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It's been a while since police woman Martha Ettinger pushed Sean Stranahan, fly-fisherman and artist, out of her bed and her life. However, when a writer looking for a little solitude finds a dead body in the chimney of the cabin he has rented, and Martha calls on Stranahan to take on a private investigation into the disappearance of a young ranch girl that the police are not interested in, the two cases converge. Ettinger and Stranahan work together well, as they rekindle their connection.
Cinderella ("Cindy") Huntington, disappeared months ago at the same time a gay ranch hand, Landon, was found missing. The police conducted a short investigation and, finding a car with a flat tire abandoned near the ranch, assumed they were picked up by a passing vehicle as they ran away together. No other trace was found. Cindy's mother, Etta Huntington, just wants to know the truth, so Martha asks Sean to take on an investigation funded by Etta. No one else wants to work with Etta, who is a notoriously hard woman. As Sean begins his investigation, Martha confirms that the girl found in the chimney is, in fact, Cindy. Cindy appears to have died by accident, but Martha is convinced there is a criminal backstory to her death.
The investigation uncovers a sex ring, a geocaching connection, the underside of ranch life, cave drawings, and the kindness of a big-hearted mountain man. In the end, there is a satisfying resolution to the mystery of what happened to Cindy, as well as to Landon. The plot is complex, but McCafferty weaves all of the threads together in a convincing manner. In addition to being a mystery, this is an outdoor adventure novel, reminiscent of Craig Johnson's Longmire series.
Character is a strength of McCafferty's writing, as it is of Johnson's. Stranahan and Ettinger are extremely well developed, but McCafferty does not ignore the minor characters. During the investigation, we come to know Etta and Cindy very well, and as Stranahan learns about Cindy's past, those who impacted her come to life. CRAZY MOUNTAIN KISS is touching and thoughtful, even as it deals with tough Montana ranch life.
§ Sharon Mensing is the Head of School of Emerald Mountain School, an independent school in the mountains of Colorado, where she lives, reads, and enjoys the outdoors.
Reviewed by Sharon Mensing, September 2015
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