The Belen Hitch

A Sasha Solomon Mystery #2

by Pari Noskin Taichert

Public relations consultant Sasha Solomon travels to Belen, New Mexico, to help the small town increase tourism using a former Harvey House as the main attraction. Two factions think they've got the key to Belen's economic success. The train enthusiasts hope to transform the building into a bed and breakfast complete with a restored Fred Harvey restaurant. The equally vocal artists want to create a world-class gallery with the "blasphemous" art of Phillipa Petty--an internationally known painter and local denizen--at its center.

When Solomon finds Petty's murdered body in the artist's studio, the consultant's life becomes much more difficult than mere press releases and returns-on-investment.

Genres: Mystery

294 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2005

About the author

Pari Noskin Taichert hails from Albuquerque and has worked as a belly-dancing instructor, textbook sales consultant, and waitress--among her more respectable jobs. She earned her B.A with Distinction in Far Eastern Languages & Literature and masters of Social Work in Transcultural Therapy from the University of Michigan. Unable to sit still for very long, Pari has traveled to--and lived in--enough places to have the good sense to finally come home. Among her longer adventures were a year as a foreign exchange student to Tours, France while in high school and a little under a year of study at the Chinese University of Hong Kong while in college.

A national award-winning journalist, Pari has written freelance features for Crosswinds Weekly, Albuquerque, The Magazine, and Mystery Scene Magazine as well as a monthly literary column for the Albuquerque Tribune. She also maintains a small public relations consulting business.

In December 2005, Pari Noskin Taichert earned her blue belt in Tae Kwon Do with a mean side kick that cracked through three boards. This same strength and determination has seen her through years of rejection and struggle until her first book, THE CLOVIS INCIDENT, was published in 2004.

Pari married late, had children even later, and loves Guinness, Glenlivet and strong coffee. When she isn't punching or defending against her black belt husband and colored belt children, she's writing.

Pari also helped start the first Albuquerque chapter of Sisters in Crime--of which she is now president. In addition, she is an active member of Mystery Writers of America, the American Crime Writers League and the National Federation of Press Women.

Reviews

[Lana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this mystery because it was based in Belen and that's an area of New Mexico I am familiar with. The plot was fine. One of the other reviewers suggested this is an airplane read - I agree. There are a number of places where the editor missed typos and other errors. I find that to be really annoying in a final draft that I am paying for. I agree with other reviewers - the romance link was totally unnecessary and didn't paint the main character in a particularly positive light. Overall amusing and I was prompted to finish it because I wanted to know who committed the crime. I was surprised at the end and didn't see it coming. Not clear to me the whole ruby plot - who carries a ruby around with them on a daily basis because of memories? Really? And who doesn't freak out when it goes missing? Really? Overall fine.

[Grey853 · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story had a lot of potential, but fell flat. I hated when the main character acted more like a teenager in heat than a grown woman. If the writer had stuck with just the mystery, it would've been a winner because the mystery was sound enough to keep me reading. However, all the romance foolishness made it just okay on the whole. I likely won't bother to read the others.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I liked this one even better than the first in the series. Similarly to Sharon Fiffer's "Stuff" books, the protagonist actually grows as a character, learns from (some of) her mistakes, and I look forward to seeing not only what "happens to" her next, but how she deals with her life. Excellent book!

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun because it takes place in and around Albuquerque, so all the locations and people are familiar. The writing style is good and the plotting is OK, but it's an airplane read. It is not great crime fiction. That said, I'll pass it on to all my local friends to read.
Plot summary: Sasha Solomon is a 40 year old who does public relations. She has been asked to come to Belen (south of Albuquerque) to evaluate which use of the old Harvey House (famous railroad eateries) would be best; as a Railroad museum and Bed and Breakfast or as an art gallery. She goes to see Philly Petty (probably based on Judy Chicago who lives in the area) and finds her murdered. Who done it and why is Sasha's mom also being targeted. If you want to know, you have to read it.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

PR consultant Sasha Solomon sets out to help the small town of Belen decide which project to do: converting an old Harvey restaurant to an art museum, or making the same building a bed and breakfast and train museum. But when she finds an artist's dead body, she must deal with other problems, including those of her mother, a damaged stroke victim who has little short term memory. While I enjoyed this book, apparently I mis-remembered the review I'd read as telling me it was about a woman who went to Portugal or someplace similar with her grandmother, so frankly I was really confused for the first few chapters.

[Mark Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sasha is helping the town of Belen figure out what to do with the old restaurant in town. There are two competing proposals, one of which hinges on a local artist. When Sasha goes to meet this artist, she finds the artist murdered. Strong plot and strong characters are let down a bit by the ending. Still, a good read.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was better than the first so I will probably continue with the series. There are still some things that bother me about Sasha, but much less than in her first effort. Good mystery with a protagonist that still needs a little work to make it a really good read for me, so this one I'm calling just slightly above average.

[Edna Little Fish In Running Waters Spring]

This is a Sasha Colomon Mystery set in New Mexico. The Author lives, also there.
I enjoyed the landscape of New Mexico, as I have been there. I enjoyed seeing the towns as I haven't seen them, and maybe will one day.

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 1 out of 5]

Life's too short to waste reading a terrible book. After reading the first book in the Sasha Solomon series, I was not eager to read another, but decided to see if/how the protagonist/plot/writing improved in the 2nd book. Not.

[Janell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok murder mystery. The mystery was well written but I wasn't fond of the characters or the personal sideline story of the main character. Just Ok.

[Harry Lane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moderately amusing mystery.

[John Orman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the local color of New Mexico and Belen in this book. Have been to that former Harvey House, now a museum about the former hotels. This book is engaging and a fun mystery read.