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Neil Hamel #1
North of the Border
On one side of the border stands a murder; on the other, a killer. In between stands Neil Hamel, a woman with a passion for the truth.
Don't worry, Chiquita was the Kid's answer to almost everything, and right now Neil Hamel missed the Kid-her part-time lover and car mechanic. Neil had gone to Mexico as a favor to a man she shouldn't be doing favors for, and what it got her was a face-to-face meeting with a corpse, a Mexican lawyer with a diamond pinky ring and a throat slit from ear to ear. Returning home to Albuquerque, Neil can't let go of the tangled scheme she has uncovered. Looking for the truth, she finds human predators and is soon hot on the trail of a killer.
Don't worry, Chiquita was the Kid's answer to almost everything, and right now Neil Hamel missed the Kid-her part-time lover and car mechanic. Neil had gone to Mexico as a favor to a man she shouldn't be doing favors for, and what it got her was a face-to-face meeting with a corpse, a Mexican lawyer with a diamond pinky ring and a throat slit from ear to ear. Returning home to Albuquerque, Neil can't let go of the tangled scheme she has uncovered. Looking for the truth, she finds human predators and is soon hot on the trail of a killer.
178 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
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58 people want to read
About the author
Judith Van Gieson
22 books17 followersJudith Van Gieson is the author of a children’s book, a collection of poetry and short stories, and thirteen mysteries. Her short stories have appeared in several mystery anthologies. In the first mystery series eight books, featuring female Albuquerque attorney/sleuth Neil Hamel, were published by HarperCollins. Neil’s work often involved environmental issues including endangered species and wildfires. Books in this series were published in England, Japan and Germany. It was optioned by CBS. The Lies That Bind was a finalist for the Shamus Award for best detective novel. The series won the Spirit of Magnifico Literary Award.
There were five books in the second series with heroine Claire Reynier published in paperback by Signet, in hardcover by University of New Mexico Press and in a large print edition by Thorndike. Claire works as an archivist and librarian at the Center for Southwest Research at UNM. This series involved rare artifacts and New Mexico history. The Stolen Blue was a finalist for the Reviewer’s Choice Award. The Shadow of Venus was a finalist for the Barry Award and won the Zia Award given by New Mexico Press Women for Best Work of Fiction by a New Mexico woman.
Series:
* Neil Hamel
* Claire Reynier
There were five books in the second series with heroine Claire Reynier published in paperback by Signet, in hardcover by University of New Mexico Press and in a large print edition by Thorndike. Claire works as an archivist and librarian at the Center for Southwest Research at UNM. This series involved rare artifacts and New Mexico history. The Stolen Blue was a finalist for the Reviewer’s Choice Award. The Shadow of Venus was a finalist for the Barry Award and won the Zia Award given by New Mexico Press Women for Best Work of Fiction by a New Mexico woman.
Series:
* Neil Hamel
* Claire Reynier
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 14, 2021
3.5 rounded up
In this first in a series book, the author introduces private detective Neil Hamel. The story is set mostly in Albuquerque, New Mexico, although Neil makes a short venture into Mexico. We learn a little of Neil's back story, but the author has lots of room in coming additions to tell us more about Neil and her past, to develop more of the character. I look forward to the next in the series.
In this first in a series book, the author introduces private detective Neil Hamel. The story is set mostly in Albuquerque, New Mexico, although Neil makes a short venture into Mexico. We learn a little of Neil's back story, but the author has lots of room in coming additions to tell us more about Neil and her past, to develop more of the character. I look forward to the next in the series.
May 21, 2014
Well - the first of the Neil Hamel series, and it will take some getting used to. Narrated from a first-person perspective, Neil is a feisty and cynical character, whom I haven't really warmed to yet... There is too much going on in this tale of adopted babies for sale, goldmines, WIPP, etc. on quite a superficial level; Van Gieson would do better to narrow her field and delve more deeply into just one or two issues. The sunsets and vistas of New Mexico (and in the case of this novel, Mexico itself) are unsurpassed, though.
April 11, 2015
I am looking for more murder mystery serials to listen to on audiobook and this series was recommended by my local used bookstore. The story of adopting Mexican babies, nuclear waste, and mines took place in New Mexico and Mexico. The storyline kept me interested throughout this quick read but I didn't love it like some of my other favorite serials. It reminded me of Janet Evanovich without the wit.
May 17, 2013
Enjoyable tight little mystery with well constructed characters and a great sense of place--I'll be reading more in this series.
July 13, 2014
Albuquerque setting.
December 4, 2018
*Spoiler alert*
In spots, Van Gieson is a VERY good--even brilliant writer. Her powers of poetic description sometimes sound like John Steinbeck--which coming from me is high praise indeed.
However, in this Neil Hamel debut novel, published in 1988 (not 2002, as shown below), there are too many problems for me to rate it highly. Van Gieson insists on using Spanish extensively, and certainly, based on her state of residence, she has endless resources to rely on in getting the language right. Yet somehow she blows words and phrases as fundamental as "buenos dias" and "ay." She doesn't seem to be aware that the double 'r' is an actual letter in the Spanish alphabet (e.g. not 'paroquia' but 'parroquia.' Another language impediment, to me, is the profanity used. Yes, what the author uses here is minimal, yet in every case it's absolutely unnecessary, and in fact is just annoying, distasteful clutter. Rare is the writer who knows how to apply swear-words to the betterment of his writing--Van Gieson certainly doesn't have that skill.
More importantly, I find at novel's end that I simply haven't learned enough about Neil Hamel the woman. So she's a lawyer--one who is a little off-center in her lifestyle and has an undue fondness for Cuervo Gold. Is she blonde, brunette, or redhead? What color are her eyes? Where was she born? Does she have any living family members? And I could go on and on from there. My hope is that in later novels the author chooses to develop her character fully, because the information I took away from this one was distinctly unsatisfying. It's true that to a degree the reader should be left to use some imagination, but not to the extent of having a main character seem merely a template, a collection of blanks that may or may not be filled at some point.
Finally, my rating falls to two stars because of Neil's outrageous stupidity towards story's end in knowingly placing herself in a very dangerous situation without any back-up, including going in totally unarmed. This is supposedly an intelligent woman--in that ill-advised literary moment she comes off looking like the stereotypical "dumb blonde." Not a mistake I can forgive easily.
Yes, I will read at least one more Van Gieson, just to see how her skill evolves, but it will be with crossed fingers, hoping for the best.
In spots, Van Gieson is a VERY good--even brilliant writer. Her powers of poetic description sometimes sound like John Steinbeck--which coming from me is high praise indeed.
However, in this Neil Hamel debut novel, published in 1988 (not 2002, as shown below), there are too many problems for me to rate it highly. Van Gieson insists on using Spanish extensively, and certainly, based on her state of residence, she has endless resources to rely on in getting the language right. Yet somehow she blows words and phrases as fundamental as "buenos dias" and "ay." She doesn't seem to be aware that the double 'r' is an actual letter in the Spanish alphabet (e.g. not 'paroquia' but 'parroquia.' Another language impediment, to me, is the profanity used. Yes, what the author uses here is minimal, yet in every case it's absolutely unnecessary, and in fact is just annoying, distasteful clutter. Rare is the writer who knows how to apply swear-words to the betterment of his writing--Van Gieson certainly doesn't have that skill.
More importantly, I find at novel's end that I simply haven't learned enough about Neil Hamel the woman. So she's a lawyer--one who is a little off-center in her lifestyle and has an undue fondness for Cuervo Gold. Is she blonde, brunette, or redhead? What color are her eyes? Where was she born? Does she have any living family members? And I could go on and on from there. My hope is that in later novels the author chooses to develop her character fully, because the information I took away from this one was distinctly unsatisfying. It's true that to a degree the reader should be left to use some imagination, but not to the extent of having a main character seem merely a template, a collection of blanks that may or may not be filled at some point.
Finally, my rating falls to two stars because of Neil's outrageous stupidity towards story's end in knowingly placing herself in a very dangerous situation without any back-up, including going in totally unarmed. This is supposedly an intelligent woman--in that ill-advised literary moment she comes off looking like the stereotypical "dumb blonde." Not a mistake I can forgive easily.
Yes, I will read at least one more Van Gieson, just to see how her skill evolves, but it will be with crossed fingers, hoping for the best.
April 2, 2020
Neil is a lawyer in Albuquerque who agrees to do a brief job for an ex-lover, trying to track down threats involving his young adopted son, which winds up involving her in a murder. Neil is a little like Kinsey Milhone (Sue Grafton’s detective)—although with less of the background tragedy in her life. She also has a younger Mexican lover who is a mechanic and musician. Also, the setting is fun—armchair traveling.
The only things I didn’t like was her regular smoking and her frequent drinking and passing out drunk. Behaviors I feel no need to glamorize.
The only things I didn’t like was her regular smoking and her frequent drinking and passing out drunk. Behaviors I feel no need to glamorize.
February 6, 2017
I would have given this 3.5 stars if I could. However, since the mystery was O.K. I went with 4 stars. I like the setting (Albuquerque) for these mysteries, but the writing is a little choppy for my tastes. Recommended to people who like something a little different.
July 26, 2021
I’ll always love a book about my “backyard” and this one is fun as well as a travelogue of sorts. The main character is quirky, smart, but brave only in that she doesn’t always think things through - impulsive?! And all’s well that ends well.
June 6, 2019
I finished this few days ago and I can't remember anything about it, so it must not have been amazing.
May 26, 2021
Overdrive Audiobook
July 12, 2012
For those of you who haven't read Judith Van Gieson, go do it. LOVE this lady's writing style. She is a master at description through one-liners, and writes good mysteries in the process. Just plain fun reading.
September 3, 2008
Every time I read "Chiquita" I got sick. I skimmed this one and wonder if I will try any more. (Not if "Chiquita" is on every page.
September 12, 2013
Useful audio book for distraction while doing something else.
May 29, 2016
I'm not used to reading about locations in the Southwest.
December 3, 2016
Plot/violence was a little rough for my tastes, but the characters and setting have stayed with me. . . .
January 7, 2015
2* - it was okay.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews