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Art Oveson #3
Desolation Flats
The third book in the Hillerman Prize-winning Art Oveson Mystery series, starring a Mormon deputy sheriff in 1930s Salt Lake City.
As war clouds loom overseas, auto racers from around the world gather at the Bonneville Salt Flats east of Salt Lake City, intent on breaking the land speed record. When Nigel Underhill, a wealthy English motorist, is found dead and his brother Clive disappears, Art Oveson of the Salt Lake City Missing Persons’ Bureau is called to investigate.
The Underhill family has hired a former Scotland Yard detective to assist in the search, and he and Oveson begin to follow a trail that leads from the Utah desert to the stately homes of London. As the two detectives draw closer to their suspect, Art finds that the murderer has set his sights on a target much closer to home than he had thought possible.
As war clouds loom overseas, auto racers from around the world gather at the Bonneville Salt Flats east of Salt Lake City, intent on breaking the land speed record. When Nigel Underhill, a wealthy English motorist, is found dead and his brother Clive disappears, Art Oveson of the Salt Lake City Missing Persons’ Bureau is called to investigate.
The Underhill family has hired a former Scotland Yard detective to assist in the search, and he and Oveson begin to follow a trail that leads from the Utah desert to the stately homes of London. As the two detectives draw closer to their suspect, Art finds that the murderer has set his sights on a target much closer to home than he had thought possible.
372 pages, Hardcover
First published November 15, 2016
About the author
Andrew Hunt
5 books9 followersAndrew Hunt is a Professor of United States History at the University of Waterloo in Canada. He was raised in California and Utah and is the father of two. Hunt also writes a blog which is a “celebration of animal rights and vegan living”.
Andrew Hunt also publishes non-fiction under Andrew E. Hunt
Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Andrew Hunt also publishes non-fiction under Andrew E. Hunt
Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 7, 2021
Another good story, featuring Mormon detective Art Olveson in later 1930s Utah.
Very good.
Very good.
November 15, 2016
4.5 stars.
Desolation Flats is another superb installment in Andrew Hunt's Art Oveson mystery series starring Mormon policeman Art Oveson. In this outing, following the disappearance of British race car driver Clive Underhill and the murder of his brother, Nigel, Art's investigation takes him into the dark underbelly of the Nazi party and closer to home, fascism and bigoted ex-cops.
Helping his cousin at the Bonneville Salt Flats before the upcoming land-speed trials, Art is delighted to run into his ex-partner and close friend, Roscoe Lund, who is providing extra security for Clive. When Clive's test run ends in fiery crash, Art risks his own life to save the trapped driver. In an effort to repay him for rescuing him from certain death, Clive invites Art to join him for dinner that evening at an upscale club. At the urging of his wife, Clara, Art accepts the invitation and while a bit out of his element, he enjoys meeting Clive's old college friends, Peter Insley and German race-car driver, Rudy Heinrich. The next morning, Art learns Nigel has been murdered and Clive has vanished without a trace. He is dismayed to discover that his brother, FBI Agent Frank Oveson, is part of the investigation but it is the identity of the local police's chief suspect that truly distresses him. With warnings to stay out of the murder investigation, Art is determined to find Clive and hopefully, clear his friend's name.
Art has a strong moral compass and steadfast work ethic. He will leave no stone unturned as he doggedly pursues leads and although he tries to follow his boss's orders, he cannot in good conscience ignore some of the information he uncovers. Occasionally going outside of his purview and jurisdiction, Art's dedication to finding justice is both his best and worst trait. He is incredibly loyal and although he usually tries to obey orders, Art is convinced of the only suspect's innocence and he refuses to give up searching for the truth.
As his investigation unfolds, Art tries to remain under the radar as he revisits witnesses and digs deeper into the backgrounds of Clive's friends and associates. Manager Albert Shaw seems concerned about Clive's safety, but is there more to his story than meets the eye? German driver Rudy Heinrich is deeply entrenched in the Nazi party and with Hitler counting him to break the land-speed record, he is quite circumspect as he answers Art's question. Art cannot help but wonder just how far Rudy will go to ensure he succeeds but would he kidnap his friend to further the Nazi cause? What, if anything, does former policeman and current head of hotel security Dooley Metzger have to do with the events on the night Nigel was murdered and Clive disappeared? The more information Art learns about the odious man, the more suspicious he becomes that Dooley might know more than he has revealed. After another man goes missing, Art makes an impetuous decision that could break the case wide open if it does not cost him life.
