Blood Memory (A Catherine McLeod Mystery) [Hardcover]

Margaret Coel (Author)

Book Description

Series: A Catherine McLeod Mystery | Publication Date: September 2, 2008

A new novel from the “master” (Tony Hillerman) of the Wind River mysteries.

Catherine McLeod is an investigative reporter for the Journal, one of Denver’s major newspapers. Her recent coverage of the Arapaho and Cheyenne tribes filing a claim for twenty-seven million acres of their ancestral lands has made her the target for assassination. Her investigation uncovers a conspiracy involving her ex-husband’s wealthy family and state politicians. And as Catherine unravels the truth, she discovers some startling facts about her own heritage, making her would-be killer all the more desperate to find her…

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Coel introduces a tenacious heroine, Denver investigative reporter Catherine McLeod, in this stellar first in a new series. After an attempt on her life, Catherine realizes she was far from a random target when Arapaho elder Norman Whitehorse informs her that she's one of us. Adopted as a child and still unsure of her identity and heritage, Catherine begins to understand the deep connection she feels to her latest story, about the 1864 Indian massacre at Sand Creek. Whitehorse and Cheyenne leaders call for the tribes' further compensation for Sand Creek, but when Catherine starts digging, she realizes that there's more to the land fight than meets the eye, and the trail leads all the way to Washington. With a killer hot on her heels and his collateral damage accumulating, Catherine hurtles toward a conclusion that's both fitting and unanticipated. A cameo appearance by Coel's usual leading lady, Arapaho attorney Vicky Holden (The Girl with Braided Hair, etc.), hints at a much welcome future collaboration between these two crime-solving women. (Sept.)
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From Booklist

This is a stand-alone suspense story from the author of the popular Father John O’Malley and Vicky Holden series (set on an Arapaho Indian reservation). There is still a link to Native Americans: the heroine, Catherine McLeod, an investigative reporter for a Denver newspaper, researches a land claim for 27 million acres of ancestral lands filed by the Arapaho and Cheyenne tribes. The novel gets off to a pulse-pounding start with McLeod, out late at night walking her dog, becoming aware that someone is following her—this same stalker is linked to McLeod’s investigation. Coel skillfully shuttles between McLeod’s and the stalker’s points of view, enhancing the cat-and-mouse game that drives the action. McLeod must cope with her grief over the stalker’s successful attack on her best friend and with her still-raw feelings for her ex-spouse, as she attempts to determine what is behind the attempts to kill her. Gripping. --Connie Fletcher

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Hardcover; 1 edition (September 2, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425223450
• ISBN-13: 978-0425223451
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #244,365 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Margaret Coel is the author of four nonfiction books and many articles on the people and places of the American West. Her work has won national and regional awards. Her first John O'Malley mystery, The Eagle Catcher, was a national bestseller, garnering excellent reviews from the Denver Post, Tony Hillerman, Jean Hager, Loren D. Estleman, Stephen White, Earlene Fowler, Ann Ripley and other top writers in the field. A native of Colorado, she resides in Boulder.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Too many Inaccuracies, February 12, 2010

By 

M. Hughes (Winnebago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blood Memory (A Catherine McLeod Mystery) (Paperback)

Even the smallest inaccuracies in a novel really bother me. I find myself concentrating on the irritating error and losing the book's thread. Another thing that bothers me are silly women characters. Most women are not fools.

The first few pages provided by amazon's look inside feature were a big turn off. Anyone who owns a dog knows that a stranger doesn't sneak up on you and your dog--especially in the dark. And if, to quote the author, "a half man, half monster" chased you into your house, would you call 911 right away? Of course. Not this gal. She runs to the kitchen and pours herself a couple fingers of Wild Turkey and skulks around for a while before calling a lawyer.

In fictional novels, sometimes you just have to think, it's best to just get this woman out of the potential gene pool quickly.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Whiny and Dumb Heroine, March 27, 2009

By 

Morning Glory - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blood Memory (Berkley Prime Crime Mysteries) (Hardcover)

I have tried reading this book 3 times and have made it to page 89 before putting it down totally bored and disgusted. I have been a big fan of Coel's Father John and Vicky Holden series and am disappointed in this new novel. However after reading the other reviews I will try again. Maybe it will improve. The premise for the novel - that someone wants to kill this reporter because of a news story in the past - is good but I think the author just has not yet decided how to develop this character at this point in the novel. Up till now the heroine has spent all her time lamenting that her hard won "new life" is being taken from her. Instead of trying to solve the mystery, she whines a lot, ignores the threat, does stupid things, and in the process continually endangers herself and others. Apparently the reporter has some hidden American Indian ancestry which may develop as the story unfolds and there is a hint that the mystery may include some story on the Rez. So the basics for a good story are there. I just wish Coel would get it together a little earlier in the novel or go back to Father John and Vicky.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars An "Oh, Dear" book, December 17, 2008

By 

John A. Roynesdal (Honolulu) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blood Memory (A Catherine McLeod Mystery) (Hardcover)

I like Margaret Coel's books, but not this one. Oh Dear,I've concluded, she's going in another direction, the wrong one, and dragging her faithful reader with her! When I find myself speed reading to get through obvious descritpions of beautiful sunsets, etc, and plodding through the protagonist's fears moment by moment, sensing that I've been through this before in previous pages, well, I know that this is going to be one headache-producing read. Mary Higgins Clark knows suspense; it's not here! Sorry Margaret.