Hiding Gladys: A Cleo Cooper Mystery

Mims’s solid debut introduces geologist Cleo Cooper, whose find of a huge, previously undiscovered granite deposit in coastal North Carolina can make her rich—if she and her drilling crew survive the exploration. A signed contract with the landowner, Gladys Walton, may not be enough for Gladys’s greedy son and daughter, who will do anything to get their hands on their mother’s property. If Cleo can safeguard Gladys from Gladys’s grasping family and a less than honest mining company, Cleo’s crew can complete the drilling for core samples and finalize the contract. Life is complicated by the presence of Cleo’s ex-husband, Bud, and Nash Finley, a persistent suitor. Both Cleo and Gladys must fight for their lives against a killer who’s determined to win. Despite a long, slow finish, readers will want to get to know Cleo better in future installments. Agent: Kimberly Cameron, Kimberly Cameron & Associates. (Jan.)