The Pumpkin Seed Massacre (The First Ben Pecos Mystery) [Hardcover]

Susan Slater (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1999

The series debut of Native-American psychologist Ben Pecos, who returns home to find his Tewa Pueblo in the fatal grip of a mysterious epidemic and his heart falling for a beautiful television reporter there to cover the story.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Slater's debut, set on the Tewa Pueblo in New Mexico, combines Native American culture with some of the elements of a twisty medical thriller. Protagonist Benson (Ben) Pecos, who was born on the pueblo but grew up in Utah, accepts an internship in counseling from Dr. Sanford Black at the Albuquerque Service Unit of the Indian Health Service. Black is concerned because four people with similar, flu-like symptoms have died in the course of four days. As the number of cases mounts, words like "epidemic" and "plague" begin to be bandied about. Ben, whose mother was Tewa and whose father was Anglo, soon finds himself in the midst of the investigation into these mysterious deaths. Television news reporter Julie Conlin is assigned to cover the story, and, though their first meeting starts inauspiciously, she and Ben are attracted to one another. As they delve into the increasing number of deaths, the governor of the pueblo dies of the mysterious plague, an event that vaults Johnson Yepa, who wants to develop a casino on tribal land, to the top post. Meanwhile, a tribal elder is found to be in possession of a packet of pumpkin seeds that Black and his team figure out contain a deadly, manmade virus. That the virus and the casino are connected won't come as a surprise to readers. Nor will the identity of the man behind all the mayhem, since Slater identifies him very early. With most of the suspense dulled, Slater has to rely on the appeal of Ben to sustain a reader's interest. But neither Ben nor anyone else really comes alive in a narrative that is inelegantly fractured into different points of view. (Oct.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Newcomer Slater successfully taps into the complex issues facing Native American communities in this dynamic mystery set primarily in one of New Mexico's Tewa Pueblos. Handsome Ben Pecos has straddled Anglo and Native cultures since the death of his mother, an alcoholic Tewa artist, spending summers with his grandmother at the pueblo and winters with adoptive parents in Utah. While considering graduate school, Ben accepts an internship at the Tewa Pueblo's medical clinic and is immediately drawn into a major medical disaster. A plague-like epidemic has begun spreading among New Mexico's residents and tourists, sending the nation into a fevered panic. As Ben is drawn into the orbit of the strange illness (presumably caused by tainted pumpkin seeds), he begins to fall for Julie Conlin, a local TV reporter. This is a wonderful book with loveable heroes. Recommended for public and academic libraries where interest in the Southwest is high.ASusan A. Zappia, Maricopa Cty. Lib. Dist., Phoenix
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 234 pages
• Publisher: Intrigue Pr (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1890768170
• ISBN-13: 978-1890768171
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,303,298 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Susan Slater writes mysteries set in her beloved New Mexico--there's the highly acclaimed Ben Pecos series (first book, Pumpkin Seed Massacre, made it to the bestsellers' list in Germany, 2001), Yellow Lies, Thunderbird and a Way to the Manger. Then the two stand-alones, Flash Flood and Five O'clock Shadow. But the big news is Susan's new book, 0 to 60 (July, 2009). Her first foray into women's fiction! And already optioned by Hollywood! Susan lives thirty miles west of Taos and writes full time.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good mystery debut, October 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Pumpkin Seed Massacre (The First Ben Pecos Mystery) (Hardcover)

Ben Pecos has a mixed heritage. His father is Anglo, while his deceased mother was Native American. Most of his life has been spent in the Anglo world culminating in his graduating from Stanford. Surprisingly, Ben accepts an internship working for Dr. Sanford Black at the Albuquerque Indian Health Service Unit. His home station is the Tewa Pueblo where his grandmother lives.

On the Pueblo, several senior citizens suddenly die, but no one seems concerned. However, that changes when healthy younger Indians die. Panic surfaces, as an epidemic appears to be on the precipice. TV reporter Julie Conlin covers the deadly outbreak. She works with Ben to solve the mystery of the virus that is killing the residents of the pueblo.

THE PUMPKIN SEED MASSACRE is an entertaining Native American mystery that centers on a man-made killer virus linked to casino interests. The atmospheric story line captures the diversity of New Mexico while providing insight into a Native American culture. Ben and Julie are an intriguing pair of amateur sleuths, who seem capable of carrying the plot. The fracturing of various points of view occasionally leaves the audience disconnected. Still Susan Slater provides an enjoyable debut that will have sub-genre readers wanting more appearances from Ben and Julie.

Harriet Klausner

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Borderline, July 24, 2009

By 

Lehua of Pacifica "Lehua of Pacifica" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pumpkin Seed Massacre (A Ben Pecos Mystery) (Worldwide Library Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

The plot is like a Mister Potato Head mixture of various standard mystery plots, yet it ends up being a pretty good tale. The writer needs to stay away from adult material until she can do it with competence, and sometimes she gets a bit didactic about native lore, but it was worth the purchase.