Marcie Browder is conflicted when she discovers her father's body on their Texas ranch, dead from a gunshot wound. In recent years, Mason had become an angry, abusive alcoholic. But Marcie could also still recall the loving father from her youth. Tucker McGee, a newly hired employee of the ranch, is standing near her father's body when she approaches. As the wise old sheriff investigates the murder, Marcie decides to do a little investigating of her own. She was immediately suspicious of Tucker, and she had good reason to be, although he eventually reveals the ulterior motive that led to him seeking employment at the ranch.
There are more than a few people who might have wanted Mason dead, beginning with the wife, daughter, and son he'd mistreated. None of them, including Marcie, seem particularly upset by his murder.
Following her father's death, Marcie is determined to make the ranch profitable. It has suffered from her father's mismanagement and the ongoing thefts of cattle. Between that, finding her father's killer, and her increasing attraction to Tucker, Marcie has her hands full.
As time passes, Marcie uncovers secrets of both her mother and brother. The more she learns, the larger the cast of potential suspects becomes. When the mystery finally unravels, I was both surprised and let down. I couldn't have predicted the motive for Mason's murder, but it felt a bit disappointing considering the earlier suspense. Fortunately, that was not enough to offset the book's positive qualities, namely: the depiction of ranch life, the gradual build-up of mystery and suspense, and the lovely romance between two well-written and very sympathetic characters.
It's worth mentioning that there is a lot of talking in this book. Much time is spent with various characters revealing their personal histories to others. I didn't mind it initially, because I found the stories mostly interesting, but I know not all readers enjoy this writing technique. I did eventually begin to skim over some of these sections.
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