Death of a Myth Maker — Allana Martin

LIFE--AND DEATH--ON THE BORDER

The Texas borderlands echo with ancient magic, even as humanity's darker side--guns, drug trafficking and murder--adds danger to this primal landscape. Though trading post owner Texana Jones is content contemplating the more surreal vistas surrounding her, she is once again immersed in a mystery of the all too earthly sort.

The murder of a Mexican photographer is dismissed as just the violence of the border. Yet Texana is drawn into the case and wonders about its connection to another crime: the shooting death of a "myth maker," a confidence trickster who'd been wooing Ella Spivey, one of the sisters of the powerful Seven Sisters Ranch. The victim, Julian Row, left a trail of enemies, and a local artist has been arrested. But Texana, with her innate understanding of la frontera culture--life on the border--discovers the truth is as unforgiving as the desert itself.