Ceremonial Death [Mass Market Paperback]

B.J. Oliphant (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 29, 1995

Shadow Dancer Was Readying Her Hogan For A Healing Ceremony -- and Her Own Terrible Death....

And the beautiful cosmic healer, nee Bridget McCree, had not been dead long when her neighbor Shirley McClintock found her viciously mutilated body.

Was the murder the work of extraterrestrials, as recent cattle mutilations in the Santa Fe area are believed to be? Shirley's investigation into Shadow Dancer's torrid romances and tangled family affairs suggests more traditional motivations: greed, lust, and envy.

So after a second sordid killing and sly rumors that Shirley and her family are somehow involved in both crimes, she goes on the warpath: straight toward the unexpected truth and a head-on confrontation with Shadow Dancer's murderous last client...

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"Crusty" is the best way to describe Southwestern rancher Shirley McClintock, the star of this series that began with Death in the Scrub. But she's a warm-hearted and common-sense crusty. It's hard not to like someone who occasionally goes on a rant about the state of the world and mutters, "Idiocy. We are mired in idiocy."

This installment of Shirley's adventures finds her moved from Colorado to New Mexico where she lives among people, including the local sheriff, who seriously believe that extra-terrestrials not only walk among us but occasionally murder and mutilate cattle and the occasional human. It takes Shirley's refreshing brand of common sense to pin the ruckus on more traditional things like greed, lust, and envy.

--Margaret Sanborn, Senior Publicity Copywriter

From the Inside Flap

Shadow Dancer Was Readying Her Hogan For A Healing Ceremony -- and Her Own Terrible Death....

And the beautiful cosmic healer, nee Bridget McCree, had not been dead long when her neighbor Shirley McClintock found her viciously mutilated body.

Was the murder the work of extraterrestrials, as recent cattle mutilations in the Santa Fe area are believed to be? Shirley's investigation into Shadow Dancer's torrid romances and tangled family affairs suggests more traditional motivations: greed, lust, and envy.

So after a second sordid killing and sly rumors that Shirley and her family are somehow involved in both crimes, she goes on the warpath: straight toward the unexpected truth and a head-on confrontation with Shadow Dancer's murderous last client...

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Fawcett (November 29, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449148971
• ISBN-13: 978-0449148976
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #928,875 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars heroic in her sunset, April 26, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Ceremonial Death (Mass Market Paperback)

If you cringe at unproven stereotypes and don't want to be alone, then it's time you bunked ( or is it debunked ) with Shirley McClintock. She is the golden (or is it silver) west of the '90's. Trailblazing a path that has taken her beyond the trite well paved platitudes of old age, she still rides tall in the saddle. Oliphant's mystery series revolves around Ms.McClintock, and it had better be nimble or it will be left in the dust. While Oliphant plots an early and well thought out murder, Shirley is busy living another day infuriating and amusing herself with other people's stupidity. May she never retire or growup into youthful apathy. An original in fiction, I have a feeling there are many more real Shirleys in them thar hills. The plots are nearly as sound and interesting and fiery as Shirley-you can take her or leave her- I'll take her