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Wind River Reservation #17
Killing Custer
In her pulse-pounding mysteries, New York Times bestselling author Margaret Coel interweaves authentic Native American culture and history with modern-day suspense. In the latest Wind River novel, Arapaho attorney Vicky Holden and Father John O’Malley are caught between two cultures that won’t let go of the past—and a killer who won’t leave any witnesses…
The whole town of Lander has turned out for the big parade celebrating the start of the new rodeo season. The main spectacle this year is the appearance of Colonel Edward Garrett—a spot-on impersonator of General George Armstrong Custer—and a troop of men acting as the ill-fated Seventh Cavalry.
The problem is they are being followed by a group of Arapaho warriors from the Wind River Reservation, who proceed to encircle Garrett and his men in a “dare ride” just to remind them exactly who won the Battle of the Little Bighorn. But when the ride is over, history seems to have repeated itself: Garrett is dead in the street with a bullet hole in his chest.
No one is sure what happened, but public sentiment quickly turns against the Arapaho—and the prime suspect is Colin Morningside, a descendant of Crazy Horse. When a local attorney connected to Morningside disappears, the accusations only grow stronger.
Father John O’Malley knows in his heart the Arapaho are not guilty. And Vicky Holden finds herself professionally and personally compromised from getting involved. But what begins as a murder soon reveals itself as a conspiracy that neither Father John nor Vicky could have foreseen. And someone wants to ensure that the truth they discover will die with them…
The whole town of Lander has turned out for the big parade celebrating the start of the new rodeo season. The main spectacle this year is the appearance of Colonel Edward Garrett—a spot-on impersonator of General George Armstrong Custer—and a troop of men acting as the ill-fated Seventh Cavalry.
The problem is they are being followed by a group of Arapaho warriors from the Wind River Reservation, who proceed to encircle Garrett and his men in a “dare ride” just to remind them exactly who won the Battle of the Little Bighorn. But when the ride is over, history seems to have repeated itself: Garrett is dead in the street with a bullet hole in his chest.
No one is sure what happened, but public sentiment quickly turns against the Arapaho—and the prime suspect is Colin Morningside, a descendant of Crazy Horse. When a local attorney connected to Morningside disappears, the accusations only grow stronger.
Father John O’Malley knows in his heart the Arapaho are not guilty. And Vicky Holden finds herself professionally and personally compromised from getting involved. But what begins as a murder soon reveals itself as a conspiracy that neither Father John nor Vicky could have foreseen. And someone wants to ensure that the truth they discover will die with them…
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 3, 2013
About the author
Margaret Coel
62 books497 followersMargaret Coel is the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of the acclaimed novels featuring Father John O'Malley and Vicky Holden, as well as several works of nonfiction. Originally a historian by trade, she is considered an expert on the Arapaho Indians.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
November 25, 2013
I liked the premise of this mystery, that a Custer impersonator gets shot and killed during a Wyoming tourist re-enactment of the Battle of the Little Big Horn and that Arapahoes participating in the staged battle are assumed guilty out of historical revenge. Father John O’Malley, who ministers to the tribe on the nearby Wind River Reservation, and Vicky Holden, a Native American attorney are motivated to investigate in order to assure that justice is served with the right culprit prosecuted.
The victim, named Garrett, was obnoxious enough to have stirred up a lot of resentment. He totally identified with his character, to the point of channeled Custer’s racism and cavalier attitudes such as over his role in the massacre of Cheyennes at the Battle of Washita River six years before the “Last Stand” debacle. The Arapaho playing the Sioux Crazy Horse in the re-enactment, Colin Morningside, becomes a prime suspect for the sheriff and the tribal police, with a young tribal expert in horsemanship a second suspect due to his coordination of the Indians in an aggressive riding pattern during the show.
O’Malley and Holden are friends with these suspects and so work on discovering an alternative culprit. Could it be that the white impersonators of Major Reno and Captain Benteen had a grudge against Garrett (as their characters did over events prior to the Last Stand battle). Also, a local investment consultant disappears who had some kind of connection with Garrett, leading the priest and the lawyer to pursue economic motivations. Some break-ins and further violent crimes provide some surprising twists and turns and amp up the danger in their unofficial investigations.
