Delta for Death

Amy Hobbes #3

by Michele Drier

California is in the middle of a catastrophic drought and water managers are scrambling to find ways to conserve the resource. The Governor has proposed a plan to dig massive tunnels under Delta, a sprawling tract of islands, sloughs, farms, marinas, resorts and historic small towns. The project will ship Sacramento River water south, to the thirsty corporate farms and cities of Central and Southern California, not a popular idea in Northern California. When two bodies turn up at a state corporation yard in the tiny Delta hamlet of Freeland, Amy Hobbes and her police reporter, Clarice, are determined to find out if water is an issue worth killing for.

266 pages, Paperback

First published May 26, 2015

Reviews

[Karen Brees · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amy Hobbes, editor in chief of The Monroe Press in California’s Central Valley, has quite a bit on her plate. Reining in overly enthusiastic reporters, keeping the professional line neatly in place, or sort of, between her staff who are more than employees and just a tad less than friends, is work enough, but when murder intrudes and romance beckons, the whole shebang seems up for grabs.

There’s something about a story told in first person, present tense that creates a sense of immediacy, and Michele Drier does it well. The reader becomes a silent companion, eavesdropping on conversations and a witness to everything that’s going on. And there’s plenty going on. There’s the local evangelical church that’s looking to expand its reach, citizens fighting to maintain their water rights using less than the usual means, a local government that’s involved in ways that might or might not be legal, some sketchy characters, and, oh yes, a couple of murders.

It’s a great read, and you won’t be disappointed. Strong characters, human frailties, and the possibility of a happy ending – what more could you want, except the next installment? I’m hooked. California is not just a place, it’s a mindset. I lived there for 20 years, and I’m still trying to check out of the Hotel California.

[Patricia Dusenbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging mystery story and more. I particularly enjoyed the strong sense of place that permeated this mystery. The author writes about issues that are shaping modern California and people's responses - legal and otherwise. The protagonist is a newspaper editor, and she brings an editor's balanced perspective to the issues, plus a born detective's curiosity and persistence to the mystery.

[Deb Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery and mayhem!!

What I always love about Drier's Amy Robbers books, in addition to a great story, great characters and well thought out plots is that they are timely and thought provoking. Every fact is true and if there is a bias there are documented facts in support. Both sides are represented so the reader can draw conclusions of their own.