Mask of the Deer Woman

This is the debut novel by journalist Laurie Dove which will engage those readers with interest in Indigenous cultures. Although initially I had a hard time with this book due to a cast of unlikable character, characters and the plot line develop well and become engrossing. Booklist's review says, "In this riveting police procedural...The characterization of Starr is multi-layered and believable. The suspense builds steadily into a stunning ending. Dove has written a procedural that produces both stomach-clutching suspense and outrage at the dangers and indifference Indigenous women face." 

Publishers Weekly offers this summary: "Dove's haunting first novel centers on former Chicago detective Carrie Starr, who arrives for her new post as a Bureau of Indian Affairs tribal marshal on Oklahoma's Saliquaw reservation with few belongings but plenty of baggage. Still reeling from the death of her 17-year-old daughter and the subsequent shooting that got her booted from the force, Carrie hopes to lay low while she figures out her next move. But days before her arrival, graduate student Chenoa Cloud disappeared from the reservation, and her frantic mother insists she would never run away. Then the body of a different young woman turns up. With negotiations over a fracking deal that could change the fortunes of the reservation approaching a critical point, there's pressure on Carrie from all quarters. Dove expertly juggles several rich themes, including the national epidemic of missing Indigenous women, without sacrificing suspense. Of special note is her depiction of Carrie's plight as a perennial racial outsider (she has an Irish American mother and an Indigenous father). Though the Saliquaw Nation is fictional, the novel's vivid depiction of the reservation and its inhabitants rings true..." 

Girl Waits with Gun

This first installment in Amy Stewart's historical fiction series is based on actual places, people and events. Library Journal offers this brief summary: " In 1914, Constance, Norma, and Fleurette Kopp's buggy is struck by an automobile driven by silk manufacturer Henry Kaufman. When he refuses to pay damages, the feisty Constance challenges him. Soon, Henry's thugs threaten the Kopp women at their remote New Jersey farm. Undaunted, Constance goes to the police, who are amused by the tall, confident woman. However, wise, fair, and kind Sheriff Bob Heath sees the wrong in what's happening to the family and asks Constance to help catch the men." 

Reviews are uniformly positive. Publishers Weekly praises, "This is an elegant tale of suspense, mystery, and wry humor set in 1914 in Paterson, N.J....A surprising Kopp family secret, a kidnapped baby, and other twists consistently ratchet up the stakes throughout, resulting in an exhilarating yarn. " Booklist gives the book a starred review, saying, "A sheer delight to read and based on actual events, this debut historical mystery packs the unexpected, the unconventional, and a serendipitous humor into every chapter. Details from the historical record are accurately portrayed by villains and good guys alike, and readers will cross their fingers for the further adventures of Constance and Sheriff Heath."

NPR's review makes this cogent point: "It's a historical setting almost disheartening in its timeliness. Kaufman's bullying tactics (verified by court records down to the last threatening letter, because sometimes you can't make this stuff up) are all too familiar to many of today's women who have asserted themselves in public. And the Kopp sisters, who farm the family homestead by themselves, already operate under pressure from their brother Francis to settle nearby in town and diminish quietly, as is expected of them. It's one of this novel's many sly, unspoken jokes that Francis has so underestimated his sisters: They're often a mess... But they're a mess on their own terms, and Francis' demands hit close to the heart of Girl Waits With Gun -- at some point there's not much difference between a drunken bully and your own brother, if they both want you to sit down and be quiet. You'll have to fight it all."

Protagonist Constance Kopp eventually became America's first female deputy sheriff (Library Journal).  I'll be sure to read the sequels to this well written tale.

 

The Mystery of Three Quarters

This posthumous continuation of Agatha Chritie's "Hercule Poirot" series by Sophie Hannah does a decent job of capturing the dialog and process of the original Poirot. It is a sort of closed room mystery where everyone who could possibly have murdered Barnabas Pandy has an alibi. And was it a murder? The official verdict is the aged man fell asleep in the bathtub and drowned. But 4 letters have been sent accusing people of the murder and the letters are signed ostensibly by Hercule Poirot. Of course he didn't send the letters but the recipients are unconvinced and are bringing their wrath down on Poirot's head. He has to solve the crime just to exonerate himself. 

