Cactus Heart: A David Mapstone Mystery

by Jon Talton

Book Overview

In this prequel to the popular David Mapstone mysteries, author Jon Talton takes us back to 1999, when everything dot-com was making money, the Y2K bug was the greatest danger facing the world, and the good times seemed as if they would never end. It was a time before David and Lindsey were together, before Mike Peralta was sherriff, and before David had rid himself of the sexy and mysterious Gretchen. In Phoenix, its the sweet season and Christmas and the new millennium are only weeks away. But history professor David Mapstone, just hired by the Sheriffs Office, still finds trouble, chasing a robber into an abandoned warehouse and discovering a gruesome crime from six decades ago. Mapstone begins an investigation into a Depression-era kidnapping that transfixed Arizona and the nation: the disappearance of a cattle barons grandsons, their bodies never found. And although the kidnapper was caught and executed, Mapstone uncovers evidence that justice was far from done. But this is no history lesson. The cattle barons heirs now run a Fortune 500 company and wield far more clout than a former-professor-turned-deputy. Then one of the heirs turns up dead....

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1590583523
• ISBN13: 9781590583524
• Release Date: May 2007
• Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
• Length: 227 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

Fantastic book, especially if you know AZ

This author and his series are outstanding. Living in AZ I can picture all the places he refers to.

Another great novel from Talton

Talton writes about Phoenix as a native. He uses the grandeur of Arizona politics and realities to move forward his plot. He also manages to toss in editorial comments about the changing demographics and exponential growth. Talton is a great read and every one of his novels have been a great treat.

Cactus heart

Even though it's a 'pre-quel' to his other books, I enjoyed it alot. His books are always interesting because of his viewpoint on Phoenx and its history. Since I live in a suburb of Phoenix, it makes it even more interesting. His books are intelligent, thoughtful and suspenseful.

The past is never the past

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (1/07) David Mapstone used to be a history professor, now he is a Deputy Sheriff in the Phoenix area. After accidentally discovering the bones of two young brothers who had been kidnapped during the Depression era, Mapstone starts investigating their deaths. The boys appear to be Andrew and Woodrow Yarnell, grandsons of a cattle baron. They had been kidnapped and held for ransom, but their bodies were never discovered. The suspected kidnapper, Jack Talbott, had been executed and a woman believed to be his accomplice, still remained incarcerated. Prior to his execution, Talbott insisted that the boy's uncle was involved. DNA evidence leads to further intrigue in this mystery. Things just don't add up like they should. A murder and an attempted murder of Yarnell family members lead Mapstone to wonder if these attacks are related to the investigation of the kidnappings. As he is investigating this case, he is also dealing with his own relationship issues. A much younger lover appears to be exiting from his life, while a beautiful but mysterious new woman is entering. He also has his boss moving into his home while he is sorting out his own relationship issues. Author Jon Talton has written an excellent mystery. I love how he ties the past into the present. There are also some unexpected twists in the story. Not everybody is who they seem to be. "Cactus Heart" is a prequel to his David Mapstone mysteries. I enjoyed this story so much that I look forward to reading his other novels. I highly recommend this novel to mystery fans. It would also be a great one for a readers group.

well written police procedural

In 1999 Phoenix, Arizona, historian David Mapstone is a consultant to the Sheriff's Department and a deputy who works cold cases. One night while out to dinner with his lover, his boss Chief Deputy Mike Peralta interrupts. Three criminals are hijacking a car. One was immediately caught, another was captured by David and Peralta in a warehouse; the third remains free. During the warehouse arrest, a wall crumbled; inside were the skeleton of two children and a pocket watch. David notes that the watch contained the brand of the Yarnell Empire and that the remains are probably the Yarnell identical twins kidnapped during the Depression. David is assigned to affirm his theory and close the case, which seems simple to do by matching DNA from the bones with that of a live Yarnell descendent. However, to his shock the DNA samples are not a match yet all other circumstantial evidence and dental records affirms these are the brothers. As he ponders the stunning information, someone murders the head of the Yarnell family making his inquiry take a modern murderous twist. This is a well written police procedural starring an intelligent protagonist who is able to brilliantly look at issues from a variety of perspectives something few people can do. David's analysis of the present and the past especially the abduction will surprise readers yet remains plausible. That is the key to a terrific investigation of a Depression Era double murder and a modern day linked homicide. Jon Talton provides an entertaining mystery. Harriet Klausner