Ultimately, I didn’t feel a keen sense of engagement with the main characters. Maybe after 16 other installments in the series Coel felt the reader should already be well attached to O’Malley and Holden (I have only read one). I also didn’t appreciate a plot seemingly devised as a moral lesson. I missed the level of portrayal of Native American culture or a keen evocation of Western places found in mysteries by other writers such as Tony Hillerman and James Doss.
This book was provided by the publisher through the Goodreads Giveaway program.
The victim, named Garrett, was obnoxious enough to have stirred up a lot of resentment. He totally identified with his character, to the point of channeled Custer’s racism and cavalier attitudes such as over his role in the massacre of Cheyennes at the Battle of Washita River six years before the “Last Stand” debacle. The Arapaho playing the Sioux Crazy Horse in the re-enactment, Colin Morningside, becomes a prime suspect for the sheriff and the tribal police, with a young tribal expert in horsemanship a second suspect due to his coordination of the Indians in an aggressive riding pattern during the show.
O’Malley and Holden are friends with these suspects and so work on discovering an alternative culprit. Could it be that the white impersonators of Major Reno and Captain Benteen had a grudge against Garrett (as their characters did over events prior to the Last Stand battle). Also, a local investment consultant disappears who had some kind of connection with Garrett, leading the priest and the lawyer to pursue economic motivations. Some break-ins and further violent crimes provide some surprising twists and turns and amp up the danger in their unofficial investigations.
Ultimately, I didn’t feel a keen sense of engagement with the main characters. Maybe after 16 other installments in the series Coel felt the reader should already be well attached to O’Malley and Holden (I have only read one). I also didn’t appreciate a plot seemingly devised as a moral lesson. I missed the level of portrayal of Native American culture or a keen evocation of Western places found in mysteries by other writers such as Tony Hillerman and James Doss.
This book was provided by the publisher through the Goodreads Giveaway program.
February 20, 2021
A Custer reenactor is murdered during a parade and the law is sure it was an Indian who hated the real Custer and didn't like seeing him glorified. This book has an almost fatal flaw: Several of the reenactors get confused as to what is their real lives and what is the life of the person being reenacted. One person having this problem would be rare; four people having this problem would defy all known cases in the world. Recommended with a large grain of salt.
August 13, 2020
I just love the various authors' series set in Wyoming...C.J. Box, Craig Johnson and Margaret Coel all are great, fun reads, enjoyable in every way...I guess, part of their attraction, for me, is they all interweave elements of mainstream religion and Native American spirituality to their pages and treat them with great respect...In "Killing Custer," Fr. John and Vicky Holden are drawn into an investigation into the murder of a Gen. Custer reenactor during Lander, Wyoming's Rodeo Days Parade...The immediate suspicion falls on young Arapahos, who during the parade, were reenacting the forces of Crazy Horse...Some twists and turns keep the pages turning...Good Stuff!!!
December 13, 2017
Ms. Coel is a genius describing the setting of the various parts of the story: I can feel the heat as she tells us of the glare; the sweat; how the chain and lock feels; the way the dust and dust devils rise
June 21, 2020
3.5 The story is a solid 4, but the beginning is rocky and similes are over-used.
Reenactments play a big part in this story, making this explanation key to the plot:
p 124: The difference between outsiders and reenactors is that we can move back and forth. In and out of characters, if you like, or historical persons. We can come back any time we like, or we can stay where we feel the most comfortable. Where we belong. It's as if we were born in the wrong time. As if some cosmic catastrophe occurred that kept us away from our own, natural time and thrust us here.
For me, the simile problem is distracting. Each time I ran into one of these awkward spots, it would stop me cold and I'd find myself wondering why I didn't like it -- usually the reason being that it didn't add anything to the story. Here's an example from the very first page, actually it's the fourth sentence:
The sun blazed like a hot poker.
I'd say that all readers can appreciate blazing hot sunlight, so no simile is necessary, especially a reference to a 'hot poker.' That usually is a focused heat, not generalized, and ... Yep, each time I encountered one of the similes, I'd end up analyzing it.
Reenactments play a big part in this story, making this explanation key to the plot:
p 124: The difference between outsiders and reenactors is that we can move back and forth. In and out of characters, if you like, or historical persons. We can come back any time we like, or we can stay where we feel the most comfortable. Where we belong. It's as if we were born in the wrong time. As if some cosmic catastrophe occurred that kept us away from our own, natural time and thrust us here.
