Margaret Coel: EYE OF THE WOLF Following last year's bestseller, WIFE OF MOON, Margaret once again blends Arapaho history into present-day homicides that threaten to destroy the Wind River Reservation and put Father John and Vicky to their toughest and most dangerous test yet.

Debby Atkinson Margaret Coel Chris Grabenstein Louise Ure

PRAISE for EYE OF THE WOLF Father O'Malley, priest at the Wind River Reservation mission, is uneasy. He has just received an odd, possibly threatening phone call. Following up on a hunch suggested by the message, he visits the 1874 Bates Creek battlefield, where the Arapahos fought the white men, and where history says they had been betrayed by the Shoshones. To his horror, he finds the bodies of three Shoshone men. And they have been posed as though they are fallen warriors! Fueled by the Indian gossip hotline and other media pressure, everyone starts to fear that the old enmity between the Arapaho and the Shoshone will erupt into violence. Even Father O'Malley is worried. In the meantime, Vicky Holden, the Father's close, dear friend, is seriously questioning her law partnership and her personal relationship with Adam Lone Eagle. He wants to fight for the Indians' right to handle their own lands and resources. Vicky is more interested in keeping individual Indians out of trouble- like Frankie Montana. The stories of the murdered Shoshones and the possibly falsely accused Montana are skillfully interwoven. Coel, often compared to Tony Hillerman, is indeed similar to him in that she writes empathetically and knowledgeably about a Native American (Indian) reservation. However, Coel has chosen to emphasize and explore the problems many modern day Indians have with the non-Indian world. For example, white historians, like Charles Lambert, tell their version of Indian history. But white history is not Indian history. Non-Indian law officers frequently do not understand the close bonds of an extended Indian family. But white justice is not Indian justice. And the government seems unable to alleviate the reservation poverty, which often leads to alcoholism and crime in Coel's books. On the other hand, Vicky and Father O'Malley are always there to offer their loyal support, as the Indians fight continually against white misunderstanding and struggle to hang onto their way of life, in spite of meddlesome do-gooders. Coel's empathy toward this material is obvious, and her unique mysteries reflect that. If Native American characters in Coel's books are not always perfect, neither are her two main characters, Vicky Holden and Father O'Malley. The Father is a recovering alcoholic, as are several in his flock. Vicky is sometimes reluctant to force her clients to accept the white man's law, but she realizes that some of them are still criminals that must pay. In fact, Coel does an excellent job of portraying the diversity of the Indian characters. Not all Indians on the reservation agree on the guilt or innocence of Frankie Montana or even on what happened at Bates Field. An Indian family is reluctant to accept the white, pregnant wife of their murdered son. Mothers still protect their sons. Finally, the strong sexual tension between Father O'Malley and Vicky, which simply cannot be, continues to fascinate her readers. I also find Coel's ability to use a unique perspective in each book from which to tell the stories of the Wind River Reservation remarkable. Unusual plot, diverse characters, and vivid descriptions of this beautiful but stark landscape make this a very good read. —Bev DeWeese, Book Reviews Father John O'Malley and Vicky Holden continue to be the odd couple in this wonderful series. I thought when I read GHOST WALKER several years ago that there was simply no way the author could sustain the tension between the two. I was wrong. This master craftsman has created these people out of whole cloth, real people with real emotions, and about whom we care deeply. This time out we are treated to an eerie plot, mysterious messages, sudden brutal death, plenty of red herrings and some beautifully written violent scenes. Ms Coel keeps the tension high, and moving quickly. This is one of the rare books I wanted to read quickly in order to find out what happened, but wanted to read slowly, because I didn't want to leave the characters. EYE OF THE WOLF is on my top ten list for this year. Read and enjoy. —Jeri Bates, DorothyL What an enjoyable and educating read! I know when I open one of Ms. Coel's books that I can expect to not only be treated to a wonderful story, but to learn more about the Arapaho culture as well. EYE OF THE WOLF doesn't disappoint in either regard.... Like all her other books, I never felt Ms. Coel was throwing facts at me, rather I felt I was an observer, being allowed a glimpse of history. I came away from this book feeling the pleasure of a good read and yet sadness at one of history's atrocities. EYE OF THE WOLF has so many layers to it, there is the mystery, there is the history of the Bates Battle, and there are the changes and growth in the main characters and their lives. Ms. Coel peels each layer away a bit at a time, revealing just enough to tantalize and tease, encouraging, no, urging the reader to turn the page. EYE OF THE WOLF kept me completely engrossed in the story. —Kay Martinez, DorothyL See Margaret's website for more on Margaret and her books!