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Wind River Reservation #9
Killing Raven
The discovery of a white man's body on the Wind River Reservation has Father John O'Malley trying to keep the peace. Meanwhile, the newly opened Great Plains Casino--with Vicky Holden as its in-house counsel--is fighting for its life against an angry group of protesters. And when Vicky stumbles across some disturbing evidence about the murder, she's suddenly caught in a dangerous game--with her own life at stake.
304 pages, ebook
First published September 2, 2003
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 88 reviews
February 11, 2019
The 9th in the series & being a library guy, I got this one before #8 became available...The Wind River Arapahoe are facing the moral & economic dilemma that many tribes have already dealt with...the issues that come to the reservation because of the economic opportunities of gaming...Vickie is hired on to provide legal contractual help & soon discovers the dirty dealings that threaten her life & the lives of others...One of the better in the series thus far!
November 15, 2019
I bailed on this one real fast. For one single reason.
".....the Indian said."
"The Indian raised his eyebrows."
"The Indian walked to the door."
".....the Indian said."
Every time the white protagonist interacted with a Native American character. Every. Time.
Waiting for her to write a few more books with minority characters being saved by a white priest. Maybe she can get into ".... black man said...." "The Jew stood up...." and .... "the Asian replied."
".....the Indian said."
"The Indian raised his eyebrows."
"The Indian walked to the door."
".....the Indian said."
Every time the white protagonist interacted with a Native American character. Every. Time.
Waiting for her to write a few more books with minority characters being saved by a white priest. Maybe she can get into ".... black man said...." "The Jew stood up...." and .... "the Asian replied."
November 29, 2021
One of my all time favorite series. This one was another fantastic read. Some nice twists between Vicki and Adam Lone Wolf -- definitely kept me guessing. I've enjoyed the earlier books because of Vicki and Father John working together to solve crimes -- their attraction to each other created a wonderful tension wondering "will they or won't they". Their working parallel investigations in this one was interesting.
October 29, 2023
Another pretty good mystery though it seemed to follow a familiar formula. Still worth reading.
April 26, 2024
This is one of my favorite books of the series. I hope the relationship between Father John and Vicky may be resolved.
July 8, 2024
I am a big Tony Hillerman fan, so I turned to this series because of its setting on the Wind River Arapaho reservation. Big disappointment; I feel that I learned very little about Arapaho culture, other than that small talk at the beginning of a conversation is very, very important.
The central character is a priest, but I didn't find the presentation of Catholic culture all that great either. At one point, Fr. John is concluding Mass, and the author has him use a phrase that is never, never used at the end of Mass. It would have been easy to check this out. Not crucial, but still.
The lack of insight into Arapaho culture dropped one star.
The theme of the two main characters - Fr. John and Arapaho lawyer Vickie - being in love, but unable to become a couple because one is a priest, began to drag for me. It was mentioned again and again and again. I got it the first fifteen times. Another star dropped.
The prosaic writing style, too many victims, my lack of interest in who was guilty and the improbability of it all , dropped another star.
I went back to my reviews of two other books in this series, which were more positive. Perhaps this was a low point; I may dip into it again.
The central character is a priest, but I didn't find the presentation of Catholic culture all that great either. At one point, Fr. John is concluding Mass, and the author has him use a phrase that is never, never used at the end of Mass. It would have been easy to check this out. Not crucial, but still.
The lack of insight into Arapaho culture dropped one star.
The theme of the two main characters - Fr. John and Arapaho lawyer Vickie - being in love, but unable to become a couple because one is a priest, began to drag for me. It was mentioned again and again and again. I got it the first fifteen times. Another star dropped.
The prosaic writing style, too many victims, my lack of interest in who was guilty and the improbability of it all , dropped another star.
I went back to my reviews of two other books in this series, which were more positive. Perhaps this was a low point; I may dip into it again.
June 6, 2021
No. 10 in Coel's outstanding Wind River Reservation mystery series. This may be one of the best in the lot so far. Father John O'Malley is called to the scene when a white man's body is found buried in a shallow grave on the reservation. Arapaho Attorney Vicky Holden is persuaded to review contracts for the new Great Plains Casino. Is it real job or is it window dressing to have an Arapaho attorney on the payroll? It becomes apparent that it is the latter when Vicky discovers unusual hiring practices and questionable contracts. Meanwhile, an activist named Captain Jack Monroe has organized a small group of Indians to protest the casino and hassle patrons. The tenuous friendship between O'Malley and Vicky is again a factor, clouded at the end by Vicky's likely new relationship with attorney Adam Lone Eagle. "Don't worry," Vicky tells Father John. "I've explained how it's always been with us. We're like two horses taking different roads back to the corral, and once in a while, the roads cross."
March 26, 2019
I enjoyed this 9th book in Coel's Wind River series. I have read them in order. The relationship between O'Malley and Holden continues to grow, though be frustrated. The quality of the writing and the elements of the mystery have continued to grow as the series progresses. This particular book deal with the Indian casino issue. I personally find casinos and gambling to be a blight on society. While this book explores that aspect it also looks at the positive side from the perspective of the Native Americans on the reservations. The book explores both sides without choosing sides. It goes into these issues more than similar books by Hillerman and Thurlo.
I am a fan of the Wind River series. If you like mysteries with a Native American backdrop, I highly recommend Margaret Coel's books. Like all series, I recommend that you read it from the beginning with the idea that the series improves over time. By book 5, the author is really on her game. the last 4 have been very good.
