The Pot Thief Who Studied D. H. Lawrence

A pottery mystery that’s “perfectly delightful and funny . . . full of engaging characters, fast dialogue, and tasty descriptions of the New Mexico culture” (Kings River Life Magazine).
  Eighty years ago, D. H. Lawrence moved to Taos to make a home for himself in the mountains of New Mexico. To welcome the famed writer, his neighbor brought over a stew and left the container as a gift. But this was no Tupperware—it was a handcrafted pot made in the ancient tradition by one of the finest craftswomen of her generation. Decades later, the neighbor’s great-grandson wants it back, and there is no one in New Mexico better at stealing artifacts than Hubie Schuze.
In exchange for three priceless pots, Hubie agrees to search the Lawrence ranch for the long-lost stew vessel. But when a blizzard descends on the estate, trapping Hubie and other guests indoors with a killer, the pot thief finds himself facing a mystery so shocking it would make Lady Chatterley blush.
The Pot Thief Who Studied D. H. Lawrence is the 5th book in the Pot Thief Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

J. Michael Orenduff grew up in a house so close to the Rio Grande that he could Frisbee a tortilla into Mexico from his backyard. While studying for an MA at the University of New Mexico, he worked during the summer as a volunteer teacher at one of the nearby pueblos. After receiving a PhD from Tulane University, he became a professor. He went on to serve as president of New Mexico State University.

Orenduff took early retirement from higher education to write his award-winning Pot Thief murder mysteries, which combine archaeology and philosophy with humor and mystery. Among the author’s many accolades are the Lefty Award for best humorous mystery, the Epic Award for best mystery or suspense ebook, and the New Mexico Book Award for best mystery or suspense fiction. His books have been described by the Baltimore Sun as “funny at a very high intellectual level” and “deliciously delightful,” and by the El Paso Times as “the perfect fusion of murder, mayhem and margaritas.”