What do readers think of Desert Cut by Betty Webb? Write your own review.

This was the first Lena Jones mystery I have read...but certainly won't be the last. Betty Webb has written a fast paced story with a not-so-perfect heroine and a not-so-pleasant plot line. The victims in Webb's mysteries are generally women -- or children -- who suffer abuse at the hands of not just the abuser but an out of control social system as well. The story could come right out of todays headlines -- if anyone is brave enough to name it.

This book called attention to a serious issue, female genital amputation,happening around the world using fiction as a way of drawing people into the story. It had many moments where my breath just left my body or tears were close to spilling over. I love how the author has a note at the end of the book about the facts of this issue and other media sources as well.

This is the fifth Lena Jones mystery and the first which I have read. I will definitely go back and read the others. The plot holds your interest throughout and the narrative is simple and straightforward. There are many characters, and although some of them are involved for a very brief period, they are all well fleshed out. This book should appeal to anyone who likes a good Private Investigator mystery story. Along with being a good read, the author sheds light on a relatively little known and very disturbing procedure performed on young girls in many African and Mid-Eastern countries. Some of the descriptions and Author's Notes are not for the squeamish.

The Sonoran Desert is usually tranquil but not in this case. A mystery with clues dropped in each chapter. This small town full of ethnic immigrants drawn by industry, is not well equipped to solve the deaths of young girls nor the culture the new townspeople brought with them from their original countries. Riveting to the end.

This book was mediocre. Aside from Lena, the characters were not very well constructed and had little depth. The dialogue was just ordinary. She kept my attention, however, with the mystery that was unfolding. The main theme of the novel was one that shed light on a barbarous practice in today's world to which millions of women are subjected by cultures that are clearly misogynist. While Ms Webb was graphic about the practice and its consequences (to the point of being distasteful), I was disappointed that she did not go into more detail about the cultural background of this heinous custom. She, however, caused me to want to educate myself about this horrendous practice and what is being done to alleviate it.

The first half of this book is pretty much standard mystery - the protagonist, a private detective, discovers the body of a murdered child and decides she is the one to bring the murderer to justice. The author keeps the plot moving as the detective interviews people who might give her the information she needs to solve the crime.
The second half is a polemic against the cruelty of an ancient practice somehow imported from Africa to southern Arizona. There is little mystery or entertainment value in this half of the book and I can't think of anyone who might enjoy it.
Skip this one. There are many better books on the market.

Betty Webb’s fifth book in her Lena Jones series is another page-turner. This is not one of those “formula” mysteries that seem to flood the bookshelves. The Arizona desert setting is authentic. Her characters are complex and interesting. The plot twists and turns enough to keep you interested until the very last page. The subject of the book is horrifying and current; Webb has done her homework. She even shares resources on the topic in her author’s notes at the back of the book. You will not only enjoy the mystery but learn something as well. Wow!

Although Desert Cut by Betty Jones is the 6th in a series, for the most part it does a good job of standing on its own. I was conscious of having missed the “back-story,” but it didn’t interfere with my enjoyment of the novel. I found the main character quite likable and well fleshed-out. The mystery itself kept me involved, with many twists & suspects, keeping me guessing "who done it" until the very end.

With the exception of Lena Jones & her partner, however, Webb’s characters are flat and predictable. They're caricatures; they play "stock" roles. I found this aspect of Webb's writing disappointing.

Also, I'm under the impression the author's mysteries revolve around "issues" of which she feels the reader should be aware. I find this tremendously presumptuous and rather annoying. I generally avoid books that ambush me with a “message.”

If I have the opportunity to read another Lena Jones mystery, I'll probably do so, since I did find the character intriguing, someone I'd like to know better. I won't go out of my way to find one, though. C+.