Back into the Dark of Lechuguilla Cave, New Mexico, for Nevada Barr's Blind Descent Finale!

 Anna could see her own exhaustion and elation mirrored in the faces of the others; a dance, a symphony, a poem of human effort and mind. The first hint that something had gone wrong was the call “Rock!” carried down the black canyon on a gust of fear.

Did you know that each touch from a human hand on the cave's interior will be a problem? Pieces may be totally destroyed by humans who are visiting with no thought but of their pleasure in seeing these beautiful examples of God's creations...In Barr's book we all learn that each move to be made must be in consideration of the place in which they are rather than just...living...as best as you can... In this case, the book was very informative re spelunking... Remember, they were moving into areas which had never been explored before, but the videos do illustrate the equipment needed to be worn to provide light in the Dark as you will be reading...

The search was intensive to get there, where Frieda was, but now, Anna, with the mind of a police office, albeit in the Rangers, had to be immediately aware that one or more of the people in Frieda's group had caused the fall of her friend... She began to gather info just by introducing herself to the few there... There was a doctor and his wife--a woman who was clearly a problem. She didn't want to be there, was disgusted that her husband had to be doctoring--well, he wasn't a true general practitioner, but at least he knew enough to provide medication, medical supplies. But it was clear his wife could care less about anything but getting out of there... It should be mentioned at this point that she actually disappeared and could not be found once outside... Anna could not let that go, as the book goes on... The wife had been asked to backup Anna "as a caretaker" and clearly that wasn't going to  happen... This begins the mystery part of the book... 

Anna found herself depending on one of her initial guides, who was now the onsite director of planning for the rescue... Somehow, she felt safer with him around... He was efficient and soon had everybody working to move out... They were waiting for the medical team who had the necessary equipment to carry Frieda out... People were beginning to look happy, excited, ready to leave this Dark that had kept them longer than originally planned...

And, Anna was right there by Frieda's side when the crew had arrived, prepared her for traveling in a secured manner and went through details with the Site Director... They were ready to go!

They were moving quickly and efficiently, when out of the surrounding darkness: Rock!

When Anna heard the call of a rock coming, she didn't know how fast it would become a slide that would overtake the entire group carrying Freida... After the slide settled, Anna tried to reconnect with Freida... She had fallen deeper into a hole...Anna could not reach her, but could touch her, checking her neck to find a pulse... feeling something wet, she thought it was blood and Freida was bleeding. She pulled her hand out and discovered it was her tears...

The rescue had become a recovery...

But Anna would not leave the site... She began searching, to learn where the Rock had come from. She began her search there, looking for anything that would help to document just how a slide had begun... finally, she found it--a place where somebody had sat on a rock, as if resting...or waiting...

Anna was now conducting a murder investigation...

It didn't take me long to determine the "whodunit." It seems I can recognize the character personalities that are created to reveal those who are power hungry... But there was another that I would not have picked. This, too, reflects what we are experiencing more and more... Who could Anna trust?

The ending surprised me, because there was so little to lead up to the actual crimes taking place. Readers will need to step back from the rescue efforts and its failure and move into investigation mode along with Anna, who became relentless. Even to the extent of talking one of the men in the original group into returning to the cave to find as much of actually what happened as possible. In the book, and I hope, not in reality, there is a major loss of a section of the cave that could not be reclaimed... And they found a lost member of the team...

One of the most fantastic, informative books about spelunking that perhaps has been written wrapped up in fiction. It is the only one I've read and who better than Nevada Barr to take on creating a thrilling story of a place where no man had ever been before... And, just how destructive people can become when riches beckon to those who place money over humanity... A Must-Read for many reasons, most of all to allow readers to experience some place where they really have a right to be afraid and be thankful there are others who will attempt to ensure you live through that experience! More people need to rely on their neighbors and find love and help from nearly all of them...

