Beanie is very pleased when she receives a call from her daughter Wenona who is coming to Tahoe for Thanksgiving week, but less pleased to learn that Nona is bringing her new boyfriend Medwyn.  Medwyn works for Tallis, a corporation that is constructing a rock-climbing wall and theme park in the area, something the local Indian tribes are fighting against. 

Beanie (though why any grown woman would accept this as a nickname no matter how good her chili tastes) dislikes Medwyn immediately as does Cruiser.  Soon, Beanie and Cruiser are stumbling across dead, mutilated bodies, most of whom the medical examiner declares “frightened to death” before they were mutilated by an unknown animal, all of whom are somehow connected to Tallis. 

Beanie is on the trail of a hot story and ends up helping Skip investigate, noting that each murder victim is missing one of a pair of shoes from his closet, which no one can figure out. And when one each of Beanie’s and Nona’s shoes go missing, she turns up her investigation to find a murderer.

 The plot of this mystery is a bit unorganized and hard to follow at times.  It also suffers from some poor editing, some of which is due to the fact that the book was originally published in 2001 and has not been re-edited for release in 2010.  Beanie refers to Nona’s cell phone as a “cellular” and the fact that Nona has one is considered unusual;  Beanie gives Nona a pair of L’eggs pantyhose in their “white plastic ovum,” something L’eggs has not used in many years, and the Sheriff is running for mayor, but gives a campaign speech the day before Thanksgiving, when generally elections are held several weeks prior to Thanksgiving. 

Some of the clues, such as a slippery, glittery substance, are never explained, and when the murders are wrapped up, motives and other related crimes are not explained satisfactorily. 

Beanie is getting used to being a widow and has started dating Skip, who is very rude to her at the Fireman’s Ball, albeit unbeknownst to him, but Beanie notices.  Beanie shows poor judgment putting in a doggy door for Cruiser at the time when she is concerned that there is a strange, large, strong animal on the loose and when Beanie (and Cruiser) tag along on a call to a murder scene they ride in the sheriff’s vehicle (in the front seat). When the Sheriff questions Beanie’s presence, Skip says “editor’s orders” and the Sheriff accepts it, allowing the local paper editor to overrule his authority.

Beanie is a pleasant enough character, but worries too much about pleasing others, often selling herself short.  She reveres her heritage and shares it with Nona, and enjoys and respects the natural setting in which she is lucky enough to live.  Cruiser provides some humorous moments and comic relief, often stealing the scene.                                        

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry