Book Review: The Weatherman's Daughters

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Weatherman's Daughters     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Richard Hoyt
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Series: John Denson & Willie Prettybird
Forge, Jul 2003, $24.95, 304 pp.

While driving in the Oregon mountains, the heavy rain pours live salmon at private investigator John Denson’s vehicle. During the fishy torrent, he stops, camera in hand, to help an accident victim. However, as the young woman tries to talk through her dying gurgles, fish continue to pelt John and the victim. He realizes this was no accident as someone shot the female who he identifies as Sharon Toogood, daughter of Portland TV weatherman Jerry Toogood.

Unable to forget her murder, John investigates. After talking with the prime suspect, Sharon’s sister Mariah, the sibling is killed too. Needing special guidance to see through the haze of the seemingly too good world of the sisters, John enlists the help of his pal, Native American Willie Sees the Night. With Willie as a guide providing an elixir mixer, John has an out-of-body experience that may provide the clues to solving the homicides.

Though a humorous private investigative tale that feels like a Summer of Love who-done-it, THE WEATHERMAN’S DAUGHTER is definitely not for everyone. The story line uses too much New Age (or is that old age) coincidence to move the plot forward, but the story remains amusing in spite of the murders. The cast is an eccentric delight as hippies, salmon, and poachers (oh my!) dominate the northwest.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner