Mystery Movie Review - ThunderHeart

One of my favorite mystery movies is  the 1992 Thunderheart.  It is based and filmed on the Lakota Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, which I have been to and considered the trip life-changing.  I visited the Wounded Knee Memorial which is depicted in the movie.  

What it's about:

When a series of murders stuns a small Native American reservation, the FBI decides to send agent Ray Levoi (Val Kilmer) to aid in the investigation. Ray isn't very experienced, but he is one quarter Sioux, so the FBI in it's wisdom thinks that will make it easier to gather information from the locals. The reservation police officer, Walter Crow Horse (played by Graham Greene) views Ray as an outsider while the tribal elder (Chief Ted Thin Elk) believes him to be the reincarnated spirit of Thunderheart, a Native American hero.  Gradually Ray rejects the intimidating tactics of his fellow agents, who are more interested in maintaining the status quo than solving the murder. The more Ray becomes accepting of his heritage, the locals begin trusting him.  The movie is based on actual Reservation occurrences of the 1970s (more about this in the trivia) which are in a documentary narrated by Robert Redford titled "Incident at Oglala".

Starring:  Val Kilmer (Tombstone), Graham Greene (Dances with Wolves), Sam Shepard, and Sheila Tousey

Director: Michael Apted 

Writer: John Fusco

Rating: R for language and some violent scenes

Rotten Tomatoes 89%

"Stylishly balancing thrills, mysticism and political outrage, Apted's produced his most absorbing movie since Coal Miner's Daughter." David Ansen Newsweek

"Thunderheart adds up to an absorbing and provocative thriller." Malcolm Johnson Hartford Courant

Trivia (much from IMDB)

-- Screenwriter John Fusco lived on the Pine Ridge Reservation for five years researching the script. There, he met Frank Fools Crow, a tribal elder who was the inspiration for Grandpa Sam Reaches.

-- Filming was done with the support of the Oglala Sioux people, who trusted Michael Apted and John Fusco to express their story.

-- The Indian roles are all played by Indians. Ted Thin Elk, who played an honoured Lakota medicine man, is a Lakota elder himself.  Two hundred and fifty Native Americans worked as extras on the movie.

-- The movie features the spiritual life of the American Indian: the purifying rituals of the sweat lodge, the practice of leaving bits of food for the spirits, and the mysterious ghost dance.  It also mentions the Native American belief that some could even shape-shift into an animal. Plus the infamous massacre at Wounded Knee figures symbolically in this film.

-- Filming took place over ten weeks, during which the cast endured temperatures over 100 °F.

-- The movie's activist group is called Aboriginal Rights Movement (ARM) and is based on the actual American Indian Movement (AIM), a group that fights for Native American rights. 

-- Maggie Eagle Bear is based on activist Anna Mae Aquash, who was at one point the highest ranking woman in AIM. She was murdered in 1975 on Pine Ridge Reservation.

-- The commercial television version of the movie hacked roughly 26 minutes of the movie, which angered director Michael Apted so much he insisted his name be removed from the TV version or have a disclaimer shown before the title credits, stating that he disowned that version. After legal litigation, Tristar opted to remove Apted's name and credit the TV version to pseudonymous director Alan Smithee.

-- The movie is loosely based on the Leonard Peltier case of 1975, who was a member of AIM and was conveniently found guilty (despite two of Peltier's compatriots in AIM being found innocent) of the murder of two FBI agents on the basis of evidence that many people and experts have found extremely questionable. Peltier is still in prison, despite evidence such as ballistics and witness testimony being discredited since the trial.  John Trudell, who depicts the man the FBI is attempting to capture, was actually present during the events that Leonard Peltier was tried for and was a leader of AIM.

-- Perhaps most significant, in my mind, is actor John Trudell, who plays Jimmy Looks Twice, the fugitive leader of the Aboriginal Rights Movement.  In real-life Trudell is a poet-singer-actor who served in Vietnam and helped lead the 1969 Indian occupation of Alcatraz Island and was national spokesman for and chairman of the American Indian Movement from 1973 to 1979.  The anger and bitterness Trudell displays in the film is very real from his life.  A few hours after Trudell led an AIM demonstration in Washington DC, his wife, three children and mother-in-law were killed in a fire of unknown origin (that many believe was arson and at the hands of the FBI) that destroyed his house on the Shoshone Paiute Reservation in Nevada. 

--  [Spoiler Alert] The real-life situations that inspired the movie: During the early to mid-1970s, there were fifty-seven unsolved murders on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota due to the fighting between the "Traditionals" and Tribal government sanctioned "goons". This made the Village of Pine Ridge (Pop. 1100) on the Pine Ridge Reservation the "Murder Capitol of the Nation" with the highest number of violent death per capita in the United States.  The FBI is supposed to investigate all reservation murders but barely a handful received a cursory investigation.  The character of Jack Milton is based on Dick Wilson, the US Government appointed tribal chairman of the Pine Ridge Reservation from 1972-'76. Traditionalists tried to impeach Wilson in '73.  Dick Wilson also helped the US Government to draw attention away from the fact that he was selling off 1/8 of the Pine Ridge Reservation for uranium mining, without the rest of the tribe knowing or giving their approval.  For more details on this see the Documentary "Incident at Oglala" narrated by Robert Redford.

My Thoughts

A real FBI agent would have been rigidly by the book and Ray Levoi's character wouldn't have strayed from that.  But one of the themes is getting in touch with your roots and we see Agent Ray Levoi go from a shut down, buttoned up man who is ashamed of his heritage to a man who embraces his culture while still questioning the mystical side -- all against the background of a murder investigation with enemies everywhere and very real life-and-death situations.  The acting of Val Kilmer and Graham Greene is superlative and these two actors have great chemistry and interaction.  Plus, having John Trudell in the movie is a profound touch as he is so authentic and powerful in his portrayal it lights the screen up.  

The scenary of the Badlands makes the hard-scrabble life on the reservation visceral while also depicting what is a sacred place to the people.

The mystery is along the lines of an official investigation questioning witnesses and following leads.  There is pressure, like many experience at some point on their jobs, to follow the company line or give into peer pressure.  Ray Levoi's character decides to follow the evidence rather than the senior FBI agent's demands, which gives everybody a hero to cheer for as a seemingly open-and-shut case develops twists and turns with a more complex motive and desperate killer.

Critics of the movie claim it is too Hollywood, that fire fights by FBI agents with children around wouldn't happen - yet they did in the 1970s on the reservation.  Much of what is portrayed many Native American's say is more authentic than people want to believe. 

5 Stars: This movie is complex and has many layers.  It is a solid detective movie with a good script and directing, and wonderful acting.  Another theme is how we need to deal with our own baggage to find inner peace and inspires us to right wrongs all in a sweeping murder investigation that transports you to the Badlands. This is an oldie, but has stood the test of time.  Consider watching or rewatching this classic.

Here is the movie trailer

11 Native American Mystery Series

Native American mysteries are some of the most atmospheric novels (in my opinion).  I have enjoyed many of these and some I discovered while researching for this post.  Let me know in the comments if you would like me to review more of those series that I don't have any reviews or only a few. 

Charlie Moon series by James D Doss features a Ute tribal policeman (later becomes private detective) in southern Colorado.

13th Snake Dreams   

The first four are my favorites: Shaman Sings, Shaman's Laugh, Shaman's Bones, and  Shaman's Game

Of course Tony Hillerman put Native American mystery novels on the map like never before.  His series starts with The Blessing Way.  Anne Hillerman continued the series when her father passed away.  My favorites are A Thief in Time, Skinwalker, and Sacred Clowns.  **If you would be interested in my reviewing some of these, please leave a comment saying so.

Wind River series by Margaret Coel, Eagle Catcher is the1st in the series.

15th Spider's Web  

16th Buffalo Bill's Dead Now 

Manny Tanno Investigations by C.M. Wendelboe take place mostly on the Pine Ridge Lakota reservation in South Dakota.

1st Death Along the Spirit Road 

2nd Death Where the Bad Rocks 

3rd Death on Greasy Grass 

Kate Shugak Mysteries by Dana Stabenow (no review) take place in Alaska.

Vanishing Act is the 1st in Jane Whitefield series by Thomas Perry (no reviews). Jane is a Native American (Seneca) who has made a career out of helping worthy people disappear (like an abuse victim disappear from powerful husband sort of thing).

Shandra Higheagle Mystery series by Patty Jagger features a woman who is half Nez Perce for an amateur sleuth. Double Duplicity is the first in the series.

