Coyotes, the two-legged kind that run illegals into the U.S. and then blackmail them to pay off exorbitant fees, play a prominent role in Wall’s provocative eighth Bay Tanner mystery (after 2007’s Sanctuary Hill
). When Bay, a South Carolina Lowcountry PI, hears about an unidentified Hispanic girl killed in a hit-and-run, Bobby Santiago, her housekeeper’s son, fears the victim might be his political activist girlfriend, Serena Montalvo. After the dead girl is identified as Serena’s 16-year-old sister, Theresa, Bobby and Serena disappear. Bobby’s parents, Dolores and Hector Santiago, are terrified and won’t cooperate with Bay or local authorities. When Dolores vanishes, Bay is frantic. A string of bank robberies attracts the notice of FBI Special Agent Harry Reynolds, who warns Bay not to get involved. When Homeland Security adds its warning, Bay knows she’s on to something major. Wall neatly illustrates the dangers hopeful immigrants can encounter as they pursue the American dream. (May)
