Margaret Coel wrapped up her Father John/Vicky Holden series with Winter’s Child. That doesn’t mean she said goodbye to her characters. In her illustrated novella, Man Found Dead in Park, she brings together Vicky Holden and her reporter from Denver, Catherine McLeod. And, in a special treat for mystery fans, Craig Johnson wrote the cover copy; Anne Hillerman did the introduction, and Keith McCafferty penned the Afterword. And Phil Parks’ illustrations bring the characters to life.
The story actually begins with autobiographies of Holden and McLeod. While Coel’s fans probably know the story of Vicky Holden, the Arapaho attorney who works with clients in Wyoming, many may not realize that Catherine McLeod was adopted when she was five years old. She knows nothing about her mother, except she was an Arapaho. So, when her story takes her to the Wind River Reservation, she’s reluctant and eager at the same time.
In Denver, Catherine was called to the scene of a shooting in the Indian neighborhood. No one will talk to the police. No one will talk to McLeod’s fellow journalist. But, women will talk reluctantly to Catherine because she is one of them. She uses her anonymous sources to report that one man killed the other, to get the names. She also learns that the Mexican Sinaloa cartel is using tribe members from Denver to introduce them to people on the Wind River Reservation. They are taking meth to the reservation.
In Wyoming, an ex-con, Arch Walksfast, is shot and arrested for killing a Mexican drug dealer in a meth house. His brother asks Vicky Holden to defend him, saying his brother is a user, but not a killer. With the small amount of evidence pointing to Arch, Vicky doesn’t have a great deal of hope. Then, Catherine McLeod shows up to meet with Vicky.
Margaret Coel has always used her mysteries to point out issues affecting the Arapahos and the current world. There’s just enough character development in this novella to highlight the strong women at the forefront of the fight for answers. It’s an unusual format, an unusual book. But, it’s a fascinating look at a contemporary crisis.
Note: You’re stuck with my photo of the book because I couldn’t find a picture of the cover.
Margaret Coel’s website is www.margaretcoel.com
Man Found Dead in Park by Margaret Coel. Illustrated by Phil Parks. ASAP. 2017. ISBN 9781892011640 (hardcover), 135p.
*****
FTC Full Disclosure – I bought a copy of the book.
