Clouded Waters by Dianna Hunter

With a compelling story, relatable characters, and a hot environmental issue to back it up, Dianna Hunter’s CLOUDED WATERS is so much more than a mystery. Here you’ll find the story of a small-town newspaper publisher, Susan B. Ellingson (aka SB), who is being bullied into reporting friendly-like on the impact of a copper-nickel mining project being proposed in her community by a large corporation; the story of a widowed, recent empty nester, still grieving the loss of her wife, who suddenly is confronted with the opportunity for a new relationship, and of course, the mystery: a scientist who goes missing while studying the effects of copper-nickel mining and the corporation’s dubious plan for waste management.

With these storylines propelling the story forward, you won’t put CLOUDED WATERS down until you turn the last page.  You wouldn’t guess that this is Hunter’s first novel; with the skill of an accomplished novelist, she deftly braids together not only these storylines, but the social issues underlying them – treaty rights, LBGTQ harassment, environmental concerns, and the death of thousands of local newspapers sold out to conglomerates or downsized into oblivion.

Hunter’s dialogue is whip-smart, too. Publisher SB is witty and not afraid to speak her mind, even when the threats become violent. When Gwen, her reporter, talks to the missing scientist’s colleagues, they speak about the mining company’s plan for waste management, calling it a sham and a looming disaster, but the hydrologists are fearful for their safety and their careers and won’t go on the record.

“So, these people aren’t exactly profiles in courage material,” SB notes dryly.

But SB is nothing if not tenacious. Eventually another hydrologist comes forward with some damning studies and provides so many documents that SB and her team must enlist the help of a larger newspaper, but SB holds her ground in the negotiations for bylines and credits and legal expertise. She also stands up to county commissioners, city councilors, and the rogue citizen hell bent on pushing their own agenda.

CLOUDED WATERS is a well-written mystery that addresses issues near and dear to those of us living in the Arrowhead Region of Minnesota and beyond. If you are a socially conscious reader, go forth, my friends, and pick up a copy of CLOUDED WATERS. Highly recommended for mystery fans looking for stories with depth and heart.