The Last Song Dogs

News of the gruesome murders of former Javelina High School Song Dog cheerleaders hits home with private investigator Trade Ellis in this debut mystery. One of the few remaining members of the squad, Ellis has been content working her immense Arizona ranch, Vaca Grande, and taking on the occasional insurance fraud or cheating-spouse case. But two aging classmates, worried for their lives, convince her to take on her first murder case while there are still some Song Dogs left. The upcoming 25-year reunion provides Ellis with the perfect opportunity, but little time, to interview her lengthy, diverse list of suspects, many of whom don't take kindly to her prying. Employing the help of some valuable connections, the sleuth finds more plausible motives than she knows what to do with, and uncovering lies and secrets soon proves dangerous. The action moves briskly and is boosted by the motley cast of characters and Browning's inspired descriptions of the Southwest landscape up to the very end, when the killer's true identity is revealed. (Apr.)