We met Christy Bristol in “Fools Rush In”, Sunny Frazier’s last wonderful astrology mystery. Christy is still the shy young woman who works for the Sheriff’s Department in a small California town. Christy also has a pretty nice local reputation as an astrologer. She gets involved in a mysterious disappearance of a wealthy businessman in this story when the man’s wife calls her in to help find her husband. The wealthy woman would like to keep it quiet and not bring in the authorities and newspapers. Her one clue is a red matchbook with the “Knights of Sensai” logo emblazoned on it.
It turns out that matching books of matches have been found on the bodies of three other wealthy men lately. All these men had served in Viet Nam. All these men were wealthy. All these men were being treated through the VA Hospital by the same physician who is conducting a study on Viet Nam Veterans who had been exposed to Agent Orange. All these men had been exposed to Agent Orange in the same place in Viet Nam. All these men died of heart attacks that were judged to be “natural causes” of death. The subject of Christy’s missing person hunt fits in perfectly as a fourth Viet Nam Veteran. He also has heart disease and did not take his medication with him when he disappeared.
Christy and her close friend, former roommate, Lennie charge all around the county on their hunt in Lennie’s very nice Jaguar XKE. Their curiosity leads them from the red matchbook to a local S&M Sex club. Their adventure heats up when they visit the club in tight and revealing leather costumes and gets a little ugly when the cops raid the place and arrest them.
Even though Christy and Lennie are ordered to stay away from the murder investigation they continue to poke around. Christy figures out that her missing man has been taken and is being held on an abandoned farm. So, naturally, she goes there without letting anyone know. Fortunately she had told Lennie where she thought the hideout was and Lennie arrived in time to stop the killer from getting Christy.
If you liked “Fools Rush In” you will love “Where Angels Fear”. Frazier takes us into Christy’s life. Sometimes things are confusing. Sometimes they are embarrassing. But there are wonderful and warm times too. This tale has one of the best, “feel good” endings I have ever read. I laughed and I felt good for Christy. This is a wonderful story and one everyone should definitely read. You won’t be sorry. I give it a 9 of 10 on the Weaver meter.
