The Belen Hitch: A Sasha Solomon Mystery - Softcover

"With "Belen Hitch, Taichert once again creates a suspenseful mystery but, just as importantly, she also preserves the goofy energy and humor that made "The Clovis Incident so charming. At the same time, one can see the difference a year makes in plot and characters that feel more solidly developed. All that's left now is to wait for the next installment." "A quirky heroine, off-the-wall humor, strident factions battling for control of a historic house, and elements of small-town New Mexico should endear this especially to fans of Southwestern mysteries." "Taichert's refusal to employ hackneyed metaphors results in descriptive passages alive with a breezy freshness. The author is word savvy and witty, and it shows to her advantage in this enjoyable tale." "It's a tangled web Albuquerque resident Pari Noskin Taichert weaves with her second installment of the Sasha Solomon mystery series. . . Taichert has a knack for creating characters you want to keep turning the pages for." "The support cast is made up of quirky characters that add humor to the tense storyline and make readers feel they are reading a family saga inside an amateur sleuth tale. Pari Noskin Taichert creates an atmospheric mystery that will send chills up the readers spines." "This book makes for extremely enjoyable reading. Sasha is a likeable, intelligent, quirky heroine, and the mystery she finds herself embrolied in is interesting to navigate. . . The lush setting of New Mexico also adds to the allure of the story. This book leaves the reader willing to go anywhere with Sasha." "With "Belen Hitch," Taichert once again creates a suspenseful mystery but, just as importantly, she also preserves the goofy energy and humor that made "The Clovis Incident" so charming. At the same time, one can see the difference a year makes in plot and characters that feel more solidly developed. All that's left now is to wait for the next installment." "Taichert provides all the ingredients for a bang-up regional cozy." "The perfect blend of crime, romance, blasphemy, and Sasha's favorite--whipped cream." ""The Belen Hitch" is sure to be a hit with lovers of New Mexico mysteries and with those who like their heroines feisty but a little bit cozy." "This amateur sleuth is a vivid protagonist, and the landscape and lifestyle of New Mexico also play central roles in the book. . . Taichert fans, take note." ." . a fun and witty read. Full of interesting characters. ." The Belen Hitch" is a recommendable book for mystery fans and a fine sophomore effort for Taichert." ""The Belen Hitch" is a perfectly fine romantic mystery, with a Harvey House ghost thrown in for good measure. The book is a good beach read or is perfect for a day on the couch during wintery months." " "The Belen Hitch" is a whirlwind ride, with the tension winding ever tighter as the story races to the finale. "The Belen Hitch" left me a little breathless but looking forward to Sasha's next project." "This is a fun romp with well developed characters and enough authentic and intriguing backgrounds to make readers hanker for a visit to Belen. . . Taichert has come up with a fecund and fascinating premise for a mystery series." "Noskin populates her books with wonderfully interesting characters, references to local landmarks and color, love interests, and a bit of the supernatural. Like "The Clovis Incident," "The Belen Hitch" is a great fun to read and, hopefully, will be followed with book three." ""The Belen Hitch" is a worthy successor to the agatha-nominated "The Clovis Incident," retaining all of the wit and originality of the first book but with a more polished style. . . The events of "The Belen Hitch" leave Sasha with many new ideas and situaions to tackle and I eagerly await the next installment of this fresh and entertaining series." "A dynamic and original protagonist lends spice to this southwestern story...nicely spiced with local color."

Public relations consultant Sasha Solomon travels to Belen, New Mexico, to help the small town increase tourism using a former Harvey House as the main attraction. Two factions think they have got the key to Belen's economic success. The train enthusiasts hope to transform the building into a bed and breakfast complete with a restored Fred Harvey restaurant. The equally vocal artists want to create a world-class gallery with the ""blasphemous"" art of Phillipa Petty - an internationally known painter and local denizen - at its centre. When Solomon finds Petty's murdered body in the artist's studio, the consultant's life becomes much more difficult than mere press releases and returns-on-investment.