Rio Grande Fall [Paperback]

Rudolfo Anaya (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 16, 2008

"When a woman dies after falling from a hot-air balloon at Albuquerque's world-famous balloon fiesta, private investigator Sonny Baca's intuition tells him it's murder. His intuition also tells him that the murder is the work of the Raven, the leader of a violent cult that murdered Sonny's cousin, and a man Sonny thought he'd killed. The murder jeopardizes the millions of tourist dollars connected with the fiesta, but Sonny knows the Raven has more on his mind than simple mayhem. This is a completely entertaining mystery novel, but Anaya actually offers two parallel lands of enchantment. One is temporal New Mexico; the other is Nuevo Mexicano, a land of santos, milagros, spirits, visions, and even brujas (witches). It's a land of old ways, old values, and old wisdom. And it's a land where small farms and multigenerational families are fast being wiped out by modernity."--Booklist

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Private investigator Sonny Baca, a thirtyish Mexican American with deep cultural roots in New Mexico, uses his developing spiritual powers to halt a vengeful cult leader's rampage. The game-playing bad guy, Raven, who murdered Baca's cousin and supposedly died in a flash flood, challenges Baca by killing a visiting balloonist at Albuquerque's balloon fiesta. Baca's restaurant-owning girlfriend, homeless Hispanics, an exotic curandera, and drug smuggling others add spice. Colorful visuals, sensuous descriptions, and the mythic clash of good and evil result in a thrilling adventure. For all collections.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

When a woman dies after falling from a hot-air balloon at Albuquerque's world-famous balloon fiesta, private investigator Sonny Baca's intuition tells him it's murder. His intuition also tells him that the murder is the work of the Raven, the leader of a violent cult that murdered Sonny's cousin, and a man Sonny thought he'd killed. The murder jeopardizes the millions of tourist dollars connected with the fiesta, but Sonny knows the Raven has more on his mind than simple mayhem. This is a completely entertaining mystery novel, but Anaya actually offers two parallel lands of enchantment. One is temporal New Mexico; the other is Nuevo Mexicano, a land of santos, milagros, spirits, visions, and even brujas (witches). It's a land of old ways, old values, and old wisdom. And it's a land where small farms and multigenerational families are fast being wiped out by modernity. Both mystery fans and armchair travelers will enjoy Anaya's second Sonny Baca novel. Readers who love both genres will find it enchanting. Thomas Gaughan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 343 pages
• Publisher: University of New Mexico Press (September 16, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826344674
• ISBN-13: 978-0826344670
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,291,358 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Rudolfo Anaya is professor emeritus of English at the University of New Mexico. He was one of the first winners of the Premio Quinto Sol National Chicano literary award. Winner of the PEN Center USA West Award for Fiction for his novel Alburquerque, he is best-loved for his classic bestseller Bless Me, Ultima. His other works include Zia Summer, Rio Grande Fall, Jalamanta, Tortuga, Heart of Aztlan , and The Anaya Reader. He has also written numerous short stories, essays, and children's books, including The Farolitos of Christmas and Maya's Children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sonny Baca and Raven square off for Round 2!, September 6, 2000

By 

Bruce Jones - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rio Grande Fall (Mass Market Paperback)

Rio Grande Fall is the second novel featuring the resourceful Alburquerque private eye, Sonny Baca. Rita, Lorenza, Turco, Don Elesio, Howard, and the rest of the unforgetable characters from Zia Summer are featured and so is the diabolical eco-terrorist, Raven!

The Hot Air Balloon Festival of Alburquerque is in danger of being cancelled unless Sonny Baca can figure out who is responsible for the murder of two balloon pilots. It doesn't take Sonny long to realize that his arch rival, Raven is responsible, but Raven has more on his agenda than just vengance. A beautifully written novel with suspense and surprises all set in the mysteriously charming state of New Mexico.

Not as good as Zia Summer, but an enjoyable sequel nontheless!

4.0 out of 5 stars Good points and bad points, October 12, 2010

By 

Michael J. Gauthier (Dover, NH United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rio Grande Fall (Paperback)

After Sonny gets captured for about the 5th time in the 2-book story, I get impatient. Anaya writes him as an idiot, at times. The bad guys keep putting him in situations where he *will* be killed - such as tying him up and setting fire to the building - instead of simply shooting him in the head a few times, and being done with it. Really lame, actually. I mean, it's very like watching your TV hero get into a pickle in the 1st ten minutes of the hour-long show, with the dramatic pause just before the commercial. You know Sonny's going to get out of it, seeing as there are 200 pages left in the book. We must like formulaic plots, because we keep seeing them, to the point where even a 10-year old knows how it's going to go.

What I've really liked about his writing is the way he describes the people and the land in and around Albuquerque, NM. It makes me want to go there, and know the Nuevo Mexicanos. I really like his descriptions of the spiritual life of the people, the family customs - the culture.

My politically incorrect response to some of his lamentations about Anglos changing the culture is to note that that's pretty much what the Spanish/Mexicans did to the Pueblo Indians who were there before anybody else.

5.0 out of 5 stars Anaya's writing is like a breath of fresh air after a thunderstorm, October 13, 2008

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rio Grande Fall (Paperback)

Born in Pastura, outside of Santa Rosa, New Mexico, Anaya was the fifth of seven children. He attended the University of New Mexico with an undergrad degree in English, then obtained his master's degree in English, as well as one in guidance and counseling. Anaya taught for the Albuquerque Public Schools, became a counselor, and ended up as a member of UWM faculty. He retired in 1993 after twenty years. He is well known for Chicano literature, and has published several books that deal with the history of New Mexico and the influence of Old/New Spain; as well as the Mexican; Native American; and Anglo influences that make up today's magical Southwest.

Mexican P.I. Sonny Baca finds himself once again in a struggle against the evil Raven. Not only did Raven murder Sonny's beautiful cousin, but his murderous tricks threaten to disrupt the Albuquerque International Balloon Festival, the area's biggest money-maker. Clues point to a conspiracy between government; drug cartels; and the cult leader Raven Sonny is also on a personal quest to discover his own spiritual guides, the coyotes, and how they can help him as his search for Raven becomes increasingly dangerous:

"From where he watched, Sonny could sense the fury that bristled between the two men. They hated each other, they didn't trust each other, but the deal kept them together. Sonny knew it was always like this; the money to be made on drug deals made strange bedfellows. The hate and distrust grew, and only death could ease the greed that was always part of the world of drugs."

Rudolfo Anaya treats the reader to a panorama of the New Mexico landscape. Then he charms us with the history of these wonderful people. Finally, he digs deeper into the disservice that's been done in the name of government and tailors it into a plot that is fascinating and impossible to put down. Sonny Baca is a modern day medicine man, as well as being a charming private eye. Sonny is a compelling hero, and he constantly puts his heart, as well as life and limb, in danger for his friends. RIO GRANDE FALL is one heckuva read by an author who has much to teach. Anaya's writing is like a breath of fresh air after a thunderstorm.

Shelley Glodowski

Senior Reviewer