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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
exciting who-done-it, September 7, 2004
This review is from: Wife of Moon (Wind River Reservation Mystery) (Hardcover)
The murders begin in 1907 on the Arapaho Wind River Reservation when photographer Edward S. Curtis convinces the Indians to reconstruct a village and have warriors attack the tribe. During the shooting with blank bullets, Bashful Woman, the daughter of Chief Sharp Nose, is killed by a real bullet. Her Anglo husband Carston Evans testifies that he saw the Indian Thunder kill his wife and his two Native American friends were adding him in the attack. His testimony was enough to convict and hang the trio.
In the present, Denise, a descendant of Sharp Nose is murdered and her husband J.T. Painted Horse is the FBI's number one suspect until he is tortured and killed by men who were looking for something on the same night Denise died. Christine, the curator of the Arapaho Museum, disappears and her home is ransacked. Lawyer Vicky Holden and Father John O'Malley investigate the homicide from different directions, but reach the same conclusion. Vicky tries to convince the authorities who she believes is behind the murders while Father John tries to protect the last remaining witness.
Through the use of flashbacks readers learn what really happened on that day in 1907 and how justice was thwarted. The Arapaho still seek justice for Bashful Women in the present but they are up against high powered politicians who will use any means at their disposal to erase the proof of what happened almost a century ago and they will kill anyone who has knowledge of that event. WIFE OF MOON is an exciting who-done-it that will appeal to fans of Tony Hillerman and David and Aimee Thurlo thrillers. Margaret Coel provides a deep look at the Arapaho culture wrapped around a fabulous mystery.
Harriet Klausner
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Re-playing the Indian wars?, August 10, 2005
This review is from: Wife of Moon (Wind River Reservation Mystery) (Hardcover)
Father John O'Mallory, the "Indian priest" at the Wind River Reservation, got a phone call from his Episcopal colleague at the other side of the res. Father Nathan has received a message meant for Father John, which seems to indicate some old wars are heating up again. In 1874, Shoshone warriors massacred Arapaho in the Bates Battle. Now, 125 years later those left of the Arapaho have peacefully co-existed with the Shoshone at Wind River. But all that might come to an end, as Father John decodes the message and finds the bodies of slain Shoshone at the site of the Arapaho massacre.
In the meantime, Vicky Holden trying to devote her law practice to the big issues of her tribe, currently working on documents related to the reintroduction of the wolf. But she keeps being sucked back into representation of a young trouble-maker she's represented on DUI, assault, and burglary charges. But this time, he might go down for the murders.
And Father John and Vicky both have other problems. Father John's new assistant fears he'll never earn the same respect as the older priest. Vicky's new law partner worries that she'll contunue to represent the lowlife, draining all her energy away from the big projects. And just what is the relationship between Father John and Vicky?
Margaret Coel has given us another terrific mystery that keeps us guessing until the end, set among the peoples and places her readers have come to love. Highly recommended.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Well written with fascinating historical background, December 27, 2004
This review is from: Wife of Moon (Wind River Reservation Mystery) (Hardcover)
A century ago, an Arapaho woman was killed while a photographer staged a Native American raid at the reservation. Three Indians were convicted of the crime and put to death. In the present day, an exhibition of the photographer's work is being held on the Arapaho reservation. When the museum curator vanishes, and another Arapaho woman is killed, Father John O'Malley and Arapho attorney Vickey Holden both believe that there must be a connection. Of course, the connection might just be an Indian with a wandering eye.
Author Margaret Coel introduces a rich set of suspects. Could T. J. Painted Horse have murdered his wife for the insurance money? Or could irate Indians--or rich businessmen killed her in an attempt to pressure T. J. to back off of his efforts to prevent exploitation of the methane reserves under the reservation? Then there's the scary husband of the museum curator. An ex-CIA agent, Eric Loftus has killed before--and seems to have an unhealthy obsession over his wife.
Coel gradually unfolds the mystery, using flashbacks to 1907 and the first murder to let the reader know more than the protagonists and up the suspense. Coel's writing keeps the story moving along and the reader engaged throughout. The Native American setting and the historical details add interest. I would have liked to see a more satisfying ending to the story, but what was for me a downbeat end is certainly in keeping with the background to Coel's story.
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