Death on the High Lonesome by Frank Hayes

Death on the High Lonesome by Frank Hayes ISBN-13: 9780425274309 Trade Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Released: October 6, 2015

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description from Back Cover:
Virgil knows that his sleepy hometown is starting to reflect the times, in good ways and bad. It still comes as a shock when his deputy is almost killed by the body of a woman falling from the highway overpass onto his car. A woman who had been fleeing for her life…

Then longtime resident Velma Thompson is found dead on her porch—her husband missing. To search for the man, Virgil saddles up and heads to the High Lonesome, the rugged mountains above their ranch. And on a wind-swept mesa, he’ll find the first clues that point to a killer whose body count has only just begun


My Review:
Death on the High Lonesome is a mystery novel that sometimes had the feel of a Western. It's the second book in a series, and I'd recommend reading the series in order. It's as much about the character's personal lives as about solving the mystery. Some parts of the first mystery were spoiled in this one as people dealt with the aftereffects from what happened.

This was a clue-based mystery. I had a good idea of whodunit before Virgil figured it out. The story was full of suspense from physical danger and relationship tensions, so it wasn't just about finding clues. The characters came across as realistic, complex people who were dealing with what life threw at them. There was a sad undertone to the story, but the characters were nice enough people that it was interesting to read their story.

There were no graphic sex scenes. There was a fair amount of bad language and a minor amount of crude language. Overall, I'd recommend this novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


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