For me, the simile problem is distracting. Each time I ran into one of these awkward spots, it would stop me cold and I'd find myself wondering why I didn't like it -- usually the reason being that it didn't add anything to the story. Here's an example from the very first page, actually it's the fourth sentence:
The sun blazed like a hot poker.
I'd say that all readers can appreciate blazing hot sunlight, so no simile is necessary, especially a reference to a 'hot poker.' That usually is a focused heat, not generalized, and ... Yep, each time I encountered one of the similes, I'd end up analyzing it.
Read
August 18, 2013Killing Custer by Margaret Coel is a contemporary mystery that deals with historical re-enactment. I actually know a number of medieval re-enactors and a few Victorian re-enactors , but all these people are hobbyists. There isn't one of them who truly believes that he or she is a historical personage re-born. I will not say that such a thing is impossible. Reincarnation is a cherished belief of Hinduism, Buddhism and a number of other religions. Yet in the context of historical re-enactment, a belief that you really are the role you play can cause some serious difficulties in your relationships with the real people with whom you are currently interacting. This is seen in the lives of several characters in Killing Custer.
I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher, Berkeley Prime Crime, through the good offices of the author's publicist, Julia Drake.
I've read other books in Margaret Coel's Wind River mystery series that takes place on the Wind River Arapaho reservation. My favorite is The Spirit Woman which deals with Sacajawea, the Shoshone woman who accompanied Lewis and Clark.
What I enjoy most about this series is the friendship between Vicky Holden and co-protagonist Father John O'Malley, who is a priest at the St. Francis Mission on the Wind River Reservation. There are some wonderful moments in this friendship during the events of Killing Custer that will gratify the fans of this series. So I will give my fellow Margaret Coel fans a heads up that this latest installment in the Wind River series will be available very soon. It is slated for release on September 3, 2013.
For my complete review see my August 2013 blog post "Killing Custer: Custer vs. Arapahos in 2013" at http://www.maskedpersona.blogspot.com
I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher, Berkeley Prime Crime, through the good offices of the author's publicist, Julia Drake.
I've read other books in Margaret Coel's Wind River mystery series that takes place on the Wind River Arapaho reservation. My favorite is The Spirit Woman which deals with Sacajawea, the Shoshone woman who accompanied Lewis and Clark.
What I enjoy most about this series is the friendship between Vicky Holden and co-protagonist Father John O'Malley, who is a priest at the St. Francis Mission on the Wind River Reservation. There are some wonderful moments in this friendship during the events of Killing Custer that will gratify the fans of this series. So I will give my fellow Margaret Coel fans a heads up that this latest installment in the Wind River series will be available very soon. It is slated for release on September 3, 2013.
For my complete review see my August 2013 blog post "Killing Custer: Custer vs. Arapahos in 2013" at http://www.maskedpersona.blogspot.com
October 24, 2013
I love Margaret Coel's Windy River mysteries. Father John and Vicky are two of my favourite modern-day sleuths. Their relationship is always a big part of the enjoyment that I get from these books. In this book we have an historical happening that is meshed with a modern-day mystery. The book begins with Col. Edward Garrett who is a General Custer impersonator. The whole town of Lander is out to see the parade where General Custer and his 7th Calvary march in full regalia. This is the beginning of Custer's Wild West Show that will be part of the annual rodeo. Emotions run very high because the Arapahoes on the Windy River Reserve do not have any love for the real General Custer, and Father John and Vicky are worried that bad things are going to happen. Well of course they do happen, and it begins with the shooting death of one of the parade participants. A well-known local attorney goes missing and by the time Father John and Vicky uncover the truth, a whole lot more damage is done.This book is a quick and an enjoyable read like all the books in this series are.
February 12, 2018
This book was a little disappointing and nowhere near the excellent books the author usually turns out. There was almost no interaction between Father John and Vicki Holden until 3/4ths of the way thru the book. Brownie the horse changed back and forth from a mare to a gelding. Things like that annoy me.
February 20, 2019
Reenactors can be caught up in their roles. The one who portrays Custer was such, and it got him killed. Was he shot by present day Indians or by a conspiracy of some kind, or both? Father John and Vicki want to find out the truth. Besides, what happened to all that money?
