Second reading. I have to admit I picked it up again because they AMC filmed it last year and I needed a memory refresher.
Leaphorn isn't in this book.Second reading. I have to admit I picked it up again because they AMC filmed it last year and I needed a memory refresher.
Leaphorn isn't in this book. It is Jim Chee all the way.
B. J. Vines' house has been burglarized and all they took was a box from his safe. Mrs. Vines wants it back before BJ returns from the hospital (?). Tries to hire Chee to find it. When Vines he returns he tells Chee he needn't bother because it isn't missing. A man is killing people, including the people who took the box - the People of Darkness or worshippers of a native church involving the peyote lord. Peyote is illegal and the sheriff harasses them.
Years ago, the members of the church had been warned to stay away from work one day. This particular day the oil well blew up. What did these people know? Because everyone else got blown up leaving a bone here and a bone there, virtually unidentifiable.
I have been reading the Hillerman books since the mid-80s when I came across Dance Hall of the Dead at my brother's SO's house. ...more
I hate this new system!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It adds multiple readings on its own!!!!!!!!!!!
I found this an interesting book.
Too bad this stupid systI hate this new system!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It adds multiple readings on its own!!!!!!!!!!!
I found this an interesting book.
Too bad this stupid system wiped out my review!!!!!!!!!!!!
I only read this book once but this stupid system is always adding multiple readings. Maybe because I might be using multiple devices???????
Get with the program GR. I can't be the only one having this problem!!!!!!!!
The story of the Battle of the Little Big Horn from the viewpoint of the Lakota. Also, the experience of the 4-year-old being yanked out of the house and being sent along with two others (siblings/cousins) to be sent to the Indian schools. They were run on the basis of "if you can't understand me, I must not be talking loud enough". So the teachers would shout at the children and locked them in closets, where they felt like they were strangling on chalk dust....more
I've read a number of the J.P. Beaumont series. Have tried to get in to Joanna Brady but haven't really succeeded yet. But this was my first venture iI've read a number of the J.P. Beaumont series. Have tried to get in to Joanna Brady but haven't really succeeded yet. But this was my first venture into Diana Ladd - I didn't even know there was a Diana Ladd series.
There is a lot of back history to this book - her loser of a husband who had killed himself, secrets she only learned from her mother on her deathbed or later, her abusive father, and how she became friends with Rita - who has her own problems. Rita is helping Diana raise her son Davy.
I liked the interspersal of the story with the native (Papago) legends and incorporating portions of those legends into the story.
I'll be looking for more of the Diana Ladd stories....more
I am enjoying this series. Here Vickie Holden's assistance is finally requested by the tribal elders. Does this mean that she is accepted back into thI am enjoying this series. Here Vickie Holden's assistance is finally requested by the tribal elders. Does this mean that she is accepted back into the tribe? Apparently the tribes are about to get some of their artifacts back. But one of the elders remembers having seen a specific exhibit back in 1920 and it didn't make the list. They want her to find out about this. It is proof that there were Arapahoe at Sand Creek and the government is handing out land based on land seized in the past. Meanwhile, Father John is trying to set up a reservation museum so the Arapahoe can take some pride in their past.
Turns out the missing artifact is worth +$1 million and it is suspected that it has been lifted by person or persons unknown. The bodies start falling and begin to add up.
I really liked the bad guy Coel created in this book. Not that I like him but he is evil and slimy (at least to me). Even before I knew who the bad guy was I was against this character, although he wasn't my first guess for the perpetrator. ...more
Recently finished listening to this, the third in the series. This series takes place on the Wind River Arapaho Reservation. Here they want to put in Recently finished listening to this, the third in the series. This series takes place on the Wind River Arapaho Reservation. Here they want to put in a nuclear waste dump on the Reservation. It appears there is one lone voice talking against it, Vicki Holden, Arapaho lawyer. The people for keep saying that they are talking "facts" and she is just trying to rouse the white protestors. So this opens the door for corruption.
It is difficult here to tell which is the back story and which is the front story. Because while there is much ado about the proposed dump which would provide a number of jobs and a lot of money to a couple of people, there is also a story about people getting shot in the face. A group of cowboys who hadn't seen each other in 40 years and they get shot the same way causes Father John to wonder what is going on. Something happened 40 years ago and one of the old cowboys is stirring the pot.
I enjoy these stories. But I am beginning to wonder why it feels like everything I read is about corruption. ...more
Father John is out in a blizzard and his truck breaks down. On his way to look for a ride he happens upon a dead body. But when the police come and loFather John is out in a blizzard and his truck breaks down. On his way to look for a ride he happens upon a dead body. But when the police come and look for the body with him it has disappeared. Thus, the title.
This is a story involving sneaky shenanigans. First thing Father John hears is that the Mission is being sold so that a "recreation center" can be erected on the site. Except it isn't even being broadcast on the "moccasin telegraph". Something is wrong here.
First in the series, I think. One of the leaders is killed just prior to a scheduled meeting with Father John. Not good. Looks suspicious to the priesFirst in the series, I think. One of the leaders is killed just prior to a scheduled meeting with Father John. Not good. Looks suspicious to the priest. Then it turns out he'd argued with his nephew the night before. Apparently what keeps the Arapahoe band going is the income from the oil wells, but some had recently dried up. Although it doesn't appear that any oil wells not on res land are having any problems.
I like this series. I kind of stumbled upon it. Thought I'd go back to the beginning.
Another side story involves the nephew being in love with a white girl, the niece of the descendant of the Indian agent and who hopes to be the next governor....more
Enjoyable listen to this Margaret Coel mystery involving Father John and lawyer Vicki Holden.
This story goes back and forth in time. There was once aEnjoyable listen to this Margaret Coel mystery involving Father John and lawyer Vicki Holden.
This story goes back and forth in time. There was once a photographer sent to the West by the Smithsonian Institute to take photos of the native Indians/native Americans in their habitat. Edward Curtis may have used a lack of judgment in asking the Arapaho and Shoshone of the reservation to stage a reenactment of an Indian raid on a village. They were blanks in their guns but one woman, daughter of a chief, winds up dead.
So, on the one hand, we are following the story of Jessie, a young Arapaho who has signed on to assist Curtis, secretly in love with the girl who marries a white man. The man brings his wife and daughter to be in the photos. Three natives are blamed for the murder.
This story alternates with a present day story where a young priest assigned to the mission (born wealthy, Princeton educated) is getting the Senator to make a visit to the reservation and the mission prior to announcing whether he will seek the nomination for the presidency.
Of course both of these stories are interconnected and there are bodies dropping.
I enjoy this series. And at least in this one she was not quite so much on her spousal abuse platform, as she is in some books. And this is one series that I definitely haven't read in order. ...more
Again, a book I put aside for some bizarre reason. Recently picked back up.
Thought Hillerman did a fine job picking up her father's stories. Per the pAgain, a book I put aside for some bizarre reason. Recently picked back up.
Thought Hillerman did a fine job picking up her father's stories. Per the postscript, her mother urged her to do it and thought Tony would have approved. And, no, he didn't leave a manuscript in a drawer.
Wasn't sure if we would be saying farewell to Joe Leaphorn since he gets shot in the beginning.
This book builds on A Thief of Time and brings back some of the characters from that book.
Another excellent re-read. But, at least this time, I knew I was re-reading a book. a li I think I read it so long ago I'd forgotten what happened. ThaAnother excellent re-read. But, at least this time, I knew I was re-reading a book. a li I think I read it so long ago I'd forgotten what happened. That's nice when that happens.
This edition had an essay by Hillerman called "Leaphorn, Chee and the Navajo Way" which discusses where these characters came from. Leaphorn was going to be a minor character until the author discovered that he was taking over the story in the first book. There is also a brief discussion from Hillerman about each of his books. I guess it is an e-book exclusive (that's what it claims anyway). Just a little behind-the-scenes view, I guess. Interesting....more
I enjoy this series. Not sure if the Arapaho reservation is in Colorado or Wyoming, but that is where it is based. Because they talk about going to DeI enjoy this series. Not sure if the Arapaho reservation is in Colorado or Wyoming, but that is where it is based. Because they talk about going to Denver and to Jackson Hole.
Here a young man had trouble in Lander and then moved to Jackson Hole and finally decided to come back to the rez and cleanse himself by doing the Sun Dance. A white girl follows him back. He doesn't get to do the Sun Dance because he gets shot up and the girl gets knocked out. The girl turns out to be the daughter of a rich televangelist which hasn't helped her mental state.
The father hires Vicky to make sure she's not railroaded into being the suspect because she's the outsider and Father John puts the girl up at the Mission.
It sounds like I must have given a lot away - but actually this is all in the first couple of chapters. Along with a couple of Oklahoma Arapahos who had some involvement with the young in Jackson. They bring his ex-girlfriend along when they go to invite him to a party. Or do they kill him?
It is a big mess. And the local Fed, along with Vicky and Father John, have to figure it out.
I was maybe a step ahead of Father John in figuring it out. And it seemed improbable but that's what they wanted to go with.
This is really kind of interesting series. A priest at the reservation mission. A female Arapaho attorney - in some episodes she is recovering from spousal abuse. In this one, her secretary was having trouble with an ex-husband. And it is fairly informative about Arapaho life. ...more