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Dan Mahoney #1
Flash Flood
Dan Mahoney, insurance investigator, lands in Tatum, New Mexico where several prize cattle on the famed Double Horseshoe Ranch have mysteriously died. The claims put a lot of money at stake for Dan's company. But that just scratches the surface of the high jinks afoot in Tatum. And the high stakes. A surprised Dan hadn't counted on witnessing a murder, falling in love, or becoming the pawn of federal agents.
It's the flash flood that changes everything. Could cattleman Billy Roland Eklund have set up Eric Linden, pilot and family friend, who's caught in the roaring water? Tempted him to forfeit seven years of his life for two million dollars? And then had him killed? Or was it the lovely Elaine, Linden's wife, who had so much to gain? Dan stumbles across secrets that implicate his sister, his employer, and what seems like half of southern New Mexico.
Sucked into small town duplicity, he struggles with truth and learns that dead men can come back to haunt.
It's the flash flood that changes everything. Could cattleman Billy Roland Eklund have set up Eric Linden, pilot and family friend, who's caught in the roaring water? Tempted him to forfeit seven years of his life for two million dollars? And then had him killed? Or was it the lovely Elaine, Linden's wife, who had so much to gain? Dan stumbles across secrets that implicate his sister, his employer, and what seems like half of southern New Mexico.
Sucked into small town duplicity, he struggles with truth and learns that dead men can come back to haunt.
308 pages, Hardcover
First published December 15, 2002
174 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
About the author
Susan Slater
25 books37 followersSusan has lived in the Southwest for 32 years. The enchantment of New Mexico comes alive in her Ben Pecos series - The Pumpkin Seed Massacre, Yellow Lies, Thunderbird, and A Way to the Manger.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 15, 2007
Flash Flood - G+
Susan Slater - 4th in series
The troubles build like thunderheads over New Mexico skies for insurance investigator Dan Mahoney in Slater's ambitious and entertaining new series debut. Dan has to look into the claims of cattle baron Billy Roland Eklund, owner of the Double Horseshoe Ranch, who's lost three calves in three months, each insured for $250,000-enough to make Dan's employers hysterical. Then a shooting and a flash flood that sweep away an ex-con who used to pilot for Billy Roland push Dan's investigation into other channels. Billy Roland, who's rich, exuberant and a better judge of cattle than of women, is just one of several strongly drawn characters. Dan's sister, Carolyn, is as ambitious and driven as her politically active husband, Phillip Ainsworth, and perhaps deadlier; Billy Roland's trophy wife, Iris, knows precisely what her assets are and how to exploit them. When insurance fraud, drug smuggling, voodoo and murder muddy the waters, Dan finds himself manipulated or coerced not only by the many suspects but also by a couple of federal agents.
VG until a weak, quick, tie-it-all-up ending, too many characters, too many plots and sub-plots.
Susan Slater - 4th in series
The troubles build like thunderheads over New Mexico skies for insurance investigator Dan Mahoney in Slater's ambitious and entertaining new series debut. Dan has to look into the claims of cattle baron Billy Roland Eklund, owner of the Double Horseshoe Ranch, who's lost three calves in three months, each insured for $250,000-enough to make Dan's employers hysterical. Then a shooting and a flash flood that sweep away an ex-con who used to pilot for Billy Roland push Dan's investigation into other channels. Billy Roland, who's rich, exuberant and a better judge of cattle than of women, is just one of several strongly drawn characters. Dan's sister, Carolyn, is as ambitious and driven as her politically active husband, Phillip Ainsworth, and perhaps deadlier; Billy Roland's trophy wife, Iris, knows precisely what her assets are and how to exploit them. When insurance fraud, drug smuggling, voodoo and murder muddy the waters, Dan finds himself manipulated or coerced not only by the many suspects but also by a couple of federal agents.
VG until a weak, quick, tie-it-all-up ending, too many characters, too many plots and sub-plots.
January 13, 2026
Insurance investigator Dan Mahoney’s employer sends him to the Double Horseshoe Ranch near Tatum, New Mexico, to investigate the suspicious deaths of several prized, well-insured cattle. He sees a flash flood sweep away a vintage Cadillac and its inhabitants, who just happen to have a connection to the ranch and some other mysterious deaths. The suspects are many and include his politically active sister and brother-in-law, his new love interest, and maybe even aliens.
This was a fun read. I’m from that part of the state, and Slater does a good job setting the scene and describing towns like Tatum and Roswell. The writing is clean, the dialogue crisp, and the plot moves along at a brisk pace. The story held my interest all the way through, and I quickly became attached to Dan, his dog, and Elaine, the new girlfriend.
