Would Bigfoot Commit Murder?

Blame it on Bigfoot is the tenth book in Loretta Jackson’s and Vickie Britton’s The High Country Series, featuring the adventures of Sheriff Jeff McQuede. In this novel, McQuede is tricked by friend Barry Dawson to attend a Bigfoot convention in Trail’s End, Wyoming, a small town at the edge of Shoshone National Forest. 

After the convention, the sheriff is invited by Dr. Adam Kurtz to join his research team to hike into the mountains below Lost Man’s Peak in search of Bigfoot. Unfortunately, the team of researchers aren’t on the same page, causing friction amongst team members. McQuede immediately detects a love triangle, grudges, and greed. 

One member of the team, Professor Neil Callahan, an expert on anthropology and archaeology, obtained special funding for the project based on his claim to have previously encountered Bigfoot in the area of Lost Man’s Peak. Dr. Kurtz agrees to lead the team in order to prove Callahan a fraud.

Ted Weiss, a game hunter, claims Bigfoot is definitely in the area because the beast came close to attacking him the first night out. However, Sheriff McQuede is skeptical about the Bigfoot claims and suspects someone is perpetuating a hoax. Then, one day, a team member is murdered and McQuede is sure about one thing—Bigfoot didn’t do it. 

Author’s Loretta Jackson and Vickie Britton present a thrilling mystery in the backdrop of the rugged scenic beauty of Wyoming. The writers have a strong plot with twists and surprises along the way that will keep mystery lovers at the edge of their seats. 

Though the novel is plot driven, I would have liked to have seen more elaborate descriptions of beautiful Shoshone National Forest. The characters are fleshed out nicely, enabling readers to develop a relationship with the research team. However, deciding who is committing murder is difficult to discern, for too many people have a motive. 

Reading Blame it on Bigfoot provides readers an escape from the confines of their homes, during this pandemic, to visit the rugged terrain of northwest Wyoming. 

About the Authors

Loretta Jackson has co-written with her sister, Vickie Britton, more than fifty novels including the eight book Ardis Cole archaeological mysteries. Loretta’s interests center around history and Native American culture. Prior to writing a novel, the sisters travel to the setting they use, especially to settings with Old West themes. Currently, Loretta lives in Junction City, Kansas where she teaches English at Mission Valley High. 

Vickie Britton along with sister Loretta Jackson have written ten books in the Jeff McQuede High Country Mystery series including Murder in Black and White, Stealer of Horses, and An Icy Death. Vickie is also the author of Tainted Ladies: Female Outlaws, Renegade Women and Soiled Doves of the Wild West. Books written by Jackson and Britton are plot and character-driven with little profanity, sex, and excessive gore. The writers explore themes like greed, justice, and what causes a basically good person to commit a crime. 

Pop’s Rating:

4 pops