Get inside the mind of a private investigator as she takes a so-called vacation in a unique setting: the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada on the California-Nevada border between Reno and Mammoth Lakes. This area is rarely featured in any novel, so it was a pleasant surprise to learn more about the small but intriguing old western towns that dot the map, along with the sociocultural conflicts among the old-time settlers, the native tribes, and the new residents. PI Sharon McCone unwittingly decides to become involved and help solve a murder that occurred in the area near her vacation ranch, with the aid of her San Francisco agency co-workers and her husband-pilot, Hy. Sharon has a lot on her mind, but manages to resolve a number of her personal issues in the course of solving the case. Great novel!