One Mile Under: A Ty Hauck Novel    by Andrew Gross Order:  USA  Can William Morrow, 2015 (2015) Hardcover, CD, e-Book     Reviewed by Bob Walch In this new thriller with a very topical subject, Andrew Gross delves into the fracking industry and the desperate measures drillers will take to get the oil out of the ground. Most people realize that the fracking process needs large amounts of water and without access to cheap water it isn't financially feasible to sink a well. When whitewater guide Dani Haller discovers the body of a close friend, Trey Washburn, in the rapids outside of Aspen, the assumption is that the experienced rafter made a tragic mistake and paid for it. Dani doesn't buy the accidental death verdict but the local police chief won't consider investigating further. Doing a little digging on her own, Dani finds someone who might have witnessed her friend's death but then that individual, a hot-air balloon operator, also dies in a mysterious accident. Now, at the request of Dani's father, it's time for private investigator Ty Hauck to lend a hand. It doesn't take long before Dani and Ty find themselves involved in a deadly confrontation between farmers in a drought-stricken Colorado town and a big oil company that wants something as valuable as liquid gold – fresh water! The impact of the current U.S. drought that has made water a precious resource in many western states and the current controversy about fracking makes this latest novel by Gross one that will easily engage the reader. The author frames this tale as another epic western battle between the big and little guys. This time, though, it is not cattlemen against homesteaders but energy vs. agriculture. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews