Murder at the Spirit Cave — Frederic Bean

The Texas Rangers search for a brutal killer--but their suspect may live only in spirit.

A woman has finally joined the all-male ranks of the Texas Rangers--and her controversial appointment has rocked the legendary law enforcement agency to its core. The daughter of a veteran Ranger, Carla Jenkins has been paired with her father's former sidekick, Claude Groves. The new partners are eager to dive into their first case, the shocking murder in Terrell County of a young man whose body is found in a remote cave--scalped and mutilated beyond recognition.

No one knows why the man was killed, but his injuries mimic an ancient Indian ritual of torture. When an elderly Lipan Apache--the county's only Indian--is accused of the crime, Claude and Carla smell a frame-up. Now they must sort through the tangle of physical evidence, contentious land deals, and Apache legends to find out if the murderer is an avenging spirit warrior from beyond--or an all-too-human monster who kills without mercy.