Pay Dirt Road by Samantha Jayne Allen

Annie McIntyre is a recent college graduate searching for direction in her life in the debut novel from Samantha Jayne Allen, Pay Dirt Road. She returns home to Garnett, Texas where she takes a job waitressing while she tries to figure out her next step. Her grandfather offers her a part-time job in the Private Investigation firm that he runs, even if he is supposed to be retired. A fellow waitress goes missing and Annie finds herself drawn into the case. Even when an arrest is made, Annie has questions and is sure the police don't have the right person. 

Annie is short on investigative skills, but she is smart and is determined to find answers to the nagging questions that others don't seem to care about. Annie feels a connection to the missing girl, Victoria, and discovers that she must confront uncomfortable truths in her own past if she is to discover the truth. Shady oil companies, local honky tonks, and people she once thought she knew all hold secrets. Will Annie's questions lead to the truth or will it just put her in harm's way?

Allen shows real skill in evoking small-town life and relationships. "Everyone was familiar, yet not a friend." She captures the mood of a small town with a fragile economy and the trade-offs people make to survive. Her description of the landscape evokes a powerful sense of place.

The story moves slowly as Allen fleshes out the locale, the people, and the relationships. It isn't until the end that the pace moves with some urgency. Annie is lacking in a lot of the skills necessary to be an effective investigator and the mentorship from her grandfather and his partner doesn't really impart much. Annie is smart and intuitive which is enough to get by. It's a realistic portrayal of a novice PI but if the series continues it's clear she'll need to pick up some more practical skills.

The writing is skillful and the characters and descriptions are memorable. This is a notable debut and an author to keep an eye on.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.