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Lena Jones Mystery #5
Desert Cut
While scouting locations for a film documentary on the Arizona's Apache Wars, private investigator Lena Jones and Oscar-winning director Warren Quinn, discover the mutilated body of a young girl. The gruesome manner of the child's death evokes memories of Lena's own rough childhood. Clashing with the local law, Lena's investigation uncovers a small town with a big secret. Los Perdidos is not the Eden it first appears. Founded by the descendants of pioneers who fought Geronimo, the townspeople have now armed themselves against the hordes of illegal immigrants streaming across the Arizona/Mexico border. A significant population of documented foreign-born residents also lives and works in Los Perdedos at a modern plant. Lena senses a sinister force at work in the town--but where? Then two more girls disappear from Los Perdidos, and as the death toll mounts, Lena is tempted to implement some frontier justice of her own. When she finally unmasks the killer, she discovers a chain of horrific crimes responsible for subjugating millions of girls and women around the globe. In Desert Cut, the still vivid memory of Geronimo's war mixes with the modern immigration war, the hard life on the Arizona/Mexico border contrasts with Hollywood's slick production meetings, and the cruelty of an ancient practice is tempered by a growing underground railroad fighting to save its young victims.
277 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
17 people are currently reading
118 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 39 reviews
June 12, 2016
I read a book I didn't like so much, so even though I just finished one of Betty Webb's books, I put in another one because I just needed something I knew I would like. Now I will start by saying that this wasn't my favorite story line out of the 5 I've read, but I liked the writing. I like her descriptive strokes, her characters, her dialogue and many more things.
The mystery/crime part of this was drawn out a little too long, but I didn't see the ending coming. So 4 stars.
The mystery/crime part of this was drawn out a little too long, but I didn't see the ending coming. So 4 stars.
December 23, 2017
Desert Cut, Lena Jones Mystery #5 by Betty Webb continues the story of Lena Jones, a private investigator living in Arizona. As with the other books in this series, Webb explores women's issues, in this one the African tradition of cutting young girls to make them pure. The action is intense and Webb's treatment of the topic pulls no punches, but the book is, at its heart, a mystery where the "good guys" win. I'm looking forward to reading the next in this series.
April 1, 2017
I really like this series and haven't been able to figure out why it doesn't get more notice. Webb is an excellent writer and she does her research on her subject matter. In this one, Lena is trying for some much needed R&R with her new male "companion", boyfriend is a term that just doesn't seem right, when they come across the body of a little girl in a shallow grave while they're out horseback riding. Lena can't shake the image of the child as it strikes close to home for her. The child's cause of death and what's going on with the female immigrant population is abhorrent. The ending was a bit of a surprise and this one was gripping read! RECOMMEND!
November 28, 2016
I have long been a fan of the Lena Jones series. Somehow I seem to loose them at times. The stories all cover human abuse especially if girls and woman. This one's cover one that is horrible. Lena Jones a private investor after a bullet wound ended her career at the Scottsdale Police Department. Lena was found as a child laying on Phoenix street with a bullet in her head. No one ever claimed her and Lena lost her memory. She grew up in a series foster homes, most of them bad. This underlying story is added in each book.
In this book,while relaxing with her boyfriend, Warren she finds the body of a dark skin child buried in the desert. This discovery remains her of own background. She is determined to find out who and why Princess For was killed. As Lena investigates against all odds is shocked and horrific by what she uncovers. Lena has a flashback to her childhood and finds a picture of the white bus. I know I have miss others and plan on reading. I recommend this series.
In this book,while relaxing with her boyfriend, Warren she finds the body of a dark skin child buried in the desert. This discovery remains her of own background. She is determined to find out who and why Princess For was killed. As Lena investigates against all odds is shocked and horrific by what she uncovers. Lena has a flashback to her childhood and finds a picture of the white bus. I know I have miss others and plan on reading. I recommend this series.
July 9, 2009
I really liked this book a lot. I finished it off in about 24 hours. Now, the plot kind of freaked me out, and once you read it you will know why. It saddened me and pissed me off at the same time. The main character was sympathetic and strong and I loved how determined she was to solve the case. I feel like some of the information provided was kinda useless, like the main characters romantic relationship. In the end it had no significance to the plot, but I got over it. The description in this book was really wonderful as well. I didn't think there was too many ways to describe the desert, but I was wrong.
December 7, 2024
All the Lena Jones P.I. novels are good, but those dealing with abused females are excellent.
Len, whose childhood is lost to her and who, during her teenage years, was sexually abused, is on a hair-trigger when she comes across child abusers. So much so that she faces Court ordered Anger Management therapy and will lose her P. I. Licence if she doesn't complete it successfully.
Anger, alone, isn't enough for a standout novel. In addition, the author, Betty Webb, thoroughly researches each theme, and provides backup factual information at the end of each book.
In “Desert Cut”, while searching a film locations, Lena stumbles across the body of a mutilated child near the town of Los Perditos.
When other children go missing Lena goes to work as only she can - turning over every rock and not caring about whose toes she steps on.
What she discovers is truly horrifying on many levels.
And, in keeping with “Desert Wives”, exposing a widespread problem doesn't mean that there will be a solution.
This is a hard book to read but it is very worthwhile, reminding us that there is good and evil amongst us and sometimes it is difficult to separate the two.
4 Stars.
Len, whose childhood is lost to her and who, during her teenage years, was sexually abused, is on a hair-trigger when she comes across child abusers. So much so that she faces Court ordered Anger Management therapy and will lose her P. I. Licence if she doesn't complete it successfully.
Anger, alone, isn't enough for a standout novel. In addition, the author, Betty Webb, thoroughly researches each theme, and provides backup factual information at the end of each book.
In “Desert Cut”, while searching a film locations, Lena stumbles across the body of a mutilated child near the town of Los Perditos.
When other children go missing Lena goes to work as only she can - turning over every rock and not caring about whose toes she steps on.
What she discovers is truly horrifying on many levels.
And, in keeping with “Desert Wives”, exposing a widespread problem doesn't mean that there will be a solution.
This is a hard book to read but it is very worthwhile, reminding us that there is good and evil amongst us and sometimes it is difficult to separate the two.
4 Stars.
February 19, 2018
Lena Jones Mystery, Book #5. This one was harder to read since it dealt with female genital mutilation. I've heard the Betty Webb likes to tackle controversial issues in her books, but this was more than I want from a cozy. I enjoy the Arizona setting and local information.
August 27, 2019
This entry in the Lena Jones series packs quite a punch, especially the appendix--that was hard to read. I appreciate learning about topics that I might not otherwise encounter, but which are every bit as important, nonetheless.
September 29, 2018
A good book.
March 30, 2019
Cut
A good story about a despicable practice that has left millions of girls maimed or crippled and many girls dead.
A good story about a despicable practice that has left millions of girls maimed or crippled and many girls dead.
August 12, 2019
Good read, however, sad about all those girls being cut.
December 16, 2019
Enjoy how the author takes on serious issues. This time, there was no Deus ex Machina. We saw the revelation with the main character.
August 11, 2021
Difficult, disturbing subject; handled rather well.
August 24, 2025
When I say "body", you say "horror": Body! (Horror) Body! (Horror)
September 23, 2011
I had to give this book one star because of the inaccuracy of the setting. I happen to live in Cochise County Arizona, and their were so many errors in the author's depiction of the area that it was distracting. The book might have been at least three stars if she had done her research before writing the book. For instance, the San Pedro River runs north from Mexico, not south to Mexico. There is very little water in the river except during monsoon. I doubt that teenagers hang out at the river in the evening. I began to wonder about the inaccuracy of the rest of her book. I won't talk about that, as it would tell too much about the book.
I can understand fictional towns-that's ok, but get the rest of it straight, and know how the police system works.
By the way, I listened to this book.
I can understand fictional towns-that's ok, but get the rest of it straight, and know how the police system works.
By the way, I listened to this book.
January 19, 2010
Lena Jones and her Hollywood lover are on a vacation/working trip when they discover the body of a young girl hastily buried in the desert. Precious Doe, as she's named, seems to be linked to another disappearance a few years earlier. Both girls are immigrants, one from Africa and one from the Middle East.
Compelled to bring answers and justice to a small abused child, Lena begins to investigate, much to the anger of the remote Arizona town. She uncovers the continuations of a brutal practice brought to the desert from their native lands.
Compelling, absorbing and strong, this mystery is an unflinching look at some of the world-wide abusive practices that suppress, mutilate, and kill women. As always, Lena is also reliving and retrieving parts of her mysterious past.
Compelled to bring answers and justice to a small abused child, Lena begins to investigate, much to the anger of the remote Arizona town. She uncovers the continuations of a brutal practice brought to the desert from their native lands.
Compelling, absorbing and strong, this mystery is an unflinching look at some of the world-wide abusive practices that suppress, mutilate, and kill women. As always, Lena is also reliving and retrieving parts of her mysterious past.
August 11, 2016
Another thought provoking mystery from Betty Webb. Webb is an excellent writer. I have a hard time putting down her novels. But the fact that she mixes in such thought provoking current issues with her mysteries makes her a unique and amazing writer.
