Recently, author Anne Perry posed a moral question. Should you do something morally repugnant to you in order to fulfill a duty? Private investigator Lena Jones faces a moral question in Betty Webb’s latest mystery, Desert Vengeance. Should she hunt for the person who killed a pedophile and his wife? Does anyone want the killer captured?

When “Papa” Brian Wycoff was released from an Arizona prison, his wife, Norma, is waiting for him. So is Lena Jones, but she’s waiting with a large knife, She does nothing more than threaten him, reminding him that she was the child who knifed him and eventually brought him down. But, it wasn’t until after he had raped her multiple times while she was in foster care. There were seven children prepared to testify against him when he went to trial. But, Norma insisted they were liars. The day after his release, “that Mistress of Denial”, Norma Wycoff, is found murdered. Wycoff, fearing he’s next, breaks probation, and flees. It’s easy to track a felon when you’re a private investigator.

Lena finds an unusual B&B, trailers close to Wycoff’s sister’s home. It’s only when Brian Wycoff is found brutally murdered, though, that she finds out how unusual that B&B is. The owner, and several of the current renters, are women whose children went missing years earlier. Now, all of them are suspects in the gruesome death of a pedophile.

For the first time in years, Lena has a dreamless sleep after her rapist is killed. But, when an arrest comes, she’s forced to look for a killer in order to get a troubled mother and innocent woman out of jail. Her investigation brings back memories of her childhood before she was four, memories she’s been blocking. And, the woman who has never been able to let anyone into her life, finally reaches out.

Lena still has so far to go. Webb still leaves secrets in Lena’s life, and leaves Lena unaware of love. Webb leaves us clues. Each new story is one more step towards answers.

Betty Webb has tackled tough stories in the past. She’s dealt with polygamy, runaways and throwaways from polygamist sects, cancer-causing tests in the desert, the true stories of Nazi internment camps in Arizona. Once again, she delves into a tough subject, pedophiles, foster care, and missing children. How far should Lena go in searching for the killer of a known pedophile, and the woman who enabled him? What is justice? In Desert Vengeance, it’s a compelling, troubling question. It’s a troubling question in a riveting, powerful book.

Lena didn't kill Brian Wycoff or his wife but she's certainly thought about it since the man abused her when she was a child. Now she finds herself in the hunt for who did, largely because she wants to make sure his other victims and their parents aren't railroaded. He was a vicious horrid pedophile so she's not interested in justice for him but rather for the victims. She's a great character. Don't worry if you haven't read the other books in this series-it will be fine as a standalone.

Lena Jones is back. And this time the novel starts with her on a 'case' of her own. The man who raped Lena when she was a foster kid gets out of jail. And Lena is not chill about it at all. Quite the opposite actually. I was going to say that it was like she almost stalked this man after he was released, but, there was nothing almost about it. She stalks him, and then when this man and his wife are found dead (at two different times) she is the prime suspect.

I did appreciate how Webb write this part of the novel. She didn't try to bamboozle us, the readers, into endless wondering if Lena did it or not. Instead Lena had to struggle with whether or not she really wanted to pursue the case of these two deaths.

And then there was her and Jimmy's relationship. I have mixed feelings about how it was portrayed and continued in this novel. At times it felt like it was moving forward, and at other times as though it was going backwards and was weird and uncomfortable.

Overall, though, it was a very, very intense mystery/thriller (not surprising in a Lena Jones mystery). At times it was hard to read too, but it was really well done and for the most part I enjoyed it (and definitely look forward to the next one since the end of this one was a bit of a cliffhanger).

I got this galley through Netgalley on behalf of Poisoned Pen Press.

I hadn't read any books by Betty Webb previously and this book was a pleasant surprise. The author writes with a naturalness and authenticity that makes the story very believable. The characters are interesting and realistic, the Arizona setting so vivid I could feel the heat.

The subject matter, a child molester, is a tough one and the way the main character, Lena Jones, handles the case is a different perspective. The author keeps the suspense up right to the final pages, keeping the reader guessing as to who the killer is.

I look forward to reading more books by Betty Webb. I really enjoyed this one.

Not an easy subject matter but a well written and enthralling book.I liked Lena this is the first book I have read by this author so I'm late to the party, this can be read as a stand alone book although I would like to play catch up and read more of the books in this series now.I couldn't guess who did what in this book and was page turning as fast as I could to find out out.No spoilers from me but I would recommend this book if you are looking for a well written interesting read with a likable central character.Thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Webb's ninth Lena Jones mystery is a visceral, informative look into the world of serial child rapists and the long trail of victims they leave behind. Although far from being graphic, Desert Vengeance is disturbing reading. Of all the things that have happened to Lena in her lifetime, her abuse at the hands of "Papa" Brian have left some of the very deepest scars. Even though we know Lena shouldn't come anywhere near the man when he's released from prison, it's almost impossible not to cheer her on when she greets him in the prison parking lot or dogs his every move to let everyone around him know exactly what sort of lifeform he is.

It's once the action moves out to Black Canyon City that the moral questions begin coming thick and fast. As Lena becomes acquainted with the members of Parents of Missing Children, her conscience is torn. Does a serial child rapist, a pedophile who's also implicated in the disappearance of several children, really deserve justice? Does his wife who looked the other way and aided and abetted his actions? Webb delves deep into the lives of survivors of child rape. How do they fare after such a horrendous event? How do the parents of missing children cope with their loss?

This is some of Betty Webb's most powerful writing. It makes you think. It makes you feel. It makes you question some of your long-held beliefs. And to top it all off, Desert Vengeance is a damned fine mystery. If you're not acquainted with Lena Jones, you should really do something about it.

