Journalist Catherine McLeod finds herself investigating the death of a man found in a park in a Native American neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. No one in the neighborhood is talking to the police, but-- due to McLeod's Arapaho heritage-- she does find someone willing to say just enough to get her started.
What she doesn't realize is that she's going to find herself in Wyoming's Wind River Reservation and in conflict with Mexican drug cartels.
~
I've been slowly savoring Margaret Coel's Wind River mysteries featuring Catholic priest John O'Malley and Arapaho lawyer Vicky Holden and felt it was high time I met journalist Catherine McLeod in the novella, Man Found Dead in Park. I'm glad I did. Coel is a magician when it comes to blending story, character, landscape, and culture into a reading experience that I simply can't resist.
The two main characters in this novella are McLeod, an investigative journalist in Denver. An Arapaho, Catherine was raised by a white couple from the age of five, and she wants to learn more about her heritage. Arapaho lawyer Vicky Holden uses the white man's laws to help her people. Both are strong, sympathetic characters who make a good team working to solve a mystery involving how Mexican drug cartels have moved onto reservations.
If you're already a fan of Margaret Coel's writing, you'll enjoy this fast-paced story. If you're new to this writer, you'll find Man Found Dead in Park to be an excellent stepping stone to both the mysteries featuring Catherine McLeod and the Wind River series with Holden and O'Malley. You have some excellent reading ahead of you, especially if you enjoy writers like Tony Hillerman.
Man Found Dead in Park by Margaret Coel
ASIN: B07FR2JPLJ
A.S.A.P. Publishing © 2018
eBook, 165 pages
Novella
Rating: B+
Source: Purchased from Amazon.
I do like Coel's writing, Cathy, although I admit, I've not read this series. She always creates such a strong sense of setting and culture in her stories, I think. And I like the way her characters develop. I'm glad you enjoyed this one. I think sometime when my TBR's not looking, I'll slip one of these in.
ReplyDeleteGood idea! It can't be vigilant all the time.
DeleteLike you, I've read some of the Wind River mysteries but wasn't aware of this series. I'll check it out!
ReplyDeleteThis series only lasted for two or three books. If I remember correctly, Coel was an investigative reporter in Denver, so I would imagine that some of Catherine McLeod's character is autobiographical.
DeleteTried to get this from the library system, but no luck. They do seem to have all or most of the Wind River Reservation series, though, so I may sample her writing with one of the earliest ones I can find.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good series, Sam, and Coel is quite an interesting speaker. She and William Kent Krueger tended to visit The Poisoned Pen at the same time, and I attended several of their events.
DeleteI have the first book in the series on hold at the library. I'm the only one on the list, so it should arrive fairly quickly.
DeleteI hope you like it, Sam.
DeleteI do love Tony Hillerman. It sounds like I need to try some of Margaret Coel's books.
ReplyDeleteI think you'd like them, Lark.
DeleteIt's been awhile since I've read anything set in that corner of the US. And though I've been aware of Coel's books, I don't think I've ever tried any - sounds like it's time to remedy that.
ReplyDeleteYou know what I'm going to say-- Yes, it is! ;-)
Delete