Flash floods have decimated the town of Garnett, Texas, and Bethany Richter was found clinging to a tree branch. A dozen people were killed and property was destroyed. Annie McIntyre just managed to get to her apartment building when the floods came and spent three days marooned in her third-floor apartment.

A couple of weeks later, Bethany, a childhood acquaintance who was a friend of Annie's cousin Nikki, comes to Annie because she wants to hire her to find the man who rescued her during the flood and who has disappeared.

Searching for the missing man will be Annie's first independent case as a partner in the private investigations firm started by her now retired grandfather and his business partner. Naturally, she goes to her grandfather for advice. He suggests going back to the scene of Bethany's rescue to get a feel for the area.

While Annie is at the scene she discovers the body of a woman in her own pickup. However, Jacinda did not drown, she was shot to death. Annie wonders if the shot woman and the missing man are connected. She finds that both have ties to the local megachurch where Bethany's husband is the son of the founder and an assistant preacher.

As Annie looks into things, she finds herself discovering drug running and financial misdealing on her way to discovering a murderer.

This was another excellent mystery with intriguing characters. ( )

This is the second book in the Anie McIntyre series and was nominated for an Edgar.

Annie McIntyre is working in her uncles P.I. firm. There was a flood in Garnett, Texas and her friend, Bethany, almost drowned were it not for a stranger her pulled her out of the rampaging river but somehow disappeared after saving her. Bethany hires Annie to find the good samaritan, if he is still alive, to thank him.

While going back to the scene of the saving, Annie sees a truck submerged in the river. Wading over, she sees a body in the front seat, obviously dead. Annie assumed the woman drowned, but Sheriff Garcia tells Annie and crew that the victim, Jacinda, was shot.

Could Jacinda's murder and the good samaritan be connected?

Hard Rain is an easy read. It includes many of the same characters as in Pay Dirt Road, but concentrates more on Annie that the firm owners, May Pay and Leroy, Annie's uncle. There are twists and turns and Annie, again, puts her life in danger but she solves the case...of course.

I didn't find this as engrossing as Pay Dirt Road so I haven't decided if I'll read book three, if there is one. ( )

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S HARD RAIN ABOUT?
It's been six months since Annie McIntyre solved a murder and began training as a Private Investigator under her grandfather and his partner, Mary-Pat. It doesn't seem like Annie's really sure of her current path, but at least it's a path—hopefully out of Garnett at some point.

A High School classmate—not really a friend, but more than an acquaintance—approaches her with a job. Mary-Pat tells her she's ready to take the lead on their next case, and is about ready to apply for her license. So, she's primed and ready—at least she thinks so.

A couple of weeks previously a flash flood had wreaked havoc on the town and the cost in property damage and lives is high. Bethany, however, was saved through the actions of someone that she fears is a victim. But his body was never found. She wants Annie to find either the body or, preferably, the man so she can thank him properly. Not expecting the latter, and equipped with only a vague description, Annie takes the job.

The police have nothing for her, and the local fire and rescue people found no sign of this man—many people think that Bethany imagined him. But Annie keeps looking—searching downstream from the area Bethany had been found in, Annie does find a body. But not of the man she's been looking for—but a murdered woman. Now Annie has to ask, is her target a killer or a hero?

As Annie investigates, she finds herself in a new layer of crime, corruption, and danger.

THE SENSE OF PLACE
When talking about the previous book, Pay Dirt Road , I had a few things to say about the city of Garnett's depiction. I won't repeat them here—but I really could. I don't think it's an issue so much with Allen's writing, just my ideas about Texas communities. (not that I'd complain if Annie made some mention of the population size)

What I failed to appreciate—or at least write about—was Allen's depiction of, and description of, the natural environment. Given the storms and flood surrounding this book, it's hard not to take note of it. Allen nails this material.

I really can see the flood damage, the sky, the geography in general—Allen pairs her vivid imagery with a little bit of wry commentary (frequently, but not always) to really help the reader get a handle on the sights and sounds. I was reminded of Chandler describing L.A. This is not typically the kind of thing I spend a lot of time thinking about when reading a P.I. novel, but I really couldn't help but do so this time—both because of the nature of Annie's investigation and because of Allen's skill at it. Particularly the latter.

THE PORTRAYAL OF EVANGELICALS
So, so, so often lately—including in books I really like—evangelicals are brought in as bastions of corruption, hypocrisy, and prejudice. Especially if they happen to belong to a mega-church.

The church that Bethany is part of, that her husband and father-in-law are pastors of, that some of the flood victims belonged to, that her missing man and the murder victim may be tied to, isn't a mega-church yet, but is well on its way to being one.

Yes, some of the members are tied to criminal activity, unethical activity, and some other hypocritical kinds of things. But by and large the members of the church are honest, faithful, and human. They're not perfect, but they're working at it. It's an honest depiction, and while not necessarily flattering, it's not vilifying, either. I appreciate that.

LEARNING THE ROPES
I described this series as a friend recently as "a PI version of the Eve Ronin books," and the more I think about that, the more I like it.

Yes, Goldberg and Allen have very different tones. The tenor and flavor of the books are different—each fitting their setting and authors. But at the core, you have determined young women in settings that aren't necessarily hospitable toward them, dealing with family issues and learning the ropes of their current professions. They make mistakes that experience would provide, get correction and guidance from their mentors (and their own reactions to their errors), but have good instincts and the drive to improve.

They're very different series and very different kinds of stories, but I like seeing Eve and Annie as different outworkings of the same idea.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT HARD RAIN?
Last year, I said that I'd have been satisfied with Pay Dirt Road as a standalone, but that I'd be in the front of the line for a sequel. I'm glad I came back—this world and this character deserve the time a series affords (I see there's already a third volume scheduled for next year).

I enjoyed this one more than last year's—I don't know that it's that much better, but Annie being more confident (maybe only by degrees, but it's there) and the type of story made that possible. If you haven't read Pay Dirt Road, Hard Rain will work as a stand-alone or as an entry point to the series, but you'd be denying yourself seeing Annie's growth.

Atmosphere, character (not just the protagonists, but all the supporting characters as well—maybe next year I'll find/make the time to talk about Annie's family, for example), and story—Samantha Jayne Allen delivers the goods on all fronts. I heartily recommend Hard Rain to your attention. ( )

This is the second in the Annie McIntyre Mystery series. Although I did read the first one, this works well as a standalone.

Annie has returned to her hometown of Garnett in hardscrabble Texas where she has joined her family’s private investigation business. When there is a catastrophic flood, an old school friend contacts her to find a man “who looks like Jesus”and saved her from drowning. Annie’s investigation leads to her discovery of a murder and begins to reveal the underbelly of the town’s drug problems as well as raises questions about the local church leaders.

Well plotted, and a bit of a slow burn, the writing is atmospheric and descriptive. It is a good character study of small town Texas. I could see the river swelling and receding, picture the beautiful bluebonnets, smell the approaching rain and the night blooming jasmine.

It was nice to see Annie growing in her new profession…now, if she would just learn some self defense methods…..

Thanks to #netgalley and #stmartinspress #minotaurbooks for the ARC. ( )