Interspersed with the ongoing investigation are intriguing glimpses of Art's life at home. Wife Clara has been struggling with severe depression since the birth of their youngest daughter, four year old Emily. Additionally, she and fifteen year old daughter Sarah Jane are at loggerheads over Sarah Jane's social activism and waning interest in the Mormon church. Clara is also none too pleased about Art's continued loyalty to Roscoe and things between them grow tense as he makes what she considers to be questionable decisions where his friend is concerned. Can Art salvage their relationship before it is irreparably damaged?
With an imaginative plot, an intrepid investigator and a perplexing mystery, Desolation Flats is a riveting whodunit that is impossible to put down. The storyline is fast-paced and offers readers a realistic peek into the increasingly tense and volatile situation in Nazi Germany as Hitler continues to put his plans into motion. Art's investigation is quite captivating as he slowly but surely begins to uncover the truth about Clive's disappearance and Nigel's murder. Andrew Hunt brings the novel to a pulse-pounding, action-packed conclusion that completely ties up all of the story's loose ends. Fans of historical mysteries are sure to love this latest installment in the Art Oveson series.
Desolation Flats is another superb installment in Andrew Hunt's Art Oveson mystery series starring Mormon policeman Art Oveson. In this outing, following the disappearance of British race car driver Clive Underhill and the murder of his brother, Nigel, Art's investigation takes him into the dark underbelly of the Nazi party and closer to home, fascism and bigoted ex-cops.
Helping his cousin at the Bonneville Salt Flats before the upcoming land-speed trials, Art is delighted to run into his ex-partner and close friend, Roscoe Lund, who is providing extra security for Clive. When Clive's test run ends in fiery crash, Art risks his own life to save the trapped driver. In an effort to repay him for rescuing him from certain death, Clive invites Art to join him for dinner that evening at an upscale club. At the urging of his wife, Clara, Art accepts the invitation and while a bit out of his element, he enjoys meeting Clive's old college friends, Peter Insley and German race-car driver, Rudy Heinrich. The next morning, Art learns Nigel has been murdered and Clive has vanished without a trace. He is dismayed to discover that his brother, FBI Agent Frank Oveson, is part of the investigation but it is the identity of the local police's chief suspect that truly distresses him. With warnings to stay out of the murder investigation, Art is determined to find Clive and hopefully, clear his friend's name.
Art has a strong moral compass and steadfast work ethic. He will leave no stone unturned as he doggedly pursues leads and although he tries to follow his boss's orders, he cannot in good conscience ignore some of the information he uncovers. Occasionally going outside of his purview and jurisdiction, Art's dedication to finding justice is both his best and worst trait. He is incredibly loyal and although he usually tries to obey orders, Art is convinced of the only suspect's innocence and he refuses to give up searching for the truth.
As his investigation unfolds, Art tries to remain under the radar as he revisits witnesses and digs deeper into the backgrounds of Clive's friends and associates. Manager Albert Shaw seems concerned about Clive's safety, but is there more to his story than meets the eye? German driver Rudy Heinrich is deeply entrenched in the Nazi party and with Hitler counting him to break the land-speed record, he is quite circumspect as he answers Art's question. Art cannot help but wonder just how far Rudy will go to ensure he succeeds but would he kidnap his friend to further the Nazi cause? What, if anything, does former policeman and current head of hotel security Dooley Metzger have to do with the events on the night Nigel was murdered and Clive disappeared? The more information Art learns about the odious man, the more suspicious he becomes that Dooley might know more than he has revealed. After another man goes missing, Art makes an impetuous decision that could break the case wide open if it does not cost him life.
Interspersed with the ongoing investigation are intriguing glimpses of Art's life at home. Wife Clara has been struggling with severe depression since the birth of their youngest daughter, four year old Emily. Additionally, she and fifteen year old daughter Sarah Jane are at loggerheads over Sarah Jane's social activism and waning interest in the Mormon church. Clara is also none too pleased about Art's continued loyalty to Roscoe and things between them grow tense as he makes what she considers to be questionable decisions where his friend is concerned. Can Art salvage their relationship before it is irreparably damaged?
