Murder Canyon

Rating:
Summary: A great read!
Review: Joan Blacher is a former professor and licensed psychotherapist. She has had articles published in counseling and educational journals, magazines, newspapers, and has published a book entitled Teens: A Parents Guide for Coping. She has lectured throughout the United States. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and the American Psychological Association, as well as serving on boards that provide help to troubled children and their families.

In Murder Canyon we are introduced to Ardis Jensen, a former forensic psychologist who currently holds the position of campus counselor at a small liberal arts school called Clarion University. When a body is discovered brutally murdered close to her home, Ardis is horrified to find that it is her former student assistant Meggie Robard, a psychology major who just graduated. The list of suspects is long, because Meggie was a beautiful and vibrant young lady who attracted many members of the opposite sex, including one male faculty member who was a known philanderer:

"She told me he'd move in on her when she was working in his office. She tried to ignore him, but he wouldn't stop. The creep actually threatened her about her grades. She wanted to graduate, so she strung him along and tried not to be trapped alone with him. 'Did that work?' Ardis leaned forward. She didn't want to miss a word of Julie's story. Last April he lost it. He locked his office door so Meggie couldn't get out. He was furious because she'd avoided him for so long. He said nasty things, pushed up against her, kissed her and unbuttoned her blouse. The only thing she could think of to do was to knee him in the groin. When he was doubled over, she grabbed the key, unlocked the door, and ran out.'"

Besides being a great cliff hanger, Murder Canyon works on many levels. It is a great mystery; it deals very effectively with problems encountered by anyone who works in the health care industry; it points to some of the abuses in the higher educational system; and it is just plain a good plot with well crafted characters. It is obvious Joan Blacher has a lot to contribute to the publishing world. Ardis Jensen is a likeable, intelligent and resourceful heroine. A great read!

Shelley Glodowski
Reviewer