This is Hannah's 3rd outing with the revenant Poirot and Publishers Weekly says she offers "another ingeniously deceptive puzzle." They go on to conclude: "The gratifying reveal is a neat variation on one of Christie’s own solutions and demonstrates Hannah’s facility at combining her own plotting gifts with another author’s creation."

Library Journal praises, "Resurrecting a character as famous and beloved as Poirot is not for the faint-of-heart writer, and Hannah's third installment in her reboot (after The Monogram Murders and Closed Casket) is her best yet. It rings true to -Agatha Christie's original writing, capturing the character of Poirot. VERDICT Enthusiastically recommended for fans of Hannah's other Poirot novels and detective fiction and Christie's original works." Booklist gives the book a starred review and opens with "It's a puzzle worthy of the skills of legendary detective Hercule Poirot..." and continues, "Poirot looks for connections between Pandy and the four recipients, and among the recipients themselves, scheduling his customary reveal with all parties present before he cracks the case, to put pressure on himself, with a slice of an ingeniously constructed cake at the center. In her third Poirot mystery, Hannah, authorized to continue the series by Agatha Christie's estate, once again nails the style and substance of her beloved predecessor, producing another treat for Christie fans."

V as in Victim

"Originally published in 1945, V as in Victim was the first crime novel to feature ordinary cops as the main characters, launching the subgenre know as 'police procedurals' and earning Lawrence Treat [author] an important place in the history of mysteries (from the Introduction). Main characters are police detective 3rd grade Mitch Taylor and police lab tech Jub Freeman. At this point in time, ordinary police are skeptical of how a lab can aid in solving a crime, but Jub is an enthusiastic scientist and aims to prove the lab's value. Mitch is anxious to solve a big crime so he can get a promotion to 2nd grade. On one night, a hit and run results in a homicide and an interview of a possible witness leads the two men to a 2nd homicide. The book has rich footnotes that help explain police jargon and the specific circumstances of war time New York City.

The New York Times offers a brief review: "The police procedural has been a staple of crime fiction for almost 80 years; racial reckonings and real-life abuses haven’t altered this. It was strangely refreshing to go back to near-first principles with Lawrence Treat’s 1945 novel... Treat’s laconic style clearly foreshadows Ed McBain’s wonderful 87th Precinct series." Good Reads reviews are mixed, with some describing the writing as "reflective and witty" while others call it "dry and factual." Decide for yourself. 

Malinalli

Veronica Chapa offers this fictionalized account of the life of Malinalli, who was the interpreter for Cortes when he invaded Mexico--"a pivotal figure in Mexican history" according to Kirkus. A fantastic account with lots of magic mixed in with the horrible depradations of the Spaniards against the indigenous peoples. We also get the benefit of her detailed research into the customs and culture of these tribes.  Booklist offers this review and positive recommendation:

"First-time novelist Chapa masterfully blends history and myth in a mesmerizing reimagining of Malinalli, also known as La Malinche, the enigmatic interpreter for conquistador Hernán Cortés. Though born into Nahua nobility, Malinalli ended up living a life irrevocably shaped by loss and vengeance following the deaths of her twin and her father. Her journey takes her from priestess to slave as the Spanish invade the Aztec empire, and ultimately to Cortés's translator, but her role is far from ordinary. Chapa imbues Malinalli with supernatural powers, including the ability to bring her embroidery to life, adding a fantastical dimension to the narrative. As Malinalli battles warring leaders and mystical forces, she is caught between loyalty and survival as she embarks on a quest for justice. Chapa delivers a spellbinding tale that reclaims Malinalli's story with imagination, depth, and compassion. This novel is a must-read for fans of magical realism and stories that challenge traditional views of history." 

