The Serpents Trail
A Maxie and Stretch Mystery

By Sue Henry

     Sixty-three-year-old widow Maxie McNabb is determined to make the most of her “golden years” and has bought a Winnebago, grabbed her dachshund and taken to the road. Her first stop on this particular journey is to visit her oldest and best friend Sarah Nunamaker, who is dying of heart disease. But she arrives to find Sarah in the hospital and her house ransacked. What are the burglars looking for, and can Maxie find it before the threats become attacks?

     Maxie tells the story in her own words, and as the cover hasn’t spoiled the story by revealing too much I can say that it is a real page-turner with lots of plot twists but no more. She makes an engaging addition to the sub-genre of “silver sleuth” and a pleasingly independent lady who is determined to have a good time. If you want to find out what Grand Junction is like there are some good descriptions of the beautiful Grand Valley that made me want to head for the hills. For fans of her earlier Alaska-set novels Maxie will be recognized as having played a part in one of them and now has her own series - but not set in Alaska. What I enjoyed most, though, was that events took a new turn in the middle, and this is, in my opinion, one of the hallmarks of a good book. I look forward to seeing how this entertaining series goes along and getting to know Maxie better. Mystery fans won’t be bored with this one.