April 7, 2020
OK, there are only so many ways to fit stories into the formula of this series... but I still enjoy the history and cultural aspects Coel manages to weave into it. She is a pretty good story teller.
August 7, 2017
As tense as you would expect when a Custer re-enactor comes swaggering into to town to lead a cavalry troop in the rodeo parade.
January 14, 2021
Father John O'Malley and attorney Vicky Holden join forces once again,
When Custer comes to the Wind River Reservation, can anything good possibly come of it? Of course, it is not really Custer but an impersonator who has made quite a name for himself and "soldiers" who join him as the 7th Cavalry in reenactments and shows around the country. The big show at a reenactment at the Little Big Horn bring the man and his troop into town just outside of the reservation. As part of the parade leading to a regional rodeo, a group of young Indian men are to follow the impersonators in the parade. The Indians have a plan, though. Their ancestors fought against Custer, the real Custer, and this show near their home doesn't sit well with them. The young men decide to perform a dare ride in the midst of the parade where they ride in tight opposing circles around the pretend soldiers as a reminder that Custer lost to the Indians.
The dare ride is successful. The pretend soldiers are stopped and it is all they can do to stay in their saddles as their horses begin to panic. The problem is ... Custer is on the ground. Someone shot the pretend Custer.
Father John and Vicky again find themselves at the edges of the same issue while dealing with different issues and people involved. The Indians are, naturally, prime suspects. Even Vicky and the Father are fearful. More people are involved by disappearance and death.
I suspect more readers see through the mystery before the end but these stories are more about the journey with these two. And, like many of these stories by Margaret Coel, history does come alive in the backstories of the mystery.
Another good read.
When Custer comes to the Wind River Reservation, can anything good possibly come of it? Of course, it is not really Custer but an impersonator who has made quite a name for himself and "soldiers" who join him as the 7th Cavalry in reenactments and shows around the country. The big show at a reenactment at the Little Big Horn bring the man and his troop into town just outside of the reservation. As part of the parade leading to a regional rodeo, a group of young Indian men are to follow the impersonators in the parade. The Indians have a plan, though. Their ancestors fought against Custer, the real Custer, and this show near their home doesn't sit well with them. The young men decide to perform a dare ride in the midst of the parade where they ride in tight opposing circles around the pretend soldiers as a reminder that Custer lost to the Indians.
The dare ride is successful. The pretend soldiers are stopped and it is all they can do to stay in their saddles as their horses begin to panic. The problem is ... Custer is on the ground. Someone shot the pretend Custer.
Father John and Vicky again find themselves at the edges of the same issue while dealing with different issues and people involved. The Indians are, naturally, prime suspects. Even Vicky and the Father are fearful. More people are involved by disappearance and death.
I suspect more readers see through the mystery before the end but these stories are more about the journey with these two. And, like many of these stories by Margaret Coel, history does come alive in the backstories of the mystery.
Another good read.
June 29, 2018
3.91 · Rating details · 595 Ratings · 77 Reviews
The whole town of Lander has turned out for the big parade celebrating the start of the new rodeo season. The main spectacle this year is the appearance of Colonel Edward Garrett—a spot-on impersonator of General George Armstrong Custer—and a troop of men acting as the ill-fated Seventh Cavalry.
The problem is they are being followed by a group of Arapaho warriors from the Wind River Reservation, who proceed to encircle Garrett and his men in a "dare ride" just to remind them exactly who won the Battle of the Little Bighorn. But when the ride is over, history seems to have repeated itself: Garrett is dead in the street with a bullet hole in his chest.
No one is sure what happened, but public sentiment quickly turns against the Arapaho—and the prime suspect is Colin Morningside, a descendant of Crazy Horse. When a local attorney connected to Morningside disappears, the accusations only grow stronger.
Father John O’Malley knows in his heart the Arapaho are not guilty. And Vicky Holden finds herself professionally and personally compromised from getting involved. But what begins as a murder soon reveals itself as a conspiracy that neither Father John nor Vicky could have foreseen. And someone wants to ensure that the truth they discover will die with them…
The whole town of Lander has turned out for the big parade celebrating the start of the new rodeo season. The main spectacle this year is the appearance of Colonel Edward Garrett—a spot-on impersonator of General George Armstrong Custer—and a troop of men acting as the ill-fated Seventh Cavalry.
