Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Sydney Graves' "The Arizona Triangle" is a captivating addition to the detective genre, seamlessly blending mystery, intrigue, and the stark beauty of the American Southwest. The novel introduces readers to Jo Bailen, a tenacious and resourceful detective whose sharp instincts and relentless drive anchor this riveting tale.

The story begins with the discovery of a body in the enigmatic Arizona Triangle, a region plagued by unexplained phenomena and eerie disappearances. From the outset, Graves masterfully establishes an atmosphere of suspense, with the desolate desert landscape playing as much a role as any character in the unfolding drama.

Jo Bailen emerges as a multifaceted protagonist, navigating personal demons while piecing together a complex puzzle. Her character is both relatable and inspiring, embodying a blend of vulnerability and steely determination. Graves’ portrayal of Bailen is nuanced, capturing the emotional toll of detective work without sacrificing the pace or tension of the narrative.

The plot is a well-crafted labyrinth of twists and turns, keeping readers on their toes with unexpected revelations and red herrings. Graves' writing shines in the detailed and evocative descriptions of the Arizona landscape, making it a vivid backdrop for the unfolding mystery. The interplay between the natural setting and the eerie occurrences within the Triangle adds a unique layer to the story, setting it apart from conventional detective novels.

The supporting characters are richly developed, each adding depth and complexity to the central mystery. The dialogue is sharp and realistic, further immersing readers in the world Graves has created. The pacing is brisk but measured, ensuring that the tension never wanes while allowing room for character development and subplots to flourish.

"The Arizona Triangle" is a thrilling detective novel; it’s a study of human resilience and the mysteries that lie within and beyond our understanding. Sydney Graves has penned a compelling tale that will keep readers guessing until the final page, making it a must-read for fans of the genre.

A masterful blend of mystery and character-driven storytelling, "The Arizona Triangle" is a winner.

This is a psychological thriller that delves into how childhood history can play out in adulthood. It touches on what we really know about each other, sex, drug and alcohol addiction, race, parental expectations and childhood abuse. The dry Arizona desert background also plays a role in the story. There is a lot of undercurrents running through the story so it takes a bit to absorb it all. The ending is somewhat unexpected and kind of hits you in the face.

The Arizona Triangle by Sydney Graves

Pushing forty and single, private investigator Jo Bailen has her life laid out exactly the way she wants it. Taking pictures of cheating spouses has long soured her on the idea of marriage, even if her own background hadn’t made her doubtful of the institution, after her father died and her mother’s grief refused to make room for the little girl who was a constant reminder of loss. Nowadays, Jo is happy to spend long hours at her job, punctuated by the occasional date with a hot prospect of any gender, with little expectation of long-term interest.

When Jo’s boss drops a new case in her lap, however, Jo’s immediate instinct is to refuse. It’s a missing persons case, which is one of their agency’s bill-paying staples. But the woman in question is an adult who’s been gone for less than seventy-two hours. More crucially, she’s someone Jo grew up with on their parents’ Arizona artist’s colony.

Rose Delaney and her family were a godsend for lonely little Jo. Both girls were four years old when Rose’s mother Laura came out west after divorcing her Irish mobster husband. The girls were soon inseparable, even before Jo’s father died when they were eight. Going back to Delphi and the house where Jo had so many good memories growing up, especially given the circumstances of Rose being missing, is thus bittersweet:

QUOTE
I’d always loved this house. After my father died, when it was just my mother and me alone together in our incompatible grief, I spent as much time as I could over here, not only because Rose was my best friend, but also because a real family lived here, three siblings, two parents, a noisy, fun whirl of squabbles and dinners and shows in the foyer. Luckily, Rose seemed to love having me here, in fact, she never wanted me to leave. She and I leaned on each other so much as kids, two lonesome girls stuck in the high desert, both of us with distant mothers, missing beloved fathers, intractable singular personalities.
END QUOTE

That all ended when the girls had a falling out as young teenagers, for reasons Jo still can’t completely fathom. She hasn’t had a real conversation with Rose since. Laura is convinced that something terrible has happened and is willing to pay Jo top dollar to find out what. Rose’s youngest brother Ben is of a similar view, though their middle brother Jason seems more concerned with making sure that his land deal to develop Delphi goes through than with his missing sister’s whereabouts.

As Jo investigates, she learns more about what Rose has been up to in recent years, not all of it good. A poet, musician and teacher, Rose was recently let go from her job over scandalous behavior. She was also strongly opposed to Jason’s development schemes. But would any of that have led to her disappearing off of the face of the planet? Jo will soon learn that her childhood best friend kept terrible secrets, and that death will follow in their wake.

