by Ace Atkins
Part of Spenser, book 28
First published 2001
Spenser travels to Potshot, Arizona, where the small desert community has been terrorized by a gang of armed criminals. The locals have grown desperate enough to pool their money and hire the Boston private investigator to deal with their problem. Spenser finds himself in unfamiliar territory, far from his usual urban hunting grounds. The town's residents include an eclectic mix of retirees, artists, and misfits who chose this remote location to escape their pasts. As Spenser investigates the criminal gang's operations, he discovers the situation is more complex than a simple case of local troublemakers. The criminals have been systematically intimidating businesses and residents, creating a climate of fear. Spenser must adapt his methods to this harsh desert environment while building trust with the wary townspeople. The case tests both his physical abilities and his understanding of what people will do to protect the communities they call home.
Genres: adventure, mystery, crime, detective, action
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Potshot, Arizona
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
294 pages · Hardcover · G. P. Putnam's Sons