The first two books in this five-book series are set in New Mexico, and then the action moves to Florida. I was hoping all the books would be set here (I like reading about places I know), but I’m going to continue reading the series because these characters are likeable and I want to know how things turn out.
Slater also wrote the Ben Pecos novels (recently taken over after her death by Connie Shelton, another author who specializes in New Mexico based mysteries). Pecos is a Native American psychologist who returns to New Mexico to work at the pueblo of his birth as a therapist with the Indian Health Service. I highly recommend that series too.
This was a fun read. I’m from that part of the state, and Slater does a good job setting the scene and describing towns like Tatum and Roswell. The writing is clean, the dialogue crisp, and the plot moves along at a brisk pace. The story held my interest all the way through, and I quickly became attached to Dan, his dog, and Elaine, the new girlfriend.
The first two books in this five-book series are set in New Mexico, and then the action moves to Florida. I was hoping all the books would be set here (I like reading about places I know), but I’m going to continue reading the series because these characters are likeable and I want to know how things turn out.
Slater also wrote the Ben Pecos novels (recently taken over after her death by Connie Shelton, another author who specializes in New Mexico based mysteries). Pecos is a Native American psychologist who returns to New Mexico to work at the pueblo of his birth as a therapist with the Indian Health Service. I highly recommend that series too.
April 11, 2021
This is one of the most twisted and tangled stories I have ever read. And yet every revelation, every suspicion, is logical to the story. Hang onto your hat because this is a roller coaster ride of nonstop action that kept me on the edge of my seat. There were several storylines going on at the same time and they interwove with each other creating this tapestry of intrigue, deception, assertion of power, and slaughter. This author is so talented and creative, she just blew me away!! I don’t think all of the truth has been revealed; all of the people involved and the extent to which they were involved. In the story line almost every single character was accused of at least one thing and it was plausible. There are things that are revealed to us, as the reader, that are not revealed to Dan and I just think there’s a lot more beneath the surface that we are not aware of. I’m also wondering if the next book in the series will reveal anything more or is the author moving on to another place, another situation and leaving the questions behind-unanswered. I guess I’ll find out...
February 13, 2019
I have mixed feelings about Susan Slater’s “Flash Flood,” first entry in her Dan Mahoney Mystery series. Set in New Mexico back when Toyota was still selling Tercels, the book is told from the perspective of Mahoney, who is hired to investigate the mysterious deaths of some heavily insured cattle. Were these animals the victims of disease, cultists, or a rancher in need of fast cash?
A complicated and mostly ingenious plot drives the novel forward for many chapters. There’s plenty of action and surprises, with everyone in the story oddly connected to everyone else, included Mahoney. But I think “Flash Flood” goes on too long and its resolution strikes me as flat and implausible. Still I enjoyed enough of the book to think I’ll check out another of Slater’s mysteries soon.
A complicated and mostly ingenious plot drives the novel forward for many chapters. There’s plenty of action and surprises, with everyone in the story oddly connected to everyone else, included Mahoney. But I think “Flash Flood” goes on too long and its resolution strikes me as flat and implausible. Still I enjoyed enough of the book to think I’ll check out another of Slater’s mysteries soon.
February 7, 2022
This is a complicated mystery. The setup seems pretty straightforward, but the reader is lead from one clue to the next, and one person to the next. Each change seems to change what really happened. It also seems to change who the suspect(s) might be. There are side diversions which sometimes seem to be key, but are they really?
A well written mystery. Particularly good for those who like to unravel the clues to arrive at the ending at the same time the key characters of the book reach the final conclusion.
A well written mystery. Particularly good for those who like to unravel the clues to arrive at the ending at the same time the key characters of the book reach the final conclusion.
May 25, 2019
Wow! This story has all kinds of twists and turns and I literally could not figure it out until the end. What is going on with the cattle mutilations and these people at the ranch? You won't know fully till the end. Hang on for the ride and enjoy every delightful and suspenseful moment as Susan Slater masterfully does what she does so well. Excellent read!
August 27, 2020
Good story, though I thought the ending to not be very conclusive. It left out why, or if, the Judge did or didn't do the deed. The author left out a reasonable reason why the Sheriff did what he did. Enjoyable read, well written.
May 18, 2022
Excellent read
I really liked the way you were kept guessing who was involved. The main character Dan was the only one I was ever sure about!
I really liked the way you were kept guessing who was involved. The main character Dan was the only one I was ever sure about!
April 3, 2023
Started out as a slightly above average mystery, but went "off the rails" with the ridiculous ending. A bit of a dis.app;ointment.
October 30, 2023
Great first book
The chapters are going to be around for a long time. I will read more from Susan Slater. I have not read stories covering insurance company investigator.
The chapters are going to be around for a long time. I will read more from Susan Slater. I have not read stories covering insurance company investigator.
