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Sonora Blair #3
No Good Deed
It happened in broad daylight. . .
The pretty fifteen-year-old had saddled up for an afternoon ride and never come back.
She was gone. So was her horse. Left behind was a splintered fence. The tracks of a pickup truck. A discarded riding boot. And a great deal of blood.
As a mother herself, Cincinnati detective Sonora Blair knew she was looking at a parent's worst nightmare. As a homicide cop, she tried not to think about what might be happening to the young girl right now . . . or what the police would find if they didn't get to her in time.
But nothing in Sonora's experience could prepare her for the chilling revelations that would emerge from this case . . . or for the truth about other missing children, a lover's betrayal, and another unthinkable crime. . .
The pretty fifteen-year-old had saddled up for an afternoon ride and never come back.
She was gone. So was her horse. Left behind was a splintered fence. The tracks of a pickup truck. A discarded riding boot. And a great deal of blood.
As a mother herself, Cincinnati detective Sonora Blair knew she was looking at a parent's worst nightmare. As a homicide cop, she tried not to think about what might be happening to the young girl right now . . . or what the police would find if they didn't get to her in time.
But nothing in Sonora's experience could prepare her for the chilling revelations that would emerge from this case . . . or for the truth about other missing children, a lover's betrayal, and another unthinkable crime. . .
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
6 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Hightower
43 books86 followersLynn Hightower grew up in Kentucky, and graduated from the University of Kentucky, where she studied creative writing with Wendell Berry and earned a degree in Journalism. She also teaches novel writing in the Writer’s Program at UCLA. Survival jobs include writing television commercials, catering waitress, and bartender for one day.
Her books have been included in the New York Times List of Notable Books, the London Times Bestseller List, and the W.H. Smith Fresh Talent Awards. She has received the Shamus Award, and been nominated for the Kentucky Literary Award, the Kentucky Librarians First Choice Award, and the Mary Higgins Clark Award. Hightower’s books have been published in numerous foreign countries, including Great Britain, Australia, Japan, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Israel and The Netherlands.
Hightower spends ridiculous amounts of time curled up reading, but also enjoys small sports cars and tame horses. She is married to The Frenchman, writes full time, shares an office with her Belgian Shepherd, Leo the Lion, plays bad but fierce tennis, loves to dance and is learning to Tango.
Hightower enjoys canoeing and is witty after two glasses of wine. She has studied French and Italian, but is only fluent in Southern.
Hightower is a Kentucky native, and lives in a small Victorian cottage with a writing parlor.
Her books have been included in the New York Times List of Notable Books, the London Times Bestseller List, and the W.H. Smith Fresh Talent Awards. She has received the Shamus Award, and been nominated for the Kentucky Literary Award, the Kentucky Librarians First Choice Award, and the Mary Higgins Clark Award. Hightower’s books have been published in numerous foreign countries, including Great Britain, Australia, Japan, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Israel and The Netherlands.
Hightower spends ridiculous amounts of time curled up reading, but also enjoys small sports cars and tame horses. She is married to The Frenchman, writes full time, shares an office with her Belgian Shepherd, Leo the Lion, plays bad but fierce tennis, loves to dance and is learning to Tango.
Hightower enjoys canoeing and is witty after two glasses of wine. She has studied French and Italian, but is only fluent in Southern.
Hightower is a Kentucky native, and lives in a small Victorian cottage with a writing parlor.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 8, 2014
This is the second mystery by Lynn Hightower I've read. It's been much too long between books. I'm so impressed with her story-telling. I liked the main characters very much; Detectives Sonora Blake and her partner, Sam. They have a great relationship, which seems very natural, the dialogue very smooth. Sonora is a single mother, also raising two teenage children. While they don't play a great part in the story, they do add to Sonora's character. The mystery is very interesting, one of the more different ones I've read. And the resolution is extremely well-plotted and most interesting to read. I like Hightowers writing style and enjoyed the story very much. I'll definitely be getting more of her stories. Highly recommended.
February 24, 2025
I’m from Cincinnati, the setting of this book, which is largely why I wanted to read it. (I’m transplanted in another state far away, and chronically homesick.)
