Customer Reviews

Killing Raven (John O'Malley and Vicki Holden Mysteries)

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Margaret Coel hits all the right notes in the latest book about Arapaho attorney Vicky Holden and the Wind River Reservation's priest, Father John. The discovery of a dead body at Double Dives brings Father John into an investigation, just as his friend Vicky is offered a job at the Indian reservation's gambling casino. Vicky has her doubts about the casino job, but she is convinced by Adam Lone Eagle, the other attorney at the casino that it would be beneficial to her people. Vicky has been barely making ends meet in her law practice, so she agrees to join Adam. As she learns more about the operation, Vicky becomes suspicious about the legality of some of its practices. The human side of gambling problems is revealed when one of Father John's employees becomes enmeshed in gambling debts. The delicate balancing act of Vicky and Father John's relationship is again addressed in this book, and the possibility of a new romance for Vicky causes them to face some issues that they have chosen to ignore in the past. The beautiful background of the Wyoming reservation, the well-defined characters, and the tightly-woven plot are all typical of this series.

The Wind River Reservation is home to Arapaho lawyer Vicky Holden but her law practice is not getting her enough clients to stay in business. When Adam Lone Eagle asks her to come work with him at the newly opened Great Plans Casino, she asks the advice of two elders whom she trusts. They tell her that it would be a good idea to have an extra pair of eyes inside the casino to make sure it is being managed properly.

From almost the first day she starts working at the casino, she has a feeling that the head of the commission overseeing job hiring is placing people he knows in positions they are not qualified to handle for a kickback but she has no proof. As she delves into the records to get the evidence she needs, Vicky finds proof that Lodestar Enterprises which is running the Casino is committing even worse crimes, but her snooping almost gets her killed. Her friend Father John O'Malley rushes to the rescue but may prove too late.

KILLING RAVEN is a fascinating who-done-it but it is also a manifesto about all the evils that seem to accompany legalized gambling. The author gets a little too preachy on the subject but it is a sure bet that readers will overlook that small flaw due to the exciting and fast-paced story line. Margaret Coel gives the audience a sense of what it is like living on a reservation and why some people can never leave the land they call home.

Harriet Klausner

This latests mystery was no exception. The plot involves a casino that has just opened on the Arapaho reservation in Wyoming. Vicki, an Arapaho lawyer, is desperate for work but not very excited when she gets offered some work by the casino -- she has some concerns about the place. In the meantime, Father John, Jesuit priest who runs the reservation mission, has been called on to say some prayers over a body that's been discovered. And that involvement leads to Father John's getting caught up in whatever is going on at the casino, as he attempts to locate someone who has gone missing. So -- you have both Father John and Vicki snooping around the casino, and since they have an unstated special regard for each other, you know their paths will cross -- and they do.

I don't know why I love Coel's mysteries so much, but it has to do with her portrayal of life on the reservation -- I feel like it's a place I know well, and that her fictional characters are real people I've met. The plotting is very good, but that's not why I read the books. My only complaints about her books are 1) enough of Vicki and Father John pining for each other -- Vicki needs to forget about him and find someone available; and 2) I don't like all the violence that usually marks the end of Coel's books -- this one being no exception.

A new casino brings friction and prosperity to the Arapahos on the sun-baked Wind River Reservation in Coel's ninth Vicky Holden and Father John O'Malley mystery.

When a white man is discovered in a shallow grave on Indian land, Fr. O'Malley worries it has something to do with the "rangers" protesting the casino, largely through intimidation. Meanwhile attorney Vicky, barely making ends meet, has been asked to do some legal work for her tribe's casino. On an elder's advice she takes the job, along with his suspicion that tribal overseers are lining their pockets illegally.

The atmosphere of menace grows as Vicky noses into places she's not wanted and O'Malley wonders what the disappearance of an Indian casino dealer has to do with the murder victim. Coel dovetails their separate investigations nicely, bringing the pair together and fanning the flames of a friendship they can't afford to nurture. The plot explores the temptations of gambling, the crime it attracts, and the dilemma it presents to impoverished Indian tribes before building to a nail-biting, over-the-top climax. The Great Plains country and modern reservation life are particularly well done in this established and thoughtful series.

It was a good story. All of her books are good. I like the way she writes

I started reading Coel's books after I read a review. They are well written and have a lot of native american culture in them. Well written and suspenseful well worth a try for those who love mystery.

Margaret Coel's books about the Wind River Reservation are exciting, psychologically valid, and deal with numerous issues that are very current as related to present-day concerns on Indian Reservations. This one deals effectively and with sensitivity with the issues raised by casino gambling, a major concern for many people, both Indian and non-Indian.

Margaret Coel casts the dice to spin another tightly plotted mystery on the Wind River Reservation. Lean times force Vicki Holden to do some legal work for the new casino on the reservation though she has doubts as to the easy money flowing to the tribe.
Vickie's path crosses Father John's and their feelings for each other still cloud their judgement despite their best efforts to ignore the regard.
With all mysteries a body turns up that demands justice. Father John and Vicki, both find questions that need answers around the casino. But a new man proves them wrong in their assessment of him, and finds a place in Vickie's heart.
Pages turn till the very end, which provides clues for the next installment in the fine series.
Nash Black, author of TRAVELERS and SINS OF THE FATHERS.

This is certainly the best book so far in this series. The action is non-stop, and the tension just keeps increasing. We get a first-hand look at the operation of First Nation-owned gambling casinos, and the effects both good and bad that these facilities have on the First Nation tribes that have them. They bring prosperity and money for programs for the people, but they can also bring unsavoury people and companies to the casino because these people want to take advantage of he money that is being made. This book runs two parallel stories as usual. Father John is trying to determine what happened to an Arapaho who has disappeared. This Arapaho is the pit boss at the casino on the Wind River Reserve. Vicky is working as a lawyer for the casino and uncovers many secrets and frauds that get her into a pack of trouble. And of course, there are dead bodies along the way. The plot eventually melds together, and we have the formidable pair of Father John and Vicky Holden working together to uncover evil, dishonesty and also to unmask a murderer. This series keeps on getting better and better.

Excellent book if you like Native American thrillers. We read a lot of the Thurlo books and Margaret Coel's books are a lot like those. The book keeps you on you seat and guessing all the time about the plot. You won't be able to put the book down once you start.