Blood Atonement: A Dahlgren Wallace Mystery

By Jim Tenuto

Book Overview

Blood Atonement is the first in a brand new mystery by a bright new face on the mystery scene. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1592288979
• ISBN13: 9781592288977
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: Lyons Pr
• Length: 306 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.8" x 1.0" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Blood Atonement

I read this first as a library book. I loved the characters and it almost makes me want to be a fly fisherman. The long and short of it, I bought the book to add to my library. JAK

Fast paced and humorous

Reviewed by: Ellen Hogan for Reader Views (7/06) Dahlgren Wallace is having a very bad week. He is the river keeper for Fred Lather's ranch the Carved L. His job is to take VIP's that Fred invites to the ranch fly fishing. There is nothing Dahlgren likes more than spending the day on the river fishing. While out doing just that he gets a page from Fred and is told to get back to the ranch ASAP. Fred invited Elton Elderberry and his wife Susi to fish with Dahlgren. Fred is trying to buy into Elderberry's company VideoComp. He tells Dahlgren to give them the royal treatment. The first day that the Elderberrys and Dahlgren go fishing, Elton tells him that he has heard that Wallace does not like Californians and Mormons. Then he tells him that he is both, they talk awhile and Dahlgren explains why he doesn't care for either Californians or Mormons. They have a pleasant day on the river and decide they will head out again in the morning. The next day Dahlgren leaves Elton fishing in a side channel and takes Susi further up the river. When he gets her all squared away he decides to go and check on Elton. As he gets close he does not see him in the spot where he left him. Then a piece of fabric catches his eye and he finds Elton face down in the river, dead. The local chief of police and FBI get involved right away and arrest Dahlgren for the murder. It seems the murder weapon was found in Dahlgren's boat. They question him for awhile and finally let him go. The next thing that Wallace knows he is being kidnapped by the Montana Patriots. The leader wants to know what Dahlgren has told the FBI about them and what questions he was asked about the group. Dahlgren says he wasn't asked anything. After a good beating and a message for Fred to give land to the Montana Patriots, Dahlgren is allowed to leave. He tells the FBI agent in charge of the case what had happened. When he is done fishing the next day, Dahlgren is stunned by a woman in the car next to his truck. Out of nowhere comes a van and he is transported to PETEM headquarters (People for the Equal Treatment of Every Mammal). Their leader Zed also wants to know what the FBI knows and he like the Patriots demands that Fred hand over some of his land because of the fishing and hunting. While all this is going on, some of the bison on the ranch is being slaughtered or poisoned. So Dahlgren is not only looking for a murderer but also someone trying to ruin Fred. After the foreman of the ranch is murdered Fred tells Dahlgren that he is the new foreman. Once he starts looking for clues he finds out in short order who is killing the bison. Not long after that the real killer of Elton is uncovered. This book is quick moving and keeps your interest. It is very hard to put down. Dahlgren is a very likeable hero and gets into some funny and scary situations. Anyone who loves a good mystery will like this book. Fast paced and humorous "Blood Atonement" is a winner.

Great vacation read

I bought this book while on vacation in Montana. I am not generally a fan of murder mysteries, but this one looked interesting because it promised to cover diversity in a culture that seems rather two-dimensional to an outsider - white and Native American. The book succeeded, and it did not even scratch the surface of the Native American community that is so present in Montana. In addition, the plot had enough twists and turns to make it a real page turner...enough so that I brought it along on hikes and read a good part of it on the banks of glacial rivers and lakes. What a perfect setting for reading such a good book. I highly recommend this book.

What a wild ride and terrific ending

I am a mystery novel addict. I had heard from the members of my book club just how great this book really is. I bought it and figured that I had just an hour available to begin reading it. Eight hours later I put the book down after reading it from cover to cover. (I rescheduled an appointment with a client until the next day because I refused to stop turning the pages.) And this is from a guy who has been feeling that there are no new literary twists out there for me anymore. Was I in for a great surprise. On a scale of 1 to 5, this one is a 6.

Great First Novel

Why read another derivative formula novel when you have a chance to read something fresh? No one writes dialog better than Tenuto. No one adds more odd characters and angles. This is the first of a series that is going to get even better. Buy this book. Now.