Small Towns Can Be Murder — Connie Shelton

Tucked into the mountains and valleys of northern New Mexico are the hidden towns, little enclaves of history and tradition--and secrets.

It is to one of these towns, Valle Escondido, that Charlie and her office assistant Sally Bertrand go for a July 4 weekend getaway. But almost immediately after their arrival they receive upsetting news and suddenly Charlie has a new mystery to solve.

Meanwhile, Drake Langston, the handsome helicopter pilot that Charlie met in Hawaii (Vacations Can Be Murder) is still in her life. He's coming to New Mexico for a visit, with the idea that he might convince her to move to Hawaii rather than continuing a long-distance relationship.

The plots intertwine and Charlie finds herself sifting through the clues to discover the hideous secrets harbored in Valle Escondido, while she wrestles with the decisions about her personal life as well.

""A good story and a challenging puzzle."" -- Robert O. Greer for National Public Radio

""Another delicious read for the beach "" -- The Pilot, Southern Pines, NC

""Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes."" --The Midwest Book Review