Picture a storyteller who spun gritty tales of the Mexico-West Texas border, where small-town grit meets cartel chaos—meet Tricia Fields! Born in Honolulu and now crafting mysteries from a cozy Indiana farm, Fields has carved a niche in the thriller world with her award-winning Josie Gray Mystery series. Her debut, The Territory, snagged the prestigious Tony Hillerman Prize, launching a career that blends heart-pounding suspense with the stark beauty of the desert.
Fields’s stories aren’t just page-turners; they’re a love letter to the rugged landscapes and resilient souls of the Southwest. With a knack for weaving real-world issues like border violence into compelling narratives, she’s earned a loyal following among mystery fans. Let’s dive into her journey, from her island roots to her rise as a master of Southwestern crime fiction.
The Making of Tricia Fields
Born in Hawaii, Tricia Fields grew up in small-town Indiana, a setting that mirrors the tight-knit communities in her novels. Living on a log cabin farm with her husband, a state police investigator, and their two daughters, Fields found inspiration in the quiet isolation of rural life. Her lifelong fascination with the desert Southwest and Mexico fueled her writing, sparked by works like Edward Abbey’s Desert Solitaire. This passion led to her debut novel, The Territory, which introduced the world to her tough-as-nails protagonist, Josie Gray.
Fields’s husband’s law enforcement career provided a unique lens, offering insights into the challenges of policing that permeate her work. Her research trips to West Texas and connections with locals, like Big Bend Ranch State Park photographer Gary Nored, grounded her stories in authentic detail, making her settings as vivid as her characters.
Tricia Fields’s Unforgettable Stories
The Josie Gray Mystery series, set in the fictional border town of Artemis, Texas, is Fields’s crown jewel. Her debut, The Territory (2011), follows Police Chief Josie Gray as she battles drug cartels and local politics in a town of 2,500. Praised for its “gritty contemporary crime” and “intense humanity,” it won the Tony Hillerman Prize and was named a Sun-Sentinel Best Mystery Debut. Scratchgravel Road (2013) ups the ante, with Josie uncovering a murder tied to a decommissioned plutonium plant, blending environmental danger with suspense.
Wrecked (2014) and Firebreak (2015) showcase Fields’s knack for ripped-from-the-headlines plots, tackling wildfires and personal vendettas. Her latest, A Reluctant Saint (2022), dives into election fraud and greyhound racing controversies, earning starred reviews for its “masterly” evocation of the Lone Star landscape. Fields’s style—marked by vivid desert imagery, complex characters, and relentless pacing—has drawn comparisons to Tony Hillerman, though she’s carved her own path with a distinctly female perspective.
Beyond Josie Gray, Fields ventured into new territory with Young Blood (2020), the first in her Maggie Wise series set in Florida. This shift highlights her versatility, trading arid deserts for swampy intrigue while maintaining her signature suspense.
Why Tricia Fields Matters
Tricia Fields’s impact lies in her ability to humanize the border’s complexities. Through Josie Gray, she explores the personal toll of cartel violence and the resilience of communities caught in the crossfire. Her novels resonate with readers who crave authentic, character-driven mysteries that don’t shy away from tough issues. Publishers Weekly and Library Journal have lauded her for capturing the “raw natural beauty” of West Texas and crafting “timely” procedurals that tackle everything from election tampering to homegrown terrorism.
Fields’s work also champions strong female protagonists, offering a refreshing take on a genre often dominated by male leads. Her meticulous research and evocative settings make her a standout voice in Southwestern crime fiction, inspiring both readers and aspiring writers to explore the power of place in storytelling.
- Born: Honolulu, Hawaii
- Key Works: The Territory, Scratchgravel Road, A Reluctant Saint, Young Blood
- Awards: Tony Hillerman Prize (2011), Sun-Sentinel Best Mystery Debut (2011)
- Fun Fact: She hosts an annual open-fire fried chicken party on her Indiana farm!
Ready for a thrilling ride through the desert? Snag The Territory and dive into Tricia Fields’s gripping world of mystery and mayhem!