Moonscape by Julie Weston is the third in the “A Nellie Burns and Moonshine Mystery” series. The mystery takes place in the 1920s around what is now known as Craters of the Moon, an ancient lava field that spreads across 618 square miles in southwest Idaho.
Sheriff Charlie Asteguigoiri and Nellie Burns, now on a first-name basis, have worked out an arrangement for Nellie to become his crime photographer. Three people have been reported missing and the Sheriff and Nellie, together with her dog, Moonshine, follow a lead that the threesome, a man and two women, have gone to the lava fields and haven’t been seen since. There is talk that the missing people were involved in a religious cult, but the investigation unveils lies, greed and dangerous relationships.
The lava fields are treacherous with caves, tunnels, sharp peaks and uneven difficult- to-navigate ground. Their initial investigation reveals one dead body, but that is only the beginning of a sinister, perplexing puzzle.
Author Julie Weston has again woven an intriguing mystery which includes an unusual landscape vividly described. The character Nellie Burns, a woman of courage and curiosity, is a skilled photographer with ambitions rarely seen of women in that time period. Although it isn’t necessary to have read the previous two mysteries in the series, Moonshadows and Basque Moon, to appreciate this novel, I enjoyed revisiting some of the previous characters in this latest mystery, Moonscape.
Mary: Nice to know there are still mysteries that grab one’s imagination with many juicy details. I have not read this series but am hoping to give my current WIP several twists or turns—which sounds mysterious as of now—so I better start reading this series.
Judith, this is a really good suspense series. Her description of the landscape is so accurate.
Dear Mary, thank you so much for reviewing MOONSCAPE! You have done a superb job of describing my newest book about Nellie Burns, the sheriff and Moonshine.
Loved MOONSCAPE and all the books in the Nellie Burns series. Unique mysteries.
I enjoyed this too, Irene. We’ve been at those lava fields–what a perfect place for a mystery!
You’re so welcome, Julie. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!