#10 Artful Murder 

Sadie Walela Mystery series by Sara Sue Hoklotubbe features a Cherokee amateur sleuth in Oklahoma.

#2 The American Cafe 

Naomi ManyMules mystery series by J & D Burges (no reviews) features a divorced, thirty-something mom of two as the amateur sleuth on the edge of Navajo country and claims it is humorous. 

Walt Longmire series by Craig Johnson has many Native American themes and characters

6th Junkyard Dogs 

7th Hell is Empty 

8th As the Crow Flies 

9 A Serpent's Tooth 

This series has some Native American themes: Cork O'Connor Investigation series by William Kent Krueger

7th Thunder Bay 

There you have 11 series either featuring a Native American sleuth/detective or that often have Native American characters or themes featured in the stories.  I may have missed some, so please share if you know of one that isn't spotlighted here.  If you have read some of these, tell me what you thought of them too.

Author Guest Post - Paty Jager

Please welcome Paty Jager to the blog.  She is an award-winning author of 32 novels, 6 novellas, and numerous anthologies of murder mystery and western romance. All her work has Western or Native American elements in them along with hints of humor and engaging characters. This is what Mysteries Etc says about her Shandra Higheagle mystery series: “Mystery, romance, small town, and Native American heritage combine to make a compelling read.”  

Dreams, Clues, and Murder
Avery, thank you for having me on your blog. 

For those who don’t know me, I’m Paty Jager. I write murder mysteries and western romance. I grew up in the NE corner of Oregon where the Chief Joseph band of the Nez Perce wintered and summered before they were driven to Montana, and ultimately, surrendered to the Army. Growing up in the area I was frustrated that the history of the county wasn’t taught in the schools. Especially, how the Nez Perce tried to hang onto the land they loved. And then to only see them in the county once a year during the Chief Joseph Day’s Rodeo and Parade, seemed insulting to me. I’m not sure how they felt.

Because the non-treaty Nez Perce (the ones who refused to go on the reservation and fled to Montana) were thought to be a bad influence on the treaty Nez Perce, they weren’t allowed to set foot in the Wallowa country. In fact, after their surrender, they were taken clear to Oklahoma where they became ill and many died. Those that survived the 7 years of incarceration in Oklahoma were allowed to return to the Pacific Northwest but not to the Lapwai Idaho Reservation where the treaty Nez Perce resided. They were sent to the Umatilla and Colville reservations to live with tribes they had battled with before and who had scouted for the army to find them. 

I’m happy to say these days, there is a powwow held every July in Wallowa and the Nez Perce have purchased land in the county where they have fish naturalizing ponds and hatcheries. 

The reason I write about the Nez Perce is because of the injustice I feel they endured. And the vision of a Nez Perce warrior I saw on the mountain behind my family’s home one summer day as I rode my horse through the trees. 

My main character in my mystery series is Shandra Higheagle. I made her half Nez Perce and half White. Her Nez Perce father died when she was four. Her mother remarried a man who didn’t care for Native Americans and forbid her to talk of her father’s family or visit them. While the stepfather didn’t adopt her, he made her use his last name in school. 
 
When Shandra went on to college, she used her legal name of Higheagle and studied art, becoming a potter. She hadn’t thought much about it being a part of her heritage until she is called to the reservation where her grandmother and the rest of her family lives for her grandmother’s funeral. During the funeral and the Seven Drums Ceremony, Shandra discovers her family is interested in bringing her back into their lives. 

After the funeral, when Shandra returns to Huckleberry, she becomes a suspect in a murder. Her grandmother begins showing up in Shandra’s dreams, giving her clues that could help her solve the murder. 

All amateur sleuths need a sidekick who is in law enforcement. That is where Weippe County Detective Ryan Greer comes in. In book one, Double Duplicity, he realizes she isn’t the murderer even though she is found with the body. And when he catches her where she shouldn’t
be, looking for a clue, she tells him about her dreams. To her surprise, he believes in them more than she does. 

Their relationship builds throughout the series with a wedding on the horizon. 

While most of the books are set in and around Huckleberry Ski Resort and Shandra’s ranch on Huckleberry Mountain, there are also trips to the Colville Reservation in Washington where Shandra helps her family discover the truth when there are murders there. 

Shandra not only has Detective Greer on her side, but she has a big, furry, cowardly lion of a dog, a cantankerous woman who came with the ranch like a stray cat, and a slew of unique and quirky friends who live in Huckleberry. 

I use Shandra’s grandmother coming to her in dreams as the mysticism in my series. Everyone knows of dream catchers. The are many different versions of how this web within a hoop works. Some say it catches the good dreams and they slide down the feathers to the person sleeping under it and lets the bad dreams escape through the hole in the middle. Others say it captures the good ideas that make a person or people stronger and allows the bad ideas to pass on through. I used this concept along with that of the visions or vision quests, which are important to all tribes as well, and the fact the Nez Perce have long believed in the Seven Drums and Dreamer religion. It is a following that Chief Joseph and many in his band believed in. 

Putting all this information I’d gathered about the Native American cultures, dreams, and visions, I came up with the premise of the deceased grandmother coming to my character in dreams to help her solve murders. You can get the first book of the Shandra Higheagle Mystery series, Double Duplicity, free as an ebook at all ebook vendors. Books 1-5 are available in ebook, print, and audio. My narrator is working on book 6. My current book, book 10, Artful Murder, is available in ebook and print. 

Artful Murder by Paty Jager

Book ten in the Shandra Higheagle Mystery Series 

Secrets… Scandal… Murder…
An autistic boy and his brother need potter Shandra Higheagle’s help when a teacher’s body is found after a confrontation with the older brother. Shandra knows the boy is innocent. Digging into the teacher’s life, she and Ryan turn up scandal. 

Detective Ryan Greer has believed in Shandra’s dreams in the past, but she can’t always be right.  When his investigation uncovers a principal on the take, females being harassed, and parents kept in the dark, he discovers more suspects than the brothers.  Shandra’s time at the school is coming to an end, and the killer has struck again. 

Universal book link (purchase here)
 blog / website / Facebook / Paty's Posse / Goodreads / Twitter / Pinterest / Bookbub

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

THANK You Ms Jager for the insight into your series.

 

Review - Thunder Bay

I met this author at a writing conference and was quite impressed with a workshop he gave.  I bought this book and just now got to read it.  This was a new author to me, perhaps to you as well.  See how the book stood up to my high expectations.

Author: William Kent Krueger

Copyright: 2007 (Atria Books) 304 pgs

Series: 7th in Cork O'Connor Investigation series

Sensuality: Adult situations, nothing explicit

Mystery Sub-genre: Private Investigator, suspense

Main Character: Corcoran (Cork) O'Connor, restaurant and gift shop owner and part-time PI

Setting: modern day, Aurora, Minnesota (northern Minnesota's lake country)

Obtained Through: Publisher for honest review

Henry Meloux asks Cork, working as a part-time PI, to find a long-lost son the ancient Ojibwe medicine man has never met... from a relationship with a white woman, Maria Lima, seventy-three years ago. Cork gets two clues to work from: a location in Canada and a gold watch with a picture of Maria.  Cork proves his PI chops by shortly locating the son, who is an eccentric retired mining entrepreneur.  Managing a meeting between the rich son and elderly Henry is a challenge and his initial efforts are answered with an attempt on Henry's life.  Henry isn't deterred and insists his son needs him, propelling Cork into a dangerous labyrinth.

Cork is Part Irish, part Anishinaabe Indian. He juggles helping Henry with a family crisis.  He is a family-first guy and Henry is extended family, which shows much about his inner-man.  Jo, is his capable wife and a lawyer who I respected greatly.  Henry Meloux, Ojibwe elder and Cork's spiritual adviser is a character I quickly loved and his past love affair gave him a bittersweet quality.  Wally Schanno is a widower who is struggling through his grief and asks to help Cork with any PI work.  I felt for him from the first pages.  Trinky Pollard is a retired Canadian Royal Mounted Police who helps the gang on the Canadian side.  Cork's daughter Jenny is going through a lot in the story.  She is a thoughtful and sensitive girl on the brink of college having her mettle tested...which tests Cork's ability to not barge in and fix things.  

Krueger is known for creating a strong sense of atmosphere, and I think his reputation is well earned.  The scenes of Henry in the Canadian wilderness had me smelling the cook fire and pine trees.  The plot took a basic concept of a long lost son and built a web of suspense with murder and greed.  The pace increased as the story developed.  The climax was a nail biting deadly confrontation that got the blood pumping. The wrap up tied up all the various threads to satisfactory conclusions. 

