Book Review: Jemez Spring

Reviewed By: Carol - SLC - RAM

Jemez Spring     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Rudolfo Anaya
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Private Investigator   Police Procedural
Series: Sonny Baca # 4
UNM Press, 2005, 298 pages, no price on book jacket

Sonny Baca is not your typical private investigator - he is so much more. An odd mix of PI and shaman, Sonny’s investigation into the murder of the governor of New Mexico finds him deeply entrenched in things both seen and unseen. Rudolfo Anaya is a superb storyteller whose love of classic literature, Greek mythology, and the history of New Mexico helps keep the reader grounded during an otherwise ethereal experience.

The fourth Sonny Baca mystery, Jemez Spring, once again pits Sonny against his arch nemesis, Raven. The story is timely, the plot replete with Al Qaeda, threats of nuclear terrorism, and ‘politics as usual.’ While the book is fiction, we can only hope that those in positions of power might sit up and take notice of the vital importance of water conservation and the dire consequences of continuing to sweep the issue under the rug.

Sonny Baca is a study in contrasts. He is both hard and soft, strong and weak, and therefore believable. He is a very spiritual man who cares deeply about all of God’s creatures, and his love for his dog, Chica, is touching and endears him to the reader all the more.

While those who are spiritual skeptics might find the book’s premise far fetched, others will find it both intriguing and enlightening. The story has the ability to awaken not just the reader’s mind, but the reader’s whole being. I strongly recommend Jemez Spring.

Carol - SLC - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Carol - SLC - RAM

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