Riding a Blue Horse: A Novel of Crime

The plot of this promising debut from Elliott, a former Marine and CIA agent with a degree in clinical psychology, doesn't bear close inspection, but intriguing characters, many of them unsavory, and a vivid, wintry mountain setting more than compensate. In the Appalachian town of Shawnee, W.Va., the local ""convenience store"" sells groceries, liquor and gas-and provides entertainment in the lounge and motel out back. Shug Basty seizes the opportunity to expand his nasty little operation into a much nastier and larger operation featuring young children and high-paying customers supplied by kiddie-porn big shots. At 14, spunky Molly Small is already too old and experienced for the new type of customer Basty is seeking to please, but hardened as she already is, Molly rebels against what is planned for a young boy. And ""Stupe,"" Shug's ""slow"" 18-year-old son, also rebels when he makes a grisly discovery. Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies become involved, with state trooper Roscoe Bragg emerging as an engaging leader. A tired plot device and some not terribly credible developments detract a bit, but Molly's grit and Stupe's burgeoning independence play out quite nicely as Molly manages to recapture a bit of her childhood innocence and Stupe begins to mature into adulthood. (July 9)