Nevada Barr, Hard Truth

Hard Truth

Nevada Barr

Putnam, Mar 2005, $24.95, 336 pp.

ISBN: 0399152415

Married less than a week, National Parks Ranger Anna Pigeon celebrates her "honeymoon" by starting a new job at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado while her spouse, Sheriff Paul Davidson, remains in Mississippi. However, barely on the job, she finds herself caught up in the case of two female teens who vanished with a third girl about a month ago, but just returned. The twosome remains closemouthed about their tribulations, insisting they do not know what happened or where the third female might be. Though traumatized by a recent climbing accident that paralyzed her, Heath Jarrod who, with her elderly aunt, found the two girls, manages to somewhat reach the girls.

Anna investigates what little she has learned, especially the recent slaughter of small animals and a tight-lipped cult whose charismatic leader controls the young that flock to him as she hopes to rescue the still-missing third person. Meanwhile, Heath tries to aid the two devastated teens, who still seem frightened by whoever abducted them. Actually by assisting the girls, Heath helps herself more as she begins to adjust to life in a wheelchair.

Though darker than her previous appearances due to the graphically related evil exploits of the villain, the latest Anna Pigeon police procedural is a terrific thriller in which the heroine risks her life. The storyline cleverly counterbalances the malevolent antagonist with Heath's reemergence as a member of the living as both have "purpose." The courageous Anna is fabulous with her two time zone marriage (she may detest cell phones, but they come in handy) while investigating a dangerous case with several viable suspects, who seem as if anyone could kidnap girls and if needed kill.

Harriet Klausner