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I feel like a party pooper, because I want to like this book more than I do. It's part of a very good series and there is a lot to like in it; character, setting and plot all work. So what doesn't? Well, for me, parts of the story were difficult to accept, at least one of the characters seemed unreal and oh, dear, maybe it's me . . . There's never been any question in my mind that Margaret Coel writes very well. This series, featuring Father John O'Malley and attorney Vicky Holden, teaches about the Arapaho in a very skilful and excellent way; you never feel like you're being lectured at, you just end up knowing things. The tension between the two leads is a given; John, who fights every day to stay sober (and has so far succeeded) knows that given his vocation as a priest, it's just impossible to love Vicky, but he does. And she loves John O'Malley, also knowing that she's got to move on, but she has trouble doing so; for one thing, there's a real bond between these two. For another, she's hesitant about men after surviving an abusive marriage. The story here centers on some photographs of Edward S Curtis, the noted documenter of the American west in the early years of the 20th century. Many of his photos exist today, copies of his original work; as it turns out one of his daughters destroyed over 40,000 of his original glass plates, which just horrifies me. Despite the obvious failings of Curtis' work -- much of it staged -- it's still useful to historians, perhaps in part because he staged things and we need to learn from that. As often happens in Coel's books, there's more than one story; One here is that the new curator of the museum which is showing some Curtis photos of the Arapaho disappears, her apartment trashed. She came out of nowhere, but with great credentials and set up this popular exhibit right away. At the same time, Denise Painted Horse is found dead and her husband is at least suspected when it turns out that it could not have been suicide. T J and Denise and Vicky all were friends from the time they were kids; Vicky doesn't want to believe T J could kill his wife -- after all, he was the only one who would talk to her about Ben's abuse -- but it doesn't look good and she does not want to defend a murderer. Still, Vicky is a lawyer and she knows, as Adam Lone Eagle, her suitor? friend? suggests, that Painted Horse is entitled to a defense if he's charged. It's not a very straightforward situation; T J was against drilling on Arapaho lands that was going to bring in money and jobs. He believed the environmental studies glossed over the dangers to the reservation and he made enemies for his stand. Was Denise, who respected the traditional ways, killed as a message? Because she got in the way? What was happening in their marriage turns up some surprises, often unpleasant for Vicky, who liked both of these people. Add to the mix a senator from Wyoming who's considering announcing that he's running for president and wants to use Wind River as part of his kick-off campaign, thanks to the help of the mission's new assistant, Father Damien, whose father's wealth and connections mean that he can get a senator to do things. Father Damien seems far more interested in publicity for the mission and arranging for important people to visit than he does the welfare of his congregation it seems to me; no matter what his calling, he doesn't seem like a priest one could talk to about one's problems. John, on the other hand, is just that kind of priest, and his mission definitely needs money and support. The problems I had with the tale concern the museum curator, who she is and the complication of why she took off -- there are statements made about her that are never really proven (and I can't give away who made them or what they are or you'd get mad) and at least one other character just isn't believable here. The political issues in the story mostly ring true but I had problems with some of them; a reason I tend to avoid political thrillers is the sort of black and white good versus evil that forms their basis. And while I find both Vicky and John very sympathetic and likable characters, in lives that are sometimes fulfilling, sometimes frustrating but always understandable, I felt that the scenario of one of them riding to the other's rescue again a little predictable. Once more, I would venture that those less picky that I am won't have problems with these issues; the story here continues to be the story and history of Wind River Reservation and the people who live there, Arapaho and white, and it continues to offer a lot to the reader.
Reviewed by Andi Shechter, August 2004
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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