Also by this author: Yuletide Slaying , Homicide Hideaway (Shandra Higheagle Mystery #12), Dangerous DanceBook ten in the Shandra Higheagle Mystery Series Secrets… Scandal… Murder… An autistic boy and his brother need potter Shandra Higheagle’s help when a teacher’s body is found after a confrontation with the older brother. Shandra knows the boy is innocent. Digging into the teacher’s life, she and Ryan turn up scandal. Detective Ryan Greer has believed in Shandra’s dreams in the past, but she can’t always be right. When his investigation uncovers a principal on the take, females being harassed, and parents kept in the dark, he discovers more suspects than the brothers. Shandra’s time at the school is coming to an end, and the killer has struck again.
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I have been mainlining Paty Jager for awhile now. She writes books about Sandra Higheagle, Native American artist who lives near the Idaho/Oregon Border, and the author actually lives about 3 hours from where I do. Her books are ones that I can read in a day, and I really enjoy her writing. When I have the ability I will order one of her books with another Amazon order and then read it.
Artful Murder I picked up a couple of months ago when I ordered my daughter her wrestling singlet. Hey whatever works right? This book following Sandra as she teaches art at the local high school. She is just about to finish up the semester when one of the teachers is found dead outside. The last one seen with him was a student of hers. A student who takes the brunt of teasing and jokes. A student with an older brother who has a bit of an anger issue.
Obviously this is just yet another body that she was around when it was discovered. It is becoming more than just a coincidence that Sandra seems to always be in the vicinity of a newly dead person. At least the detective on the case, Ryan, is friendly with Sandra and doesn’t automatically think that she is at fault. To help Ryan, Sandra has her grandmother come to her in her dreams, showing her bits and pieces of what happened or what could happen.
Like I said, these mystery books are good reads and they are relatively short. The author also really tries to bring in Native American culture when appropriate. It never seems forced, but it is there in almost every book. Also there is the family dynamics of Ryan’s family which I think most people can relate to. Another thing I enjoy is that the author really does her research, in that police procedure and other aspects of life where Sandra lives. You can tell the author has taken the time to do their research. The descriptions are such that you feel that if you were to walk into a small sheriff office, you may actually see some of what she is talking about. I enjoy when books have that real life aspect to it. To me it shows that the author cares enough about their story to do the research needed.
I would suggest if you are reading this review and you haven’t read any of the Sandra Higheagle series to start near the beginning of the series. Each book is a standalone, however they do have ongoing under currents and events and relationships. It may be confusing if you haven’t read the early ones.
PURCHASE
About Paty Jager
Paty Jager is an award-winning author of 30+ novels, novellas, and short stories of murder mystery, western romance, and action adventure.
All her work has Western or Native American elements in them along with hints of humor and engaging characters. Paty and her husband raise alfalfa hay in rural eastern Oregon. Riding horses and battling rattlesnakes, she not only writes the western lifestyle, she lives it.
