September is so jammed with good books that I’ve already read that I was forced to move the review of Tricia Fields’ latest Josie Gray mystery to today, and A Reluctant Saint isn’t even released until September 6. But, once I discovered these police procedurals set in West Texas, I didn’t want to miss it.
Josie Grey is the police chief in a West Texas border town. Artemis, population 2,500, has all the problems of any small town, and, unfortunately, a police force of only three people. Now, they have added problems. One of the mayoral candidates, Mike Striker, claims he’s on a congressional commission on voting oversight, and he’s inspecting voting machines. He also is involved in a controversial project. He’s buying up land, and has found a loophole that allows for a greyhound track in Artemis. Josie can’t prevent that, but she becomes involved when a woman raising greyhounds for Striker is found dead.
It would be so easy to have spoilers in the review of A Reluctant Saint because there are several deaths, and Josie continues to circle back to Mike Striker and his plans. Instead, just focus on Josie’s problems. She’s being harassed at home. Someone seems to have access to her house, and they’re proving it by leaving just traces that they’ve entered. She’s shorthanded at work. She has to deal with a politician who might be crooked and involved with the voting machines, but he has a lot of clout. She has one suspect she can’t touch because he’s a powerful figure in his hometown in Mexico. And, she made the mistake of going on one date with Striker’s nephew, something that could influence all of her investigations. Actually, Josie’s personal life and behavior was the biggest disappoint in this book.
If you enjoy police procedurals with multiple entanglements, you can’t go wrong with Tricia Fields’ Josie Gray mysteries, including the latest one, A Reluctant Saint.
Tricia Fields’ website is https://www.triciafields.com/
A Reluctant Saint by Tricia Fields. Severn House, 2022. ISBN 9781448306879 (hardcover), 240p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I reviewed a galley for a journal.
Interesting. Can’t believe this is her seventh book and the first time I’ve ever heard of her. My library seems to have three of the earlier ones – #2, 4 and 5. The first was THE TERRITORY (2011). I like regional mysteries and the Southwest, so might try one.
The first one, The Territory, won the Hillerman Prize, Jeff. I’m always interested in the winners of that prize because they tend to be atmospheric, and, as you mentioned, about the Southwest.
Great series. Enjoyed them all though this one was not nearly as good, in my humble opinion. I had a hard time with the second half of the book.
You’re right, Kevin. This one wasn’t as good as previous ones. I think Josie’s behavior was just off. And, it seemed as if she tried to cram too much into the book, although to be honest, there really is too much going on in Texas politics right now.
That is the truth! Things are freaking insane.