Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: After consuming everything Hillerman has written, and learning something new about Native American culture from each book, and after Hillerman's squib on the Dust jacket, my expectations were set so far above what this trite book delivered that even two stars seems kind... As a 1/8 Arapaho [& 1/8 Blackfoot] i had hoped to learn something about their life. The characterizations were also paper thin, including both the male and female protagonists... and the denouement was telegraphed for miles... ergo, even as a mystery/suspense novel, this one flunked.
Rating: 
Summary: Hmmmm.... Perhaps the others are better?
Review: Ghost Walker is the story of Father O'Malley a Jesuit priest who works at St. Francis on the Arapaho reservation, and in his free time solves crime. Father O'Malley is a likeable character, with two problems: he has just discovered a body in a ditch by the side of the road, and two: he has financial trouble and is having difficulty making ends meet.I wanted to like Ghost Walker, because it contained some of my favorite fictional elements: Native American Characters and Mystery, but the writing was inconsistent, and I really couldn't decide whether this book was supposed to be a 'cozy' mystery or hard-edged murder mystery, as a result it was neither, and the story suffered as a result. Pros: Unique characters, interesting setting, some Native American Lore described. Cons: O'Malley interfered WAY too much in Police Investigations. Police AND FBI, seemed to sit by the phone, waiting for O'Malley to call. (Yeah, right.) Substance and Alcohol Abuse themes felt a little bit heavy-handed for this reader, and I felt a bit sermonized to. The ending left me saying: Where's the mystery? Overall, this was an okay read. I would have liked it better if it had been either a hard-edged mystery or a cozy. As both, it was rather weak, and it left me with a blah, ambivalent feeling.
Rating:
Summary: Hmmmm.... Perhaps the others are better?
Review: Ghost Walker is the story of Father O'Malley a Jesuit priest who works at St. Francis on the Arapaho reservation, and in his free time solves crime. Father O'Malley is a likeable character, with two problems: he has just discovered a body in a ditch by the side of the road, and two: he has financial trouble and is having difficulty making ends meet. I wanted to like Ghost Walker, because it contained some of my favorite fictional elements: Native American Characters and Mystery, but the writing was inconsistent, and I really couldn't decide whether this book was supposed to be a 'cozy' mystery or hard-edged murder mystery, as a result it was neither, and the story suffered as a result. Pros: Unique characters, interesting setting, some Native American Lore described. Cons: O'Malley interfered WAY too much in Police Investigations. Police AND FBI, seemed to sit by the phone, waiting for O'Malley to call. (Yeah, right.) Substance and Alcohol Abuse themes felt a little bit heavy-handed for this reader, and I felt a bit sermonized to. The ending left me saying: Where's the mystery? Overall, this was an okay read. I would have liked it better if it had been either a hard-edged mystery or a cozy. As both, it was rather weak, and it left me with a blah, ambivalent feeling.
Rating: 
Summary: Suspense kept me completely engrossed and wanting more
Review: I just discovered Margaret Coel and love the Fr. O'Mally series. I'm in the process of reading the Ghost Walker, the third book of Margaret's I've read in the last three weeks! I read Native American suspense almost exclusively,(Tony Hillerman, JA Jance, Aimee Thurlo) and was happy to find Margaret'sr books. I'm also a writer and am working on my second Native American book myself. My first is presently under consideration at Avon. It's so difficult to find good Native American mysteries, they're few and far between. Thanks, Margaret for a great series! I'm looking forward to reading more of your books in the future.
Rating: 
Summary: Second in the series
Review: In this book Father John O'Malley discovers a dead body beside the road. His credibility takes a beating when the police return and the body is gone. At this point, Father John makes it his mission to find the body and discover who has died. When a commercial developer threatens to take over Father O'Malley's mission and turn it into a recreation center, he becomes distraught and is tempted to turn to alcohol, which has been the bane of his existence for many years. Instead, he teams up with Arapaho attorney Vicky Holden, and tries to solve the murder while helping Vicky with her drug-addicted daughter, Susan. This book, while not as compelling as the first book of the series, "The Eagle Catcher", is still a good read.
