Whilst hunting for an injured deer, Shirley McClintock comes across a human skeleton. When a murder takes place and the murder weapon is the same arrow that killed the deer Shirley realises that there is more to the situation than meets the eye. When the murder victim's wide is incorrectly charged with the crime she asks Shirley to take care of her daughter, Allison. Irritated by the apparent incompetence of the local police force, Shirley decides to investigate the murder herself.

When both Shirley and Allison receive threats, Shirley realises that she must be involved in something serious! There is something going on in this sleepy little Colorado town and Shirley is determined to get to the bottom of it.

This is the first B.J. Oliphant (a.k.a. Sheri S. Tepper) novel I have read and I have to say I was not disappointed. From the very start the writing style is accomplished and fluid. The characters practically leap off the page. Personally I felt a particular affinity with Shirley, her being 6ft 2ins and rather self-assured (sound familiar Steve?). The storyline proceeds at a rapid rate of knots – it was another of those "one-sitting" books. Despite being on holiday I had to be dragged away from reading.

Luckily I have a few more of "BJ's" books to sink my teeth into.

A right rollocking good murder-mystery!