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Book Review of Desert Redemption (Lena Jones Series)

Desert Redemption (Lena Jones Series)
kuligowskiandrewt avatar reviewed on + 569 more book reviews


We have reached the 10th book in the Lena Jones âDesertâ series â and, according to âofficial biographerâ (my choice of titles) Betty Webb, the last, at least for awhile. Ms. Webb has used the adventures of Scottsdale detective Lena Jones to explore various southwestern social issues, such as polygamous cults and careless mining of uranium AND abandoning of said mines. Which is NOT to say these books subject the reader to a soapbox; the warnings are mixed within traditional mysteries.

âDesert Redemptionâ is no exception. Lena Jones discovers an emaciated corpse during a desert horseback ride â and it's not the only one discovered in and around the Valley of the Sun. WHO is this person, HOW did she die, or more critical, HOW did she get to her final resting place? Readers wonder along with the protagonist, âHow does this tie to the alleged health facility outside of Tucson and/or the cult that their management warns Lena about â if indeed it does?â Oh, and just to keep things interesting, let's toss in a pair of runaways, one of whom happens to be the child of a US Senate candidate.

Ms. Webb ALSO addresses a bigger mystery that has been at the root of Lena Jones' mysteries since she was introduced in âDesert Noirâ so long ago â who IS she really? AND did her biological mother REALLY shoot the young Lena in the head, and if so, why?â

I disagree with the author on one important point â there is no reason to end the series now. YES, we solved a mystery that has been at the root of the series since its beginning. So what?? Life goes on â how many of us have an unanswered question from an earlier point in our lives, and does that life simply cease once we get an answer? Typically ⦠no. Take a break if you need to, Ms. Webb, move on to other projects if you'd like, but please don't think that Lena has ridden off into the sunset to early retirement!!

Oh, by the way, that is one incredible cover!! The model looks EXACTLY as I'd always envisioned Lena Jones to look, almost as though she's been the inspiration for the character all along!

RATING: 5 stars. A great book.