feuding with everyone with whom he comes in contact--particularly the radical eco-warriers and their adversary, Skicorp, both of whom want to get their hands on Carr's land. Still Sheriff Kurt Muller (on sabbatical) has a soft spot for Carr. Following up a suspicious midnight phone call, Muller arrives the next morning at Carr's mine--just in time to witness the explosion that blows the old man to bits. Acting Sheriff Muffin Brown is convinced the explosion is an accident, but Muller's instincts tell him otherwise. Drawn into dangerous games of the militant "greenies" and the powerful corporate forces behind Skicorp Muller uncovers many a motive for murder. When Carr's mining associate is subsequently poisoned, his will disappears and with it any proof that Carr's young grandson is the heir to Carr's estate. Sheriff Kurt Muller once again finds his personal code of justice at odds with the limits of the law. Hardrock Stiff proves Thomas Zigal's talent for writing gritty, intricate suspense novels, and speaks to the issue at the heart of the contemporary American who owns the land?

Genres: Mystery

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1, 1996

About the author

THOMAS ZIGAL is the author of the critically acclaimed Kurt Muller mystery series set in Aspen, Colorado. He is a graduate of the Stanford Writing Program and has published short stories and book reviews in literary magazines and fiction anthologies for the past 30 years. He grew up on the Texas Gulf Coast and in Louisiana and now lives in Austin, Texas.

Reviews

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Ned Carr, an old school miner, is blown to bits in his mineshaft everyone thinks it was an accident. Everyone except Kurt Muller, and his investigation unearths a mystery that stems back to the mining laws of 1872, and present day land and property grabs. Rough and tumble story!

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

#2 in the Kurt Miller series. The novel begins with Kurt, the ex-hippie sheriff of Aspen, CO, still having six weeks of leave left while recovering from injuries incurred in Into Thin Air (1995). When the leave is up he will have to decide whether or not to resume sheriffing duties, a job he ran for as a lark ten years earlier.

Kurt Muller series - Ned Carr is a miner who has held on to acres of prime real estate in the middle of Aspen’s ski slopes. Carr feuds with everyone, including the ski company and eco-warriors who want to shut down his mines. Following up a suspicious call, Muller rushes to Carr’s mine—in time to witness the shaft explosion that kills him. Drawn into a covert war between militant greens and corporate forces grappling for control of the New West, Muller uncovers a conspiracy that could destroy his loves—the two children under his protection and the snowcapped wilderness he calls home..

[Edb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting who-done-it with a hardrock mining background.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

As far as murder/action/mysteries go this was one of the better thrills I've read in a while. Will definitely read more from Thomas Zigal because his writing style was top notch.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good one for the beach.