Ghost Medicine
An Ella Clah Novel
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- $17.99
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- $17.99
Publisher Description
Aimee and David Thurlo's newest mystery Ghost Medicine, featuring Navajo Police Special Investigator Ella Clah.
Ella takes all her cases personally, but some cases are more personal than others. The murder of Harry Ute is one of those—not only because Ella and Harry dated, years ago, but because Harry was once a member of her investigative team. Ella's team is as close to her as family and a blow against one is a blow against all.
Harry's been working for Bruce "Teeny" Little, a local security expert, but despite their long friendship, Teeny won't tell Ella much, just the job involves theft of government property. The dead man was found in an isolated area of the Rez that is reportedly haunted by skinwalkers and the scattered residents are too frightened of the Navajo witches to tell the police much.
County cop Dan Nez is also looking into the government thefts. The two detectives—each top dog in their own territory—will have to share jurisdiction, something complicated by their growing attraction to each other.
Ella finds evidence that connects Harry's murder to the secret sale of previously unknown Navajo artifacts. If Harry discovered a hidden—and illegal—dig, the artifact smugglers might have killed him to protect their lucrative operation.
Identifying the murderer isn't going to be easy. But Harry was one of her own and Ella is determined to bring his killer to justice.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The fascinating world of the Navajo Nation provides the backdrop for the Thurlos' 17th Ella Clah mystery (after 2011's Black Thunder). Tribal special investigator Ella faces a case that's not a straightforward homicide, but rather a murder wrapped in a web of cultural taboos. The body of the victim, Harry Ute, a former tribal cop turned PI, is found mutilated as if by skinwalkers, much-feared witches in Navajo culture. Ella and her colleagues, including county investigator Det. Dan Nez, can't be sure whether the killer is a skinwalker or merely pretending to be one in order to tap into residents' fears. After a slow beginning, both the action and the police work pick up, despite some clunky passages that focus on backstory at the expense of narrative pace. But, as interesting as the Navajo culture depicted is, to read this book is to mourn once again the death of Tony Hillerman.
