Cloud Swallower

I found Cloud Swallower to be a compelling murder mystery with action, adventure, and twists on every page. The author's thoughtfully developed characters and cunning plot allowed the riveting story to unfold with vivid detail and unpredictable mystery. The story is based up an accurate reflection of the Pueblo Indians and some of the issues they have faced in their quest to honor and perpetuate their culture. I became engaged in not only solving the mystery but also by what I was learning about Pueblo Indian customs and behaviors. The author's voice comes through loud and clear throughout the book. His passion for New Mexico and its people and his conviction for preserving the environment for generations to come is another compelling feature of this novel. A great first novel that has whet my appetite for Fowler's next effort.

Having long been a Tony Hillerman fan, Cloud Swallower by David Fowler was recommended to me as an entertaining Hillermanesq murder mystery set in the midst of New Mexico's Pueblo Indians. The story line is well conceived and deliciously intricate with a number of subplots deftly integrated with the central conflict (which we learn about in the 1st three pages). The characters are interestingly multi dimensional and all play an organically credible role as things unfold. Although there are eventually a number of suspects, one never gets the feeling that a particular character is included merely as a false lead (what I dislike about many murder mysteries). I enjoyed the degree to which Fowler weaves in all kinds of pertinent and informative cultural insights: from Pueblo culture and spirituality, to the use of a lethal Native American weapon known as an atlat, to the funeral rites for a parrot. The book both entertains and educates as it ultimately moves to several thrilling climaxes, one involving a major (and unexpected) revelation, the other involving the final showdown. This does not feel like an author's first attempt. The dialogue is crisp and entirely believable, the action transitions smoothly from one set of circumstances to the next. It is written with an energy and passion that speaks to the knowledge and skill of the writer. It pulls you in and keeps you riveted. Bravo. A masterful effort.