Lena Jones, a former Scottsdale, Arizona policewoman now a Private Investigator is a fascinating character herself. Flashbacks to the mysteries of her childhood populate Webb's books. That Jones has endured a horrific childhood allows her to be appropriately sympathetic to the young victims she encounters. While I don't want to give away what Jones discovers in Los Perdidos, I want you to know that this book will haunt you. Next up: Desert Lost.
Lena Jones, a former Scottsdale, Arizona policewoman now a Private Investigator is a fascinating character herself. Flashbacks to the mysteries of her childhood populate Webb's books. That Jones has endured a horrific childhood allows her to be appropriately sympathetic to the young victims she encounters. While I don't want to give away what Jones discovers in Los Perdidos, I want you to know that this book will haunt you. Next up: Desert Lost.
July 27, 2009
The 5th book in the Lena Jones series again has an interesting plot and an unexpected villian. The problem I have with this book is not necessarily with the storyline but more with the editing and printing. There were way too many errors in the printing of the book and it almost got distracting. Lena and Warren found a dead 7 year old girl in the desert. Lena began to remininsce about her own past and had to find out what happened to Precious Doe. Lena discovers a world where little girls have their genitals removed without anethesia and the results can be deadly. Again the story line is educational and the mystery is well written. The publishing company needs to improve on the printing.
March 30, 2015
This is the first book I've read by Webb, though it is not the first in the series, so I cannot comment on the development of the lead character, Lena Jones. It was a good mystery that brought to light a practice, FGM, that does, in fact, happen in the United States. The story is fast-paced, has substance, but does not bog down as if the information is thrown into the story in indigestible chunks. Maybe enjoyable isn't the right word, given the subject matter, but a satisfying read that just might serve to raise awareness.
February 13, 2012
Oddly enough, I had just heard a "Stuff you should know" podcast that touched on the same topic of Desert Cut. African tribes and other countries have such a different inherent belief in the "cutting" topic that it's hard to understand. There is a feeling of hopelessness that it can be changed but with books like Desert Cut that bring awareness, perhaps over time, and with education the pattern can be changed.
December 22, 2014
Good mystery. Deals with trust issues for people who have had bad experiences growing up. It also deals with cultural traditions brought to the U.S. by foreigners and how people here react to them. Shows how terrible some of these traditions are and the battle to change them. Lots going on throughout the book. The main character is strong considering what she has been thru. Brings to light the horrible action of female genital mutilation.
June 1, 2016
Betty Webb's background as an Arizona reporter adds to the interest in her mysteries. She takes a current issue in Arizona and spins it into a compelling tale. This novel features her main character, Lena, a private investigator, searching for the killer of two young girls. The cause of their death reveals the divide between the cultures in present day Arizona.
Lena, is appealing as a single detective who doggedly inserts herself into the police search for the murderer.
Lena, is appealing as a single detective who doggedly inserts herself into the police search for the murderer.
August 16, 2010
Private Investigator Lena Jones and an scar winning Director discover a mutilated young girls body. The gruesome manner of the childs death brings back memories of Lena's childhood.
Defying the Local Law, Lena set out to discover who did this and why. More girls also disappear, watch how Lena finds the truth....
Defying the Local Law, Lena set out to discover who did this and why. More girls also disappear, watch how Lena finds the truth....
May 31, 2015
Betty Webb again scores a hit for a very uncomfortable social issue, female castration. She is able to articulate how helpless women are when under the control of men who believe they have the right to do anything they want with their property. Webb's books always strike home with me, painfully most times, but because they are so well written and intriguing I can't get enough!
February 20, 2010
Betty Webb writes suspenseful mysteries. She also writes about significant social problems. "Desert Cut" is difficult to read because it's about female genital mutilation, but it is an important and well written mystery.
August 19, 2010
Rather dark, but if this is truly going on in USA, it's scary! Lena stumbles on the body of a young girl. She's dead, but no visible signs of how she died. Haunted by this child, Lena begins snooping around and finds disturbing facts - and a possible connection to her pasat.
January 19, 2013
I love all of Betty Webb's Lena Jones books. This one takes a tough look at a disturbing practice. Some parts were hard to read, because of the graphic nature of the crime, but it certainly opened my mind to what goes on in other parts of the world. Made me sad, but a good read, nevertheless.
January 30, 2016
2008 269 pages
this is a tough read.
Foreign families are brought in to northern AZ for employment. They bring along their customs which includes "cutting" girls as soon as they menstruate so they have no feelings "down there". This is a mystery based read, but boy is it tough.
this is a tough read.
Foreign families are brought in to northern AZ for employment. They bring along their customs which includes "cutting" girls as soon as they menstruate so they have no feelings "down there". This is a mystery based read, but boy is it tough.
February 26, 2008
Love this series set in Arizona.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews