Cyanide Wells (Review 2)
By Marcia Muller  

     When Matthew Lindstrom's wife, Gwen, disappeared, he was branded a murderer and his life was destroyed. After fourteen years, he finally established another life for himself in British Columbia as a charter boat captain. An anonymous phone call informing him that his wife is alive and living under another name in Cyanide Wells, Soladad County, California, sends him on a quest to learn the truth.

     He puts his life in Canada on hold to go to Cyanide Wells to confront Gwen and regain his reputation. Before he can accomplish this, Gwen, now known as Ardis Coleman, who has made a reputation for herself as a reporter for Carly McGuire, owner and publisher of the Soledad Spectrum, disappears again, taking her supposed daughter, Natalie.

     Matt joins forces with Ardis' lover Carly, to hunt for Ardis and Natalie. In their search they discover many faucets of Ardis' life and activities which threaten and frighten them. They must face the truth behind it all before they can find their own peace and safety.

     This is a well-constructed suspenseful plot with many twists and turns. The characters are well-rounded and well-developed. The isolated country is vividly evoked with an excellent sense of place.