Book Review: Red Moon

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Red Moon     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Robert Westbrook
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Ethnic   Private Investigator
Series: Howard Moon Deer # 3
Signet, Jun 2000, $5.99, 304 pp.

Lakota Sioux Howard Moon Deer has come a long way from his poverty-stricken days on South Dakota’s Rosebud Reservation. With the help of scholarships for Native Americans, Howard obtained a BA from Dartmouth and a Master from Princeton. Howard took a break from his studies. He journeyed to San Geronimo, New Mexico where he becomes an assistant to blind private detective Jack Wilder.

Art dilettante Robin Vandenberg hires the pair to obtain evidence that his stepfather is stealing from the store owned by Robin’s mother Barbara. After less than one day passes after retaining the sleuths, Robin fires them. Someone soon beats up Howard and breaks into his home. An unknown assailant rummages through Jack’s belongings. Finally, a culprit shoots and kills a homeless person in front of Howard’s home. The murder weapon traces back to a robbery-killing over twenty-five years ago, leaving Jack and Howard seeking clues that are over a quarter of a century old to close out their current fiasco.

Robert Westbrook captures the enchanting artistic ambiance of New Mexico even as he describes the seamier side of the state. RED MOON is a fascinating mystery due to its rich atmosphere and complex characterizations. Although, the romance between Howard and Claire seems like filler material, the overall story line retains the appealing flavor of previous “Howard Deer” mysteries that fans of Native American fiction love.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner