Wild Sorrow

WILD SORROW is the winner of the WILLA Award for Best Literary Fiction.


Welcome to the WILD Mystery Series and its sleuth, Jamaica Wild, a BLM Agent who is part Jack Reacher and part Lara Croft. In WILD SORROW, Agent Wild tracks a wounded mountain lion onto a desolate canyon rim, accompanied by her wolf companion, Mountain. The two come across an old Indian School, a place where children were "Americanized" after being taken from their homes. As a snowstorm sweeps the canyon, they are forced to take refuge in the abandoned school.



As she explores her impromptu haven, Jamaica makes a grisly discovery. The desecrated body of an elderly Anglo woman lies frozen on the floor. The presence of the corpse, combined with the obviously troubled history of the abandoned school, haunts Jamaica throughout the night, along with the sorrowful howling of the icy wind.



After the storm, the FBI take over the murder investigation as Jamaica continues to search for the wounded she-lion and her cubs. But as the dead of winter settles on the mesa, arctic temperatures threaten the survival of the mountain lions-and Jamaica herself, as she is drawn back into solving the case involving the frozen woman when she is stalked and terrorized by the unidentified killer...




"A good story well told from start to finish."-Anne Hillerman



"In this third installment of a high-action mystery series set in Taos County... Swirling around the search for the killer, Ault rolls in several subplots amid swiftly changing scenes. Ault earned a special Edgar prize - a Mary Higgins Clark Award winner for her debut mystery. She's a master at describing nature."-Albuquerque Journal



"Cross best-selling author Tony Hillerman with veteran author Sue Grafton and what have you got-the best of both worlds in a hybrid writer named Sandi Ault... The result is a set of mysteries that leave fans breathless by the end of the first chapter."-Sedona Red Rock News

"A crackling mystery, 'Wild Sorrow' also combines Ault's lovely nature writing with her indignation over the way Indian children were mistreated at the boarding schools. It's a potent mix, and Ault invests it with chilling authenticity and suspense-and an epilogue that will break your heart."-Richmond Times Dispatch



"Fans of the late Tony Hillerman will embrace Ault's outstanding third mystery... Ault's wildlife expertise and knowledge of Tanoah culture enhance a poignant plot."-Publishers Weekly, STARRED Review



"Ault's talents go far beyond devising a suspense-driven plot; she layers this enjoyable tale with her considerable knowledge of Native American customs and history. I'm not the first to say it, nor will I be the last: Fans of Nevada Barr and Tony Hillerman will be enthralled with this series. If you aren't yet a fan of this...author...you should be."-New Mexico Magazine



"I read the outstanding new mystery WILD SORROW. If Ault's gripping storytelling skills weren't enough to make this a compelling read, there is also her ability to convey the beauty and power of the landscape... Ault is often compared to the late Tony Hillerman. While it's an honorable and helpful comparison, it's also a bit unfair. Ault's novels are unique and original, and they deserve to stand on their own. Last year, Ault's "Wild Inferno" was recognized by Publishers Weekly as one of the Best Books of 2008. "Wild Sorrow" should be a strong favorite to make the list in 2009... Ault, like many a great storyteller of the American West, understands the richness of "deep time." And we are fortunate she has once again given us a glimpse into the great heritage of a great people."-The Estes Park Trail Gazette



"You might as well turn off the phone and lock the door, you are in it until the very last page releases its hold on you."-The Coloradoan