Never-ending-snake: An Ella Clah Novel [Hardcover]

Aimee Thurlo (Author), David Thurlo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 31, 2010 | Series: Ella Clah

As a people, the Navajo seek to walk in beauty and find a balance between modern and traditional culture. As a mother, a daughter, and a member of the Navajo Nation, Ella Clah finds her own way to walk—but as a police officer, she seeks both justice and truth. 

When Never-ending-snake begins, Ella is returning from a trip to Washington, DC, where she has been presented with a lucrative offer of employment with a private security firm. The catch? She would have to leave the Reservation. And while Ella has lived off the Rez before, it would be a life-altering experience for her daughter, Dawn.

Before Ella has a chance to even begin making up her mind, gunfire sends her and her companions diving for cover. Who is the target? War hero and alternative fuel lobbyist Adam Lonewolf, politician and tribal attorney Kevin Tolino, or Ella herself? As a Navajo Police Special Investigator, Ella has made more than one enemy. 

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

At the start of the Thurlos' engaging 16th Ella Clah mystery (after 2009's Earthway), two gun men ambush Ella, a special investigator for the Navajo Tribal Police; attorney Kevin Tolino, Ella's ex-boyfriend and father of her 11-year-old daughter; and Afghanistan war hero Adam Longwolf, now a Navajo lobbyist, at the landing strip outside Shiprock, N. Mex., shortly after their return from a trip to Washington, D.C. Ella and Kevin escape serious injury, but not Adam, who it turns out was carrying ,000 in a Monopoly game though he's in no condition to explain why. Since Kevin had been building a case against casino manager Alan Grady for suspicious practices, Ella and Chief Big Ed Atcitty wonder if Alan was behind the attack. Another possibility is someone connected to the controversial Prickly Weed Project, which is developing alternative fuel on tribal lands. As the complicated, sometimes detail-heavy investigation unfolds, Ella must juggle her feelings for Kevin and her prim love, Rev. Ford Tome.
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From Booklist

Ella Clah, member of the Navajo Nation and special investigator for the Navajo Tribal Police, is one of the most intriguing and best-realized characters in today’s crime fiction. The Thurlos give added value to the character by slowly developing Ella, deepening her commitments and problems, throughout the series. At the beginning of this fifteenth Clah mystery, Ella is facing a critical choice between working for much more money and much less stress for a private security firm in D.C. or remaining with the Rez police. Just as Ella returns home from her D.C. interview, she and her two companions (tribal attorney Kevin Tolino, who fathered Ella’s daughter, and alternative-fuel lobbyist Adam Lonewolf) are met with a hail of gunfire. The ready-made mystery here is determining which of the three was the target? Motives abound for all of them. Action also abounds, sometimes to an almost pulp-novel degree. Still, a thoroughly satisfying crime novel. --Connie Fletcher

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Forge Books; First Edition edition (August 31, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765324504
• ISBN-13: 978-0765324504
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #150,005 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

David and Aimee Thurlo have been married for thirty-nine years. Aimee moved in next door to him and it was love at first sight. Three weeks later, they were married.

David was raised on the Navajo Indian Reservation and left Shiprock to complete his education at the University of New Mexico.

Aimee, born in Havana, Cuba, has lived in New Mexico for thirty-nine years. They currently have three poodles and one ex-rodeo horse. Their home life can best be described as chaotic - but interesting.

The Thurlos have learned to write as a team, though they also enjoy throwing all kinds of projectiles at each other. They've ceased to buy breakables. They believe in recycling. Fortunately, David is good at ducking, and Aimee can't pitch.

The Thurlos write romantic suspense for Harlequin Intrigue, are award winners and the authors of the Ella Clah mysteries, Sister Agatha series, and the Lee Nez vampire novels.

The Thurlos' novels, translated into many different languages, are available around the world.

They have their own web site at http://www.aimeeanddavidthurlo.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars powerful police procedural, September 2, 2010

By 

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

This review is from: Never-ending-snake: An Ella Clah Novel (Hardcover)

At an airfield landing strip neat Shiprock, New Mexico, two men fire at Navajo Tribal Police Special Investigator Ella Clah, her former boyfriend and father of her daughter Dawn attorney Kevin Tolino and Afghanistan veteran turned Navaho lobbyist Adam Lonewolf. The trio was returning from D.C. when they were attacked. Ella and Kevin received minor injuries while Adam is severely hurt.

His two traveling companions are stunned to learn Adam had $75,000 in a Monopoly game he was carrying, but his condition does not allow Ella to ask him why. Ella and Chief Big Ed Atcitty wonder if the assault's prime target was Kevin, who is working a legal suit against casino manager Alan Grady. Ella also considers the possibility the attack is linked to the controversial Prickly Weed alternative fuel project on tribal lands.

This is a terrific and powerful Ella Clah police procedural as the heroine works the assassination attempt as well as dealing with personal decisions that deeply impact Dawn. The case is difficult to resolve as any of the trio could have been the prime target so motive is hard to choose as each has enemies. Enhancing the story line is a profound timely look at alternative energy as Team Thurlo's fifteenth Clah whodunit is a great entry (see Coyote's Wife and Earthway).

Harriet Klausner

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of their best, November 8, 2010

By 

Judith B. Hastings - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Never-ending-snake: An Ella Clah Novel (Hardcover)

All the familiar characters are back. I especially like Teeny. When are we going to find out about Ford's past? All of the characters are as real to me as if they actually lived. When I go to New Mexico I sort of look for them on the street. This is the mark of good writing. I'm glad they moved away from the vampire stuff.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great reading. I love all of the suspense., January 11, 2011

By 

Gwen in Salem, OR - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Never-ending-snake: An Ella Clah Novel (Hardcover)

I so enjoy reading all of Aimee & Davids Thurlo's books. The have a great story line and I can close my eyes and see the characters in action. Keep the stories coming.Never-ending-snake: An Ella Clah Novel