Chasing a blond moon

Heywood's third Woods Cop mystery (after 2002's Blue Wolf in Green Fire) is another invigorating trek through Michigan's Upper Peninsula in the company of the dedicated conservation officers who protect it. Having spent nearly 20 years patrolling in the U.P. (pronounced Yoop), Grady Service cares fiercely about the land, the animals, justice and a small handful of people, including Maridly Nantz, his extremely smart and sexy girlfriend. The story starts with a bang: the long-divorced Service discovers he has a son, Arthur, now almost 16. At first they don't know what to do with each other, but slowly they move to respect and then affection, adding a new note of sweetness to Service's life. The main plot, centered on a rare species of bear being illegally hunted, has more twists than a mountain switchback trail. Other problems pile up and often sidetrack Service's investigation. These incidents are all in a day's work for COs, and Heywood vividly describes the skills, courage and humor they use to defuse potentially deadly confrontations. Those readers daunted by the overly complex plot and operatic-sized cast should relax and just go with the flow. Top-notch action scenes, engaging characters both major and minor, masterful dialogue and a passionate sense of place make this a fine series. (Sept. 20) Forecast: Though not in the same league as Nevada Barr's national parks mysteries, this series has obvious appeal for fans of the outdoors, to which Lyons Press caters. The arresting jacket art depicts an infrared image of a bear with a full moon above. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Excerpt: "Is that some kind of animal?" Sioux asked. "You people are too stupid to be on Mother Earth," Ojibwa shot back. All Service had wanted was some peace and quiet so that he could think. "Stay," he ordered the two men. They both nodded. "We're cool, officer." When he got to the man on the trail he was on his knees and staring, his brow furled. "You tough?" the man on his knees asked. His face was scraped. Blood was dribbling down his chin. "Calm down, sir." The man got to his feet, spread out his arms. "Let's see what you've got, big man." "Sir!" The man charged and was quicker than Service anticipated, crashed into his chest and wrapped him with his arms. Service tried to pry the grip loose, but his broken finger shot a pain up his wrist. The man lifted him in the air and Service looked down into eyes that were boiling blue fury. He pulled his head back and snapped it down hard, head-butting the man in the face. They both went sideways and hands were grabbing at him and pushing him away and when he rolled over, Sioux and Ojibwa were pinning the struggling man to the ground. Service crawled in with them, felt something cut into his knee, and took a hold by the man's neck until his eyes rolled in their sockets and he stopped struggling. Excerpted from Chasing a Blond Moon: A Woods Cop Mystery by Joseph Heywood All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.