Thomas Zigal's books evoke the wild beauty of the Colorado Rockies while gently mocking the glitz and artifice of Aspen's weathy elite. His characters are well-rounded, the plots are articulate and interesting, and his writing is lively and articulate (high praise from a voracious reader who bemoans the grammar faux paws of so many of today's popular writers).

Tom Zigal has written real joy ride of a mystery novel with Pariah (the third installment in the Kurt Muller series). He has crafted a tightly woven story that includes aging hippies, rock groupies turned yuppies, greedy developers, burned-out rock n' rollers, conniving politicians, ghosts of rock stars past, New Age Buddhists and Aspen social climbers in a plot that has more twists than the mountain roads that he describes. Zigal has a real feel for Aspen and the surrounding country. This book is a lot of fun to read

Politically ambitious Ben Smerlas heats up his campaign to remove Kurt Muller from being Aspen's sheriff because he knows that this is a perfect stepping stone to a House seat. A desperate Kurt Muller agrees to do almost anything to abort the politically motivated voter recall. Knowing how close the vote is and encouraged by his attorney, Kurt attends a charity benefit in which society's ladies are bidding on a date with him. Wealthy recluse Nicole Bauer bids ten thousand dollars to gain the evening with Kurt.

Nicole informs Kurt that she is the recipient of death threats that she insists comes from former rock star Rocky Rhodes, who died two decades ago. Nicole was the prime suspect in Rocky's death, but she beat the rap. The next day, Nicole is lying dead at the bottom of the nearby cliff eerily as Rocky did twenty years ago.. In spite of the negative publicity associated with Nicole, Kurt begins to investigate her death. He soon finds a link between Rocky,s band and many of the elite of Aspen. However, his new-found knowledge places more than a job in jeopardy as an unknown assailant wants to add the sheriff to the death list.

PARIAH is a very entertaining police procedural that will leave readers feeling a Rocky Mountain high. The story line intermingles Kurt,s personal problems with a well-designed investigation that requires the sheriff to work it. A sprinkling of jocularity makes the characters seem more human even as it eases the growing tension. The myriad of suspects all contains viable motives and means as the plot twists and turns with every new discovery. With novels like this one, Thomas Zigel will gain many zealous fans.

Harriet Klausner

This book is a total insult to the police force at Aspen! How could a hippie become a sheriff for over ten years in such a famous and rich place. I've never seen any police station look like the one created by T. Zigal, not even in those of in the Indian reservations. A total absurd, ridiculous made-up arrangement. A deputy wearing sandals and long hair like Chip did? Give me break! The hero(I really don't want to use this word) of this book, Muller, was the worst creation of a writer who never quite understood the police systems and the procedure of any investigation. "A KURT MULLER MYSTERY"? WOW, I don't think this guy could survive in any kind of mystery! The title of this book is quite appropriate, 'cause it's just like INTO THE THIN AIR, there is nothing in it, even the writing is somewhat smooth enough, it's still a total waste of time. Sorry, no dice, Sir

Unlike the shopper from Carpenteria (reveiw below or above). I really enjoyed the book. I love mystery novels and had never read a Kurt Muller mystery prior to In To Thin Air. This book is easy to get into and I thoroughly enjoyed the "hippie" sheriff. Try it you might like it. I did.

What a great adventure. A great true tale