Public relations consultant Sasha Solomon travels to Belen, New Mexico, to help the small town increase tourism using a former Harvey House as the main attraction. Two factions think they've got the key to Belen's economic success. The train enthusiasts hope to transform the building into a bed and breakfast complete with a restored Fred Harvey restaurant. The equally vocal artists want to create a world-class gallery with the "blasphemous" art of Phillipa Petty--an internationally known painter and local denizen--at its center. When Solomon finds Petty's murdered body in the artist's studio, the consultant's life becomes much more difficult than mere press releases and returns-on-investment. "With its sly humor, offbeat characters, and endearing sleuth, The Belen Hitch takes us on a vivid journey through New Mexico's culture, food, art, and landscape in search of a killer. As PR expert Sasha Solomon investigates the murder of a controversial artist--think sacrilegious Georgia O'Keeffe--she must also deal with the aftermath of her mother's stroke, a new beau, a cranky detective, forty-year-old secrets, and ghosts that won't stay dead. Taichert infuses her new mystery with such humanity and warmth that you'll come away glowing."--Denise Hamilton, author of Edgar, Willa, and Creasey Memorial Dagger nominated Eve Diamond novel "A dynamic and original protagonist lends spice to this southwestern story...nicely spiced with local color." ." . a fun and witty read. Full of interesting characters. ." The Belen Hitch" is a recommendable book for mystery fans and a fine sophomore effort for Taichert." ""The Belen Hitch" is a perfectly fine romantic mystery, with a Harvey House ghost thrown in for good measure. The book is a good beach read or is perfect for a day on the couch during wintery months." ""The Belen Hitch" is a worthy successor to the agatha-nominated "The Clovis Incident," retaining all of the wit and originality of the first book but with a more polished style. . . The events of "The Belen Hitch" leave Sasha with many new ideas and situaions to tackle and I eagerly await the next installment of this fresh and entertaining series." ""The Belen Hitch" is sure to be a hit with lovers of New Mexico mysteries and with those who like their heroines feisty but a little bit cozy." "Ý"The Belen Hitch" is¨ a whirlwind ride, with the tension winding ever tighter as the story races to the finale. "The Belen Hitch" left me a little breathless but looking forward to Sasha's next project." "A quirky heroine, off-the-wall humor, strident factions battling for control of a historic house, and elements of small-town New Mexico should endear this especially to fans of Southwestern mysteries." "It's a tangled web Albuquerque resident Pari Noskin Taichert weaves with her second installment of the Sasha Solomon mystery series. . . Taichert has a knack for creating characters you want to keep turning the pages for." "Noskin populates her books with wonderfully interesting characters, references to local landmarks and color, love interests, and a bit of the supernatural. Like "The Clovis Incident," "The Belen Hitch" is a great fun to read and, hopefully, will be followed with book three." "Taichert provides all the ingredients for a bang-up regional cozy." "Taichert's refusal to employ hackneyed metaphors results in descriptive passages alive with a breezy freshness. The author is word savvy and witty, and it shows to her advantage in this enjoyable tale." "The perfect blend of crime, romance, blasphemy, and Sasha's favorite--whipped cream." "The support cast is made up of quirky characters that add humor to the tense storyline and make readers feel they are reading a family saga inside an amateur sleuth tale. Pari Noskin Taichert creates an atmospheric mystery that will send chills up the readers spines." "This amateur sleuth is a vivid protagonist, and the landscape and lifestyle of New Mexico also play central roles in the book. . . Taichert fans, take note." "This book makes for extremely enjoyable reading. Sasha is a likeable, intelligent, quirky heroine, and the mystery she finds herself embrolied in is interesting to navigate. . . The lush setting of New Mexico also adds to the allure of the story. This book leaves the reader willing to go anywhere with Sasha." "This is a fun romp with well developed characters and enough authentic and intriguing backgrounds to make readers hanker for a visit to Belen. . . Taichert has come up with a fecund and fascinating premise for a mystery series." "With "Belen Hitch," Taichert once again creates a suspenseful mystery but, just as importantly, she also preserves the goofy energy and humor that made "The Clovis Incident" so charming. At the same time, one can see the difference a year makes in plot and characters that feel more solidly developed. All that's left now is to wait for the next installment." "With "Belen Hitch, Taichert once again creates a suspenseful