Fallen Leaf Lake

Chief Detective Alberto Cargile; his partner, Samantha; and his sisters -Sarah and Susan- plan a vacation for the middle of August on a lake called Fallen Leaf Lake. Alberto's two nephews, -George and Ryan- had enjoyed their adventure on the Colorado River a couple of years prior, so the family thought it would be great to get caught up. Alberto, Susan, and Sarah hadn't been together since their father died. Mama Cargile lives in Trissa but probably needs to go to an old folks' home.

This story is about two murders and one possible on-water suicide during a vacation week on a beautiful lake somewhere in the Sonoran Southwest. The stories surrounding the nefarious deaths are filled with history, mystery, and obvious suspects who seem to be ready to fall into the snare set by the town's chief of detectives, Alberto José Cargile. But vacations bring different people together to share intimate times in a congested area where everyone is hoping for a great escape from their norm. This fable hovers over loneliness and self-imposed isolation that can rock an individual's psyche into doing unusual things and make selfish decisions that endanger others.