I’m not gonna lie, as someone still deeply marked by intense childhood friendships (though, thankfully, I’m still friends with all the girls who are still alive,) this book was right up my psychological alley in the way that it grapples with that exact kind of hollowing loss. Like myself and my friends, Jo is open to rapprochement. Rose, alas, is far less interested:

QUOTE
Only once as adults I tried to talk to her. It was at a Christmas party at the Rancho. We were in our early thirties by then, both grown-ups, but there we were, still skirting each other, still making sure our paths didn’t intersect. It felt flat-out stupid to me. After a few glasses of wine, I walked up to her and looked her in the eye and said, “Come on, Rose, we were just kids. Can we be friendly again?” Without a word, she walked away from me. I stared after her, stung. And that, as the saying goes, was that; I was damned if I was ever going to try again.
END QUOTE

It’s hard not to sympathize with the sensible Jo as she tries to make sense of sensitive, imaginative Rose’s shambles of a life. As bodies begin showing up, I thought I had the whodunnit all figured out… until Rose’s very worst secret came to light. Shocking and bloody, the horrifying result of Rose’s wildness is anchored neatly in this story by Jo’s intelligence and relative stability.

I’m hoping this really will be the start of a series featuring a self-aware, queer private investigator taking on the secrets of Arizona while navigating her own fraught personal life. Jo is a terrific heroine, and Sydney Graves knows how to write a taut thriller that delves deep into questions of identity and the underbelly of the everyday, even as it explores the long-lasting impact of the past.

loved the cover, this author really knows how to tell a story . i was hooked in from the beginning to the very end.

I couldn't get on board with this book. It was obsessed with describing arizona as a desolate poor place which was offensive for someone actually from here. I couldn't finish this one.

Arizona Triangle by Sydney Graves is a gripping, emotional dive into friendship, secrets, and the weight of the past. Following Jo, an investigator with an all-female agency in Tucson, the story pulls her back to her small hometown of Delphi on a quest to find her missing childhood friend, Rose. Sydney Graves weaves tension and nostalgia perfectly as Jo encounters her high school boyfriend, Tyler, now a cop tangled in Rose’s disappearance. The layers of mystery and unresolved history keep you hooked, making it impossible not to root for Jo as she faces her past and fights for the truth.

Private Detective Justine Bailen, also known as Jo, has just finished an assignment for the Taffet Detective Agency. A wealthy man who suspected his wife of cheating was correct and Jo had the pictures. Before she could wrap up the assignment, she received a call from her boss with another assignment. This job will take her back to her past and searching for a missing high school friend, Rose. She and Rose were once quite close, but she hasn’t seen her in years. Rose’s mother is worried about her and had specifically asked for Jo. She is reintroduced to the family, including her high school boyfriend who is now a local police officer. The more she learns about Rose, and her family, the more questions she has. When this missing person case becomes a murder case, will Jo end up in the fight of her life? A few twists that I didn’t see coming, but a fairly good mystery. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

The Arizona Triangle by Sydney Graves was a missing persons/murder mystery that had a 1st person POV and gave a noir detective vibe. It was a bit dark and sometimes the pace seemed slow. The narration style didn't hold my attention well, but the mystery kept me reading. The main character was likable even if a bit bland. I enjoyed the setting descriptions of the Arizona desert, etc. I did not see the twisted (and I mean twisted) ending coming. The case was solved, and it was a very disturbing outcome. 
This is not a romance. There was an intimate scene that didn't feel necessary at the time. It can be argued that it contributed to the growth of our main character in the end.
I liked the odd little troll of a dog named Ophelia who was certainly her own character. She was peculiar, sweet, and, as it turns out, important. Though I am still puzzled as to where she came from.
The writing was clean and easy to follow.
I might consider reading more of Detective Jo Bailen's cases but, I am skeptical. I give it 3 stars because it wasn't awful and maybe someone else's cup of tea.
I highly recommend heeding trigger warnings.
#notaromance #detectivenoir #Arizona #sapphic #birep #smalltown #BIPOC #dysfuntionalfamily #dog #maincharacterover35

Jo Bailen is a private detective called in to help a missing persons case for her estranged best friend from childhood, Rose. She returns to her hometown of Delphi, Arizona to try and unravel the mystery of what happened to Rose and who from her past is responsible.

This was an interesting mystery to follow along and I enjoyed Jo as a character - she is 40-ish, queer, and reads like someone with experience who has seen a lot, rather than some ingenue, which I liked. The story of her relationship with Rose really went off the rails from everything that Rose did. In the end, we find out what was going on, but this happens with not much left in the book. This made the pacing feel off as a result and I wish we'd spent more time with the consequences of Rose's behavior and its impact on her family. The ending of the whodunit just seemed out of left field and I don't know that I saw anything in the story that would have led the reader to the conclusion we end with.

