Hallowed Ground

Winner of the 2007 Willa Cather Literary Award for Best Original Softcover Fiction by Women Writing the West.

Nominated for a 2007 Shamus Award for Best Paperback Original by the Private Eye Writers of America.

Nominated for a 2007 Daphne du Maurier Award for Best Mystery by the Kiss of Death Chapter of Romance Writers of America.

Grisly murders are rocking the small county of Bear Butte where Julie Collins has spent the last few months learning the PI biz without the guidance of her best friend and business partner, Kevin Wells. Enter dangerous, charismatic entrepreneur Tony Martinez, who convinces Julie to take an unsolved murder case involving a missing five-year-old Native American girl, the innocent pawn in her parents’ child custody dispute. Although skeptical about Martinez’ motives in hiring her, and confused by her strange attraction to him, Julie nevertheless sees the opportunity to hone her investigative skills outside her office.

But something about the case doesn’t ring true. The girl’s father is foreman on the controversial new Indian casino under construction at the base of the sacred Mato Paha, and the girl’s mother is secretly working for a rival casino rumored to have ties to an east coast crime family. Local ranchers – including her father – a Lakota Holy group, and casino owners from nearby Deadwood are determined to stop the gaming facility from opening.

With the body count rising, the odds are stacked against Julie to discover the truth behind these hidden agendas before the murderer buries it forever. And when Julie unwittingly attracts the attention of the killer, she realizes no place is safe … not even hallowed ground.

Book
eBook
Audio

Book 2 in the Julie Collins Series
Mystery
Mass Market Paperback
US $6.99 / CDN $9.99
ISBN# 9781932815740

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"Lori Armstrong has done it again! Hallowed Ground is the sequel to Blood Ties released in 2005 from Medallion Press, and takes up right where Blood Ties left off. The furious pace and twists and turns will keep you glued to your seat long after you should be in bed, and the hot, hot, hot love scenes will make sure you enjoy your stay. Julie is complicated, intense character who will have you rooting for her from the start, even as your heart bleeds for her past. Tony isn’t your typical bad boy, he has layers that add complexity to his character. And you’ll love him more as every layer is revealed. I loved Blood Ties enormously, and Hallowed Ground is just as intense and exciting. Make sure you have a day to spend when you open this book, because once you start it, you won’t want to put it down. I know I didn’t."

~ Cat Cody, Romance Junkies Reviewer

"If you're looking for one of those heroines who refrains from any and all vices and who shrieks at the sound of gunfire, you may want to pass on this one. But if you prefer your heroine to be a little on the dark side, especially one who likes to smoke, drink, engage in the occasional sexcapade, and knows how to kick some ass with little fear, this highly engaging and fearless PI fits the bill. Armstrong has created in Julie one of the more captivating and emotionally charged female characters to come along in awhile, with her simmering attraction to the wild and disreputable Martinez being especially of note. There's plenty of suspense here, as well, to challenge and interest, with the whole package being one glorious adventure, leaving us eagerly anticipating what's next for this uniquely drawn crew of misfits and miscreants."

~ Stephanie Padilla, New Mystery Reader

"Hard-drinking, chain-smoking P.I. Julie Collins has a fascinating, multidimensional personality, as do all the characters in this story. Armstrong's writing continues to be fresh and exciting in the second book of this series."

~ Romantic Times BOOKclub Magazine

9 Gargoyles

"Lori Armstrong has created an outstanding tale in Hallowed Ground. Gripping from beginning to end, this is one book you want to read without interruptions. Hallowed Ground is going straight to my keeper shelf...

~ Safiya Tremayne, In The Library Reviews