The Socorro Blast is Pari Noskin Taichert’s third novel to feature Sasha Solomon as narrator and amateur sleuth. Solomon pushes her way into the role of detective, this time in hopes of protecting her niece, who is injured in a suspicious explosion. Rather than trust the police officer and reporter whose work she finds suspect, Solomon takes it upon herself to investigate. She attempts to untangle the details of her niece’s romantic liaisons and her graduate study of explosives.
Solomon is endearing because of her passions, quirks, and foibles. She often regrets her own words as soon as the impassioned declarations fly off her tongue. She is troubled by her family’s fervent religious observance. The novel’s opening words convey her discouragement about her own relationships: “If hell exists, it’s filled with old boyfriends.…” Eating cans of whipped cream provides her solace. When she is feeling less desperate, Solomon delights in enchiladas smothered in red and green chilis. She takes pleasure not only in the spicy Southwestern cuisine, but also in the beauty of the local landscape.
The author’s depictions of the central character and of the local backdrop animate the novel. While much of the writing seems hackneyed, treatment of topics such as post- 9/11 security measures and “info-tainment” broadcasts is somewhat fresher. The relative strengths of the novel are its quirky protagonist and vivid setting, rather than compelling intrigue or mystery.
