Thicker Than Blood: A Rachel Chavez Mystery

by Penny Rudolph

"Rudolph provides a well-crafted plot and satisfying levels of suspense, but what stands out most is Rachel herself―one of the most refreshing new series heroines to wander into the crime genre in quite a while." ― Booklist STARRED review For Rachel Chavez, every day is a battle with her demons. She only wants to stay sober and keep her recently inherited parking lot in downtown LA financially afloat. But it's a nearly 24/7 job. Then an executive from the nearby water agency is killed by a hit-and-run driver and Rachel spots the car that did the deed in her garage. A few days later her stand-in employee dies of peculiar causes. And Rachel unknowingly becomes tangled in the conniving cross-purposes of California water politics. When she uncovers evidence of a crime ring, Rachel believes the mystery of the two deaths is solved. But another official is killed, her own father disappears, and it becomes agonizingly clear that the killer is closing in on Rachel.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

312 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2005

About the author

I've worked as a bartender, truck driver (I had to stand up to shift!), chile picker, musician, bookkeeper, secretary, anything I could convince people I should be paid for.

When I finally finished college, I graduated to science writing, medical writing, feature writing. I loved doing widely diverse things, from watching open-heart surgery to talking to ranchers about cattle breeding, to interviewing NASA scientists about Saturn. I've made the rounds with a game warden, interviewed opera stars, visited digs with an archeologist, watched the making of steel, and interviewed Apache hunters.

Later I taught high school creative writing and journalism at the college level. When I decided money might be a nice thing to have, I turned to corporate writing. I was the pleased and surprised recipient of more than 50 national writing/editing awards including an International Golden Quill.

When I got to where money wasn't all that important, I tried my hand at fiction. I'm sure glad money wasn't important because that was a real uphill battle. Along the way I won a 2003 EPPIE and was a finalist in five national fiction competitions.

I've lived most of my life in New Mexico, with a few detours to the east and west coasts. Albuquerque is my home now, which I share with my husband Ralph and a small menagerie of rescued animals.

Reviews

[Rogue Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clever amateur sleuth who is way more foolhardy than she should be and makes friends way too easily. Once down and out, now she runs a parking garage and lives in a converted closet where she eats tv dinners and sneaks out at night to savor the darkness. Water is central and a good way to gather together lots of plot threads.

Physically, the Poison Pen hardback is a pleasure to read. The dust jacket design is compelling, the paper of the pages heavy and substantial, the type easy to read and a fine contrast to the paper.

[Barbara · Rating 1 out of 5]

just couldn't get into it.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great mystery which deals with the environment and ecology issues, with a hint of intrigue and romance.

[Louellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just kind of lost interest! started out okay!