Books set In Colorado / New Mexico

James Michener's Centennial for Colorado history. Diane Mott Davidson's catering mysteries are set in CO. Tony Hillerman's mystery series for NM.

Stephen White's Dr. Alan Gregory series is set in Colorado Springs.

Death Comes for the Archbishop
Red Sky at Morning--good for boys

I would second the Tony Hillerman mysteries - as with the Precious Ramotswe books, I tend to read them for the way in which they evoke a place and culture rather than for the mystery itself.

Also, Sherri Tepper writes mysteries under two psuedonyms, B. J. Oliphant and A. J. Orde. Both series are set in Colorado; the Orde books feature a CO antiques dealer and the Oliphant books a female CO rancher (if I remember correctly.) One of the Oliphant books, Dead in the Scrub , was nominated for an Edgar.

And, finally, Los Alamos by Joseph Kanon was a nice little mystery that nicely portrayed the area. Funny thing is, I rarely read mysteries other than classics like Agatha Christie and Josephine Tey - but, somehow, all the "modern" mysteries I've read seem to be set in CO or NM.

Laughing Boy by Oliver la Farge--a classic about the Navajo.

In Santa Fe, don't miss seeing the miraculous staircase-- I forget which church it's in, but people there will know.

Song of the Lark by Willa Cather starts out in Colorado, with a section in New Mexico where she is in the middle of a desert thunderstorm. One of the best descriptions of a desert rain storm I have read. You could almost smell the creosote.

I've traveled in both states; Santa Fe is perhaps the most enchanting small city in the southwest. And if you get a chance, take a trip up the Santan Mountains. Oh they are lovely.

Here is a link that might be useful: Song of the Lark

Another series set in CO that I like is John Dunning's Cliff Janeway character, a rare book dealer who solves mysteries. The first one is The Bookman's Wake.

Thanks everyone for all the great suggestions. My local library had many of Tony Hillerman's mysteries on the shelf. I am researching the others so I can get them from another branch.

It's great to find new mystery series! It's funny to hear that many good modern mysteries are set in CO and NM.

Maureen

You might like Foxfire by Anya Seton. I like her books even though they're dated.