The glacial lake and mountain peaks of Flathead Valley, Montana are so enticing that wealthy people flock there to build homes and enjoy the great outdoors - just like longtime valley residents have been doing for generations.
Unfortunately, the beauty of Flathead Valley isn't matched by the atmosphere just now. Tensions are high between environmentalists who want to curtail logging in the Kootenai National Forest and people who rely on logging to support their families.
Militants on both sides of the issue depict their opponents in the most derogatory manner possible. Radical environmentalists claim the timber interests want to "clear-cut every last tree in the forest and to exterminate all of the animal species that depend on the forest habitat."
And logging proponents insist the 'enviros' are "misinformed tree-hugging elitists who care more about a handful of trees, birds, bears, and fish than they do about the men, women, children and communities whose livelihoods depend upon the timber industry."
It's in this climate that lawyer Toby Martin, a leader of the Northwestern Environmental Alliance - which filed a lawsuit to stop logging in the Kootenai National Forest - is bludgeoned to death with an axe handle.
Sheriff Chris Williamson quickly arrests Steve Helstrom, a sawmill worker who'd threatened to kill Toby during a fight at the Crossroads bar.
Moreover, Steve had the bloody murder weapon in the bed of his pickup truck. This seems like incontrovertible evidence, and Steve is locked up.
Attorney Dave Matthews, who has a solo practice in Kalispell, is recovering from an emotional trauma, drinking heavily, and NOT ready for a big case. However Steve's brother Bob Helstrom implores Dave to help, and the lawyer agrees to defend the suspect.
After talking to the arrestee, Dave believes Steve is innocent and sets out to uncover the real killer.
Dave's investigation consists largely of talking to people who might shed light on the murder. This includes Toby's fellow employees at the Northwestern Environmental Alliance; patrons of the Crossroads bar who saw Steve and Toby fighting; Toby's former girlfriend; Toby's brother; and locals who might have a grudge against Toby.
One of Toby's most vocal foes is an obnoxious newspaper editor named Kevin McKinney.
McKinney's weekly publication is a radical right-wing screed that blames the 'Eco-Fascists' for all the valley's problems. McKinney's paper screams that the "rights of all Americans are under assault by extremists posing as environmentalists who are waging war on the West to implement their Communistic views." McKinney is particularly critical of Toby Martin, who he labels a "traitor to his native state." Could one of McKinney's combative readers have killed Toby?
Dave also sets out to ascertain Steve Helstrom's state of mind and whereabouts on the day of the murder. This leads Dave to speak to Steve's buddy, who worked on a car with him that day; Steve's boss, who owns the sawmill where he works; and people who say Steve wouldn't hurt a fly unless he's drunk. Even then, Steve's supporters say, he would never KILL anyone.
When the lawsuit filed by the Northwestern Environmental Alliance results in a temporary halt to logging, all hell breaks loose in Flathead Valley and Missoula, where the Alliance has its headquarters. There are harsh words; threatening emails; raucous demonstrations; violent fights; fire-bombings; vandalism; etc.
Dave thinks some of this might tie in to Toby's killing, but Sheriff Chris Williamson doesn't necessarily agree.
In between working on Steve's case, Dave takes time to play tennis and golf with his buddies; dine on lasagna Bolognese in an Italian restaurant; munch on hamburgers and fries in his favorite pub; enjoy glasses of beer and wine; chat with pretty women (the book is chock full of good-looking gals 😊); go running; do legal work for other clients; reminisce about old girlfriends; recall the incident that traumatized him; and more.
All of Dave's digging around annoys some people, and there's trouble as he approaches the solution to the case.
I enjoyed the book, which has an engaging plot, picturesque descriptions of Montana, and interesting characters. I'd recommend the novel to fans of traditional mysteries.
Many thanks to James L. Thane for a copy of the book.
Rating: 3.5 stars
No comments:
Post a Comment