This was my first exposure to the author and the series and it delivered a rich tapestry, layered plot, and defined characters.  This won't be my last book in the series!

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

Do you need some holiday decorating ideas still?  Here is an easy one for you.  Wrap wire around a foam cone (find in floral or hobby stores) to make these pretty Christmas trees!

I found this and more great last minute decorating ideas here.

Review - Death on the Greasy Grass

I have been following this series since the beginning.  I have reviews for book two "Death Where the Bad Rocks Live" (click here) and book one "Death Along the Spirit Road" (click here.)  This time we travel to Montana for parts of the story that brings old enemies, Lakota Sioux and Crow, together again. 

Author: C.M. Wendelboe

Copyright: June 2013 (Berkley Publishing) 384 pgs

Series: 3rd in Manny Tanno Mystery series

Sensuality: mild adult references

Mystery Sub-genre: police procedural

Main Characters: Manny Tanno, FBI agent

Setting: Modern day, Crow and Lakota reservations

Obtained Through: Publisher for honest review

Manny and tribal-cop buddy Willie are on vacation and Manny insists on going to the re-enactment of The Battle of the Little Big Horn - known as Custer's Last Stand (or The Battle of Greasy Grass Creek.)  One of the re-enactors is killed with real bullets during the battle and the FBI ends up assigning Manny to investigate what looks like a cold blooded murder.  A secondary storyline unfolds with sections told in the past following Custer's Crow scout, Levi Star Dancer, who kept a journal of some shady moves during the Battle of the Little Big Horn that could be damaging to the living descendants.

Manny is middle-aged, a little overweight, recently diagnosed with diabetes, continually battling with his cigarette cravings, and is also a long-time bachelor now engaged and nervous about marrying.  In this outing, Manny faces tragedy and has to overcome a lot emotionally to solve the case and come out alive.  Willie's character is funny and bittersweet in this book, his character becoming further entrenched in the reader's hearts and minds with each book.  Stumper is a Crow agency cop helping Manny and Willie with the case.  He isn't very experienced and Manny does plenty of on-the-job training with him.  Manny's brother Reuben plays an active role in some key scenes.  Reuben's scenes are some of my favorites, since this character is like a treasure slowly doled out.  Levi Star Dancer from the 1876 sections is a simple man whose emotions run deep as he writes of events that he feels must be recorded for future generations.  I think he is the surprise standout character in this book.

The setting is split between the Crow reservation in Montana and the South Dakota reservations that both subtly envelope the reader and transport you. This is just one of the strengths of the author, in evoking the atmosphere and emotions of the land intertwined with the people.  The plot begins with the simple premise that Levi Star Dancer's journal is at the center of murder, but as the story progresses there is much more at stake than Levi's recorded thoughts and their modern fall-out.  The twists and revelations keep the pace going strong.   

The climax is another heart racing scene that packs tension and action.  The wrap-up of the story ties a bow on the adventure, wrapping everything up and makes you want the next book now so you don't miss a moment with the characters. 

This series has set a high standard and thus far continues to deliver nuanced, exciting, and compelling story-telling. 

Rating:  Near Perfect - Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend. 


If it is cold and snowing where you are, stay warm my friends.

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

Review - The American Cafe

I saw this book somehow somewhere and just had to read it. If you have followed this blog for very long you know I enjoy Native American mysteries so this series got my attention.  Let's go to Oklahoma to join Cherokee amateur sleuth Sadie Walela.

Author:  Sara Sue Hoklotubbe

Copyright: April 2011 (University of Arizona Press ) 208 pgs

Series: 2nd in Sadie Walela Mysteries

Sensuality:  n/a

Mystery Sub-genre: Cozy, Amateur Sleuth

Main Character:  Sadie Walela, new owner of a cafe

Setting: Modern day, small town Liberty Oklahoma (Cherokee Country)

Obtained Through: Library Find

Sadie follows a dream and purchases a cafe in Liberty from Goldie Ray.  Goldie wants to retire and enjoy life a little while she can since her health is failing.  Before Sadie has a chance to re-open the cafe, Goldie is murdered in her home.  The local crazy woman seems the easy candidate for the killer but Sadie has the eyes of a newcomer and several things don't add up.  Goldie's sister and niece show up to add to the confusion with their dysfunctional.

