Sounds like just the antidote Mag needs from her high powered life in the city.  The only downside to Mag’s new life is that city born and bred Baxter doesn’t get along all with the king of the roost, German shepherd named King. Mag does not find the peace and serenity she is seeking in Nevada when shortly after her arrival there is an explosion at the water pumps, an executive’s death is ruled a suicide and Baxter, getting used to his new life and ability to dig, uncovers bones and a Russian ring over a century old.  As the water debate heats up, Mag gets the feeling that the executive’s death may not have been suicide, but murder and starts to ask some questions that the locals do not appreciate.

Rita Mae Brown, the author of the popular Mrs. Murphy series hasn’t quite gotten the voice of her dog characters as well as her beloved cats and the animals in her Jefferson Hunt Club series. She writes as if readers already know her new characters so they fall a little flat. 

The water rights issue is interesting and very complex; those familiar with the West or in drought-prone areas will understand the importance, but others in areas where lack of water isn’t a usual problem may find the issue tedious at times. The connection between the two murders and the inquiries Mag makes into the older murder add the most interest to the plot. Readers may find themselves wishing that the plot focused a little more on that murder and less on water issues. 

The tentative friendship and bond the two dogs make and their conversations are not as frequent as they might be to win more animal lovers over to this new series.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry