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The Replacement Child (2008)

by Christine Barber(Favorite Author)
3.35 of 5 Votes: 5
ISBN
0312385544 (ISBN13: 9780312385545)
languge
English
publisher
Minotaur Books
series
Gil Montoya Mystery
review 1: I love reading books that are set in places I've had a chance to visit. Having experienced the dazzling, vertigo-inducing view from the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge as well as the mystery and beauty of Santa Fe and Taos area I really enjoyed the strong sense of place and culture that the author invoked which is a primary character in the book. Though I found her main character a little hard to like or understand at first I think she'll grow on me. Am looking forward to the 2nd in the series.
review 2: This is Barber's first novel, set in the American SW (New Mexico) that won the Tony Hillerman Award in 2007. It has the usual first novel flaws; excess descriptions, and some narrative that doesn't propel the story. A good editor could have pared a little bit out.
... more Still, overall this was a good book. The story was good, and the characters were believeable. The basic storyline is about Lucy, an editor for a local newspaper who gets a tip on a murder from an unnamed source. She develops a working "relationship" with a local police officer, Gil Montoya, who is investigating the crime. When Lucy's source is murdered, she believes there is a connection to the ongoing investigation, and must convince the local cops. Gradually the ties between the two cases are established and the culprits revealed.... Nothing in Lucy's personal life is resolved and everything goes back to normal by the story's conclusion. Not a great read, but a decent one that is fairly short. 3 stars. less
Reviews (see all)
lai
Best mystery I've read in a long time! Learned about New Mexico, too. A win-win.
hannah101
I liked the journalist character, she was believable
Haydn
NM local color
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