Sacred Ground [Hardcover]

Mercedes Lackey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1994

Jennifer Talltree, a private investigator and Osage shaman-in-training, must call on both her magical powers and her detective skills when the theft of native American artifacts and the desecration of burial grounds rouse vengeful spirits. 50,000 first printing.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA-Native American Jennifer Talldeer is a private investigator who usually deals with mundane cases of divorce, insurance fraud, and missing persons. Her cantankerous grandfather is teaching her the skills of a shaman and the magic possessed by warriors. When she is hired by an insurance company to look into the bombing of a shopping mall where fragments of Indian artifacts are discovered, both of these interests come into play. The burial ground of her ancestors has been destroyed as well as the mall site, freeing evil spirits who hinder the investigation and threaten to destroy her and the entire world. Jennifer must also deal with the return of her former lover, David Spotted Horse, who is an Indian activist and a prime suspect in the bombing. Skillfully weaving a tale of fantasy, mystery, and Native American folklore, Lackey has written a unique novel sure to appeal to YAs.
Katherine Fitch, Lake Braddock Secondary School, Burke, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Jennifer Talldeer, a private investigator and Osage shaman-in-training, follows a trail of sabotage and murder as a routine insurance investigation unearths a conspiracy between an unscrupulous businessman and a powerful spirit of vengeance. Set in contemporary Oklahoma, Lackey's fantasy/mystery crossover draws on the region's rich Native American heritage for atmosphere. Although the villain's identity is apparent early in the tale, a strong female protagonist and colorful supporting characters maintain interest in an otherwise predictable story. The author's popularity should ensure a readership for this title.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; 1ST edition (March 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312852819
• ISBN-13: 978-0312852818
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,810,712 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mercedes Lackey is the acclaimed author of over fifty novels and many works of short fiction. In her "spare" time she is also a professional lyricist and a licensed wild bird rehabilitator. Mercedes lives in Oklahoma with her husband and frequent collaborator, artist Larry Dixon, and their flock of parrots.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Serious Mischief, July 8, 2002

By 

Marc Ruby™ "The Noh Hare™" (Warren, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: Sacred Ground (Mass Market Paperback)

Jennifer Talldeer is several people. We know her as a woman making her way as a private detective, a tough business for a man, let alone a woman. Her tribesfolk know her as Good Eagle Woman, an active participant in the powwows and a determined rescuer of Native American artifacts. Her true name is Kestrel Hunts Alone, student of her shaman grandfather Mooncrow, on of the respected Little Old Men of the Osage.

When Jennifer is called in to investigate sabotage at a construction site that appears to have disturbed some Indian remains, her instincts as Kestrel warn her that all is not as it seems. There is evidence that the artifacts uncovered at the Riverside Mall come from a far more important site. Not only are the often-malignant 'Little People' badly stirred up, but something far more evil than grave robbing is also at work. Somehow, Rod Calligan, the builder, is at the center of the trouble. He is intent on blaming the Native Americans working for him for the troubles at the mall.

Things are not made easier when David Spotted Horse, Jennifer's first lover, reappears as an Indian activist. At first, the antagonism festers between David and Jennifer, who does not agree with some of David's more militant positions. Then, as David comes to understand and accept Kestrel's spiritual role, her affection for him becomes a distraction, albeit a welcome one.

In a sense, Jennifer's real adversary is not Calligan, the Little People, the Evil One, or even her occasionally irritating grandfather. It is her own need to be perfect and to control outcomes that she must overcome in order to win her final confrontations. This is a tough challenge, one that she must face herself in her quest for a shaman's medicine-pipe.

Mercedes Lackey alternates between youth oriented fiction series and less frequent, more serious writing. While Jennifer Talldeer is reminiscent of Diana Tregarde, the occult detective, there is little similarity of style between the Tregarde series and 'Sacred Ground.' Both are strong heroines, but Diana is presented as a finished person, while Jennifer is still learning and growing. The light banter that Diana often indulges in is rare for Kestrel. 'Sacred Ground' reveals a maturity of writing that complements its plot. This is a weightier tale, but one that is much more rewarding.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well-researched, extremely readable book, October 16, 2003

By 

Barb Caffrey "writer-for-hire" (In a Midwest State (of mind), USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sacred Ground (Mass Market Paperback)

"Sacred Ground" is one of Mercedes Lackey's more serious urban fantasy offerings. It's steeped in Native American culture, folklore and legend (as much that would have been history was destroyed long before the start of this book -- early 1990s -- by unsuspecting, unthinking or uncaring sorts), and it illustrates several major and growing problems.

1) How are Native Americans treated in this country?

2) Can spirituality be integrated into a modern person's life in a meaningful way?

3) Is it worthwhile to help people, always knowing that there are more people who need help than you can afford to help out there?

The last two are answered with an emphatic "YES!" The first one is problematic at best. Jennifer Talldeer, an interesting character if I've ever seen one, talked about the problems of "registering" with the Bureau of Indian Affairs vs. _not_ registering, and chose not to register (as most of her family, if not all, had also chosen). She also showed the difficulty of doing a tough job (private investigator) well, despite being less than five feet tall and rather slight of build. She uses her mind, her heart, and her spirituality to get her through; I think she's an admirable role model for anyone seeking such, and an excellent protagonist for a whole series of novels (would Tor care to resurrect the series, something that looks highly doubtful at this point).

Jennifer's relationship with her grandfather, Mooncrow, is also intriguing. Mooncrow isn't all that traditional in some senses; he loves Nintendo, he eats lots of pizza, he cooks, and he's after her throughout the book to, um, find a fulfilling lover. Not too many grandfathers do this, I don't think.

Mooncrow is a highly contradictory person, as evidenced by his name. Crows are never white, nor do they fly at night, yet Mooncrow . . . well, he delights in being contrary. So it's no surprise that he's found a spiritual successor in his granddaughter, despite that being highly unusual. It's also no surprise that he's teaching her everything he knows, despite the fact that women normally aren't taught so much. ("Good for Mooncrow" is what I kept muttering while reading.)

Jennifer's true name is Kestrel-Hunts-Alone, which is a far, far more straightforward name by any standard than Mooncrow's, and as such, she's shown to be driven, nearly obsessed, and that obsession has cost her things she hasn't realized. There is external conflict in the mystery, which quickly turns from "who did it" to "why did he do it?" And there is loads of internal conflict provided by Jennifer herself, her mission(s), and her relationship with David Spotted Horse, the man who "got away" years ago. (Of course, he was not worth keeping years ago, either. Perhaps now is different?)

Ms. Lackey effortlessly shows how modern women make a living, and combines that with a spiritual quest, some thrilling action-adventure, and a romance. This is an extremely moving book, it is emotionally honest, and it gets almost everything spot on.

Five stars, highly recommended.

Barb Caffrey

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stand-Alone, March 24, 2002

By 

"wyvernfriend" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sacred Ground (Mass Market Paperback)

I really enjoyed this book and just thinking about it makes me want to read it again...the story is about the abuse of the land by people who want power, and the attempt to stop it. Native American characters with their world view are sympathetically portrayed. The characters have to battle not only modern evil but old evil. Child abuse, a subject dear to Mercedes Lackey's heart, appears here too.
I found the characters well drawn and interesting and I find it difficult to put down until I've finished it.