Rating:
Summary: Second in the series
Review: In this book Father John O'Malley discovers a dead body beside the road. His credibility takes a beating when the police return and the body is gone. At this point, Father John makes it his mission to find the body and discover who has died. When a commercial developer threatens to take over Father O'Malley's mission and turn it into a recreation center, he becomes distraught and is tempted to turn to alcohol, which has been the bane of his existence for many years. Instead, he teams up with Arapaho attorney Vicky Holden, and tries to solve the murder while helping Vicky with her drug-addicted daughter, Susan. This book, while not as compelling as the first book of the series, "The Eagle Catcher", is still a good read.
Rating:
Summary: The Ghost Walker was an interesting read.
Review: Margaret Coel is one of the more talented mystery writers out there, but what really makes her stand out is her ability to write with sensitivity about life among the Arapaho. She manages to avoid stereotypes both of "the drunken Indian" and "the noble Indian". But she is also excellent at her descriptions of setting, and gives you a feel for Wyoming. When she described the snowy wind-swept winter landscape of Wyoming, I could see it all clearly in my mind and wanted to turn up the thermostat. I was a little disappointed with the ending, and that is the only reason I wouldn't give this book five stars. But if you like reading about Native Americans, you will love this book.
Rating:
Summary: Coel makes you feel like you were there on the reservation.
Review: Margaret Coel is one of the more talented mystery writers out there, but what really makes her stand out is her ability to write with sensitivity about life among the Arapaho. She manages to avoid stereotypes both of "the drunken Indian" and "the noble Indian". But she is also excellent at her descriptions of setting, and gives you a feel for Wyoming. When she described the snowy wind-swept winter landscape of Wyoming, I could see it all clearly in my mind and wanted to turn up the thermostat. I was a little disappointed with the ending, and that is the only reason I wouldn't give this book five stars. But if you like reading about Native Americans, you will love this book.
Rating:
Summary: Makes you feel right at home with Father John....
Review: Margaret Coel's second book weaves an intricate
web involving smuggling and murder on the Arapaho
Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. The primary
characters, a Jesuit priest fighting his personal
battle with alcoholism and an Arapaho attorney
plagued with guilt over abandoning her children
when they were young. Together these two unlikely
detectives investigate the suspicious events that
take place when three white men show up on the
reservation with the attorney's daughter. From the moment that Father John O'Malley discovers
a body at the side of the road during a blizzard,
the reader becomes part of the story. The characters
and the mysteries they face, pull the reader into
the depths of the book. We become friends with
Father John and Vicky Holden, and eagerly get caught
up in their lives. This is a very "comfortable"
book to read. Though it is not highly suspenseful, the story has been told thoroughly and with the
insight of someone who knows the ways of the Arapaho
people. The reader is allowed glimpses in to the
private lives of the characters, and comes away wanting to know them better. I gave it an "8"
only because there were times when it seemed to drag a little.....so its really close to a "9" !!
Rating:
Summary: It was fun to see a mystery occur in familiar scenes!
Review: My Dad is off the Wind River Reservation and as such, we often return to visit relatives and friends. (We're even related to one of the people Coel quoted as her research help!) It was somewhat of a surprise to discover the res as a place of mystery and to see places I know described so well. Coel did an excellent job with her details and of getting the feel for the people who live on - and off - the res. I liked how she touched on the issues and pain that effect modern day Indians. It was refreshing despite how depressing it can get. The only reason she doesn't get more than 3 stars from me is not due to the mystery itself (which was well-plotted) but when, towards the end, another writer seems to take over and profanity spills onto the pages. You can get a feel for real life without getting too graphic! The end was great, though, so she didn't get too off track. P.S. Like the other reader, I, too, have writen an American Indian story. But mine is for 8-12 year olds and more about issues than mystery. Its off to the first prospective publisher so we'll see how it does! Good Luck on your next book, Margaret Coel!
| 
