Review - Death Where the Bad Rocks Live

I reviewed the first novel in this series (click here for review.)  Following up on such a successful debut novel is a challenge.  Travel with me to the desolate and atmospheric Badlands of South Dakota on the Pine Ridge Reservation for a Cold Case that is still taking lives.

Author: C. M. Wendelboe

Copyright: September 2012 (Berkley) 394 pgs

Series: 2nd in Spirit Road Mysteries

Sensuality: smattering of crude references and language

Mystery Sub-genre: Western Police Procedural

Main Characters: Lakota FBI Special Agent Manny Tanno

Setting: Modern day, Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota

Obtained Through: Publisher for honest review

The book picks up with FBI agent Manny Tanno in the middle of the South Dakota Badlands examining three recently discovered bodies found in an old 1940's car long forgotten.  The area had once been used for bombing practice in the '40s and it looks like the bodies are from back then.  Initially it looks like the car wondered on the range and a bombing run killer the occupants.  But one of the three bodies is obviously a recent addition to the car, apparently from the late '60s.  It looks more and more like murder, and that means Manny gets the investigation of this very cold case.  Manny quickly finds that he has a political powder keg since the most recent body was college roommates with the newly nominated Supreme Court Justice - Judge High Elk, who doesn't want anything standing in his way for the nomination, especially a cold case.  Then more murders occur to people connected to the case.

Several chapters take you back to the 1940s as you follow Moses Ten Bears, a spiritual leader and reknowed painter, through the events that lead up to his death in a car on the bombing range.  Those chapters break up the flow a little bit, but it makes for an interesting look into the what made Moses so mythical for the tribe.  The reader also sees Manny and tribal cop Willie Looks Twice struggle with some personal issues.  Manny's childhood menace is still chief of the Tribal police, and still taunts Manny. 

The characters are all nicely drawn. We get to know the tribal medical examiner Precious, nicknamed Pee Pee, whose biggest pleasure in life is outbidding the Chief for Elvis memorabilia.  The Chief of Tribal Police also hires his niece as a tribal cop, who brings her own drama into the picture.

The setting is the eerie and otherworldly Badlands for most of the story.  There is one particular stand-out scene where Manny is playing a deadly cat and mouse dance, in the middle of a storm, in the dark, and in the Badlands.  It will stay in my memory for a while I think.

The plot takes a winding route as the investigation proceeds.  It has some spots that slow a little too much, and the Chief's niece is a distracting sidestory.  I didn't like that particular character, and her purpose wasn't clear even upon completion.  The confrontation with the killer had some tense moments while being believable.

As the second entry in the series, it is setting a high bar with intricate story telling.  FBI Agent Manny Tanno makes a fine troubled hero dealing with life at 40 something as he is discovering his culture and himself.

Rating:
Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list 

Here is a short video of the Badlands that provides an excellent feel for the terrain where much of the story takes place.

Abandoned Walmart becomes public library

It is not uncommon for a business to relocate or close all together, leaving a retail space empty.  In Minneapolis they were faced with a 124,500 square foot former Walmart space.  They decided to make the roughly  two-and-a-half football fields worth of space into a public library.  But that was a huge task.  

They sought a functional and affordable interior design.  The new library has become the largest single story library in the U.S. and won the 2012 Library Interior Design Competition.  The move paid off with increased new user registration.  Check it out in the photos, and notice the number of youth using the library.

 
Way to go Minneapolis!  Yeah.

Just 1 Book Organization

This week I wanted to share about an eleven year old girl who is impacting her city by providing books for community centers in Orlando.  She is working to gather the books needed. Next, she wants to tackle getting a book mobile system started.

Just 1 Book is a Central Florida organization started by 11-year-old Sarah, with a mission on providing books to less fortunate kids in the Orlando area.  Sarah decided that if she could collect just one book from every child in her elementary school that would be 763 books she could donate to the kids in need in the next town.

Just 1 Book has teamed up with Orlando City Soccer and is collecting books during Orlando’s first playoff game on August 31. The books collected will join the thousands of other books the organization has collected from people who have donated books from around the world.  Sarah’s ultimate goal is to have “Just 1 Book” Book Mobiles so the books can be brought to kids in their own neighborhoods. With your help, Sarah and Just 1 Book can reach that goal.

“We can make a difference in the life of a child by giving them the gift of books,” said Sarah. “I’m asking for your help. Please help me fulfil my dream of providing books to all kids in need.”

"I thought it would take longer for it [Just 1 Book] to catch on and for people to realize that kids want and need books," Sarah said. "People say, 'Oh, kids don’t like to read anymore.' They do."

All donations are tax deductible under section 170 of the IRS Code because Just1Book  is classified as a public charity under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Support childhood literacy by donating to Just 1 Book; make the difference in the life of a child!  You can donate on their website (click here), or contact them to donate books directly. 


