A Golden Opportunity for Murder by Rebecca Saltzer

From the tense first scene with a flight in a small aircraft, A Golden Opportunity for Murder grabbed my attention and held tight with a cast of characters with questionable motives. Full of twists and turns, this financial thriller kept me guessing whodunit and why. 

A touch of nostalgia for an abandoned relationship and a questioning of life choices haunt bond analyst Anne Scott when her investment firm sends her to Lost Creek, Idaho, to evaluate the feasibility of further financing in a mining venture. When she discovers that the owner of Midas Gold is her ex-boyfriend, Paul, it puts a strain on her personal relationship with her fiance, as well as her professional evaluation of the company’s profitability. Anne’s connection to Paul and her discovery of his partner’s shady past create a taut dilemma for her, with intrigue building when dodgy test results, inaccuracies in bookkeeping, and a possible murder complicate the situation. 

With vivid descriptions of the natural beauty of the area, along with the devastating effects of mining, Rebecca Saltzer tackles the environmental consequences of greed, providing awareness of the true cost of jewelry. The contrasting scenes of life in the financial district of New York and the tranquility of the wilderness form the perfect backdrop to this story of the wonder of nature exploited by human avarice. As the death toll rises, it becomes apparent that the pursuit of gold and wealth overrides personal integrity.

A shocker of an ending follows this suspenseful page-turner in which suspicious zings from one character to another. A Golden Opportunity for Murder is a golden opportunity for readers to delve into the world of financial investing and the reality of gold mining. Author Saltzer’s knowledge of Wall Street and moral ambiguity in the world of finance shines through the pages of book 3 in The Wall Street Mystery series.