With an imaginative plot, an intrepid investigator and a perplexing mystery, Desolation Flats is a riveting whodunit that is impossible to put down. The storyline is fast-paced and offers readers a realistic peek into the increasingly tense and volatile situation in Nazi Germany as Hitler continues to put his plans into motion. Art's investigation is quite captivating as he slowly but surely begins to uncover the truth about Clive's disappearance and Nigel's murder. Andrew Hunt brings the novel to a pulse-pounding, action-packed conclusion that completely ties up all of the story's loose ends. Fans of historical mysteries are sure to love this latest installment in the Art Oveson series.
January 20, 2017
See full review here: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/86...
Set in the 1930s in Salt Lake City, Andrew Hunt's "Desolation Flats" begins with Salt Lake City police detective Art Oveson helping his cousin as he time-tests his race car at the Bonneville Salt Flats. While there, Oveson rescues a British racing legend named Clive Underhill from a fiery crash.
To show appreciation for his rescue, Underhill invites Oveson to join him at Salt Lake City's hottest night spot, the Coconut Grove. Oveson's acceptance of this invitation pulls him into a world of international intrigue as British and German teams compete to set the world land-speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats with the onset of World War II looming in the background.
Shortly after Oveson's late night at the Coconut Grove, Underhill's brother Nigel, a British citizen, is murdered while staying at the Hotel Utah. Oveson finds himself in over his head as he struggles to solve the mysterious death while defending the main suspect, a former member of the Salt Lake City Police Department and Oveson's old partner.
"Desolation Flats" is the third book in Hunt's prize-winning series about Oveson. The first two books in the series are "City of Saints," winner of the Tony Hillerman Prize, and his follow-up book, "A Killing in Zion."
Hunt's characters are full of surprises. Oveson is described as a humble member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Hunt uses this to set up conflict in Oveson's life. Most of this conflict stems from his line of work and his relationship with his family members.
Oveson's wife, Clara, a former high school teacher, has slipped into a depressive state after giving up her career to stay home with their three children. Her struggle to find meaning in her life and marriage adds frustration and challenges to Oveson's life. Unfortunately, these challenges come when Oveson can hardly afford to have his attention pulled away from his police duties.
Another main character Hunt details is the city of Salt Lake. The city is viewed through the eyes of outsiders who are major players in the developing conflict that will grow to become WWII. Oveson in particular is seen as naive about the world outside of Utah and the evil threat presented by the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party.
"Desolation Flats" is a well-written murder mystery full of characters facing both internal and external challenges. These challenges, while not insurmountable, are shown to be even more to difficult to overcome as the world seems to get more complicated with each passing minute.
This book contains harsh language and descriptions of sexual situations. It also contains detailed descriptions of violence and murder.
Set in the 1930s in Salt Lake City, Andrew Hunt's "Desolation Flats" begins with Salt Lake City police detective Art Oveson helping his cousin as he time-tests his race car at the Bonneville Salt Flats. While there, Oveson rescues a British racing legend named Clive Underhill from a fiery crash.
To show appreciation for his rescue, Underhill invites Oveson to join him at Salt Lake City's hottest night spot, the Coconut Grove. Oveson's acceptance of this invitation pulls him into a world of international intrigue as British and German teams compete to set the world land-speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats with the onset of World War II looming in the background.
Shortly after Oveson's late night at the Coconut Grove, Underhill's brother Nigel, a British citizen, is murdered while staying at the Hotel Utah. Oveson finds himself in over his head as he struggles to solve the mysterious death while defending the main suspect, a former member of the Salt Lake City Police Department and Oveson's old partner.
"Desolation Flats" is the third book in Hunt's prize-winning series about Oveson. The first two books in the series are "City of Saints," winner of the Tony Hillerman Prize, and his follow-up book, "A Killing in Zion."
Hunt's characters are full of surprises. Oveson is described as a humble member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Hunt uses this to set up conflict in Oveson's life. Most of this conflict stems from his line of work and his relationship with his family members.
