Hardesty, Sue. The Truck Comes on Thursday: A Loni Wagner Mystery. L-Book ePublisher, 2011.  368p. 9781934889824 $17.95 pbk; 9781934889817 $10.95 ebook; 9781934889831 $13.95 audiobook

Drawing on her experiences and knowledge of Arizona’s deserts and landscapes, Hardesty combines police work, mystery, and romance with Native American culture, family, and loss into this entertaining and attention-grabbing  debut novel.

The protagonist, Loni Wagner, has returned home to her maternal grandparents, Native Americans who raised her on a ranch at the request of her German father. Suffering from the loss of Maria, her partner in love and work, Loni is reminded why she left, the hatred towards half-breeds and the chauvinistic attitudes towards females in general.

As she readjusts to small-town life after her city life in Los Angeles, Loni finds herself forced to tone down her lesbian, two-spirit self while investigating a major drug and human trafficking ring. Loni is the outsider who sees everything with a fresh eye.

Little does anyone know that the Chief of Police is the ringleader, and his attempts to thwart and stomp down Loni come not from prejudice but instead from his desire to save himself.  Plot twists, romance, hope, and despair all come together in this gut-wrenching, tear-jerking, hope raising tale of romance and mystery.

This book is a wonderful addition to any romance or mystery collection as well as for those interested in reading about police work, Native American culture, and a touch of Arizona history.

Reviewer: s.n.