The Palo Verde Murders

About the Book

The story setting for ‘The Palo Verde Murders’ takes place primarily near Florence, Mesa and the Superstition Mountains in Arizona just west of Phoenix. Roger laid down the newspaper that he had just finished reading. He opened his desk drawer and picked up three photographs, each of a different and strikingly beautiful young woman. He thumbed them into a fan shape, pulled the center one out and looked at it more closely. “So, they found your bones.” he whispered. “I’ll never forget you Tim looses his wife and two children in an automobile accident and nearly looses his own life. His next-door neighbor who is an ICU nurse with a hatred for men nurses him backed to health. Laura turned and headed for the I.C.U., a flood of emotions was enveloping her and her heart was beating rapidly. ‘God help me, I’m falling in love with Tim. How am I going to be able to care for him without getting my feelings in the way?’ Does she fall in love with Tim and over come her hatred for men? Tim and Laura’s lives entwine as the murderer closes in on his next victim, Laura Barco.

About the Author

A Biographical Sketch of Marvin Lee Mortensen Marvin was born in Norfolk, Virginia in 1939. He moved with his family to Texas in 1950. After graduating from Katy High School he joined the Navy and became a sonar operator. After his Navy discharge he moved to San Luis Obispo, California. He joined the LDS Church and subsequently went on a two-year mission to the Gulf States Mission. When he returned to San Luis Obispo he earned an Associate of Science degree in electronics from Cuesta College and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from California Polytechnic State University. There he worked in the chemistry department of the university for thirteen years. In 1978 Marvin moved to Mesa, Arizona and married his wife Charlotte where they lived until 2000. Marvin has worked as a chemist, electrician and contractor. He enjoys writing poetry and books and has an abiding love for genealogy. He and Charlotte now live in Pine, Arizona. Charlotte has three daughters from a previous marriage and Marvin has one son and one daughter from a previous marriage. They have a foster Navajo Indian daughter and eighteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren with one on the way! January 2005