Oveson's wife, Clara, a former high school teacher, has slipped into a depressive state after giving up her career to stay home with their three children. Her struggle to find meaning in her life and marriage adds frustration and challenges to Oveson's life. Unfortunately, these challenges come when Oveson can hardly afford to have his attention pulled away from his police duties.
Another main character Hunt details is the city of Salt Lake. The city is viewed through the eyes of outsiders who are major players in the developing conflict that will grow to become WWII. Oveson in particular is seen as naive about the world outside of Utah and the evil threat presented by the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party.
"Desolation Flats" is a well-written murder mystery full of characters facing both internal and external challenges. These challenges, while not insurmountable, are shown to be even more to difficult to overcome as the world seems to get more complicated with each passing minute.
This book contains harsh language and descriptions of sexual situations. It also contains detailed descriptions of violence and murder.
March 9, 2017
Fantastic Read
Set in Utah with a Mormon protagonist and a great picture of pre WWII attitudes. I could not put this book down. The mystery portion was good but the human presentation was moving and most of all real. Andrew Hunt is now my next must read.
Set in Utah with a Mormon protagonist and a great picture of pre WWII attitudes. I could not put this book down. The mystery portion was good but the human presentation was moving and most of all real. Andrew Hunt is now my next must read.
May 17, 2017
Excellent.
The lead character, Art oveson. is a refreshingly 'straight shooter' but altogether credible.
This is a well-written mystery with complex characters, keenly rendered local and historical details (Utah on cusp of WWII) , and interesting insight into Mormon culture.
A very enjoyable read. I recommend. (note: this is book # 3 in the series though the first I read. It stood alone well.) I will read the other books in the series.
The lead character, Art oveson. is a refreshingly 'straight shooter' but altogether credible.
This is a well-written mystery with complex characters, keenly rendered local and historical details (Utah on cusp of WWII) , and interesting insight into Mormon culture.
A very enjoyable read. I recommend. (note: this is book # 3 in the series though the first I read. It stood alone well.) I will read the other books in the series.
January 6, 2021
This has the author’s usual strengths and weaknesses. Hunt can paint a great picture at times and many character portraits are deft, but the flaws include Oveson failing to notify the murder squad of a suspect, his very convenient eavesdropping on an awkward and artificial explanation by the bad guys and an over-the-top final chase. In 1938 a British and a German racer are attempting the land speed record but killings complicate as does police and FBI politics, all resolved by the often irritating and too-independent Oveson
February 28, 2019
Desolation Flats is a decent murder that captures the international competition for land speed records in Utah's Bonneville Flats in 1938. Hitler is on the rise, with a fascist driver pitted against a raconteur from England whose brother is murdered. Enter a Mormon police lieutenant whose faith is tested as he searches for the killer.
October 5, 2019
Andrew Hunt has written a third book that takes place in Salt Lake City and surrounding areas in the 1930s. Art Oveson is the detective, and Roscoe Lund returns to play a part in the story about the murder of a prominent figure. It's a good mystery, especially if you've read the first two books. The history is good, and the story is entertaining.
June 15, 2017
It could have been so good, but it took a long time to get through the first 3/4 of the story (with things that didn't necessarily need to be there) and then the resolve felt microwaved and kind of spewed out.
February 2, 2017
FOund it slow and the language somewhat archaic. The mystery itself kept me reading, but the writing was meh. The characters were archetypes and not very interesting.
June 13, 2017
Dnf after 15 pages.
April 12, 2023
This is a very interesting book, a window on Salt lake City in 1940s ,mormonism and thepolice; graft and corruption in both! Throw in Nazis and a few vicious murders also some humor! A quick read.
December 14, 2016
I was reading a list of new books from the library, and Bonneville + 1938 caught my eye. That was the time my parents went to Bonneville to watch the races; therefore, I had to read the book. I liked the setting, the mystery, and the action. The title fits as the area really is desolate I had to chuckle over his comments about the Mormons as I couldn't tell whether he was being facetious or serious.
January 31, 2017
This book centered around cars setting speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats and the racers from countries who were competing. One of the racers disappears and his brother is found murdered. I have not read this author's books before and actually picked this book up for my husband to read following recent surgery. He decided against it so I read it. It was entertaining and kept me guessing, which a murder mystery is supposed to do.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews