Yellow Lies: A Ben Pecos Mystery (Ben Pecos Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Susan Slater (Author)

Book Description

Series: Ben Pecos Mysteries | Publication Date: August 2000

Following on the critical success of her debut Ben Pecos Mystery, The Pumpkin Seed Massacre, Susan Slater returns to the pueblos of New Mexico with Yellow Lies.

Salvador Zuni is a master carver of traditional fetishes. He is also a cheat. He makes synthetic amber that rivals anything to be found in nature. He even sticks the bugs inside. His recipe is worth a fortune, and someone is after it. Someone who is willing to kill and use the spirits of the tribes to drive Salvador out of his mind and into prison for a murder he did not commit.

When Ben Pecos, the new resident Indian Health Services psychologist, arrives at the pueblo, he finds himself caught up in the investigation of the murder of a trader in native artifacts and fetishes. Sal is arrested for the crime. But something smells odd to Ben, and as he begins to investigate, he treads deeper into the mystic and the list of suspects grows longer. Was it Hannah, the vampish keeper of the boarding house in which they all dwell? Her son, a huge, developmentally challenged boy with the nickname .22 for the size of the firearm used by his father to celebrate his birth? Could it have been Ben’s own boss?

Masterfully plotted and rich with the spirit and characters of the Southwest, Yellow Lies shows Susan Slater to be at the top of her form

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Ben Pecos, the half-Indian, half-Anglo hero of Susan Slater's first mystery, The Pumpkin Seed Massacre, returns to the Pueblo country of his youth as a reservation psychologist for the Hawikuh tribe. He gets caught up in the supernatural hallucinations of Salvatore Zumi, a master fetish carver whose guilty secret (how to make amber that's almost impossible to tell from the real thing) weighs heavily enough on his conscience to drive him crazy. But not crazy enough to share his formula with Hannah, his enigmatic lover and landlady, whose partnership with Sal has supported her retarded son, the oddly named .22, for years. When the murder of an Arab trader who marketed the amber for Hannah is blamed on Sal, Ben sets out to investigate. Although he senses that Sal is not being completely honest with him, he believes in the carver's innocence and in the strength of Sal's visions and spirit visitations.

Slater's characterization of Hannah makes it easy for the reader to believe that she's involved in more than the sale of illicit amber and that Sal's hallucinations have a decidedly earthly dimension. But the creakiness of the plot is more than offset by the author's rich evocation of Native American culture, rituals, and religious beliefs. Ben Pecos is a thoughtful man who seems to have internalized the best of both his worlds, and the romance with a television reporter that blossomed in his first outing takes a firm step forward in Yellow Lies. Well grounded in the history and archaeology of the American Southwest, this is a welcome addition to the genre popularized by writers like Tony Hillerman and a fine step forward in what promises to be a popular series. --Jane Adams

From Booklist

While making counterfeit amber, Hawikuh artist Salvador Zuni finds a dead body in his trunk. Then the body vanishes. The corpse reappears at psychologist Ben Pecos' boardinghouse, putting Pecos and his fiancee, Julie Conlin, in danger. This second mystery starring Pecos, a Tewa Pueblo, builds on the strengths of its predecessor, The Pumpkin Seed Massacre. Slater effectively combines an appealing mix of new and existing characters; beautiful, even mystical, descriptions of northern New Mexico; dry humor; crackling suspense; and a surprise ending. Nicely integrated with the action are intriguing details on Native American life and mythology. The pacing is a bit slow here, but this remains a promising series that definitely belongs on the shelf with other crime novels treating Native American themes. John Rowen
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Intrigue Press; First Edition edition (August 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 189076826X
• ISBN-13: 978-1890768263
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,615,940 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

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For fans of Hillerman and Native-American mysteries, August 17, 2000

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yellow Lies: A Ben Pecos Mystery (Ben Pecos Mysteries) (Hardcover)

In New Mexico, Sal Zuni and Hannah Rawlings run a fake prehistoric fossil business where the former collects, dries and places bugs in a special formula for the latter to sell. However Sal has become nervous that someone is on to their scam, but continues to develop the products because he will do anything for Hannah who encourages him.

This latest time in the back woods to collect insects, Sal finds a corpse he thinks is his dealer Ahmed. Sal thinks it's a warning. He flees for a moment, but returns to discover the body is gone. Psychiatrist Dr. Ben Pecos has just moved into the area to provide help to the local Hawikuh tribe for the next two years to pay back his education loan. Ben is a half Indian who was raised by Mormons. That night the scalped body of Ahmed appears by Sal's trailer, parked near Hannah's boarding house where Ben stays. Ben assists Tribal Cop Tommy Spottedhorse on the investigation of the homicide.

YELLOW LIES is a wonderful Native American mystery that will provide much entertainment to fans of the sub-genre. The story line is crisp and smoothly flows as readers gain insight into life on and near a reservation. The characters vary yet the key players seem complete as personalities surface. Susan Slater scribes a strong story that will leave readers wanting more Pecos Ben tales.

Harriet Klausner