by Cynthia Chow

Details at the end of this post on how to win a copy of The Body in the Landscape, and a link to purchase it.

While a weekend hunting trip in rural Swinton, Georgia, wouldn’t seem to be the preferred choice for a Christmas-season getaway, portrait artist Cherry Tucker is looking for an escape from her family problems in Forks County. A timely opportunity arises when the owners of the Big Rack Lodge host a ten-thousand dollar buy-in competition to hunt down the mythical hogzilla that is one of the feral hogs wreaking havoc throughout Georgia. Also up for contention is a “kill portrait” of the hunter standing over his prize, drawn onsite by Cherry. She might rankle at the elitist nature of the hunt, but her Russian friend/mobster Max “the Bear” Avtaikin is sponsoring Cherry’s stay at the lodge for the entire weekend, included along with her paid assignment. Along for the trip is Cherry’s studmuffin ex-boyfriend Todd McIntosh, whose covert assignment is to babysit Max and prevent him from further injuring his torn-out knee.

As a harbinger of things to come, Cherry stumbles across the first casualty before the hunt even begins. No one, including the local police, seem invested in conducting any sort of investigation into the death of the town drunk, firing up Cherry’s instinctual need to fix, assist, and meddle in other people’s business.

Cherry is also highly motivated by the need to avoid her own problems, which mainly concern her love for Deputy McHottie Luke Harper, and his family’s feud with her own. As a result, Cherry finds herself unable to resist poking her nose into the business of the celebrity hunt that includes a pretentious rock star filming his own reality show, a young Olympic hopeful, a money-laden Atlanta couple, and one local contest winner. Even the gorgeously scruffy head guide can’t prevent what soon devolves into a situation of the hunters becoming the hunted, and Cherry finds herself over her head but in her element, as she attempts to discover attempts to protect her friends and hopefully survive what has become a less-than-relaxing camping trip.

This sixth in the series is an absolute delight for fans of the feisty and resilient heroine. Cherry unabashedly dons bedazzled denim to a dinner with designer-wearing guests, and her sense of humor elevates her above those who may belittle her diminutive stature. When she does get a little overconfident, the smack of reality quickly sends her back to earth. A daughter of the South, Cherry is torn between loyalty to her family and the one man who has always made her happy, and she copes by attempting to solve everybody else’s problems. Her sharp wit hides a vulnerable core, and few readers will be able to resist becoming invested in Cherry’s future as she finally makes a decision to confront her family’s secrets.

This is a winning series that continues to grow stronger and never fails to entertain with laughs, a little snark, and a ton of heart.

This book is published by Henery Press, if you would like to know more about their books you can visit their website: henerypress.com

To enter to win a copy of The Body in the Landscape, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “landscape,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen December 19, 2015. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address, and if via comment please include your email address.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & short stories in our mystery section.

You can use this link to order this book:

Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).