Standing Our Ground

At the start of Percy’s thoughtful fourth Monastery Valley mystery (after 2018’s The Bishop Burned the Lady), Andi Pelton, a Monastery Valley, Mont., sheriff’s deputy, is called to the scene of a fatal shooting after software consultant Daniel Essex kills 14-year-old Bernardo Cirilo in Essex’s garage. Essex insists that he acted in accord with Montana’s stand your ground doctrine, which allows lethal force to be used in defense of an individual’s property. From the outset, Andi has doubts about Essex’s story, especially since the teen was shot twice in the back. Essex is outraged that he’s arrested. Meanwhile, Andi’s boss, Sheriff Ben Stewart, is hospitalized after a heart attack, and Deputy Brad Ordrew, who’s opposed to the very idea of female law enforcement officers, mounts a campaign to replace him. Ordrew is backed by a secret donor, who encourages Stewart’s opponent in the upcoming election to run on a platform that preys on voters’ fears they’re at risk of a terror attack and of having their guns taken away. Percy juggles both plotlines effectively while addressing important social issues. Readers will want to see more of the resourceful Andi. (Jan.)

Correction: An earlier version of this review incorrectly stated this book is a sequel. It also incorrectly noted the book was self-published.