Changing Woman: An Ella Clah Novel (Ella Clah Novels) [Mass Market Paperback]

Aimee Thurlo (Author), David Thurlo (Author)

Book Description

Series: Ella Clah Novels | Publication Date: April 14, 2003

In the Navajo tradition, Changing Woman represents life springing up from nothing. She is the ultimate hope of the world. She is Woman, who embodies all the mysteries of life.

Changing Woman

Change surrounds Navajo Police Special Investigator Ella Clah. The father of her child seems ready to be more of a father, though it will alter the rhythm of all their lives and may hurt his political career. Ella’s mother, Rose, has rediscovered her passion for politics and struggles to guide her people on the best way to walk in beauty.

The Dineh seem to be ready to bring casino gambling to the Rez, despite the risk that the character of the Navajo Nation will be forever altered. Speaking eloquently against the proposal, Rose becomes a national celebrity.

Ella has no time to think about how these changes will affect her and her two-year-old daughter. The Navajo Police Force is combating an increasingly violent wave of vandalism, always two steps behind despite their best efforts.

Events come to a head with the terrorist takeover of a coal mine and power plant on the Reservation. Ella must keep the terrorists from blowing up the power plant—but how can she focus on being a cop when her daughter is missing?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The authors' seventh satisfying novel (after 2001's Red Mesa) about Navajo Police Special Investigator Ella Clah finds her Native American community wracked by internal divisions as well as besieged and bedeviled by deadly outside forces. On the Rez, the issue of using gaming casino money as a means of solving or alleviating financial woes has serious adherents on either side. But a nebulous pro-gaming faction is resorting to pressure tactics and may be behind a rash of vandalism ranging from merely annoying to life threatening. The unsolved acts of vandalism are undermining the Navajo Tribal Police, and as the severity of the acts increases to the level of terrorism, not only Ella but her family are under attack. To add to her troubles, an escaped prisoner with a grudge is gunning for her. In spite of its thriller-like plot, the authors manage to present a good look at the complexities of the gaming issue while maintaining the character-driven essence of the series. Changing Woman the creative feminine power at the center of Navajo beliefs is seen in three generations of Ella's family. Ella's mother, Rose, a traditionalist, begins to assert herself in tribal affairs in a fashion that Ella has never seen before. And her young daughter, Dawn, begins to manifest her nature in new ways. But it is Ella, balanced between mother and daughter, modernist and traditionalist, job and family, who remains the captivating focal point of this excellent series.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School-Navajo Police Inspector Ella Clah and her colleagues find it difficult to keep the tenuously balanced peace when economic hard times cause a rift over the issue of allowing gambling on the reservation. When vandalism and rumors of the presence of Indian Mafia escalate into murders, Clah finds herself dealing with a complex meshing of corrupt police, hard crime, and life-threatening danger for her family. The Thurlos have created another realistic, fast-paced, and intense story featuring the inspector. They expertly slip in information and explanations of the Navajo culture through both dialogue and narrative, adding understanding as well as entertainment. The result is a feeling of empathy for the characters, especially Ella and her family, as they face the modern world and also try to retain their cultural traditions. Action scenes keep the plot moving at a quick pace with some surprises along the way, adding to the excitement. Readers who like action, interesting settings, and strong characters will probably like this title as well as the others in the series, which gets better with each entry.
Pam Johnson, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Forge Books; First Edition edition (April 14, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812568702
• ISBN-13: 978-0812568707
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #488,061 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent Southwest mystery, March 6, 2002

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Changing Woman: An Ella Clah Novel (Hardcover)

Life on the Navaho reservation in New Mexico is never easy but this winter is particularly hard. The weather is abnormally cold, unemployment is up, and many people are forced to choose between eating and heating up their homes. The Tribal Council, responsible for the welfare of the people on the reservation, debates whether to legalize gambling as a way of bringing in revenue.

Navaho Special Investigator Ella Clah knows that the Indian Mafia is behind the wave of vandalism that is concentrated in the Shiprock area. The thugs hope to intimidate the people and the Tribal Council to vote for gambling and they are willing to escalate the level of violence to achieve their goals. Between tracking down the leaders of the criminal element and avoiding snipers and other assaults on her life, Ella has a thirty-six hour day just staying alive.

Amy and David Thurlo have created a mystery series that gets better with each book written though the previous novels are all top quality. Ella Clah is a fascinating character who endears herself to the audience by adhering true to her values even defending the rights of those who disagree with her. Fans of Tony Hillerman and Southwest mysteries will appreciate CHANGING WOMAN.

Harriet Klausner

5.0 out of 5 stars I love the Ella Clah series, a favorite book in the series, January 16, 2012

By 

amazongeek505 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Changing Woman: An Ella Clah Novel (Ella Clah Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

Ella Clah is one of my all-time favorite mystery series because the authors know their subject material and respectfully omit and/or change the details of Navajo traditions and/or ceremonies without missing a beat in the story line. For those who aren't familiar with the Navajo nation, this is a wonderful introduction, better than Tony Hillerman IMHO. (Yes, I love Hillerman's work, too) Protagonist Ella is someone you want to know and someone you can't help but cheer for, hurt for and want the best for each time you enter into her world of life on the Rez. I'm lucky that my library carries most books in this series but there's always a waiting list for new books so I've ended up buying a few hardbacks-this is one of them. I really wanted to see how they would treat the casino issues since they're very sensitive to traditionalists and to get the scoop about Ella's X. This book is one of my favorites in the series.
If you want to just jump into the series I recommend this book. But I think you'll enjoy it so much more if you start from the first book and get to know Ella as an FBI agent then follow her as she grows, deepens, and explores who she is, human nature and the beautiful and rich Navajo culture.

5.0 out of 5 stars Aimee Thurlo review, November 30, 2007

By 

Barbara A. Marshall Cassel "Whitewolfbmc" (Rockwell, NC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Changing Woman: An Ella Clah Novel (Ella Clah Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

I love all of Aimee and David Thurlo's books. Excellent writing and knowledge of the subject area. The Ella Clan books are all wonderful mysteries written around the Navajo traditions. Great books!