Death in the Desert

By R.L. Coffield

Set in the Arizona desert, Death in the Desert brings the current fiascos with the Mexican border, illegal immigration and drug issues to literature through a fast-paced, compelling, fictitious... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0977459330
• ISBN13: 9780977459339
• Release Date: April 2009
• Publisher: Moonlight Mesa Associates
• Length: 244 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

In my library, this book makes a great read.

I started Death in the Desert one morning while in the Jury Assembly Room, waiting to perform my civic duty. I though it would be fun to sit there and read this latest murder mystery book, just because of the title alone. By the time I was called to meet the judge, I was caught up in the action. When night finally came, I tucked myself in with the light on, and Death in the Desert. Every time I turned off the light, I wondered what in the hell is gong to happen next. How does an author even think up all these twists and turns! I turned on the light, and continued reading. Blood and gore! Exploiters! Guns! Secrets! I hate it, love it, and I was ready to throw it across the room! Who is this Marshal Jake Starr guy? I know he's important, but is he above the law, or just lazy? I knew more about Ben's nature from his adventures in Northern Escape, which made following his thinking easier; he is almost too predictable. However, the other characters drove me nuts! I love/hate the Marshal, was terrified of Miguel/Michael the drug dealer, and wondered why Chloe was running away, again. And thank God Ben found his nemesis! I never want to meet that guy, ever. This book kept me hanging on the edge; I couldn't sleep. I finally finished it at 3 AM, and went back through the pages to be sure about every detail I missed rushing to the next page. In my library, that makes it a great read! Thank you. I'm sure there is another book, so when can read a preview? Peter Burt - poet and much more.

Death in the Desert

Chekhov once said, "One must not put a loaded rifle on the stage if no one is thinking of firing it" and R. L. Coffield uses this technique masterly in her criminal drama, Death in the Desert. The book opens with detective Ben Thomas investigating the Cactus Murders in the Arizona desert when he comes upon an illegal immigrant holding her two dead children. Ominously, from the hills above this heat blanched valley, two antagonists, Jake Starr and Bill Passkey with murky pasts look on as this complex tale of poverty, revenge, corruption and crime unfolds at the cross-roads where illegal immigration and the narcotic trade meet. A love triangle between Ben Thomas, his ex-wife and a former partner and lover floats atop this criminal drama and give the story a romantic counterpoint to its violent dénouement. Coffield leavens her story with enough hints and clues to make it a compelling mystery and it contains a rich attention to detail which gives the reader a feeling they're in room as the plot unfolds. This book is a cogent examination of America's drug and immigration policies and should be required reading for anyone who thinks that there's no harm in just buying a "little" pot or cocaine. The novel is at times brutal and violent and at other times thoughtful and tender, but once the reader is swept up in this story it's very hard to put down.