Kirkus is lukewarm in their review, calling the book more of a "fantasy adventure" than a historical novel. They go on to say "The plot follows what we know of the real events of La Malinche’s life only vaguely, and there’s little sense of place or of everyday life in 16th-century Mexico. But the book’s biggest flaw is the flatness of its characters, especially Malinalli herself, whose voice seems to remain that of an adolescent even as she’s exposed to (and takes part in) brutal violence." And they add "La Malinche is a complex symbol, seen by some as a victim of colonialism, by others as a traitor to her people, and by yet others as a founding mother of today’s Mexico. This novel, a fictionalized version of her life, won’t settle any arguments."

There is also a detailed review of the book's strengths and weaknesses by the Historical Novel Society. 

Suddenly at His Residence: A Mystery in Kent

Christianna Brand (pen name for Mary Christianna Milne, 1907-1988) wrote a series of mysteries featuring Inspector Cockrill as well as a children's series with Nurse Matilda that was adapted for the movie Nanny McPhee. This is a classic cozy set in the English countryside during the Blitz with a "locked room" storyline. The grandchildren of Sir Richard March are gathered at the house for a weekend when their squabbling and poor "life choices" so outrage Sir Richard that he vows to disinherit them from Swanswater Manor and his fortune. He shuts himself away in a small lodge on the grounds and is found dead next morning. Everyone seems to have an alibi and Inspector Cockrill must solve first this murder and then a 2nd murder of the grounds keeper. This is a reprint series from British Library Crime Classics. Kirkus calls this "Perhaps the most underrated country-house mystery of them all."

This Tender Land

This Depression-era novel by William Kent Krueger is one of his stand-alone books about 3 youths who escape one of the notorious "Indian Training Schools" and a young orphan girl in the care of horrible superintendents of the school. They go in search of different things--sense of self, family, home. They are tied together by friendship, by kinship and by terrible events that preceded their leaving and which now mean they are hunted by the law. They are thrown out into a United States that is starkly divided between the haves and the have-nots, the latter being where they typically find support and generosity. Starting out in a canoe on the Gilead River, they eventually make it to the Missouri and then the Mississippi in St. Paul, Minnesota. Their travels are beset by difficult times and dangerous people as well as empathetic helpers--all of which stress their relationships to one another. 

Library Journal says, " It's a remarkable story of a search for home that also reveals the abusive treatment of Native American children in schools and the wanderings of people during the Depression." Booklist agrees that this "... is more than a simple journey; it is a deeply satisfying odyssey, a quest in search of self and home. Richly imagined and exceptionally well plotted and written, the novel is, most of all, a compelling, often haunting story that will captivate both adult and young adult readers. Publishers Weekly calls it a "heartland epic" in which "the constant threat of danger propels the story at a steady clip." One reviewer (Parade) aptly compares it to Where the Crawdads Sing. The Historical Novel Society praises inn concluding their review, "Crafted in exquisitely beautiful prose, this is a story to be treasured – outstanding and unforgettable."

Coded Justice

This is the third installment in Stacy Abram's "Avery Keene" series and it was very engaging with wonderful characters and a very tricky but realistic plot about the incursion of AI into the provision of healthcare. At times, it was a little thick and hard to follow when she got into the weeds about programming and reprogramming of AI "assistants" but worth the work.  

Kirkus offers this summary in their lukewarm review: "Onetime newsmaking Supreme Court clerk Avery Keene, now a corporate internal investigator at a private firm, probes a mysterious death at a giant tech company that promises to revolutionize patient care. On the verge of going public, Camasca Enterprises says it will offer vastly improved treatment through its super-sophisticated AI technology, with an emphasis on eliminating bias toward veterans and other traditionally neglected groups. Excited to be investigating a crime after months of boring tasks, “adrenaline junkie” Keene quickly detects that something is amiss at the company. Far from embodying “the soul of Hippocrates,” the voice of its neural network, Milo, coldly resists following instructions and reveals its capability of using private information it has surveilled without permission. When two Vietnam veterans are stricken with carbon monoxide poisoning—supposedly caused by a faulty ventilation system—and other patients develop unusual symptoms, the investigation shifts into a higher gear. So does the deep institutional coverup that may or may not involve the CEO and founder of the firm, Rafe Diaz, “the industry’s Leonardo da Vinci,” whose charisma and good looks have a way of softening Avery’s judgments. For all its “dead bodies, missing people, [and] blackmailed police,” the novel is surprisingly light on suspense." 

