Caught Dead in Wyoming

From the tip of the rodeo queen’s tiara, to “agricultural byproducts” ground into the arena dust, TV reporter Elizabeth “E.M.” Danniher receives a murderous introduction to the world of rodeo. Elizabeth, until recently a top-flight national TV journalist, is regaining her footing after a dizzying demotion to tiny —and entirely foreign to her — Sherman, Wyoming. She’s having enough trouble trying to win over the wary stray dog she’s dubbed Shadow. Now, her equilibrium faces a major challenge.

The apparently accidental death — under the hooves of bucking bulls — of a rodeo producer preparing for Sherman’s annual Fourth of July Rodeo catches the attention of Elizabeth and her KWMT-TV colleague Michael Paycik. Not only is it a major story about the region’s biggest event, but it’s being outrageously mishandled by the station’s egocentric anchor.

As Elizabeth and Mike dig – despite a somewhat rocky partnership to fight crime — area rancher Tom Burrell joins the investigation, providing background on suspects. And there are plenty of suspects because researching the victim’s history unearths surprising enemies. But Tom has divided loyalties, so Elizabeth doubts his commitment to finding the truth.

Not to mention that both Mike and Tom show an interest in her … and the points of this peculiar triangle are starting to get under her skin.