Synopses & Reviews
On the windswept plains of Wyoming’s Wind River Reservation, Arapahos have gathered for the Ethete powwow. It is a sacred time to reaffirm the balance and harmony in life. But these feelings of unity quickly give way to fear when tribal chairman Harvey Castle is found murdered—and every bit of evidence points to his nephew, Anthony.
There are two people who don’t believe the young man capable of murder: Father John O’Malley, history scholar and pastor of St. Francis Mission, and Vicky Holden, an attorney who has recently returned to the reservation to help her people. Their investigation draws Father John and Vicky across the high plains of the Wind River Reservation—from the intimate Arapaho community centers to a byzantine world of incalculable corruption and finally into the past. It is here, in the “Old Time,” where Father John catches a rare glimpse into the Arapaho life few outsiders ever see—and a crime fewer could imagine.
Review
“In lesser hands, this tale of long-buried hatred, greed, and cowardice might falter, but Coels mastery at blending the past and present, as well as the blurry lines between fact and fiction, make this a satisfying historical read.” —
Publishers Weekly “Another spellbinding story of Native American history set in modern times…Coels characters are well developed, her descriptions, vivid and clear. The plot keeps the story moving quickly and theres a twist at the end readers may not see coming. As usual, Coels dialogue is crisp and authentic and her experience as a historian and expert on Arapaho Indians shows.” —Examiner.com
Review
“Shouldn’t be missed…Coel is a master.”—Tony Hillerman
“Tony Hillerman calls Margaret Coel ‘a master’ of her craft. It is no wonder. [She] brings Native Americans to the fictional frontier in a way that honors the genre.” —The Denver Post
“An intense and fascinating story of avarice, tragic old wrongs, and ultimate justice…[it] takes our breath away.”—Earlene Fowler
“Coel masterfully interweaves modern mysteries with the richness of Native American history and creates multilayered relationships in the larger tapestry of community life.”—Ventura (CA) County Star
“Now widely considered the most accomplished heir to Tony Hillerman’s legacy.” —Scripps Howard News Service
“A great storyteller.”—The Daily Oklahoman
“Coel weaves often insightful commentary about Arapaho culture, bigotry and the widespread alcoholism among Western tribes. Likeable, well-drawn characters and a lively pace mark this novel.”—Publishers Weekly
“Told with conviction and love.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Will inspire comparisons to the work of Tony Hillerman, but its insights into the Arapaho way of life in our century are unique to this form.”—Loren D. Estleman
“Welcome Margaret Coel to the ranks of esteemed western mystery writers…The Eagle Catcher is not only an alluring fresh mystery told with the authoritative voice of a historian, it is also a thoughtful testimony to the clash of cultures that endures in the West.”—Stephen White
“A first-rate mystery…featuring two admirable sleuths.”—Jean Hager
Synopsis
Arapaho attorney Vicky Holden and Father John OMalley are caught between two cultures that wont let go of the pastand a killer who wont leave any witnesses
On the anniversary of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, Colonel Edward Garrett, a well- known Custer impersonator, leads a troop of reenactors in a cavalry parade down Main Street in Lander, Wyoming. But a group of Arapaho youth disrupts the parade by riding their horses around the column, just to remind everyone who actually won the battle. Then history repeats itself when, in the confusion, Garrett is shot dead.
Father John OMalley knows in his heart the Arapaho are not guilty. And Vicky Holden finds herself professionally and personally compromised from getting involved. But what begins as a murder soon reveals itself as a conspiracy that neither Father John nor Vicky could have foreseen. And someone wants to ensure that the truth they discover will die with them
About the Author
Margaret Coel is the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of the acclaimed novels featuring Father John OMalley and Vicky Holden, as well as the Catherine McLeod Mystery series and several works of nonfiction. Originally a historian by trade, she is considered an expert on the Arapaho Indians. A native of Colorado, she resides in Boulder.