Thursday, October 25, 2007

The Salt Maiden-Colleen Thompson

The Salt Maiden
Colleen Thompson
Leisure, Dec 2007, $7.99
ISBN: 9780843960174

When her sister Angie disappears, veterinarian Dana Vanover leaves her practice to search for her sibling in her last known address, the desert town of Devil's Claw, Texas. No one in the isolated West Texas community wants her there, especially the politicians who fear their dirtysecrets will be exposed and Rimrock County Sheriff Jay Eversole who fears for her safety.

Jay insists Dana go home and let law enforcement deal with the missing person’s case; but she refuses as this missing person shares her blood. As Dana forces Jay to work with her, their attraction makes the temperature of the desert look like that of a tundra. However, someone watches both Jay and Dana with the understanding if they get to close they will find a permanent rest spot underneath the sands of the desert.

The key to this romantic suspense thriller is the depth of the cast including the references to the modern mummified title character. Dana is obstinate as she refuses to walk way without the truth while Jay is dedicated and caring in a town without pity. Readers will appreciate Colleen Thompson’s tense tale as the strong characterizations and their interplay make the tension that much more vigorous and potent.

Harriet Klausner

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