Of Teeth and Pine
Desiree Horton
Independently published (October 31, 2024)
Reviewed by Nora B. Peevy
Desiree Horton’s second novel is filled with blood, a taste of the beautiful outdoors, and a lot of snark. I fell in love with her main character, Vick, the female forest ranger who will not put up with any sass and never accepts the word “no.” Without her, the crimes against all the women might not be solved. There’s a religious zealot running loose in the Ponderosas, but everyone else, except for our smarter and quick, Vick thinks it’s just a hungry bear.
Desiree Horton skillfully weaves a dark tale intermingled with humor to offset the gorier parts of this story, which takes a light hand. This book is a short read, so you can take it with you anywhere and enjoy it in a few hours. The cover is the first thing that drew me in. It’s a beautiful cover. Horton is a great storyteller, but her editor didn’t do her any favors. The publishing house really needs to find a new, skilled editor.
