Death of the Zanjero

Old Los Angeles #1

by Anne Louise Bannon

In Los Angeles in 1870, water was the main concern of everyone there and the most powerful man in town was the Zanjero, or water overseer. And he was often the most corrupt, as well. When Zanjero Bert Rivers turns up dead in the irrigation ditch, or zanja, leading to young widow Maddie Wilcox's vineyards, Maddie has the odd feeling he was murdered.

Then the undertaker's wife, Mrs. Sutton, confirms that Rivers was shot, and not just hit on the head. Maddie finds herself drawn into finding the killer, first to see justice done, and then to save the skin of the one person she knows did not do it - the town's most infamous madam, Regina Medina.

Maddie quickly discovers that Mr. Rivers was not the kind, upstanding civic benefactor he presented himself as, but a most despicable man who preyed on the weak and vulnerable, and cheated everyone else. With nearly everyone having a reason to kill the zanjero, Maddie stumbles on more than a few secrets and finally must reveal her own - that she's a trained medical doctor and not just a woman who is adept at healing for charity.

Even Mr. Rivers' family did not escape his wrath. But just as Maddie begins to suspect them, the youngest son is killed and probably by the same person who killed his father. Spurred on by the need to find the killer before there is another death, Maddie talks to suspect after suspect, only to find that the killer is a lot closer to her than she imagined.

Genres: Fiction

318 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 11, 2018

About the author

Hi! I’m Anne Louise Bannon. I wrote my first short story at age 9 and my first novel at age 15. Since then, I've written a couple other books and have worked as a journalist. I've written about a lot of different things, from winemaking to city hall meetings to fantasy and my work has appeared in newspapers across the country and numerous websites.

Mostly though, I write mysteries, with some fantasy and romance tossed in. I've got several books out with more coming.

As for the rest, I live in Southern California with my husband, dog and cat. I have a grown daughter living in Northern California, who still talks to me voluntarily. And when I’m not working, I enjoy cooking, sewing, reading, hiking and a good football game.

Reviews

[Betsy Cornwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maddie Wilcox is a gritty, sort-of society lady in Old Los Angeles. She's a widow. She owns a winery. She has healing skills. None of that would be too big a problem for her, but she also has a habit of getting too familiar with the help. And she shares her healing skills indiscriminately, even with Mexicans, and black people and (gasp) with women of ill repute. Somehow, she becomes responsible to find the person who killed Mr. Rivers, beloved by (most of) the society ladies and hated by everyone else. Maddie learns everyone's secrets and shares only those that are absolutely necessary. Bannon adds interesting historical details to her great storytelling skills. I'm definitely going to read more books about Maddie and Old Los Angeles.

[Mac Daly · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1870 Los Angles, Maddie Wilcox is a young widow. Fortunately for her, he late husband left her a woman of property. Still, she has to rely on the Zanjero, a rough equivalent of a city manager, to grant her water rights to supply her winery. On the day she is scheduled to get her water, she also gets a unwelcome surprise. The Zanjero comes floating in with her water. Looking into his death, she discovers, he was not quite the gentleman she thought and there is no lack of suspects, from the local madam to his not-so-grieving widow. I discovered this series when I met the author at the Left Coast Crime convention and I am so glad I did. With complex characters, a fascinating setting and a mystery that twists and turns, I was riveted. I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.

[Rachel Chiapparine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book in soft-cover edition when I went to L.A. times Book Fest in April of this year with my dad, I met the author of the book at her booth and I picked up and payed for the book because it seemed interesting and I personally love books set within the "Old West time" period. My personal review of the book is as follows:

It was really unique and interesting(in my personal opinion) to see a story set in this time period with a strong realistic female main character who also happens to be a doctor. I loved the way that she stood up for herself, the people around her, and her convictions no matter how much risk she faced in doing so. I also really liked how realistic the characters felt.

I found the mystery to be interesting even though(in my personal opinion) the end of it felt a bit rushed and for lack of a better way of phrasing it "took us back to the start" so to speak as readers(I don't want to say anything more and risk giving anything away.). Overall I personally rate this book a 7 and half out of 10.

[Petrea Burchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Death of the Zanjero" is a fun yarn set in early Los Angeles, when it was a "cow town" that could only aspire to be an actual town. Propriety is everything (for women) and power is everything (for men). Sounds plausible, and thanks to Bannon's research (seamlessly included in the story), we get a good glimpse of the muddy little burg and even some of the people who lived there.

Heroine Maddie Wilcox is out of place, being a female doctor for one thing, and not being a racist or a classist, for another. Her small farm is something of a utopia. But when she ventures out to solve a murder, she isn't safe anywhere.

Bannon keeps the story moving along at a good clip, with interesting characters and doses of drama. But this is mostly a lighthearted mystery, one that won't keep you awake at night—unless you have to keep reading to find out who the murderer is.

[SueChor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book first, because it was about LA history, showing the life of an independent woman, a widow, in 1870, when most women were at the mercy of their husbands. And this sorry state of affairs was also described. Next, this novel depicted racial relations through the eyes of this woman, Maddie Wilcox, who is unusually open to others in this time and place. So we have a view of the water issues, local politics, sexism and racial relations, a fascinating social picture. Throw in a murder or two, and it’s a good story, if perhaps lacking some complexity of language and detail. Halfway between 3 and 4 stars, because I really liked the LA history.

[Geraldine Knatz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great mystery of old Los Angeles that gives the reader a good perspective of what life was like for people from different backgrounds in the old days of the pueblo. Written in the style of the late 19th century female authors. And the best part is a spunky woman is the lead character and mystery-solver! A good read.

[Janet Wertman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed both the cozy mystery and the wonderful peek at Old Los Angeles. Well done!

[Juan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fun read! I love the setting and while reading it I tried to imagine what the landscape of Los Angeles Pueblo of 1870 might have looked like.

[Joy Ribar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death of the Zanjero by Anne Louise Bannon is the first historical mystery in the Old Los Angeles series and reminds the reader of another reason America became the melting pot it is. Set just 20 years after California became a state, Los Angeles is still a dusty pueblo populated by ranchers, gold seekers, and dreamers from back east setting up towns and businesses with the help of the Hispanic natives, who are often mistreated. Bannon succeeds in showing readers the historical complexities of relationships among every type of person, and shines a bright light on the difficulties all women faced in this era, despite one’s social status. Like every woman in town, main character Maddie Wilcox has a secret, and it becomes her burden to bring all the secrets out of the shadows to solve a murder. By the end of this first in the series, you’ll be ready to pull up a sofa and sip some angelica in the parlor as Maddie spins a new mystery.

[Kathyk · Rating 2 out of 5]

a bit disappointing

I loved the storyline but I am used to a higher quality of writing, especially in mysteries. It is a bit disappointing to figure out who the murderer is long before you finish the book.

Overall the writing was simplistic and could have used another proofreading to catch some errors.

Wish I could give it a better review. The setting in the early years of Los Angeles was the one thing I truly enjoyed.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a “sleeper”. Its charm takes you by surprise. The story of Maddie Wilcox. Winemaker and healer in old LA, as she solves a murder in that (then) sleepy Pueblo of 5000 souls, is full of historical touches, clothing, streets, businesses, and the real-feel of the times.

[G.P. Gottlieb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written - love the female doctor in 1850's California.