I am a fan of the Wind River series. If you like mysteries with a Native American backdrop, I highly recommend Margaret Coel's books. Like all series, I recommend that you read it from the beginning with the idea that the series improves over time. By book 5, the author is really on her game. the last 4 have been very good.
July 30, 2024
I did not realize until I completed the book, that this is number 9 in a series. I am just glad I did not have to read the previous eight books. The story is bizarre at best. Characters often act out of character. Situations occur, which would never happen in the real word. But worse of all, I found the book insensitive to the Native American community. Breakfast cannot be a muffin and coffee, but it has to be Indian Fry Bread and coffee. I cringed every time someone heard something on the moccasin telegraph. Even the fire escape process in the Indian Casino was ridiculous. It would not take much energy for Coel to figure out the true and correct process. I could not wait to finish so I could pitch the paperback.
October 12, 2017
I really like this book. Another good addition to the Wind River Reservation saga. Vicky Holden gets involved with the new casino built on the Arapaho Reservation. She definitely suspects that something is going on, but has to wonder if the Lakota lawyer, Adam Lone Eagle, is also involved. Events draw her and Father John O'Malley into a murder mystery that leads them on a path that could kill the both of them. Throw in a man with a history of fighting for good reasons but using the wrong tactics to get his ideas across and the reservation is turning into a powder keg that might blow up at any moment.
January 24, 2019
What a current topic! Every state has Native American casinos or a fight to have one! All problems outlined in this plot have been found in news outlets--Native Americans sidelined in their own casino or only given token jobs, outside organizations syphoning off the huge profits, and the tribe fighting within itself. Father John also has to fight the human break-downs--gambling addictions, family disintegrations because of gambling debts, and youth straying into violence. Vicky meanwhile is co-opted into serving as a lawyer for the casino's managing company. She knows she may be a token, but she needs the money. AND...her life is threatened yet again!!
September 1, 2018
A new casino and twisting tale of greed, manipulation combined with reservation life and politics of the Wind River Reservation. I enjoy reading fiction that relates to my general surroundings and local authors. Living near the Wyoming border in Northern Colorado, I love spending time with the main characters in this series. I would encourage anyone who enjoys murder mysteries to read it. I have enjoyed everything I have read by Margaret Coel. Her writing is compelling and satisfying. Helps fill the space left by my favorite writer Tony Hillerman.
March 11, 2018
The discovery of a white man's body on the Wind River Reservation has Father John O'Malley trying to keep the peace. Meanwhile, the newly opened Great Plains Casino--with Vicky Holden as its in-house counsel--is fighting for its life against an angry group of protesters. And when Vicky stumbles across some disturbing evidence about the murder, she's suddenly caught in a dangerous game--with her own life at stake.
June 19, 2021
I enjoyed this 9th book in Coel's Wind River series. I've read them all in order. Plot involves corrupt bad guys running an Indian casino and the impact of gambling on the humans at the reservation. I liked the way that Father John's spiritual and counselor role intertwines with Vicki's legal one. Definitely one of the better books in this series.
November 17, 2021
Good
I enjoyed this book at lot. Margaret writes like a lot of the English do, you don’t solve the mystery till the end. I really enjoy reading books like that.
Once again Vicky and Father John are trying to help the people on the reservation, not together, but their paths always met in the end.
I enjoyed this book at lot. Margaret writes like a lot of the English do, you don’t solve the mystery till the end. I really enjoy reading books like that.
Once again Vicky and Father John are trying to help the people on the reservation, not together, but their paths always met in the end.
April 20, 2024
I used an unabridged audio version to read this book. The reader, Stephanie Brush, was excellent. This was the first book written by Margaret Coel that I've read and I was pleasantly surprised with the story and characters. Although it is #9 in the Wind River Mystery series, I did not have any problem understanding the story w/o having read any of the prior books in the series.
October 9, 2018
Is there a link between the dead body and the new casino just built on the reservation? Vicki Holden and Father John are determined to find out...putting their lives in danger in the process. Nice section on the problems of gambling addiction.
February 2, 2019
I've liked all of the previous eight novels in this series. The author writes a very good story and the characters are interesting and appealing. I recommend the series if you're looking for a good story and different setting.
October 17, 2020
I have given this writer a few tries after Tony Hillerman's passing, but it's just not as satisfying. Her prose tends to be a bit more florid, the landscape less entrancing, the characters less convincing. This book was fine of a few days entertainment, though.
April 26, 2018
Good story, tribal casino's love and murder.. Oh and priests.
February 23, 2019
In this one trouble comes for them rather than them racing (stupidly) towards it.
May 16, 2019
I have enjoyed reading books in this series and I enjoyed this one. The priest/lawyer/Arapaho mix is interesting. Not highly creative or great art, but a good recreational read.
July 30, 2019
I wish there wasn’t any swearing. Casino.
December 7, 2019
I continue to like this series and especially the realistic turn I anticipate in Vicky and Fr. John's relationship. I will read the next one.
December 20, 2019
Somehow I missed reading this one - stayed up late reading it too!
August 31, 2020
A new angle and a good book. Yes, I am hooked on this author. So far she has continued to produce very interesting books.
December 4, 2020
I thought this might be the best of the series so far. The tension was higher and the mystery seemed even more puzzling to me. I love these books.
August 6, 2021
Great addition to the series, with some obvious turns and some surprised. I loved this one.
November 20, 2021
Pretty good, though the formula is getting repetitive. But for me the best part is not figuring out the killer, but the setting of the Arapaho nation.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews