Bone Valley
by Claire Matturo
Published by William Morrow
Click on book
cover to order
at Amazon.com
Review by Kathy Perschmann, Chanhassen (MN) Librarian
This is the third Lily Rose Cleary mystery by attorney Matturo.
Lily Rose is a health food addict who lives Sarasota, Florida. She is a defense attorney in medical malpractice suits, usually--but her case in this book involves defending two environmentalists who called an orange grove toxic and the oranges poisoned--because residue from phosphate mining had been put on the soil. They are being sued for libel by the orange grove owners!
The complicated story involves a murdered phosphate mine owner (and also one of the owners of the orange grove), his obnoxious wife (who has a new escort very quickly), more angry environmentalists, a very ill saintly woman who cares for sick and damaged wild animals, Lily's handyman, the elderly Jimmie Rodgers and her wild religious brother Delvon.
While Lily works to clear her clients of the orange defamation charge, she gets involved in the battle to stop a new phosphate mine, and almost gets blown up when one of the environmentalists is killed. She seriously starts working with Manatee County Sheriff Josey Farmer to solve the murders, while trying to figure out if her remaining client, the dreamy Miguel, is innocent.
Lily Cleary is a truly distinctive and hilarious character and her legal work fascinating. The issues (phosphate mining and environmental damage in Florida) are serious, and the plot is full of action--bombs, a kidnapping during a ferocious storm, and a panther caged with Lily who is smeared with raw hamburger (a fate almost worse than death for a vegetarian!)
Lily is someone I would like to know. I would compare Matturo to Evanovich and Cruisie.
Armchair Interviews says: Great kudos from this reviewer.