Customer Reviews

Ancient Ones

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In this book, Mitchell builds a mystery-thriller on a real incident, the discovery of an ancient skeleton in the Pacific Northwest whose features suggest that Caucasians may have peopled North America before migrants from Asia. The two government agents drawn into this case are Native Americans involved with each other in a complex and difficult relationship. The author shows off his knowledge of anthropology and Northwest Indian tribes, making mysticism part of the story. Things move along smartly for the first eighty per cent of the book, with additional violence, several suspects, and lots of misdirection. Unfortunately, the concluding chapters seem overdone (how many anthropologists live in mansions with Bat Caves beneath them?) Don't be misled by the jacket blurb comparing this to Tony Hillerman's work. Mitchell's work is more hard-edged, violent, and sometimes gruesome. The conclusion is politically correct but lacks the moral weight of Hillerman's best work.

Ancient Ones is part of a series featuring two Indian cops. The story revolves around 14,000 year old skelton that could change the pre-history in America. The plot moves along and there are plenty of suspects/bad guys/victims/crazies.

I guess my problem was all the hype comparing this to Tony Hillerman - it isn't. Mr. Mitchell does not catch the pathos of a Hillerman novel, nor should he. However, he does have an engaging voice and a sense of plotting. I thought the sexual politics pushed credulity a bit far and was a bit distracting from main plot.

Overall, it is worth a look.

Illegal fossil hunter Gorka Bilbao found the bones in the John Day Canyon. He turned it over to noted forensic anthropologist Dr. Thaddeus Ranking, who immediately gave it to the Core of Engineers. The University of California at Riverside tested a metacarpal bone and reported that the remains are over 14,000 years old, male, and Caucasian, destroying all the theories on early North American man.

Illegal fossil hunter Gorka Bilbao found the bones in the John Day Canyon. He turned it over to noted forensic anthropologist Dr. Thaddeus Ranking, who immediately gave it to the Core of Engineers. The University of California at Riverside tested a metacarpal bone and reported that the remains are over 14,000 years old, male, and Caucasian, destroying all the theories on early North American man.

The findings upset several groups and fears that violence could occur has the Feds sending Bureau of Indian Affairs Emmett Parker and FBI Anna Turnipseed to not only witness the final examinations of the past, but to keep things safe. However, their presence fails to stop a killer from murdering, leaving the two Feds aware that they must work together to stop the individual before others die.

ANCIENT ONES is at its powerful best when it concentrates on the battle over the authenticity and test results of the fossil. Surprisingly, when the novel turns towards the character development of its two stars especially as wannabe lovers the plot slows down. Kirk Mitchell writes a strong tale that will send readers seeking previous Parker and Turnipseed novels (see CRY DANCE).

Harriet Klausner

Kirk Mitchell's three Parker/Turnipseed "Indian mysteries" are the best, for topic and local color, of the genre by any of the "new Tony Hillermans." With Thomas Perry's apparent decision to retire Jane Whitefield, Mitchell has no serious rivals right now.

*The Ancient Ones* provides an interesting (and pretty shocking) mystery, with a solution that will surprise and a dynamite conclusion. It moves the personal story forward, giving us a better understanding of Anna Turnipseed's psychology and getting the two protagonists past some of their conflict.

Mitchell's stories are indeed a bit more graphic than Hillerman's, which is a generational thing, I think. They are certainly not particularly horrifying in the context of other writers in the genre, such as Andrew Vachss, Dennis Lehane, or Mo Hayder. The place to begin with Mitchell is the second novel, *Spirit Sickness*. If that works for you, try this one, then go back to the first novel, *Cry Dance*. Hillerman started strong and has been limping a bit in the stretch. Mitchell is growing with each book, and I'm confident the new fourth in the series will reflect that growth.

Once again Kirk Mitchell hits the jackpot with Anna and Emmet uncovering the mysteries behind the Ancient One. Mitchell's style is quickly moving and exciting. His vast knowledge of the Native American ways of life holds ones interest and ties the story into a nice, neat bundle. His experience as a law enforcement officer brings credibility to his stories and always rings true in form and procedure. What's next? Even though this story has moved from the Great Southwest it is well done, but I need to go back to the desert and mesas of Arizona and New Mexico.

If you're a fan of Indian Country whodunits, Kirk Mitchell is tops. I could go on, but I'd just be repeating myself. This is a terrific read.

This third novel in the series about BIA criminal investigator Emmett Parker, a Comanche, and FBI agent Anna Turnipseed, a Modoc, doesn't seem nearly as well organized as the first two. There are also unexplained overtones of supernatural involvement which grate, compared to the thoroughly realistic treatment of events in their earlier cases. This time, they're off to Oregon to "keep the peace" during the brouhaha that follows the discovery of what is apparently a Caucasoid skeleton nearly 15,000 years old. This has major political implications for the rights of Native Americans as "original inhabitants," and the scientific community isn't happy about the pressure put on by the Warm Springs Reservation for immediate reburial of the remains. Thaddeus Rankin, renowned anthropologist, has his own cultural and political agenda. And underlying everything is the tension between Emmett and Anna as they try to get their personal relationship off the ground. Some of this is well handled, especially the true causes of Rankin's medical condition, but Mitchell also seems perfectly happy with the antiscientific superstition and politically correct religious bigotry behind NAGPRA -- the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. (I'm sure my own biases are showing there. . . .)

This is one of a great series by Kirk Mitchell. I enjoy stories about the American Indian law enforcement actions. This is a good one with lots of suspense. An enjoyable read, like the other Kirk Mitchell books.

I don't understand why people keep calling Mitchell "the new Hillerman". His style reminds me more of Crichton (although he has some way to go before he'll reach Crichton's sense of pace and timing) than of Hillerman, but oh well...

If you like plots that rely more on action than character interaction, you'll probably like "Ancient Ones". I found it enjoyable, although the protagonists' ability to endure stress, fatigue, and injury seemed superhuman at times, and advances in the case were achieved via chasing, running, and shooting rather than collecting evidence, questioning, and thinking - or that's the impression I'm left with... I admit it's been a couple of weeks since I read the book.

The only thing that annoys me is the relationship between Parker and Turnipseed. The attraction between them just doesn't come off the pages, and while Emmett's caustic replies during their therapy sessions are amusing, the whole (not quite) affair adds nothing to the plot. Their personal issues don't seem to interfere with their work, so why bother to put it into the story?

Visions from Stephen King, Sigmund Freud, Masters & Johnson, Clive Cussler, and the Donner Party sluice through the newest adventures of BIA Investigator Emmett Quanah Parker (Comanche) and FBI Special Agent Anna Turnipseed (Modoc.) Kudos to Jacket designer Jamie S. Warren Youll. Sometimes one can judge a book by its gorgeous cover!

Author Kirk Mitchell's forte is evoking taut suspense in Indian Country, a topography with which he very familiar. This time, the mysteries swirl around recently discovered bones and NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.) My only beef with this installment is the detracting collateral story line of Anna and Emmett's relationship: sexual abuse survivor dysfunction ad nauseam. Enough already!

P.S. It doesn't show up here on Amazon's "Customers who bought this also bought...," but I also recommend "Give Me My Father's Body: The Life of Minik, the New York Eskimo," by Kenn Harper.