Customer Reviews

The Belen Hitch: A Sasha Solomon Mystery (Sasha Solomon Mysteries)

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I fell in love with THE CLOVIS INCIDENT, and eagerly awaited Pari's new book-THE BELEN HITCH. Well, I am hands down enthralled with Sasha Solomon and think she is one of the most unique sleuths out today. I won't go into the plot, I'd rather not spoil it for you, and besides, other posters have already given you enough clues. Just take my word for it, okay? Pari and Sasha are quite a pair, and they're gonna be around for a long time-which, for all of us-is just great!

If you like your cozies with a quirky touch, Pari Noskin Taichert's new book, 'The Belen Hitch', is the book for you. Sasha Solomon is back with her travelling PR work, and this time it brings her to Belen, NM (the first time out she was in Clovis, NM for 'The Clovis Incident', which was nominated for an Agatha). She has a new friend (a very appealing psychic), gets a new beau, and finds a newly dead body to sleuth around and about. Sasha's hallucinations and having her cat speak to her are gone this time out, but she still uses whipped cream straight from the can as comfort food. She hasn't yet started handling her mother's health problems well, but her mother does have a boyfriend who is an absolute gem -- and who calls Sasha, 'Sashala'.

She's been hired to make a recommendation to the Belen mayor about two competing local plans for an old, unutilized 'Harvey House'. We find that artists (who want a gallery) and train fans (who want a museum/bed and breakfast combo) are butting heads over the 'right way' to go. (As an aside, the author is a PR professional and I imagine her books will give good inside info -- and every now and then while reading, I thought 'ah ha', that sounds like a very practical idea.) Sasha's first interview is to be with an artist who happens to be an old friend of her mother's. Instead, she discovers the artist's body and the 'who-done-it' is on. By the book's conclusion, several other people we meet have been threatened or had attempts made on their lives.

Pari Taichert's voice is a breezy, breath-of-fresh-air first person with lots of humor. (My favorite example here is while talking with a local woman who 'knows' the Harvey House's ghost -- and a really quite lovely ghost as they go -- Sasha inquires about which plan the ghost would prefer. Local: 'The bed and breakfast.' Sasha: 'Why?' Local: 'She gets lonely.') I met Ms. Taichert at the 2003 Bouchercon convention and liked her instantly. I've liked her books too and hope to get to read new ones from her for a long time. 'The Belen Hitch' is well worth the read -- and I believe your impressions will bring you to the same conclusion.

Traveling PR consultant Sasha Solomon has taken a new assignment. The town of Belen is trying to figure out what to do with an old building in town to attract tourists. Part of the town wants to turn it into a bed and breakfast train museum. The other part thinks it would make a great art gallery, especially since local artist Phillipa Petty has promised some of her pieces.

The thing about Phillipa is that she's controversial. Her art attacks religious figures from all over the world. She also happens to be a friend of Sasha's mom, so Sasha figures this is a great place to start.

However, when she arrives at Phillipa's house, Sasha finds the artist dead. Sasha's mom takes the news hard, and begs Sasha to find out what happened to her friend. Was it the train faction trying to shoot down their competition? Or is their something even more sinister involved?

The plot starts off strong and continues to build. There are so many great twists and red herrings, I wasn't sure what was going on. The writing style brings a dose of humor to the book, adding to the fun. Unfortunately, the ending was a little abrupt for my taste, but it did tie everything together nicely.

The characters help make the book strong. Sasha is charming and human. I love her love interest in this book. Her best friend, Darnda brings a touch of the paranormal to the story. Even the new characters are well developed.

All told, this is a solid second effort. I'm looking forward to Sasha's third case.

From the first words, "AIIIIIIEEEE, HA,HA,HA!" I was captivated!

The author's love of New Mexico and its culture are clearly communicated thru her unique descriptors, regional references and zippy storyline.

Although the reoccurrence of paranormal activity was over presented without being fully developed, it doesn't distract from this pleasurable read.

In The Belin Hitch Sasha Solomon, a PR rep who specializes in helping small towns attract tourism, is hired by the mayor of Belen, New Mexico. Her job is to help this small community determine the best way to preserve and use a historic building in order to attract tourism.

Tension runs high as two distinct groups with very different goals for this community centerpiece attempt to manipulate the decision. While Sasha tries to sort out the complicated motives, she has to deal with the murder of her mother's dear friend--a controversial local artist with a colorful past--while juggling her personal life which is, to put it mildly, a disaster!

I grew up in a small town and understand that, like the author's home state of New Mexico, small towns are the life blood of sparsely populated states. I appreciated her fresh approach combining fiction with the intention of creating interest in the small towns of New Mexico.

Would you believe there really is a Belen, New Mexico?

Armchair Interviews says: Nice mixture of small town life and tension between competing groups.

THE BELEN HITCH by Pari Noskin Taichert (9/05)- No sophomore slump here in Taichert's second mystery featuring New Mexico's Sasha Solomon, PR Consultant and self-styled "super sleuth". The Belen Hitch begins with the murder of a local artist which may or may not be related to controversy over what to do with one of Belen, New Mexico's few assets - a Harvey House restaurant/ railroad boarding house from the town's early days. One faction wants to restore it into a train museum, the other to create artists' cooperative, but will either side kill to get their wishes? Solomon's mother is part of the mystery also, but her stroke-damaged brain can't seem to make the connections for Sasha. The book is crisply written with lines like "Once her mind had been like a fine painting, but stroke after stroke -the paint thinners of brain injury - has created a horrid mess." A new boy friend and a dogged detective from the New Mexico State Police are added to the mix, which stays stirred up to the end. I predict we will see more of Ms. Solomon, whose first response to trouble, if available, is a squirt of whipped cream, chased by some chocolate mini-morsels and good scotch. I mean, what's not to like....

Sasha Solomon is stressed out. Her mother does not know what day it is. Her interviewee gets killed just before their appointment and she has a choice of recommending a museum of sacrilegious art to religious community or B&B with a ghost next to a very busy railroad track. Never mind her love life is not doing all that well. But when momma wants to know why her friend is dead Sasha will not disappoint her mother. Nor will she disappoint the reader with her perilous adventure. Sasha's curiosity gets better of her even if her mother cannot remember her friend is dead.

I loved the quirky characters, their interactions, and the sense of humor that shines throughout this novel. It was a good introduction to small-town life in New Mexico, and the author's love for the state is apparent. I have also read The Clovis Incident, which I liked as well, and have ordered The Socorro Blast which I hope to have in hand this week. I'll definitely keep my eyes open for future books from this writer.