Blood Memory by Margaret Coel

 

I grabbed this from the library because I've read a few books in this author's mystery series (as far as I know, she just has the one) and they've been pretty good; I was more than a little bit surprised when I sat down and realized this was a standalone. Cool, but in principle I'd much rather read a book set in the Wind River Valley than one set in Denver. On the other hand, this is a pretty tight little novel, all kinds of tension and some misdirection that doesn't end up making the main twist a complete rugpull (or, really, the minor twists). The characters are pretty clearly written and distinct, the setting is solid--Ms. Coel has clearly been to DC at some point, even and the story is solid (if probably very of its time, copyright 2008). The author's ongoing concerns with people using the Arapaho (and plausibly the other tribes) to further their own ends are ... A) legitimate concerns and B) ongoing; no snark. I might still be itching for one of her series mysteries, I'll see next time I'm in a library.