The Spirit Woman (A Wind River Reservation Mystery)

The truth is out there but somebody wants it to stay hidden. Now Vicky Holden has to decide what to do about a friend gone missing, a friend trying to also find the truth. The story has lots of plot twists and the added subplot of Father John O'Malley finally being told he has to move on. Yes, it seems like he is going to be replaced. Missing scholars, murder and history all mixed into one novel.

I found this book a great read !! If you like Hillerman, you will like Margaret Coel's books. They are quick moving, exciting and full of human relationships.

Vicky Holden is a woman you can identify with. She becomes like a good friend you watch struggling with personal as well as career issues. Be sure to add this to your collection.

Margaret Coel's latest installment in her Father John O'Malley mysteries will entice fans of mysteries and Indian lore. As in her previous entries, Coel involves Father O'Malley in the affairs of the Indian reservation with the perfect blend of Jesuit intensity, compassion and humanity. His understanding of the native community helps him to solve the latest mystery. A hint of an involvement with a colleague is intimated, and suggested as reason for him to leave his assignment. The recurring issues of alcoholism and spousal abuse offer social commentary and plot advancement without being didactic. Readers will not be disappointed at the book's ending.

As a long time fan of this series, I found this book to be exactly what I was expecting as the follow up to The Lost Bird. Each book is better than the last, and the major characters are still capable of surprising the reader. Every aspect of this book is satisfying: the depth of characterization, the personal struggles of the main characters, the portrayal of the local community, the interplay of different elements of the plot -- as well as the resolution of the mystery. I really recommend this book.