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 conflict with powerful forces bent on revenge by harming her wife Maria and destroying a man's political career.
A vindictive ex-girlfriend and a sleazy opponent try to sabotage Maria's campaign for election to the state legislature. Digger uncovers the corrupt motives behind the 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.