White Thunder: An Ella Clah Novel (Ella Clah Novels) [Mass Market Paperback]

Aimee Thurlo (Author), David Thurlo (Author)

Book Description

Series: Ella Clah Novels | Publication Date: March 7, 2006

FBI agent Andrew Thomas has disappeared after interrupting a Navajo ritual being performed by a group of medicine men or hataaliis. Navajo Police Special Investigator Ella Clah is assigned to the case over the objections of Thomas's supervisor, who unfavorably recalls Ella's time with the FBI and believes her to have received special treatment because she is Native American.
Determined to find the missing man, Ella studies Thomas's latest case--a fraud investigation--and finds that evidence is missing or has been tampered with. Clues lead both to the interrupted Sing and to Ella's old friend, FBI agent Blalock. Ella knows Blalock is incapable of assaulting one of his own men--but that leaves the focus on the hataaliis.
The fraud trail leads through a maze of paperwork, banks, government offices, mortuaries, and into the Navajos' most dearly held-beliefs about death. Only by finding the truth--and fast--will Ella be able to save Andrew Thomas.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

FBI agent Andrew Thomas has gone missing from the vast Navajo reservation in New Mexico. Navajo Police Special Investigator Ella Clah--a former FBI agent herself--is the lead officer on the search. Thomas may have run afoul of some reservation residents when he interrupted a sacred ceremony. Clah understands her culture, and although the participants in the ceremony may have been extremely upset, she doubts they would have kidnapped or killed because of a breach in protocol. As she questions those involved in the ceremony, she uncovers evidence of a scheme to divert Social Security payments from the Navajos. Given the tribe's reluctance to discuss death or any related issues, the reservation would be fertile ground for a scam. This twelfth entry in the Clah series is as thoughtful and intelligently plotted as its predecessors. Ella can handle herself in a violent pinch but prefers to solve crimes through deduction, analysis, and context. Additionally, the Thurlos insert numerous lessons on Navajo culture into each case. An excellent entry in an underappreciated series. Wes Lukowsky
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Critical acclaim for White Thunder

"Illustrates the typical strengths of the Thurlos with a solid grounding in Native American traditions and beliefs. Well-constructed plots and a recurring cast of growing characters make this one of the best series featuring a Native American sleuth."--Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine

"Ella is a wonderful protagonist, a strong yet caring woman who is as smart as she is beautiful. Readers need not be acquainted with earlier installments to enjoy this latest Clah novel."--Romantic Times BookClub Magazine

"Thoughtfully and intelligently plotted. An excellent entry in an underappreciated series."--Booklist

Critical acclaim for the Ella Clah novels
"Gripping. The Thurlo team brings the tensions inherent in Navajo life alive by showing the myriad ways in which the tribe's traditionalists conflict with the progressives. The Thurlos also focus on how modern crime investigation conflicts with the Navajo belief in chindi, or the evil that remains at death scenes and must be avoided. A spirited blend of Navajo culture and police procedure."--Booklist (starred review) on Tracking Bear

"Tracking Bear is a great police procedural that gives readers an insightful look into the culture of the Navajo living on the reservation today. The who-done-it is complex, compelling and exciting."--Midwest Book Review

"Realistic, fast-paced, and intense. Action scenes keep the plot moving at a quick pace with some surprises along the way, adding to the excitement."--School Library Journal on Changing Woman

"A hair-raising opening. The Thurlos hit all the right notes: they have an intriguing, growing character at the center of a series that combines fast-moving plots and a wealth of fascinating cultural information."--Booklist on Wind Spirit

"Red Mesa is an engrossing mystery as intricately woven as a fine Navajo rug. It kept me guessing to the end."--New York Times bestselling author Margaret Coel

"A fascinating story. Ella Clah, strong and vulnerable at the same time, is an intriguing character of great depth, and the surprise ending will delight all mystery lovers."--Romantic Times on Red Mesa

"An intense, spellbinding family drama in which the battle between good and evil affects both modernist and traditionalist Navajo. Prime reading for fans of Tony Hillerman and other Southwestern mysteries."--Library Journal on Red Mesa

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Forge Books; First Edition edition (March 7, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765350343
• ISBN-13: 978-0765350343
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #781,347 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars strong Ella Clah mystery, March 30, 2005

By 

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

This review is from: White Thunder: An Ella Clah Novel (Ella Clah Novels) (Hardcover)

Navaho Police Special Investigator Ella Clah is still recovering emotionally after almost dying in a uranium mine. She hopes to spend more time with her daughter Dawn but when an FBI agent goes missing on the reservation, Ella and her unit gives top priority to finding him. She doesn't expect too much cooperation from the tribe because Agent Thomas interrupted a medicine man during a Sing (a healing ceremony). This is a taboo and dealt with severely but after talking to the shaman, Ella clears him of any crimes.

Ella wants to talk to the man who underwent the Sing Melvin Rainwater in connection with the social security checks of dead men that were not reported deceased sent to a special post office box. A phone call from Agent Thomas confirms he is still alive and in a dark place, which Ella believes is one of the deserted mines just like she was not so long ago. She uses all the resources at her disposal to find him, even going so far as to break some laws, but somebody wants to stop her investigation or at least slow it down and they don't care if they harm Ella in the process.

An Ella Clah mystery is always a special treat and WHITE THUNDER is particularly good because the authors bring to life a culture in the same way that Tony Hillerman does. The investigation is compressed into a short period because the protagonist knows that the victim is running out of time which raises the level of tension and makes the audience feels as they are involved in the search. This tale is another great mystery by the talented Thurlos.

Harriet Klausner

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great Ella Clah book...., March 26, 2006

By 

Deborah Wiley (Winter Haven, FL) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: White Thunder: An Ella Clah Novel (Ella Clah Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

The Ella Clah series is one of my favorite law enforcement series! Ella is a Special Investigator for the Navajo Police Department. While each book in the series builds on the previous ones in terms of character development, each book is also a stand alone novel. This novel begins with Navajo Police Chief Big Ed Atcitty informing Ella that a new FBI agent, Andrew Thomas, is missing after interrupting a Sing. Interrupting a Sing is a major insult as it is construed as bringing misfortune to the participants; Ella knows that many of the Dineh will not support her in her search for Thomas as a result. Ella and her cousin and partner, Justine, begin backtracking over Thomas's last few days and his investigation into fraudelent social security checks. Their investigation leads to corruption within several government offices/agencies. The Thurlos do a fabulous job of explaining Navajo beliefs to those of us who are not Navajo as well as addressing the issues of death in a very sensitive but informative way. I highly recommend all of the Ella Clah books and was definitely not disappointed with this latest installment!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Clah winner, April 7, 2006

By 

Ray White, Author "Want to get published? Re... (Las Vegas, NV) - See all my reviews

This review is from: White Thunder: An Ella Clah Novel (Ella Clah Novels) (Hardcover)

Ella Clah is the best crime series going for people who like their mysteries solved by intelligence rather than with gunfire. (Not that Ella can't handle herself when the going gets tough -- she can).

One of the main reasons I love Aimee and David's novels is because I am captivated by Native American cultures. The depth of the Navajo culture fills this and the other Clah books to overflowing. I'd love to see Ella get together with Tony Hillerman's Joe Leaphorn or Jim Chee.

The social security fraud blends brilliantly with the Navajo culture's aversion to speaking about the dead and the disappearance of FBI agent Andrew Thomas adds spice to the story line.

I recommend this and all the Thurlo's other works for anyone who loves deeply developed characters, gorgeous scenic settings and Native American culture.