A difficult book to read due to the subject matter. A tough and troubled lead character and plenty twists to keep you reading. This is the 9th book in the series and has a very well written plot. Thank you Net Galley for my copy. I reviewed on Goodreads.

The monster who molested PI Lena Jones when she was nine years old has been released from prison. Lena decides she is going to make sure “Papa Bryan” Wycoff doesn’t harm another child, no matter what it takes. Before Lena can carry out her plan, Wycoff’s wife is murdered and then Wycoff himself is tortured and killed. Lena isn’t too concerned about the deaths until someone shoots at her, and then she decides she can’t let the murders go unsolved.

“Desert Vengeance” is the ninth Lena Jones mystery, and I think it’s one of the best. Author Betty Webb is a former reporter, and isn’t afraid to tackle hard issues like child molestation. She shows the devastating effects of this horrible crime through the actions of the characters, not through preaching. This book is exciting and suspenseful, even though it deals with a disturbing subject. Lena’s investigation kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the book.

I like the Phoenix, Arizona setting of the book and the author does a great job of contrasting the ugly crimes Lena deals with as a PI and in her life with the beauty of the desert. Lena is a complex, troubled character. However, her toughness, intelligence, and willingness to try to save the world even after all she has gone through, makes her someone to admire. Hopefully Wycoff’s death will give Lena some closure on that dark time in her life, although she is still dealing with incomplete memories of a tragedy from before she was in foster care. This book has an unexpected, but satisfying ending, and I hope there will be additional books in the excellent series.

I received this book from NetGalley through the courtesy of Poisoned Pen. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

t's been awhile since I've read a PI book with a tough female main character, and I'm glad I read Desert Vengeance, book 9 in the Lena Jones series. Fair warning: the subject matter is incredibly tough. The book centers on the murder of Brian Wycoff, the foster parent who abused Lena when she was a child and who is released from prison as the book opens. While Lena did follow him after his release from jail, she did not murder him. Lena works alone during most of the book as she follows Wycoff to a small community hours outside of Phoenix, the Black Canyon City that I believe is in the cover photo, and the lone PI part of the story was not my favorite part of the story. I was more interested in Lena's backstory, especially the bits of revelation of what happened to her family, which still isn't entirely clear. Lena Jones clearly compartmentalizes to be able to go about her life, and in some ways that's what frustrated me as a reader. I think I expected to know more about her since I jumped in so late in the series.

Desert Vengeance

by Betty Webb

The first chapter of Desert Vengeance is a half page long without a wasted word. It grabs you and twists you with a hold so tight that you know you will keep reading. This book is the latest in a series of mysteries by Betty Webb about PI Lena Jones. It could easily be a successful standalone. Nuances of relationships are effortlessly grasped even without the backstory. Lena’s professional status is clear. In the process of the mystery unfolding, the reader learns what happened to Lena as she made her way through a series of foster homes and emerged with emotional scars, but a strong character.

The subject matter, child molestation, is a very difficult one, but is handled in such a way that the reader understands the trauma the children went through without an account of the details of the abuse. The mystery centers around two murders and there are multiple suspects with strong motives. Lena finds through expert interviewing skills that not everyone is telling the truth. Some people have things to hide, even if it is not involvement in the murder. Others don’t really want the murderer caught.

The setting is a very hot Scottsdale, Arizona, with some reprieve in Black Canyon Creek. Both are accurately depicted without lengthy passages, leaving the reader sweaty, dusty, and thirsty. The other characters are interesting and developed appropriately according to their contribution to the plot.

I highly recommend this book either as a standalone or as part of the series. I am looking forward to reading more books by Betty Webb who has eight more books in her Lena Jones Mystery Series and three books in a humorous series about a California zoo-keeping sleuth. A former journalist, Webb deals with controversial topics in many of her books, but she approaches these difficult subjects through the lens of a consummate storyteller.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Poisoned Pen Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery, Thriller

Notes: Difficult subject matter, but handled respectfully

Publication: Poisoned Pen Press--February 7, 2017

Memorable Lines:

The world looks so hopeful at sunrise. The air is clean, birds sing, frogs hush their complaints, and coyotes stop their slaughter of innocent bunnies and head home to bed. It’s all a lie, of course. The world is as vicious in daylight as it is at night.

Desert Vengeance is the ninth Lena Jones Series Book by author Betty Webb. This is an excellent series that I do highly recommend. I have read most of the books in this series. Desert Vengeance did not disappoint...a fabulous addition to the series.

Desert Vengeance focuses on events that happened in Lena's childhood as well as the present. Lena, the brave, damaged and flawed private detective grew up in foster homes. Some were better than others. The worst was run by a pedophile who targeted young girls..and his wife was his enabler. Lena is basically ready to take out her abuser as soon as he is released from prison but someone beats her to it. First Brian Wycoff's wife is murdered, shot in both eyes, at their home in Apache Junction then he is found dead at his sister's ranch in Black Canyon City. Lena is close by to both of the crimes but we know she is innocent. It is fascinating to follow the different trails that Lena pursues and the all the people who have good reason to eliminate Wycoff.

I always enjoy the Arizona setting of this series. Webb lives there and knows it well. Phoenix and its endless suburbs are very well represented. And the characters are well fleshed out. So many people had motives. Really enjoyable mystery...I had a hard time putting down Desert Vengeance.

I loved the addition of the kitten to the tale. It was very realistic. Well then there was the other kittens...and the mother cat...and the horse. And by the sounds of it on the last page, perhaps Lena is finally waking up to the fact that the greatest love of her life might be right in front of her....

Great tale. Highly recommend.