While this didn't quite work for me, I would be curious to read another story by the author. Thanks so much to NetGalley and to Harper Perennial for the advanced copy.

The biggest takeaway from my reading experience was that I was absolutely riveted. It's been a long time since I've sat down with a book like this one and plowed through it in two days. I could not put it down. And why? The mystery! I had no idea who did it. The longer Jo worked to unravel it, the more unsure I became, until I trusted absolutely no one. The only reason I felt confident Jo didn't do it was bc the book is written in her first person POV.

So imo the mystery was well-executed. At first read, I thought the whodunnit reveal was a bit OTT, but upon further reflection, it played well into the portrait the author painted of a deeply troubled and totally unstable young woman. The dysfunction runs deep, and I think that came across well.

I do have to say I didn't care for some of language. Using “schizoid” to describe the weather rubbed me the wrong way, even though I understood what the author was trying to convey. And using the word “pussy” as a substitute for “coward” is a thing people do, but I personally could do without it.

One thing that was done really well is the absolutely bizarre reasoning behind Rose’s choice to appropriate indigenous culture and pass herself as Navajo. Some readers will scoff at this reasoning, call it a wildly unrealistic reach, and believe that the author failed in this aspect of the story. But as a Black American, I can say that this is exactly the kind of exhausting mental gymnastics I've seen white people perform again and again. The author nailed it!

Finally, another thing I truly appreciated was the way Jo was casually queer. As a queer person, I love seeing queer representation. But we don't always get to see queer rep like this, where the MC’s sexuality is baked into the story in such a casual way that their sexuality is normalized, rather than their sexuality being the entire point of the story. I liked that Jo was a PI who happened to be queer rather than a queer person who happened to be a PI. Bc that's what life is for a lot of us. We're just people who happen to be queer.

I highly recommend this book and hope their are more Jo Bailen mysteries to come.

I felt myself wanting this book to end. It was slow and I felt like I didn’t like any of the characters. I also feel like the ending was rushed and quite frankly the reveal with at was made was to just shock readers. I don’t feel like it served any other purpose besides that. If so, there would’ve been more about the reveal, instead a brief “explanation” of how trauma can affect you.

Sydney Graves introduces Jo Bailen, a hardboiled PI based in Tucson in the first in a proposed series, The Arizona Triangle. Jo is a queer woman, almost forty, who works for an all female detective agency, and lands in the middle of a case involving her own past.

Jo’s just wrapping up a cheating spouse case when her boss sends her Delphi, an hour north. Their new client, Laura Gold, requested Jo. Laura is the mother of Jo’s childhood best friend, Rose Delaney. Rose and Jo have been estranged since they were fourteen, but now that Rose has been missing for two days, Laura only trusts Jo to find her missing daughter. When Jo follows her instincts, and follows the police, she does find Rose, hanging from a tree. And, she finds another childhood friend, Tyler Bridgewater, now a police officer, vomiting at the site of Rose’s death.

Rose’s mother wants answers. Did her daughter commit suicide? It’s a complex story that digs deep into the stories Rose and Jo told themselves about their estrangement, and their link to Tyler. It’s an ugly story of emotional entanglements and sexual trauma.

While I plowed through the story, it was the descriptions of Arizona’s landscapes that kept me going. It’s a difficult story to read, but the landscapes add the only beauty to the book.

this tells the story of jo, who works for an all-female detective agency, investigating the disappearance of her estranged childhood best friend in her hometown. i really enjoyed the storytelling and scene building, but i wanted more of the mystery storyline to balance it out. i also wanted to meet her co-workers more and have the detective agency dynamic play a bigger part (it's the first in an upcoming series, so that may be explored more later). i felt like most of the action came in the last few chapters and i wish it had more of that throughout. there were also some really heavy, trauma-based storylines that i wasn't expecting, so keep that in mind.

cw: substance abuse, suicide, sexual assault

thanks to netgalley and harper perennial for my ARC of the arizona triangle by sydney graves. all opinions are my own.

The Arizona Triangle by Sydney Graves is a whodunnit about loyalty, love, and the legacy of trauma featuring a hardboiled, queer private eye whose latest case takes her deep into her own complicated past. On the cusp of 40, Justine (Jo) Bailen works for an all-female detective agency based in Tucson, Arizona. While staking out a cheating spouse, she learns that her long-estranged best friend from childhood, Rose, is missing and that Rose’s mother wants to hire Jo to find her. This case is all kinds of wrong for Jo, but she has no choice but to head back to her hometown, an hour north and a world away from Tucson.

I was drawn to the story because of its location, as I know the Tucson area. The characters were interesting, and the story was solid. The Arizona Triangle was an engaging thriller and one I would recommend.

#TheArizonaTriangle #NetGalley @HarperPerennial