Here is a video about Sarah starting this project.

From a friend on Facebook - these muffins are a true taste of Autumn; slightly tart and sweet with the intense flavor of granny smith apples with just a whisper of maple as you savor each bite. These go best with any nut-flavored coffee~



* Maple Apple Streusel Muffins

1 egg
1/2 c milk
1/4 c unsalted butter melted
1 c coarsely chopped unpeeled apple, Macintosh, granny smith or other tart apple is best.
1 1/2 c flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp ginger
a few grates of nutmeg
1 tsp maple flavoring (or use 1/4c maple syrup, and reduce the milk to 1/4 c)

Preheat oven to 400.

Prepare muffin tins with paper, or silicone liners, or grease. Beat egg, and stir in milk, butter, apples and flavoring. Combine dry ingedients and stir in just to mix. Never over mix muffins because you will lose the texture and they will not be delicate but coarse and chewy.

* Streusel:

1/2 c flour
1/2 c sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 c butter

Blend with fingers until crumbly. Sprinkle on top of muffins.

Spoon into muffin cups andbake for 20-30 minutes.

Review - Buffalo Bill's Dead Now

This week the review is of the newest book in the Wind River Reservation Mysteries.  I had reviewed the prior book in the series, The Spider's Web (click here) and interviewed the author (click here).  This addition to the series features artifacts from Buffalo Bill's Wild West show and specifically Chief Black Heart's ancestral regalia he wore in the shows.  This is a fascinating slice of America's history integrated a murder mystery.

Author: Margaret Coel

Copyright: Sept 2012 (Berkley) 304 pgs

Series: 16th in Wind River Mysteries

Sensuality: n/a

Mystery Sub-genre: Amateur Sleuth

Main Characters: Arapaho attorney Vicky Holden and Jesuit priest, Father John O'Malley

Setting: Modern day, Arapaho reservation in Wyoming

Obtained Through: Publisher for honest review


The reservation is anxiously awaiting the return of the regalia worn by Arapaho Chief Black Heart in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. It had been lost for 120 years until discovered in an ancient vault in Germany where the Wild West Show had performed. Artifact collector Trevor Pratt is donating the history-rich-regalia to the small Arapahoe museum on the reservation. Sadly, thieves strike while the artifacts are enroute. Both Father John and Vicky Holden sense that Trevor Pratt knows more about the heist than he will admit. When they discover Pratt's body after nearly being run off the road by a speeding car leaving the scene, their suspicians are confirmed.

Their investigation uncovers a blood feud between two Arapaho families about the disappearance of the regalia during the Wild West Show tour of Europe. The more they uncover about Pratt and the long-lost regalia, the more danger Father John and Vicky are in. To complicate the situation, Vicky's old flame Adam returns to town wanting to reconcile with her. The long standing feelings between Father John and Vicky are once again ever-present and perhaps about to spill over.

Father John is human and compassionate with the native Americans on the reservation, displaying sensitivity to their issues. Vicky is very much alone and vulnerable in this book. While they are both strong character depictions, the tension because of their "forbidden love" has got to give at some point to maintain reader interest in this subplot much longer. Adam is a character that brings a dissonant chord to the status quo and shakes things up. Adam maybe the catalyst to bring about change, but it isn't realized in this book. Perhaps in the next. Again, a supporting character that is memorable is retired Bishop Harry. I find myself wanting to know about him.


The Wind River Reservation is hauntingly evoked. The beauty and bitter-sweetness of reservation life colors the scenes.


The plot employs a trick, from the first chapter the reader thinks they know who the murderer is, but there are surprising. The culprit isn't who you think it is. There are chapters interspersed that take us back to the Wild West show in Germany and slowly reveals what happened to Chief Black Heart's regalia. Those chapters are fantastic glimpses into the spectacle that was Buffalo Bill's traveling show with hundreds of people recreating the story of the American West. Many times I wanted to stay with that storyline and not revert to the modern murder mystery.

The confrontation with the killer had a good dose of suspense. The wrap up provides answers to the mystery of Chief Black Heart's regalia lost for over a century and hopefully settles the feud. The situation between Father John and Vicky remains open though.

this is another strong entry in the Wind River series with an interesting take on artifact theft. This series may be the single best image booster for Catholic priests around - with its portrayal of Father John struggling to follow his path, while compassionately laying bare the Native American plight on reservations.


Ratings: Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list

Cool Bookshelves

The randomly picked winner of the Thrill Week book giveaway is....<> Amanda Ray.  Amanda, you should have received an email asking for your physical mailing address. Thank you everyone for participating.  

Many people don't like the digital book wave, and still love the physical book.  I love unusual bookcases for those physical books.  Here are a few for your enjoyment...or your next spending splurge.

For the person who always wanted a concealed room.  

Bwaaa Haaa Haaa.

Artwork and yet functional.

Enjoy the week.