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This has not been a good year for me for mysteries, even from tried and true authors whose work I've always looked to for satisfactory reading. Recently, three books arrived from a publisher and I was unsatisfied with all three, even though I'd always liked the works by the authors previously. I've been disappointed a lot so far in 2002, and I feel bad, because it's gotta be me, right? Writers haven't suddenly gotten mediocre. I don't know what's wrong, but it happened again with the most recent in the Holden/O'Malley series from talented author Margaret Coel. In this book, I suspect that some of my dissatisfaction comes from simply not understanding people's motivations. The Wind River Reservation has seen a sudden return of the Shadow Dance religion and the acolytes of a new "prophet", Orlando, believe that a new world, a paradise for the Indian people, is going to come, where the whites will simply no longer exist. The degree to which people simply seem to swallow this belief puzzles me, but I'm not privy to the traditions that the Arapaho have, that they believe in. Add to this mix Vicky Holden's major new problem; (and please note, if you don't want a spoiler (even if it is announced in the promotional flyer that accompanies the book, SKIP DOWN NOW) her ex-husband Ben, an abusive and controlling man who will not accept reality (and who apparently lies more easily than he breathes) is found shot dead by the side of the road. This relieves Vicky of somewhat of a burden, except that she was one of the last people seen with Ben. I don't get people's reactions to Ben either; he apparently had a great deal of charm, managing to be a big deal to many people, but he beat Vicky, he lies about everything (including telling his apparent fiancÈe that it was Vicky who would not let go. This at the same time he's telling Vicky that she's going to move back in with him.) Again, I don't get it. Maybe it's cultural, but Vicky lets statement after statement go by when folks talk about what a great guy Ben was. Apparently no one can believe that great guys are abusive. Why do they think Vicky left? Didn't anyone ever notice her bruises? Why don't they give her any credit? The relationship between Father John O'Malley and lawyer Holden continues to intrigue and make life both more worthwhile and harder for the two, who clearly respect but also who love each other - and that's impossible. Father O'Malley is trying to find a missing young man, and it leads him to Orlando's gathering. Vicky decides she has to track down two men with whom Ben had an argument; no one else will, she thinks, and she's going to find the real murderer. This is not bright on the part of a very smart woman and it gets her into trouble. While I have always liked learning about the ways of the Arapaho people, a tribe about whom I knew nothing, and I love the way the elders talk and think, and convince the Catholic powers-that-be that the mission must stay, I had little patience for the casual beliefs that Orlando spread around. I get why many people are tempted by promises of a better time, especially when it's been part of their tradition, but for Vicky's Aunt Rose to suddenly just believe it one day . . .well, I'm not a spiritual person, and maybe the leap of faith is harder for folks like me. I most definitely intend to continue reading this series, no question, but this book was a downturn for me. I don't think it's the author's fault that I wasn't interested in the story here; sometimes plot lines just don't work for readers. I wanted Vicky to be a little smarter (telling at least one person the reason she left Ben, and not being so careful of everyone's feelings - she has feelings, too and people need to know of his dark side) and I wanted folks to be a little less naÔve about promises of paradise.
Reviewed by Andi Shechter, July 2002
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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