Read “Grizzly” by Christine Andreae

Don’t be put off by the title, “Grizzly”, this isn’t the typical western story, but a fascinating mystery.  Set in Montana, the main character is Lee Squires, an English Professor and poet from Washington D.C. who is taking her spring break and cooking at the struggling J-E Dude Ranch.  During this week, the ranch is catering to a group of potential Japanese investors. Gourmets will appreciate the meals that Lee creates for the guests using western flare, tempered with Japanese and French sensibilities.

The owner of the ranch, Mac, an environmentalist, is committed to studying and saving the grizzly bear. The book shares some fascinating information on the life of the grizzly, one of the most feared creatures on earth.

 Shortly after Lee arrives, she finds a dead body with some missing parts.  After a second body is found, the authorities believe it is a grizzly that is the villain, but Lee doesn’t buy it and ends up investigating on her own. 

Christine Andreae’s, first book, “Trail of Murder” (1992, St. Martin’s Press), was nominated for an Edgar and began the Lee Squires series.  “Small Target” is the third book in this series.  A standalone mystery, “Smoke Eaters” about western wildfires earned Andreae a finalist status for a Willa Award for Women Writing the West.  “Smoke Eaters” was named a Thriller of the Year by the Washington Post.  She has also has written “When Evening Comes” a book about her experiences as a hospice volunteer.  Christine Andreae received her B.A. from Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY, and her M.A.T. from Yale University.  She also is an accomplished artist having studied botanical drawing and painting at the Corcoran School of Art. 

I enjoyed this book much more than I had expected to and read it very quickly. The part that I appreciated most was the way she interspersed the information on the grizzly so that I learned quite a bit, while being entertained.

Five stars out of Five.

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