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Floodgates: A Faye Longchamp Mystery    by Mary Anna Evans Amazon.com order for
Floodgates
by Mary Anna Evans
Order:  USA  Can
Poisoned Pen, 2009 (2009)
Hardcover, Audio, CD
* *   Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth

Floodgates, another archeological mystery from Benjamin Franklin Award Winner Mary Anna Evans brings Hurricane Katrina back to us in full force. The actions of those involved could have been more circumspect, at least according to Evans' plot, which indicates that a majority of the damage could have been avoided.

Faye Longchamp is conducting an archeological dig in New Orleans when the bones of a recent victim are discovered. Faye and her fiancé Joe Wolf Mantooth are drawn into solving the case when the detective assigned to uncover the murderer asks for their archeological expertise. A manhunt ensues while Faye and Joe peruse old maps of the city of New Orleans in order to learn why the body appeared where it did.

Floodgates has a very intricate plot with much detail about the flooding and why it occurred. While I admire the research it took to come up with the explanations of what should have been done and wasn't, I found myself skipping over most of it because it was just a touch too detailed to maintain my interest.

I enjoy Evans' work and admire her expertise, but this book fell short of my expectations. Joe is still a mystery to me, even though he figures heavily in this story. I just can't get a grasp on him. That said, Floodgates is a book worth reading, especially for anyone interested in archeology.

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