Cyndi J. (cyndij) reviewed on 11/4/2018 + 1031 more book reviews

Back in the 90s, SF writer Sheri S. Tepper wrote two mystery series under two psuedonyms, A.J. Orde and B.J. Oliphant. The Oliphant series features 55-yr-old Colorado rancher Shirley McClintock, a prickly woman who doesn't suffer fools gladly. In this first of the series, Shirley reluctantly goes on what is supposed to be a bow-hunting trip with an acquaintance only to find herself on foot, tracking a wounded deer through the scrub. In no good mood she is further irritated to find a human skeleton. Irritation turns to outrage when her house is searched after the newspaper runs an article about the find, and when the acquaintance is murdered leaving behind his scatterbrained wife and 12-year-old daughter, Shirley takes it personally and sets out to help the sheriff. The mystery has some nice red herrings, good sense of place, and likable characters. I really like Shirley as she's a lot of things I always wanted to be - tall, totally outspoken, owns a ranch... But if you are familiar with Tepper from SF you will not be surprised that she brings a liberal viewpoint into the book, it does tend to slow down the pace with a couple lectures.

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