Murder On the Red Cliff Rez (Wwl Mystery, 493)

Rating:
Summary: a pretty good start?
Review: In the beginning, the reader is confronted with a glaring error: We are told that C. Clarence Begay, Navajo BIAcrat, hates Wisconsin, "the northernmost state." Eh? Say what?!? Tell that to Stephen King (Maine) or Louise Erdrich (North Dakota) Steve Hamilton (Upper Penninsula, Michigan) or Dana Stabenow (on whose characters Kate Shugak & her dog, Mutt, Ms. Medawar's potter Tracker & her dog Mushy could be patterned) and Jack London (Alaska) or James Lee Burke's Billy Bob Holland (Montana) etc & etc.

After that rocky geographical start, the book settles in for a clever cruise through Public Law 280, tribal politics, ecological corruption , and Days in the Lives of Red Cliff Rez. As the author says: "Just another day in North Woods paradise."

This was my first reading of Ms. Medawar, and, if I hadn't read the prior reviews, this reader would warn you that, from the interaction of the main characters it is clear that there is a history there and that a reader would be best informed by starting at the beginning. But this *is* the beginning? Uff-Da!

Rating:
Summary: an absorbing glimpse into another way of life
Review: The Chippewa Red Cliff Reservation in Northern Wisconsin, hasn't known a murder in over 50 years. Life changes when the Tribal Lawyer is found shot to death on the floor of the Tribal Courthouse. Judah Boiseneau was not a liked man, everyone knew he was an abusive husband whose wife, eventually, turned to his cousin for love & comfort. There is no sign of the widow & her children.

When another murder swiftly follows, & ceramic artist & tracker, Karen Charboneau, follows the clues, she & her sometime lover, the Tribal Chief of Police, realize that the murders are just the tip of the iceberg. That winter, unbeknowst to everyone, another form of decimation had occurred, & the repercussions are rippling through the Rez with startling & dangerous results.

MURDER ON THE RED CLIFF REZ is a well-crafted mystery, with an amusing & deftly-drawn cast of characters. Mardi Oakley Medawar has lovingly painted the North Woods landscape & brought it into our sitting rooms to enjoy.

Very well done!

Rating:
Summary: Taybodal, where are you?
Review: The Taybodal mysteries were wonderful. The characters were rich and complex as were the mysteries. The stories were replete with cultural information about the Kiowa that was fascinating.
Murder on the Red Cliff Rez appears to be the beginning of a new series. I found the humor in this book to be juvenile and the attitude toward the white characters to be racist. It seemed that all white people were ignorant and uninformed while all Native Americans were smart and well-versed in all skills necessary to survive in life. I did find the mystery to be excellent and engrossing, but the humor and one dimensional white characters definitely detracted from my enjoyment of the book.
The use of the word, "suppose" instead of "supposed" was irritating and is something the editors should have caught.
I will continue reading future novels produced by Medawar, but I hope she is able to overcome the failings of this first installment in what could be a successful series.