Tony Hillerman called it a gripping novel. Booklist says this is a series to watch. Start reading award-winning author Susan Slater’s original series right here, from the beginning. Native American psychologist Ben Pecos has returned to the New Mexico pueblo of his birth as an intern with the Indian Health Service. Still struggling with the demons of his past, he is plunged into the nightmare … plunged into the nightmare rampage of a mysterious illness that is killing the residents of the pueblo, including his own grandmother.
One of the victims, the powerful tribal governor, had made powerful enemies, and Ben suspects his murder was premeditated—but that doesn’t explain the insidious killer now stalking the innocent. Undaunted, Ben digs deep into the motives of power and greed to root out a killer whose deadly agenda is spiraling out of control.
Newly edited e-book edition
Praise for The Pumpkin Seed Massacre:
“… a gripping novel.” –Tony Hillerman
“This is a wonderful book with loveable heroes.” –Library Journal
“… Ben Pecos—raised far from New Mexico’s Tewa Pueblo—could become as lasting a fictional presence as Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee.” – Chicago Tribune
“Solid characters, fascinating atmosphere, and authentic setting—The Pumpkin Seed Massacre is a book you will enjoy. Ben Pecos is a star in the detective firmament. I predict a big future for Susan Slater.” – Barbara D’Amato
“Slater’s first novel holds the reader’s interest with its brisk pace, well-rendered New Mexico landscape and challenging plot … [T]his promising first novel heralds a series to watch.” –Booklist
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One of the best books I’ve read in a long time (I’ve read 90 so far this year). So Tony Hillerman (sp?). Could almost choke on the dust and smell the desert!
Great book, nice to read a book from where I live
This first book in Susan Slater’s Ben Pecos series is a page-turner for sure. The twists and turns keep you interested and guessing until the end. The best part for me were the characters and as I’ve read Susan’s entire series now, I really love Ben and Julie… but there are other character’s too like Lorenzo that are so darned adorable and you just can’t wait to see where he pops up next. Do yourself a favor if you haven’t read this series and start today!
Great read!
This book of fiction reads like a fact based story of the mysterious illness killing people of the pueblo and its visitors. This, the result of a science-based plot which has gone awry, has too many people involved with self-serving motives.The evil spreads to the unsuspecting until painstaking investigation leads to the culprits. The author releases the identity and involvement of one perp at a time, leaving the reader time to put pieces of the puzzle together.
This was a very entertaining book that kept me involved. It wasn’t hard to figure out who was behind the victims’ deaths and that somehow pumpkin seeds were involved. However, how the pumpkin seeds were made lethal was another matter. The solution to this mystery was satisfying.
This is a sweet little book. The story is predictable. The “who dunnit” was not a stretch for the reader to figure out. I enjoyed it but it wasn’t a page-turner.