Someone Missing from Malapais Mountain: The Accidental Detective Book 4

It’s hard to chase the truth when you need a cane… 

Former international war correspondent Kate Tessler had to trade her illustrious journalism career for her childhood bedroom after a brush with death almost took her leg. But Kate is drawn back into her old world when a journalist covering a sprawling story of political corruption is the victim of a hit-and-run. Gabriella can only communicate by blinking yes or no to questions. 

Kate takes the case with her new PI partner—her sister, Jen—and their trusty senior sidekicks. Can a fifty-year-old journalist with a bad leg survive the dangers of the Arizona desert long enough to catch a killer?

Get Someone Missing from Malapais Mountain. 

Okay, I might have chosen Malapais Mountain because of the alliteration, which follows the series pattern of Something or Someone (maybe someday Somehow?) followed by three words starting with the same letter. 

Also, Malapais means badlands, which has a nice ominous sound. 

Arizona’s Malapais Mountain is near the Superstition Wilderness east of Phoenix. I like to hike, and this plot allowed me to get Kate and Jen into the rugged wilderness. In the southwest, the desert full of cacti and spiky plants—and maybe a rattlesnake or two. Everything wants to hurt you. I’ve hiked in the area many times (and pulled cactus spines out of various body parts more than once). But to write the book, I needed to get out to the area again and take notes and photos. Not a hardship!

Here are some views in the Malapais Mountain area. It’s beautiful:

Note the saguaro, the tall cacti, which starts growing arms only after they reach 50 years old. 

The saguaro cactus is limited to southern Arizona and northern Mexico. They’re easy to spot—it’s the little cacti that get your ankles while you’re hiking! 

If you thought the desert was flat, nope—hiking can take you up and up! And then you have to get back down again.

You can also visit a ghost town, now a tourist attraction, if you’d rather have a burger and drink than face the desert.

About the Author

Kris Bock writes novels of romance, mystery, and suspense. In the Accidental Detective series, a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles the challenges of turning fifty. This humorous series starts with Something Shady at Sunshine Haven. Find The Accidental Detective Series in ebook or print on Amazon US, Amazon UK, or at Tule Publishing with links to all retailers. 

Kris’s Accidental Billionaire Cowboys series follows a Texas ranching family that wins a billion-dollar lottery. Who wouldn’t want to be a billionaire? Turns out winning the lottery causes as many problems as it solves. The Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the employees and customers at a cat café. Watch as they fall in love with each other and shelter cats. Learn more at www.krisbock.com. Sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter to get a free Accidental Detective mystery story, a free cat café novella, and more. 

Kris also writes a series with her brother, scriptwriter Douglas J Eboch, who wrote the original screenplay for the movie Sweet Home Alabama. The Felony Melanie series follows the crazy antics of Melanie, Jake, and their friends a decade before the events of the movie. Sign up for the romantic comedy newsletter to get a short story preview, or find the books at Amazon US or All E-book retailers.

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