The Ghost Walker

If you haven't yet read Margaret Coel, you are in for a treat. I got hooked on Elizabeth George and now I am hooked on Margaret Coel. She gives us the same kind of attractive characters and the same kind of authentic plots as George does. Just as George mirrors the world of British aristocracy, so Coel gives us a closeup of life on an Indian reservation. I have been to the Wind River Reservation. Coel captures it perfectly. You will not only love Father O'Mallely; you will love all of the Arapaho Indians you will meet.

Margaret Coel's Father John O'Malley series is a winner. Her characters are strong and realistic, and Father John himself is one of the most endearing sleuths I've come across in this genre for quite some time. In this book Father John and his lawyer friend Vicky become involved with some really bad dudes. They both see that their beloved Wind River Reservation is facing a terrible danger, and it is up to them to avert it. One of the nicest things about these books is the nice mix that Coel pens between the white world and the world of the Reservation. As we read we see that there is some tension there, but these two cultures do mange to coexist together. I can't wait to read the next one.

This series by Ms. Coel is refreshing because the main characters are not perfect people. They are just like us with doubts and failures and struggles to deal with while solving crimes too. Excellent story telling and the Native American/southwestern flavor is a plus.

Margaret Coel is one of the more talented mystery writers out there, but what really makes her stand out is her ability to write with sensitivity about life among the Arapaho. She manages to avoid stereotypes both of "the drunken Indian" and "the noble Indian". But she is also excellent at her descriptions of setting, and gives you a feel for Wyoming. When she described the snowy wind-swept winter landscape of Wyoming, I could see it all clearly in my mind and wanted to turn up the thermostat. I was a little disappointed with the ending, and that is the only reason I wouldn't give this book five stars. But if you like reading about Native Americans, you will love this book.