The body of a murdered ranch hand is discovered in the remote canyon country near Moab, Utah, a mecca for outdoor adventure seekers. The only clue besides a 9-mm slug in the victim’s head is an ancient-Indian potsherd stuck into his chest.
Deputy Sheriff Manny Rivera is assigned the case and judges that the killing is likely related to a drug deal gone bad. But he’s actually up against an intelligent and cunning adversary driven by greed who’s discovered a long-forgotten cave containing a collection of rare, museum-quality Indian artifacts.
The murder is threatening to disrupt the upcoming tourist season, Moab’s sole source of economic activity. After all, who would want to explore the backcountry with a killer on the loose out there?
Artifacts of Death is the first of seven books in the Manny Rivera Mystery Series. $0.99 on Kindle.
