Publisher's Weekly Review
Murder is only one element in this debut mystery, which also takes on interracial romance, the exploitation of Indian lands and the political ambitions of a former county commissioner who's also a gubernatorial candidate. Father John O'Malley has been banished from Boston to the dirt-poor mission at Wyoming's Wind River Reservation to recover from his alcoholism. When the tribal chairman is killed, an obnoxious FBI agent arrests the chairman's nephew. In an effort to help, Father John joins forces with Vicky Holden, a feisty, 40-something Arapaho attorney for whom he stoically suffers an unpriestly attraction. Into this modestly suspenseful tale, Coel (Chief Lefthand) weaves often insightful commentary about Arapaho culture, bigotry and the widespread alcoholism among Western tribes. Likable, well-drawn characters and a lively pace mark this novelwhich appears poised for a sequelfor Hillerman fans. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Kirkus Review
Was Harvey Castle, Arapaho tribal chairman for the Wind River reservation, stabbed by the hotheaded nephew whose knife was found in his tepee? Even though Anthony Castle's forbidden romance with the niece of would-be Wyoming governor Ned Cooley gives him a perfect motive, neither Father John O'Malley, Jesuit superior of the St. Francis mission, nor city-trained lawyer Vicky (neé Singing Deer) Holden can believe it--especially when another member of the tribal council is killed in a highway non- accident, and both the plains and the tribe's rich history are full of such obvious suspects as greedy oilman Jasper Owens and the Cooley family. Hillerman Lite--a familiar tale told with conviction and love.
Library Journal Review
Coel explores the dual nature of the modern Native American experience, progress vs. tradition, in this murder mystery narrated proficiently by Stephanie Brush. Arapahoe tribal chair Harvey Castle is found murdered just before an important powwow. Father John O'Malley, a recovering alcoholic exiled to the Wyoming reservation, teams up with tribal attorney Vicky Holden. In their search for the murderer and the truth, they uncover the unsavory side of tribal oil and land deals. Rich characters and a twisting, turning plot make this performance a lively story and well worth purchasing. Recommended for most collections.ÄDenise A. Garofalo, Mid-Hudson Lib. System, Poughkeepsie, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
