FLASH FLOOD

The troubles build like thunderheads over New Mexico skies for insurance investigator Dan Mahoney in Slater's ambitious and entertaining new series debut. Dan has to look into the claims of cattle baron Billy Roland Eklund, owner of the Double Horseshoe Ranch, who's lost three calves in three months, each insured for $250,000—enough to make Dan's employers hysterical. Then a shooting and a flash flood that sweep away an ex-con who used to pilot for Billy Roland push Dan's investigation into other channels. Billy Roland, who's rich, exuberant and a better judge of cattle than of women, is just one of several strongly drawn characters. Dan's sister, Carolyn, is as ambitious and driven as her politically active husband, Phillip Ainsworth, and perhaps deadlier; Billy Roland's trophy wife, Iris, knows precisely what her assets are and how to exploit them. When insurance fraud, drug smuggling, voodoo and murder muddy the waters, Dan finds himself manipulated or coerced not only by the many suspects but also by a couple of federal agents. The plots and subplots almost seem too much for one story, and a long denouement leads to a not particularly credible ending. Nonetheless, Dan Mahoney is an appealingly resilient character, a welcome addition to the roster of sleuths that make the Southwest a hotbed of current mystery fiction. (Jan. 2)

FYI:Slater also writes the Ben Pecos series ( Pumpkin Seed Massacre, etc.).