Elizabeth "Digger" Doyle is a young investigative reporter who earned her nickname by exposing the shady secrets of politicians in the fictional Southwest city of Las Vistas. The Sunshine Solution is the second novel in the Digger Doyle mystery series where Digger is finally free to marry her lesbian lover, the Hispanic activist artist Maria Ortiz who is seeking election to the state legislature. Meanwhile, Digger has landed her dream job with a government department in Santa Fe, New Mexico. But when her new boss asks Digger to spy on a political rival's announcement for a multimillion-dollar solar energy project, she suspects her boss is hiding something and the project is a cover-up, but for what? Investigating the solar company, Digger and a former newspaper colleague act as detectives, following a team of imposters from the ancient walls of Chaco Canyon, to the twisting streets of Santa Fe, to a struggling Native American pueblo community. The pursuit brings Digger into conflict with powerful forces bent on revenge by harming Maria and destroying a man's political career. Maria's election campaign is filled with tension. She contends with a vindictive ex-girlfriend and a corrupt opponent. Digger uses her investigative skills to uncover the motives behind his attacks against Maria. The Sunshine Solution explores contemporary themes such as the nature of progress in conflict with local culture, the clash between development and exploitation, and the power of family history to affect political decisions. In the background is the state of New Mexico itself, its scenic beauty and the cultural and historic importance of iconic places such as Chaco Canyon and the city of Santa Fe.
The Sunshine Solution is a sequel to The Power of Rain which introduced readers to Elizabeth "Digger" Doyle a young investigative reporter who earned her nickname by exposing the shady secrets of politicians in the fictional Southwest city of Las Vistas. Digger has landed her dream job with a government department in Santa Fe. But when her new boss asks Digger to spy on a political rival's announcement for a multimillion-dollar solar energy project, she suspects her boss is hiding something and the project is a cover-up. Investigating the solar company, Digger and a former newspaper colleague follow a team of imposters from the ancient walls of Chaco Canyon to the twisting streets of Santa Fe, to a struggling Native American pueblo community. The pursuit brings Digger into confli