The problem is they are being followed by a group of Arapaho warriors from the Wind River Reservation, who proceed to encircle Garrett and his men in a "dare ride" just to remind them exactly who won the Battle of the Little Bighorn. But when the ride is over, history seems to have repeated itself: Garrett is dead in the street with a bullet hole in his chest.
No one is sure what happened, but public sentiment quickly turns against the Arapaho—and the prime suspect is Colin Morningside, a descendant of Crazy Horse. When a local attorney connected to Morningside disappears, the accusations only grow stronger.
Father John O’Malley knows in his heart the Arapaho are not guilty. And Vicky Holden finds herself professionally and personally compromised from getting involved. But what begins as a murder soon reveals itself as a conspiracy that neither Father John nor Vicky could have foreseen. And someone wants to ensure that the truth they discover will die with them…
December 12, 2020
This book was better than most in the series, though there were a few things that were different about the book than others. There was little interplay between the two people who were solving the mystery. It seemed that they just came together and moved forward. Having read the other 16 novels, I knew what was going on and didn't lose much. They mystery itself was well crafted. It was not hard to figure out who the likely killer was, though it was very interesting to see the motivations revealed and the way that O'Malley and Holden reached their conclusions.
The killing of the Custer impersonator was an interesting plot twist. The Arapaho 'dare ride' was a interesting response to the 'Custer parade'. The one thing that I found to be a bit overdone for my taste was the constant portrayal of the police as the enemy. I realize that this is the case on many reservations and for good reason, but it seemed that it was mentioned a bit more than necessary for a book of fiction. I also found that this book had less history and less information on the Arapaho tribe and customs than some of the author's earlier books.
All in all, the book is a good one. If you like this genre, or like the series as I do, I recommend it highly.
The killing of the Custer impersonator was an interesting plot twist. The Arapaho 'dare ride' was a interesting response to the 'Custer parade'. The one thing that I found to be a bit overdone for my taste was the constant portrayal of the police as the enemy. I realize that this is the case on many reservations and for good reason, but it seemed that it was mentioned a bit more than necessary for a book of fiction. I also found that this book had less history and less information on the Arapaho tribe and customs than some of the author's earlier books.
All in all, the book is a good one. If you like this genre, or like the series as I do, I recommend it highly.
January 3, 2023
I loved the early Wind River mysteries. Fr John is a wonderful character, a truly good priest, with a weak side (his alcoholism), and Vicky Holden is believable as a woman, Arapaho attorney. The electricity of their being in love and unable to do anything about it, is powerful. Coel knows the Wind River Reservation and knows the Arapaho people intimately and I loved the first seven or so books. But the later books have the same basic plots as the early books, with a few details changed. After you've read the first 5 or 7, there's no need to read the rest. Fr John will be in love with Vicky, and she with him and neither will do anything about it, till the Second Coming. Lovely characterization, but nothing develops. They'll still be solving murders and denying their passion when they're old and gray, the same murders with new names and slightly different locations on the reservation. Sorry, but this is my last Wind River Mystery.
August 23, 2018
Great title that is guaranteed to catch your attention. This was my introduction to this series and, while I loved the premise, Killing Custer has a lot of characters and Coel uses multiple points of view so the flow seemed choppy.
Years ago I saw a rodeo parade in Cody, Wyoming and it was great fun. Coel captures that excitement and color as she describes a similar event which is the basis of her novel's plot. In fact, all of her descriptions of time and place are spot on. I could feel the vastness of the Wyoming plains and smell the dry air so five stars for that.
I gather that Father O'Malley and Vicky Holden work together in this series but they barely saw each other in this book and when they do finally join forces, it seems contrived and rushed. I'm not sure if I will try another or not.
Years ago I saw a rodeo parade in Cody, Wyoming and it was great fun. Coel captures that excitement and color as she describes a similar event which is the basis of her novel's plot. In fact, all of her descriptions of time and place are spot on. I could feel the vastness of the Wyoming plains and smell the dry air so five stars for that.
I gather that Father O'Malley and Vicky Holden work together in this series but they barely saw each other in this book and when they do finally join forces, it seems contrived and rushed. I'm not sure if I will try another or not.
