Mariah Is Missing

"All the more impressive when considering that Mariah Is Missing is author David Henry Nelson's debut as a novelist, this historical thriller is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated mystery buffs that Mariah Is Missing is also readily available in an inexpensive digital book format."

- James A. Cox, Midwest Book Review

"Nelson masterfully tells the story of a brutal murder in a small rural Montana town while eloquently illustrating the deeper complexities and interconnection of small town relationships. The tragic murder of Mariah awakens Ana to her reality of seeking fulfillment through a hopeless relationship. Through effective character development embedded in the suspense of murder, I grew to know Ana and those within her circle, and understand how tragedy became the trigger for bringing awareness to the emptiness of what she had been chasing. Weaving together a story of murder with human relationship struggles kept me engrossed from start to finish."â©

- Tom Insko, President, Eastern Oregon Universityâ©

In Mariah Is Missing, mystery writer David Henry Nelson has crafted a classical whodunit set in the horse country of Montana in the 1970s. Nelson paints a loving tableau of the times and the people drawn to Montana's cold winters. Fans of Anne Hillerman, J.A. Jance and Nevada Barr will enjoy his cleanly paced mystery."â©

- Dana Haynes, author of Sirocco and eight other novels; managing editor of the Portland Tribuneâ©

â©"This story takes the reader to a small town in beautiful North Central Montana, a rural area where no major crime ever happens. Then a young school teacher disappears. Was a crime committed? As the story continues, the reader wonders which one of these characters is capable of committing a crime. The suspense continues until the end, when the story takes a surprising turn. Mariah Is Missing makes for great weekend reading. It has suspense, interesting characters, and a unique story. I truly enjoyed reading this novel by David Henry Nelson."â©

- Abel Mendoza, PhD, former industrial chemist and inventor with 28 U.S. patents

â©"My work with Dave goes back decades, first as colleagues in the senate, most recently as governor and in his service on the Eastern Oregon University Board of Trustees. He is an exemplary leader - professional, fair, balanced, open to new ideas. Dave's dedication to Eastern Oregon, the university and the region, is admirable and a model of diplomatic leadership that I hope others follow."

â©- Governor Kate Brown, Oregon

â©"Set against the cultural backdrop of life in North Central Montana in the 1970s, David Nelson superbly crafts a story in which he weaves the facts of the unsolved murder of a young woman during that era with a cast of richly developed characters whose lives will forever be impacted by the murder and search for the killer. Nelson knows his stuff and his connection to the Big Sky Country shines through. His descriptions of life on a horse in a rough and tumble part of this country play well. Fantastic debut."

- Paul Attaway, author of Blood in the Low Countryâ©