Book Review: Wife Of Moon

Reviewed By: NH Storm

Wife Of Moon     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Margaret Coel
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Native American
Series: Wind River Reservation Mysteries # 10
Berkley Prime Crime, 2004

Photographer Edward S.Curtis arrives at the White River Reservation hoping to capture the life of the Arapaho Indians before it disappears altogether. While creating this 1907 documentary, Bashful Woman, daughter of Chief Sharp Nose is murdered during the filming. Her husband, Carson Evans testifies that he saw the wariors, Thunder and two of his friends aim and fire at Bashful Woman. With the weight of his report, the three Indians were tried, convicted and hung.

Fast forward to the present. Denise, an ancestor of Chief Sharp Nose and wife of Councilman T.J. Painted Horse is murdered. As the spouse of the victim, T.J. is the FBI's prime candidate until he is bludgened to death. On the same night, the curator of the Arapaho Museum turns up missing and her apartment ransacked and destroyed. Long time friend and lawyer, Vickie Holden is retained to insure that T.J. rights are not violated as the evidence mounts against him while Father O'Malley is trying to locate and protect the last remaining witness while preparing for the arrival of Wyoming Senator Evans, who is preparing to announce his party's presidential nomination. Senator Evans, a decendant of Carson Evans, will stop at nothing to erase the proof of what happened a century ago.

Through flash-backs and descriptions, Ms.Coel transports us back in time and to the present flawlessly while providing a look at the culture of the Arapaho never loosing site of both mysteries. There is even a some flying sparks as Vickie and Adam decide to open a law firm together and between Father O'Malley and Vickie, although neither one of them act upon it. Cleverly, Ms. Coel shows the humanistic, inner turmoil of Father O'Malley by allowing him to have feelings towards a beautiful woman. I know I'll be looking for Ms. Coel's books at the book store!

NH Storm

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, NH Storm