December 9, 2023
Brilliant - not normally into PI type stuff, but this was good!!
January 10, 2024
Very good although sometimes it felt like there was a bit too much going on at once. But a good set of mysteries all intertwined with each other. I look forward to reading more in the series.
August 11, 2025
I thought that this was a good read. Reasonable pace, some good secrets and intrigue.
April 11, 2021
This is one of the most twisted and tangled stories I have ever read. And yet every revelation, every suspicion, is logical to the story. Hang onto your hat because this is a roller coaster ride of nonstop action that kept me on the edge of my seat. There were several storylines going on at the same time and they interwove with each other creating this tapestry of intrigue, deception, assertion of power, and slaughter. This author is so talented and creative, she just blew me away!! I don’t think all of the truth has been revealed; all of the people involved and the extent to which they were involved. In the story line almost every single character was accused of at least one thing and it was plausible. There are things that are revealed to us, as the reader, that are not revealed to Dan and I just think there’s a lot more beneath the surface that we are not aware of. I’m also wondering if the next book in the series will reveal anything more or is the author moving on to another place, another situation and leaving the questions behind-unanswered. I guess I’ll find out...
February 26, 2013
Dan Mahoney is an insurance investigator. He is called to Tatum, New Mexico to investigate the death of several prize cattle at the Double Horseshoe Ranch. On his way, he comes upon a truck shooting at a car. The car is washed away by a sudden flash flood. Dan begins to look into the death of the young woman who was driving the car and also the man who was her passenger. There are a lot of secrets in Tatum. Eric Linden, the man who was killed in the flood, had just been released from prison and was set to claim $2,000,000 that had been saved for him. when Dan goes to the bank, he is told there was never any two million dollars in the bank. There are a lot of questions to be answered in this book. the story is written very well and characters are well written. It is a good story and the mystery is first rate.
November 2, 2014
I'm not really sure why this mystery fell flat for me. The plot(s) are intricate and twisty, and I generally love that!
I think it was the tone. Even the exciting parts were written in a very plain, matter-of-fact way with almost no tension.
Similarly, all the characters are ciphers, or maybe puppets going through the motions. Even in highly emotional passages, their actions and reactions fall flat. I think Slater probably did see all these characters as vibrant individuals, but did not communicate this to the reader, which meant that many of their actions and choices seemed random.
It could have used a good editor, both to point out these problems and to correct many of the errors in grammar (and sometimes in sense). Plus, there were some interesting threads that were not followed, and these might have been advantageously excised.
I doubt I will read more by this author.
I think it was the tone. Even the exciting parts were written in a very plain, matter-of-fact way with almost no tension.
Similarly, all the characters are ciphers, or maybe puppets going through the motions. Even in highly emotional passages, their actions and reactions fall flat. I think Slater probably did see all these characters as vibrant individuals, but did not communicate this to the reader, which meant that many of their actions and choices seemed random.
It could have used a good editor, both to point out these problems and to correct many of the errors in grammar (and sometimes in sense). Plus, there were some interesting threads that were not followed, and these might have been advantageously excised.
I doubt I will read more by this author.
May 13, 2014
Storyline takes place in Tatum, New Mexico. Dan Mahoney is sent out to Tatum, NM to investigate the mysterious deaths of several prize cattle at the Double Horseshoe Ranch. Dan's investigations begin to involve people he knows including his sister, her husband, a woman he meets and falls in love with as well as the man who hired him to find out why his cattle were dying. Dan stumbles across mysterious human deaths including the deaths of 2 people who perished in a flash flood. I liked the book but felt the ending was rushed and left me with several unanswered character questions. Maybe the sequel will shed light onto some of my unanswered questions.
May 15, 2013
Some great descriptions of southern New Mexico in this tale of intrigue set around Tatum.
An insurance investigator checking on a story about dead cattle gets caught in a web of deceit--and then a flash flood might wash away a lot of evidence and wipe out some key witnesses.
That leads to casting doubt on even more suspects, as the investigator becomes haunted by the ghosts of greed and murder.
An insurance investigator checking on a story about dead cattle gets caught in a web of deceit--and then a flash flood might wash away a lot of evidence and wipe out some key witnesses.
That leads to casting doubt on even more suspects, as the investigator becomes haunted by the ghosts of greed and murder.
Want to read
August 19, 200808/18/08 rec via poisoned pen press book club
April 3, 2015
Very good, suspenseful book. I liked the characters and would read another book by this author.
March 20, 2017
This book is kind of a convoluted mess. There is no clear direction. No really likable characters. Too many characters coming and going.
December 5, 2017
Exciting murder mystery - lots of twists and turns. Now to read Rollover, the second Dan Mahoney book.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews