Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
Every summer, I attempt to (1) get current with at least two of my favorite mystery series, and (2) continue one or two that, for some unknown reason, became abandoned along the path of my reading life. Elizabeth Gunn's Sarah Burke series is one of those abandoned ones, and for the life of me, I don't know why. I love the Tucson setting, I enjoy the mysteries that Gunn creates, and I certainly like the character of Sarah Burke. So as I sank into the pages of Kissing Arizona with a pleasurable sigh, I mentally kicked myself for taking so long to pick up this third book in the series.
The apparent murder-suicide of the prominent Tucson couple, although not difficult to solve, was still interesting as it navigated through a quagmire of family dynamics, and the drug case highlighted some of the problems all border states in this country deal with on a daily basis. What really grabbed my attention were two young girls: Sarah's twelve-year-old niece Denny and Vicky, a fifteen-year-old illegal immigrant.
Sarah's sister is a drug addict incapable of caring for her child; consequently, Sarah has become her niece's guardian. Since Sarah is an incredibly busy police detective, this only works with the help of Sarah's mother and Sarah's boyfriend. Seeing the world through Denny's eyes ("It was worth doing a lot of chores to live with Aunt Sarah.") can be heartbreaking, funny, and illuminating. Watching Sarah, her mother, her boyfriend, and Denny work together to make themselves a family is one of the best parts of Kissing Arizona.
The other "best part" is fifteen-year-old Vicky's story. Vicky was born in Mexico while her younger sister was born in Arizona; therefore, when Vicky's mother is deported, so is Vicky while the younger sister gets to stay in Tucson. At first, readers may not feel much sympathy for Vicky. She's the mouthy, rebellious one who fights all authority while the younger sister is studious and obeys all the rules. But as the story unfolds, Vicky's true character emerges. No matter what it takes, this young girl is determined to get back across the border to her Tucson home. How she deals with the trials and tribulations along her path makes her very special indeed.
If you like mysteries in which the lives of the characters are every bit as important as the mysteries themselves, do yourself a favor and pick up Elizabeth Gunn's Sarah Burke mysteries. Due to the character development, I would suggest beginning with the first book, Cool in Tucson (one of my Best Reads of 2010).
The apparent murder-suicide of the prominent Tucson couple, although not difficult to solve, was still interesting as it navigated through a quagmire of family dynamics, and the drug case highlighted some of the problems all border states in this country deal with on a daily basis. What really grabbed my attention were two young girls: Sarah's twelve-year-old niece Denny and Vicky, a fifteen-year-old illegal immigrant.
Sarah's sister is a drug addict incapable of caring for her child; consequently, Sarah has become her niece's guardian. Since Sarah is an incredibly busy police detective, this only works with the help of Sarah's mother and Sarah's boyfriend. Seeing the world through Denny's eyes ("It was worth doing a lot of chores to live with Aunt Sarah.") can be heartbreaking, funny, and illuminating. Watching Sarah, her mother, her boyfriend, and Denny work together to make themselves a family is one of the best parts of Kissing Arizona.
The other "best part" is fifteen-year-old Vicky's story. Vicky was born in Mexico while her younger sister was born in Arizona; therefore, when Vicky's mother is deported, so is Vicky while the younger sister gets to stay in Tucson. At first, readers may not feel much sympathy for Vicky. She's the mouthy, rebellious one who fights all authority while the younger sister is studious and obeys all the rules. But as the story unfolds, Vicky's true character emerges. No matter what it takes, this young girl is determined to get back across the border to her Tucson home. How she deals with the trials and tribulations along her path makes her very special indeed.
If you like mysteries in which the lives of the characters are every bit as important as the mysteries themselves, do yourself a favor and pick up Elizabeth Gunn's Sarah Burke mysteries. Due to the character development, I would suggest beginning with the first book, Cool in Tucson (one of my Best Reads of 2010).