The previous book in the series Sadie had met policeman Lance Smith when she was in the banking industry.  Without knowing it they have both relocated to Liberty.  Lance is the new deputy for the incompetent police chief who is quick to pin the murder on the emotionally unbalanced local woman.  Lance, like Sadie, doesn't believe it is that easy.  It becomes obvious that Sadie has somebody out to scare her away which puts Sadie in some scary situations.

This book surpassed my expectations.  Sadie is one of those characters who is easy to love.  From the beginning of the book I immediately fell into step with Sadie.  Lance is a dedicated policeman who is smart and smitten with Sadie.  The population of Liberty filters through the cafe and some are fascinating and offer secondary story lines.  There is the Creek native gentleman, Red, who has a great part in the story.

The plot has some good twists.  I felt sure I had figured out a key piece to the plot only to be surprised.  The confrontation with the killer is good and tense and there are some bitter sweet nuances as well.  This is one of those rare books that meshes setting, people, plot and cultures into a seamless yet layered story.  The initial impression is deceptive in that it seems a cozy story but has several aspects that stay with you well after you have finished.  I have not been this won over by an author in a long time.  If you enjoyed Tony Hillerman, Craig Johnson, or Margaret Coel I would highly recommend this book.

One request of the author, please don't let us wait long before the next book. I am anxious to know what Sadie does next.

Walela means hummingbird in Cherokee.  The pop artist Rita Coolidge was in a Native American music group named Walela - which I own two of their CDs.  This is Walela singing the Cherokee Morning Song, one of my favorites.

Review - Death Along the Spirit Road

I enjoy Native American (a.k.a Western) mystery novels like Margaret Coel writes and the late Tony Hillerman made so popular. Today I review a new author on the Native American Mystery scene. We go to the Pine Ridge Reservation - the poorest US County - in South Dakota for this novel. 

Author: C.M. Wendelboe

Copyright: March 1, 2011 (Berkley) 310 pgs

Series: 1st in Manny Tanno Investigations

Sensuality: N/A

Mystery Sub-genre: Western Police Procedural

Main Character:  Lakota FBI Special Agent Manny Tanno

Setting: Modern day, Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota

Obtained Through: Publisher for an honest review

Have you ever had a boss that enjoys making your life difficult?  Manny has such a boss.  He gets all the investigations on any reservation because he is Lakota.  All Manny wants is to continue teaching at Quantico.  His boss has really pushed the envelope this time by sending him back to his home reservation to investigate a brutal murder only two weeks before classes start up.  Big shot land developer Jason Red Cloud was found with a priceless Native war club artifact in his skull on the site of his newest building project. 

Manny is much older now and returning to his home reservation was not what he wanted.  His brother had been involved with the militant activist American Indian Movement and was even convicted of killing a man, but is out now and seems to have changed his ways.  Manny must confront his bitterness about his older brother.  He must contend with the incompetant snot-nosed lietenant he worked with in his early days on the tribal force who is now the Chief and is bent on making him look bad to everybody including his FBI boss.

It doesn't take but a matter of hours before he is attacked with a hammer, which is only the beginning of the several attempts on his life as he investigates the developer's murder.  One thing is very clear, Jason Red Cloud was broke and he didn't have the money that was invested to build the Red Cloud Resort the tribe was counting on.  That makes for several suspects - but his brother appears to be the best fit for the murder.

Manny is a fresh character struggling with having stopped smoking, trying to loose weight, and not been in a relationship for a good while - on top of facing his demons over his turbulant  youth on the dirt poor reservation.  I liked Manny for his self-effacing attitude mostly.  Manny gets a young tribal cop assigned to him, Willie Looks Twice.  Willie is a good counterpoint for Manny.  I look forward to the next book because of Willie as much as for Manny.   The writing style flowed easily and is highly enjoyable with touches of dry humor.

There are many real life details added, even the radio station KILI 90.1 on the reservation.  The plot itself had enough turns and secrets to be dug up to keep interest high.  I suspected the killer fairly early on but the story was such a journey that I was never sure.  The emotional landmines for Manny add depth to the investigation.  The capture of the killer and the wrap up were convincing and exciting.

If you enjoy Native American mysteries, this debut novel promises a great new series to follow.




I am including a movie clip of Thunderheart that featured an FBI agent investigating a murder on Pine Ridge reservation.  It was actually filmed on the reservation.