GABixlerReviews

Sam Ingraffia Presents The Right Stiff: A Charlie McGinley Mystery - And...Say What?!

 “A writer must stare at a blank page until blood comes out of their forehead." --Ernest Hemingway

Also, A Dark, Comedic, New Mexico Whodunit (Humorous Amateur Sleuth Noir Crime Thrillers Book 1)

LOL

I have to say that this may be the longest subtitle of a book I've ever seen... I can't quite figure out whether the writer didn't know which to use, or, that, it was very important that the potential reader knew what they were getting into...

Ok Comedic and Humorous could mean the same thing...

Whodunit implies mystery, but this is a crime thriller also... multiple genre, right...

Most books don't declare the setting as Really Important... New Mexico must have different types of stories to tell???

Or does this all mean that the writer wants us to know in advance to beware of the story???

We'll See, I'm game, but are you?

And by the way, when I typed in the title, Google Search automatically changed stiff to stuff...

Kinda makes you wonder, doesn't it?

Is this book really worth all this trouble to get to start reading... This one wants to know, So I did start...

My first check is always on You Tube... You guessed it, all the videos came up about Good Stuff...

Doesn't anybody know that Stiff is another word for a dead person?

I did...but maybe I know "stuff" about "stiffs..."

I've read or watched stories enough about them so I'm good for just about any description to say that somebody is dead...

How they're dead is the key...

But I can also remember that Hammer--you know who he is, I hope--called bodies stiffs--I think!

Anyway, all this is to show writers that if you add all this stuff onto your subtitle, readers just may never be able to find you, especially on sites that require a full book title, including subtitle...

Believe me, I know... I could have just been linked to the book, bought it, and then when I wanted to find it again to review, I can't find it! Writers need to know about the full idiosyncrasies of selling books, in my opinion... LOL

Or, I am just silly this morning realizing that I may be the only person in the world that knows what a stiff is...

Writers Beware...

On with the story

But, let's get one thing straight...

Death is not a funny matter

Is Fiction Now Reality?

And can a whodunit ever be a comedy?

I think so, because these actions by authoritarian leaders are NOT LEGAL!

And do not reflect the will of All Peoples!

Cynthia Drew Presents Intriguing Art Crimes Novel, Sing for the Dead

JUST PAST THE sign marking the Cruz County line the gold Corvette headed down into the canyon. The closer they came to Arco Viejo, the more Eliu Colón dreaded arriving there. He had heard about Ignacio Garza’s accident. That event had effectively shut down the workshop. The other santeros could rough out the bultos, but the finish that made the difference between folk art and fine art, between icon and parody, had been in Garza’s hands. On this, the Day of the Dead, the mood in Arco Viejo would not be joyous. Diaz watched for spiders and snakes as he drove. He was happy for Colón’s company—the last time he’d driven the road he’d been visited by the dead—the ghost of Pablo Estrella, and he couldn’t get the image of his own head, bouncing along the dusty road, out of his…well, his head.

Winner--Gold Award for Mystery Fiction 2017

Foreword Reviews

Author's Note

This book was based on the fact that Mexican cartels, increasingly weary of dodging drug enforcement and tired of the layered structure of dealing drugs, have, as recently as 2013, turned to gold mining as a revenue stream and a mechanism for laundering money. As much as nine percent of Mexico’s multi-billion-dollar gold industry is the result of illegal production, controlled by the cartels. Gangs demand extortion payments from local and multinational mine operators in exchange for allowing them to work their concessions, or take full control over a mining operation...

