WICKED EDDIES

A fishing tournament brings murder to the Arkansas River and distress to a novice river ranger.

Finding dead bodies is definitely not part of a ranger’s job description. In her initial year at the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, however, Mandy Tanner (Deadly Currents, 2011) already seems to have developed a knack for it. First, she discovers that someone buried a hatchet in Howie Abbott’s neck while the fly fisherman slept illegally at the Vallie Bridge campground. Later, while looking for missing angler Arnold Crawford, she dredges up the body of Howie’s niece Faith from the Canyon Doors rapids. Few will miss Howie, least of all his rivals, who accuse him of cheating by fishing in off-limits tournament waters the day before the start of competition. But Faith is mourned by all, especially her cousin Cynthia, who just happens to be Mandy’s best friend. Now Mandy watches the Abbotts unravel. Faith’s parents have an alibi for the time of Howie’s murder; so does her brother Craig. But Cynthia has none, and to Mandy’s horror, Det. Victor Quintana arrests her. Her boyfriend, Rob Juarez, wants Mandy to concentrate on selling her late uncle’s house so the pair can plow the profit into RM Outdoor Adventures, their fledgling company. But how can Mandy pay attention to real estate with her best friend in jail and no other culprit in sight?

Once again, Groundwater, mixing mystery with outdoor adventure, comes up with an excursion that will please most comers.