Welsh-Huggins, Andrew

The viewpoints of Pryor, J.P., and Penny are featured, but it’s single-minded Penny who stands out. The author of the Andy Hayes mysteries separates his gritty rural noir from other thrillers by featuring a woman who isn’t a cop or detective as she tracks the villain in this violent novel.

The seventh “Andy Hayes” mystery, following Fatal Judgment, is a satisfying, complex story for readers who enjoy hard-boiled private eyes who struggle with their personal lives.