Book Review: Bone Dry

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Bone Dry     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Ben Rehder
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Series: John Marlin # 2
St. Martin’s, Sep 2003, $23.95, 339 pp.

Blanco County, Texas Game Warden John Martin knows that the opening day of deer hunting season is always a disaster, but this time the hunters come up with a new one. Apparently a six-foot blonde Amazon has wrecked the deer blinds of the locals using an assortment of tricks and devices and which even includes peeing on them. This female ghost even shot up Rodney Bauer’s pick-up using the man’s 12- gauge that she easily took from the paralyzed man in shock by her beauty.

As John works on his relationship with Nurse Becky, environmentalist Inga Mueller has become an avenging angel. She is dedicated to protecting endangered species from the ravages of the hunters. However, though her victims drive John crazy, he considers her a minor amusing nuisance especially when compared to the rash of corpses that suddenly surface.

Readers who appreciate a strong yet humorous regional police procedural, game warden style, will want to peruse BONE DRY. This is a great tale that leaves the audience laughing at the antics of the secondary cast along side a bemused John that is until the murders start. However, the key to this terrific who-done-it is the mystery is first rate and the characters are fully developed so that the audience receives a fabulous plot that will send newcomers seeking more works from Ben Rehder.

Harriet Klausner

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