Carnosaur Crimes

An Ansel Phoenix Mystery #2

by Christine Gentry

Montana paleoartist Ansel Phoenix, stunned by the incinerated body of the Indian blasted up into the mouth of her life-sized Allosaurus replica standing outside the Big Toe Natural History Museum, starts digging. Poachers have been cutting out fossil Carnosaur tracks along the Red Water River—an Indian poacher—and the Bureau of Land Management is threatening to close the museum and move the tracks inside an educational institution. And the FBI investigation of the man’s fatal accident, triggered by the explosion of a faulty valve on his propane-powered concrete saw, is freezing out the local cops.

Who is the dead poacher? Clues point to a rodeo heritage. But a final answer will have to come from taking his head up to Billings for an attempt at facial reconstruction.

Using her half-Blackfoot heritage as leverage, rancher’s daughter Ansel devises a dangerous scheme to help the Feds—is it the FBI? Or is it the BLM? Or some other agency?—expose a statewide ring of dinosaur thieves. But she didn’t count on complications with commercial dealers in fossils; it’s a big money market. Or starting a new romance, or the continuation of her “partnership” with local law officer Reid Dorbandt. Or being stalked by a deadly nemesis from her childhood.

324 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2005

Reviews

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished reading this book. Fossil theft, fossil smuggling, corrupt paleontologists, FBI, Bureau of Land Management Agents (BLM), local law enforcement and radioactive fossils involved in a complex murder and money laundering conspiracy. A good read. I especially liked the parts in the book where the local authorities are distrustful of the FBI because they are sure they had their own agenda. Rings true. And a little romance thrown in for good measure.

[Janet Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good hook, great sense of place, appealing characters, well thought out plot, and what appears to be terrific reseach. As a first book, there are some issues ... romance that isn't well supported, descriptions and explanations that go on a bit too long, pacing a bit uneven. Overall a fine first novel--I'll read the next. Others have synopsized, so I won't.

[Tomi · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing was a little stilted. The basic story was good and the author tied everything together well; it just didn't "read" well. The romance angle didn't quite work for me, but I did enjoy reading about fossil preservation.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific Montana setting in the badlands, hunting dinosaur fossils, drug runners and pitting mafia types against FBI, BLM, local police and one very feisty paleoartist.

[YAHWEH · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pleasantly suprised to have a Native American heroine....