When the Devil Doesn't Show: A Mystery
At Santa Fe’s Los Posadas, the city’s annual celebration of the Nativity story, the local man who usually appears in the role of the devil is unaccountably absent. Later he is found brutally murdered, along with his partner, who worked in one of the labs in the Los Alamos complex, and an unidentified man, apparently burned alive in a nearby bedroom. It’s up to Sante Fe police detective Gil Montoya and his partner, Joe Phillips, to figure out what happened. Unfortunately, before they have a chance to investigate fully, more bodies, similarly executed, turn up. Joe Phillips’ humor provides a good counterpoint to Gil’s serious demeanor as chief detective, while information important to the investigation is provided by journalist Lucy Newsome. Lucy’s personal story, first introduced in The Replacement Child (2008), runs parallel to Gil’s investigation, adding a bit to the mystery’s central concern while greatly strengthening the journalist’s character. Once again, Barber takes full advantage of the natural beauty of New Mexico and the multiethnic character of Santa Fe, integrating both beautifully into her story. --Stephanie Zvirin