The setting was an extremely minor factor, as it turned out, but this did not detract for me. The only detractor for me was the author’s noteworthy overuse of references to sweat. A sheen of sweat, the smell of sweat, way too much.
While it dragged somewhat in a few places, it’s a good story, and really gained momentum the last 80 pages or so. At that point, I found it hard to put down.
Lots of clever dialogue, much about the conflict between professional demands, and single motherhood. Interesting characters and a lot about horses.
The setting was an extremely minor factor, as it turned out, but this did not detract for me. The only detractor for me was the author’s noteworthy overuse of references to sweat. A sheen of sweat, the smell of sweat, way too much.
While it dragged somewhat in a few places, it’s a good story, and really gained momentum the last 80 pages or so. At that point, I found it hard to put down.
Lots of clever dialogue, much about the conflict between professional demands, and single motherhood. Interesting characters and a lot about horses.
September 2, 2019
First book to purchase in a bookstore and boy! How my young mind was tainted of the sad and tragic stories of this world.
April 21, 2023
Another page-turner by Hightower! I never thought I'd be interested in the dealings of horses, but the author writes a compelling mystery.
April 20, 2016
PROTAGONIST: Sonora Blair, homicide detective
SETTING: Cincinnati, OH
SERIES: #3 of 4
RATING: 3.25
WHY: Fifteen-year-old Joelle Chauncey and the horse she was riding have disappeared. Cincinnati police detective Sonora Blair and her partner, Sam, begin to investigate and find a lot going on in the horse selling world that you'd rather not know about. I had mixed feelings about this book (and the series). On the one hand, the dialog is excellent and the plot engaging. But Blair is very hard on other people, and not very likeable. Her worst failing in my eyes is that she always makes her job her first priority, and she frequently neglects her 2 teenagers as a result.
SETTING: Cincinnati, OH
SERIES: #3 of 4
RATING: 3.25
WHY: Fifteen-year-old Joelle Chauncey and the horse she was riding have disappeared. Cincinnati police detective Sonora Blair and her partner, Sam, begin to investigate and find a lot going on in the horse selling world that you'd rather not know about. I had mixed feelings about this book (and the series). On the one hand, the dialog is excellent and the plot engaging. But Blair is very hard on other people, and not very likeable. Her worst failing in my eyes is that she always makes her job her first priority, and she frequently neglects her 2 teenagers as a result.
September 22, 2011
This book made me start looking for others by this author-- her books were hard to find, but great reads! I love her character of a single mom detective and how she manages (or not) her private life with her professional one. Even after all these years I believe her major characters name was Sonora or something like that and I wish she would write more using this detective!
March 31, 2016
This was my first experience reading Hightower. I thought the plotline had an original feel to it in a location that isn't common. That was a big plus for me. That said, I had a hard time connecting with most of the main characters. Sonora Blair came off as so impulsive and lacking of self restraint, it just seems hard to see her cracking a crime.
June 4, 2008
Sonora Blair is an interesting character. I could relate to all her issues as a working mom and I found that part to be interesting. I am not sure that her detecting was all that hot, but the story was good. I listened to Anna Fields read this and she is an excellent narrator.
August 17, 2010
Really enjoyed this book - hard to put down. Policewoman Sonora who is a single mother but a policewoman first ends up solving a murder of a 15 year old girl. Book has twists and turns as you follow her investigation.
August 23, 2012
Apparently I liked this book so much I am currently reading it again! I wished this author hadn't stopped writing. I liked both of her series, this one with Sonora Blair and her other series with Lena Padgett.
June 24, 2012
When I was in high school in Lexington, one of my best friends was the author's daughter. My copy of this book bears the inscription, "to my adopted son, read with the lights out and the doors locked. -Lynn 1998"
May 8, 2008
Fake kidnapping. 15 yr. old girl killed by her mother
May 12, 2010
A Sonora Blair mystery--15 year old girl plus horse disappear. Good story line, gives good picture of frustration of working mothers as well.
December 25, 2011
pretty good
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews