Hell to Pay

This is the third book of the Lew Travis Mystery series. Like its predecessors, it is set in the California foothills and features a 72-year old sleuth. Lew, a widower, and a part-time investigative reporter for the local paper, is curmudgeonly but shrewd, and is surrounded by a recurring cast of characters. In addition to the mystery and humor, the book offers insights into the gold rush and its enduring effects.