June 22, 2019
Another book by Margaret Coel that tugs at the heart and brings to light the frustrations and cycles of despair that a conquered people get dragged into. After reading her books I can't understand how any American could feel proud to be one. The "Indians" are second-class citizens treated with suspicion. They are forced down a road of resentment, despair and crime... their only hope lies in their faith and their community.
This particular story deals with re-enactors of Custer's Seventh Cavalry who pursued a genocidal "war" against the indigenous tribes of the plains. What is it about some people? They dress up as Confederates or Nazis totally ignoring the implication of admiring racists.
There's a spectacular killing, in fact, Custer! Right in the very first pages the scene is set to persecute and blame the "Indians"... and it doesn't look good.
As an aside, you know how you build up mental images of characters and places when reading? Well, I've build up one of the Wind River Reservation and the towns around it. At the beginning of the book there is a parade down the main street of Lander. I visualised office blocks and crowded sidewalks. Then out of curiosity I visited the scenes of the book on Google Earth... I was stunned at how flat the terrain is, how provincial Lander is with its almost empty spaces and single storey buildings... Reality can really disappoint.
This particular story deals with re-enactors of Custer's Seventh Cavalry who pursued a genocidal "war" against the indigenous tribes of the plains. What is it about some people? They dress up as Confederates or Nazis totally ignoring the implication of admiring racists.
There's a spectacular killing, in fact, Custer! Right in the very first pages the scene is set to persecute and blame the "Indians"... and it doesn't look good.
As an aside, you know how you build up mental images of characters and places when reading? Well, I've build up one of the Wind River Reservation and the towns around it. At the beginning of the book there is a parade down the main street of Lander. I visualised office blocks and crowded sidewalks. Then out of curiosity I visited the scenes of the book on Google Earth... I was stunned at how flat the terrain is, how provincial Lander is with its almost empty spaces and single storey buildings... Reality can really disappoint.
February 15, 2022
This is my first reading of a book by this author. I stumbled across it as was looking for a book to read on Custer. I had visited Riverton WY in 2019 and drove through the surrounding area so I though this would be interesting. The story weaving between the past and the future was very well done. The descriptions of the area were also spot on and would create a picture in anyone's mind of the surrounding landscape. There was a little too much repetition in the descripting of Custer, Libbie, and the members of the 7th Cav. We get they look like the people they portray-that is why they are re-enactors! It was obvious fairly early on who was behind it all so there was no surprise there. The relationship between those on the "rez" and those off are also very much accurate.
I read wonderful reviews of her earlier books in the series. I may have to give those a whirl.
I read wonderful reviews of her earlier books in the series. I may have to give those a whirl.
November 19, 2022
[more of a note to myself, rather than a review worth reading]:
Killing Custer was a pretty good mystery, a pretty good way for white people (like me) to learn about indigenous history with white folks slaughtering them (Custer's time) and (today) police assuming their guilt and the tactics used to harass them into confessions etc. The Irish Catholic priest and the Arapaho lawyer are the team that solve the mystery. The two women who leave the reservation leave for very different reasons and are vulnerable and strong in different ways. The priest is a surprisingly interesting character: he is a recovering alcoholic. I did object to the ONE LINE in the book where it says that the Catholic Church was invited on to the reservation to teach their children. Other than that, it is a pretty good book that was interesting as well as entertaining. I would recommend this book to friends, yes.
Killing Custer was a pretty good mystery, a pretty good way for white people (like me) to learn about indigenous history with white folks slaughtering them (Custer's time) and (today) police assuming their guilt and the tactics used to harass them into confessions etc. The Irish Catholic priest and the Arapaho lawyer are the team that solve the mystery. The two women who leave the reservation leave for very different reasons and are vulnerable and strong in different ways. The priest is a surprisingly interesting character: he is a recovering alcoholic. I did object to the ONE LINE in the book where it says that the Catholic Church was invited on to the reservation to teach their children. Other than that, it is a pretty good book that was interesting as well as entertaining. I would recommend this book to friends, yes.
September 29, 2021
Although I’d never read any of the other books in this series of mysteries that take place near the Wind River, I had no trouble immersing myself in the lives of Father John and Arapaho lawyer Vicky Holden. A Custer impersonator, Edward Garrett, is killed during a parade in the town of Lander, Wyoming, and suspicion falls on two of the young Arapaho men who took part in a dare ride around Garrett and the men impersonating two of his lieutenants. It’s up to Father John and Vicky to clear the names of the suspects by finding the real killer. The story is well-written, and the characters are fleshed out. The author has done her research on Custer and weaves what happened at the Little Big Horn and in Washita deftly into the story.