Sing for the Dead takes us to Santa Fe, New Mexico, dubbed by the Chamber of Commerce, “The City Different,” and modern-day spiritual home of the santeros, artists who carve and paint santos, images of saints, reflecting one of the oldest living traditions of religious devotion practiced by Hispanic Americans.
~~~

It was near the celebration, that was held annually, marking The Day of
the Dead. Most of the time it started on October 31st and continued for days... It was a busy time for the men who worked to create baltos, small statues that would be especially sold during this celebration.  Immediately, I thought of my small statue on my piano of the famous statue I visited years ago which has become a symbol of both the trip and Our Redeemer...

I found it ironic that the baltos played such a significant part in the story... both real ones and fake.

For there was a rush for more and more baltos to be created for sale or shipped out that drew attention of our main characters... Adrian Duhe, from Interpol, had received three different reports that the long-lost bulto, the Zuni San Gabriel, which had not been seen for 150 years, had been listed in Sotheby's and the last one of the three had sold for $75,500! His own investigation proved enough that he was soon on the telephone to the FBI Arts Crime Team in Washington... where he brought the issue to Jacques Pearce...

While J. J. Jaynes was on his way--to Santa Fe, NM.

And almost immediately, he met Alejandro...and his first balto. A santo of Saint Jude—the patrón of lost causes.” But this lady of the night would not sell the statue for any amount of money, letting him know that she'd had the balto for over 40 years and would keep it close always. She had sold her body to him, but not the statue...interesting... But he did "buy" where he could find another one...

And Alejandro Ramirez was dead before midnight... 

While Jacques Pearce began investigating with experts about the lost Zuni San Gabriel which had mysteriously reappeared and sold...and sold, and sold again...

And everything seemed to ultimately lead to Santa Fe, where Jacques Pearce had just sent Micki Jaynes. Yes, J. J. Jaynes' wife... which promised to get interesting...

This is one of those novels where I find I want to keep talking about it. I was learning fascinating new things, while thoroughly enjoying a murder mystery, and valuable art treasure hunt. I recommend you meet there in Santa Fe to discover exactly what type of treasure can be found! The story is intriguing, humorous, as well as an interesting look at the historical legends created within artistic endeavors--and how they can lead to danger and murder!

I normally am attracted by treasure hunt novels featuring relics or some other type of treasure, relishing the research that goes into such a book, so I was certainly happy to be attracted by the cover. Do check it out and let me know what you think...and we'll talk more...


GABixlerReviews

Works at  Author, Fiction Author, and Writer
Past:  Children's Book Illustrator

Name That Tune! Another Song to Sing to Tune of Another...See if You can Guess!!! Whimsy and Wry=Fun Book!

Oh, I met my True Love, and I want you to know,
Down in Villa Nueva In New Mexico
She was born on the Pecos, where cool waters run
And her Pa named her Billie, expectin' a son.

Pecos Billie's the law in this sun-covered land.
Pecos Billie's the lady now wearin' my brand.
I was sentenced to make her my unblushing bride;
Well, I never could run and I sure wouldn't hide!

Pecos Billie from Whimsy and Wry

By Guy Graybill 

(Chorus)
Yes, out west if the Pecos, true love is a tort
So I threw myself onto her merciful court.
We too vows in a mission that sits high above
And today I'm a lifer, For Billie, My Love!

Though she carried no weapon, she came to no harm
Billie disarmed the toughest with beauty and charm.
On the banks of the Pecos her law was the best
And my poor heart she quickly placed under arrest.

 

Well, my heart soon surrendered, with nary a fight
On the banks of the Pecos, one warm summer night.
She could never use handcuffs; but, still,
I'm not free
'Cause I can't break these heartcuffs
that she placed on me!
~~~

I had the tune for this poem almost immediately, but I couldn't remember any words other than those at the end of the first line...so I've been humming this tune for hours until I got the first line! So since this was so hard for me, of course I had to make it a little tougher for all of you! So, I added some wedding music to get you more confused...LOL Actually when I saw the name of this classical guitarist, I figured it was a good addition to the article... even though it is quite a different type of music...

Well, did you get the original song identified? If you did, quick, write it down as a comment before you go any further! If not, scroll down and hear the original with different words, of course. Personally, I kinda like the above words better! How about you? Did you name that tune?!