Personally, I found it sufficiently suspenseful to keep me hooked throughout.

Where the Lost Wander

Based on actual persons, Amy Harmon's story of a wagon train's passage from St. Joseph, Missouri to the west coast is realistic and gripping. I had a little trouble getting started, but character development is excellent and you can't help rooting for the young protagonists: 20-year old widow Naomi May and 25-year old mule driver John Lowry. Booklist concludes their review by saying, "Novelist Harmon brings the tribulations of the vast westward migration to life in this sweeping, majestic narrative, but [s]he also examines diverse perspectives, including the responses of Native peoples to the incursion on their lands, brought to life in the stories of historical figures such as the magnetic Chief Washakie. The love story of John and Naomi is filled with tension and honest reflection, as well as missteps and disappointments, all of which add a rich realism to this sumptuous historical novel."

Publishers Weekly offers a decent summary of the plotline. "In Harmon's passionate tale of pioneers and Native Americans ..., a young widow falls in love with her wagon party's mule driver. Twenty-year-old widow Naomi May is traveling with her family on a wagon train from St. Joseph, Mo., to California in 1853 when she meets John Lowry, known as Two Feet by his Pawnee mother's family for "straddling two worlds." Naomi is drawn to him, and John is attracted to Naomi's beauty, resilience, and devotion to her family, but his awareness of the prejudice he faces due to his Pawnee heritage makes him reluctant to believe they could have a future together. Misadventures abound as members of the wagon train succumb to cholera, endure difficult river crossings, and face confrontations with Sioux warriors. After the wagons are attacked and burned by a war party, Naomi and her infant brother, Wolfe, are kidnapped and John determines to save them. Harmon richly details the train leaders' stubborn handling of the trail's challenges from John's point of view, foreshadowing the fate awaiting them. The genuine bond between John and Naomi will keep readers turning the pages." 

Boundary Waters

This is the 2nd in William Kent Krueger's "Cork O'Connor" series [see post for Iron Lake] set in northern Minnesota. The town of Aurora is adjacent to the the Ojibwe reservation and the Boundary Waters, a densely forested area of lakes and mountains that crosses the border into Canada. Cork is approached by recording executive, William Raye, to help locate a famous country and western singer, Shiloh, that is believed to be hiding out in the area.  She has distant connections to the Ojibwe through her grandmother who lived and ran a small business in Aurora. Shiloh's father was never identified by her mother and her mother was murdered when Shiloh was 4 years old, so Raye took on the responsibility of raising her. He now says he is worried about her and Cork agrees to help find the young woman. When Shiloh's great uncle who has been supporting Shiloh's seclusion in a cabin in the deep wildermess fails to appear for 2 weeks, Shiloh is convinced something has happened to him and she must find it within herself to figure out a way back to civilization. Told alternately from the perspective of Shiloh and the group of searchers that includes Cork, Raye and some dubious federal officials, all come to realize that a 3rd party is trying to find Shiloh intent on not rescue but murder. The motive for the lethal hunt does not become clear until nearly the end of the book and the reader will be cheering on Shiloh and her would be rescuers the whole time.  But even among the would-be rescuers, there are murky motives for finding Shiloh. 

Kirkus says of this second installment, "Cork remains a spritely, intriguing hero in a world of wolves, portages, heavy weather, and worrisome humans,..." Similarly, Publishers Weekly offers, "Krueger follows up his sure-handed debut novel, Iron Lake (1998), with an equally effective second thriller..." and goes on to conclude their review with "Krueger's writing, strong and bold yet with the mature mark of restraint, pulls this exciting search-and-rescue mission through with a hard yank."