Spirit Sickness

Rating:
Summary: Engrossing
Review: Murder, mayhem, and secrets in and around the Dine (Navajo) Reservation. A prior review compares this unfavorably with Tony Hillerman's books. I disagree. I tried to read a Tony Hillerman book once & just could not get into it. On the other hand, "Spirit Sickness" is my first Kirk Mitchell book, but it won't be my last! He has interesting characters in a credible, action-packed thriller.

Rating:
Summary: Engrossing
Review: Murder, mayhem, and secrets in and around the Dine (Navajo) Reservation. A prior review compares this unfavorably with Tony Hillerman's books. I disagree. I tried to read a Tony Hillerman book once & just could not get into it. On the other hand, "Spirit Sickness" is my first Kirk Mitchell book, but it won't be my last! He has interesting characters in a credible, action-packed thriller.

Rating:
Summary: Engrossing
Review: Murder, mayhem, and secrets in and around the Dine (Navajo) Reservation. A prior review compares this unfavorably with Tony Hillerman's books. I disagree. I tried to read a Tony Hillerman book once & just could not get into it. On the other hand, "Spirit Sickness" is my first Kirk Mitchell book, but it won't be my last! He has interesting characters in a credible, action-packed thriller.

Rating:
Summary: I loved it!
Review: Read all of them is all I can say. If you like Hillerman, you will love this book and the others in the series.

Rating:
Summary: Sickening violence
Review: This second Turnipseed & Parker action-mystery of western Indian country law enforcement is an intensifying knock-down battle, and furthers the deepening relationship between the two as well. It has a fair number of scary moments and damage to our heroes (no wonder Parker fears rookie Turnipseed will quit). I doubt the FBI would really sanction rookie Turnipseed taking charge of the entire manhunt operation, Indian Policman Parker's trial-by-fire way of curing her. Although the settings are grand and desert, the author pays little attention to them or the building of any atmosphere except dread, squalor, and the brutality of human life. There's also a lot more heart-pounding physicality and culture conflict than in Hillerman's stories of Chee & Leaphorn, and the lore of the Navaho and the desert seem perfunctory and disjointed. I couldn't figure out how Trunipseed derived the final target of the monstrous but well-trained serial killer, in order to set up her trap. The villain has been thoroughly touched by a species of sadistic Patricia-Cornwellian dementia. Besides a background in policing, author Mitchell seems to know alot about psychology, for a central personality dynamic here is a long-running pre-lovers quarrel between the heroes. (It's something admirable that despite the opportunities in these stories no one has yet been bedded; instead of prurient interest the author relies on old fashioned unrequited sexual tension to drive the main characters.) The story felt like an L.A. noir story transplanted to a more empty locale, with its gangs, thirst, and endless driving around.

Rating:
Summary: Gripping...
Review: Well written, historically correct, and an engrossing read. Mitchell writes characters with whom I can identify with and feel for - even the ones I love to hate. I look forward to walking with Anna on her trip through darkness - and out the other side.