Molten Mud Murder, the first in a series by Sara E. Johnson, was published in 2019. The fifth book, The Hungry Bones, was published in 2024.
Our Sleuth: Alexa Glock, late 30s, never married, no kids, has wrapped up a six-month visiting professorship in forensic science at Auckland University in New Zealand and is in no hurry to go back home to North Carolina. She offers her expertise in odontology — teeth — on a sensational murder case and is quickly hired by police.
Our Setting: We’re in Rotorua, a smallish city on the North Island of New Zealand, in the first installment. Subsequent books take us throughout the two main islands and many smaller ones that make up the country.
The Premise: Alexa Glock ditched her longtime boyfriend in North Carolina after he mentioned marriage, then fled to New Zealand to teach at university. She wants to extend her stay and soon finds her forensics expertise is valuable. In the first book, she helps solve the murder of a man found half-submerged in a boiling mud pool; Rotorua lies in the middle of intense thermal activity, similar to Yellowstone National Park.
My Take: Given the rich detail of the forensics work, I was surprised to learn the author is an English teacher rather than a scientist. Her protagonist, Alexa, is appealingly independent and no-nonsense, with her own dark secret about the burn scars covering her back. Descriptions of New Zealand are vividly drawn, particularly the customs of the indigenous people known as Māori in book one. It’s fun to watch Alexa trying to fit into a new culture while juggling forensics, a budding romance with her brooding boss and various encounters with assailants trying to stall her investigations.
First Lines:
“Boiled? Boiled in mud?”
“No, ma’am. The chicken is sauteed, in chili-infused oil.”
Alexa tore her eyes from the newspaper and stared blankly at the waiter of the Thai restaurant where she had stopped for lunch. She didn’t realize she had spoken aloud.
“More water?” the waiter added.
“Yes, please.”
A New Zealand Herald had been left behind on the next table over, and she had grabbed it to keep herself company. Now it was all she could do to finish her curry.
Heads Up: Johnson’s books are more police procedural than cozy so expect some tougher language and situations. Given the focus on forensics, you’ll also get detailed analysis of various body parts torn asunder — for example, shark bites feature heavily in book two.
Etc.: Halfway through book one, I quickly put holds on the remaining four books in the series. Learn more about all Johnson’s books.
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