Review: Hard Truth

Hard Truth Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Nevada Barr
Class/Genre: Mystery Police Procedural Woman Main Character Classic Government Agency
Series: Anna Pigeon # 13
G P Putnam Son's 2005

Anna Pigeon has been posted to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, and shortly after her arrival two teenaged girls who have been the object of intense back country searching are found alive, traumatized, and suffering from a type of short term amnesia. The campers who find them form an instant psychic attachment to the pair, especially the younger of the two. The two campers, a paralyzed woman and her aunt, have been spending the weekend in a campsite designed for handicapped access, giving Barr an intriguing new set of issues for Anna to deal with.

The point of view of the action moves back and forth between Anna and Heath Jarrod, the woman in the wheelchair. An extremely cruel and clever killer has taken up residence in the area, and still holds the fate of a third missing girl in his hands. But in the meantime, the two girls who have been found are returned to their families - members of a strange religious group living in a compound on the plains just east of the Park. The younger of the two girls refuses to eat unless the handicapped woman stays nearby, and she and her aunt take up residence in a RV park near the sect's compound.

Barr deals with themes much darker and malicious than in earlier books. The torture of helpless animals, the vicious manipulations of the goodwill of children, issues faced by a formerly athletic woman thrust into a way of life she never contemplated, and the frightening ability of a cruel killer to "hide in plain sight" are all part of the mix.

I've previously mentioned that Barr is much more successful in writing supporting characters for Anna who are coworkers, suspects, and eventual villians than she is in creating a romantic interest. By now Anna has married her love interest of the last few books. He conveniently stays behind in Mississippi, and makes only off stage entries into the action. How Barr will handle an eventual reunion and shared day to day life, if any, will be intriguing.

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

Please Note: Books reviewed are usually provided by the publisher, author, or an agent. Reviewers usually get to keep the book.

Book Review: Hard Truth

Please Note: Books reviewed are usually provided by the publisher, author, or an agent. Reviewers usually get to keep the book.