Claire Reynier, librarian at the University of New Mexico, is amazed to discover that the body of the young woman found in the dingy basement of the library was the same person who sat beside her at a poetry reading, just days previously; and who'd fled the library in apparent fear after the reading was interrupted by a ranting out-of-control homeless person.  Unidentified, "Jane Doe" had intrigued Claire with a sweet compliment and the offer of a seat and when no one could identify her, Claire began her own investigation.  Complicating matters, an illustration neatly cut from a priceless book was found beside the body and this was Claire's responsibility.  The illustration leads her on a hunt from canyons to communes, to homeless shelters and the degraded denizens of the city's streets in the hope of finding Jane Doe's family and answers as to why she had renamed herself "Maia", after one of the seven sisters of Greek mythology,  Had she overdosed as the police were convinced, or did someone give her a little helping hand? 

Judith Van Gieson deftly and confidently "paints" the dramatic scenery of the Southwest which she so obviously loves in THE SHADOW OF VENUS, her latest Claire Reynier mystery.  An intelligent, caring and quite fascinating heroine, Librarian Reynier becomes someone we feel like we know -- thanks to the expert handling of the author.  While her writing is colorful and imaginative, it is also crisp and to the point.  No excessive verbiage here!  Ms. Van Gieson has created some extremely interesting characters full of complex emotions and her depiction of the abused and homeless is genuinely moving!  She has quite a knack with quirky similes and manages to convey an exact mood very convincingly.  ("Her mood was beginning to feel like she'd dressed in scratchy brown burlap.", or "Hair pulled up tight like she was trying to give a lift to a tired chin.") 

This was a thought provoking, thoroughly readable book with a compelling storyline and excellent, far from flawless characters.  I have learned from it!  Particularly Greek mythology.  In fact, that's probably my only complaint.  Reiteration!  We are treated to the myth of Orion, the great hunter, becoming besotted by the seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione and when Orion pursued them, they were turned into doves by Zeus and flew away up into the sky where they became the constellation Pleiades.  Unfortunately, we are treated to this myth, word for word, almost every time Claire meets someone new!  She does keep on meeting new people, doesn't she?  (And I happen to love Greek mythology!) 

Ms Van Gieson writes brilliantly and continues to hold your attention to the end.  I hope she writes many more books with this dry and dusty heroine  --  almost like a library herself!