Shadow of the Raven

by: David Sundstrand

Published by: St. Martin's Minotaur

Francisco "Frank" Flynn is an officer with the Land Management. He's the son of an Irishman and a half-Mexican and half-Paiute Indian. His passion is the animal life of the Mohave Desert.

When he finds a man who has been recently murdered, he becomes suspicious. It's not unusual for someone to die in the desert, but this corpse has no shoes or canteen. Later, Frank learns that some bikers are searching for a missing friend. He believes the dead man is the biker the men are looking for.

Frank loathes the bikers and is determined to rid the desert of this human danger. He and reporter Linda Reyes look into the man's unusual death, and as a result, danger begins seeking them.

I love the character of Frank. His passion runs true and deep, his voice strong, his determination is fierce. The supporting characters are richly drawn and you love to hate the bad guys. The plot is delicious and you'll find yourself turning the pages and losing track of time.

Armchair Interviews says: Sundstrand's debut novel, Shadow of the Raven, is a winner.