October 8, 2019
Interesting historical lessons on the Battle of Little Bighorn. This was a well-written story with reasonable plot twists. I didn't feel like there was as much interaction with the Arapaho people as was found in the previous books. This was mostly Father John's mystery to solve as Vicky had gotten herself tied to the victim's wife so she was unable to represent the Arapahoes being charged as she usually does. It also limited her ability to play crime sleuth as well and caused her to reach some wrong conclusions. It was good to see that the author has backed off of the relationship between Vicky and Father John a little bit. That makes for better stories.
January 24, 2017
Solid writing from an expert mystery writer.
Margaret Coel creates just the right amount of suspense and her knowledge of history and Native American culture imbues her story with a sense of reality that makes for good reading.
Using General Custer and the reenactment of Little Big Horn as the structure which provides the skeleton for this story and makes for an interesting premise: is the murder of pretend Custer a revenge by Arapoho warriors for historical events, or is the murder unrelated and a vendetta for some modern-day occurrence?
Quick read!
Margaret Coel creates just the right amount of suspense and her knowledge of history and Native American culture imbues her story with a sense of reality that makes for good reading.
Using General Custer and the reenactment of Little Big Horn as the structure which provides the skeleton for this story and makes for an interesting premise: is the murder of pretend Custer a revenge by Arapoho warriors for historical events, or is the murder unrelated and a vendetta for some modern-day occurrence?
Quick read!
March 22, 2024
This was a complicated mystery with Custer reenactors who seemed altogether too eager to slip into their historical personas. There has to be a fine line between slipping into character as an actor and slipping into another persona as a mental condition. This back and forth between the past and present made it hard for Father John and Vicky to figure out who did what and why as they tried to prevent their Arapaho parishoners and clients from being automatically blamed for the murders by the local police. A good read.
August 18, 2020
I jumped in to this series towards the end, I didn't get the opportunity to get some of the
character backgrounds. I can say I thought this was slow. I didn't like the back and forth on the
point of view, and really felt the tension was forced between John and Vicky. But, I am willing to think that this is because I missed something by going in to this series towards the end.
I would read another entry in the series.
character backgrounds. I can say I thought this was slow. I didn't like the back and forth on the
point of view, and really felt the tension was forced between John and Vicky. But, I am willing to think that this is because I missed something by going in to this series towards the end.
I would read another entry in the series.
June 15, 2021
Very informative and engrossing story about the Custer debacle at Little Big Horn. There is a company of historical re-enactment 7th Calvary troops that are in a parade when the person playing as Custer is shot! Naturally the blame falls on two young Arapaho men who were playing warriors in the set-up. It takes some masterful detection by Father O'Malley and Vicky Holden to unravel the truth of the matter.
April 10, 2023
I really need those half stars; I would give this 3.5 stars. Interesting premise — we learn something about George Custer, the Battle of the Little Big Horn, the Wind River massacre, and the Wounded Knee Massacre — but the mystery seemed labored. Still, it was great to catch up with Father O'Malley. I didn't realize this is #17.
May 4, 2020
A reactionary roleplayer who believes he is Custer dies when the Indians surround the 7th Calvary. Father John and Vicky must sort through all the consequences that surround the deceased and every one who knew him.
July 31, 2023
During a reenactment of Custer and the Seventh Calvery on the reservation, Arapaho warriors stage a dare ride around them in protest. But Custer is shot and killed. The Natives are assumed guilty and Father O'Malley and Vicky.try to find another culprit.
September 1, 2023
Murder of man who was part of re-enacter of Battle of Little Big Horn. Popular lLander lawyer missing and his secretary (Arapaho woman) killed. Vicky & John team again to solve: Ponzie scheme, grudges from Desert Storm. Good read as always.
September 22, 2023
Who killed Custer
This story moved along believably. You could believe that Coel's characters act believably, running away from the law or protecting the people they love. And, of course, our two favorite people nearly die seeking justice. Again.
This story moved along believably. You could believe that Coel's characters act believably, running away from the law or protecting the people they love. And, of course, our two favorite people nearly die seeking justice. Again.
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