The Shadow Dancer

Father's new associate priest seems to be collecting data for the provincial to close the mission at the upcoming meeting. Father John enlists the aid of a "grandfather" to be present at the meeting which will decide the mission's fate. Meanwhile a woman reports a missing Arapaho man who worked for a technology firm. She doesn't want to involve the police although Father John knows it is past time to report his disappearance. He goes to a ranch where an Arapaho who had a near death experience and came back claiming to be Orlando who was trying to revive the ghost dance religion. He discovers the man had been there and suspects he may be hidden on the ranch. He reports what he sees to chief Banner who begins investigating the man's show more disappearance. Meanwhile Vicki's ex-husband invites her to dinner where they get into a fight. He is shot shortly thereafter, making her the FBI's prime suspect. He'd mentioned two Lakota men who had stolen something. The story lines become linked and intertwined as the story unfolds. I enjoy the reservation setting. I really wish the author would drop the romantic attraction between the priest the and the lawyer. It's unnecessary, and the two could team up without that element in a more effective manner. I listened to the audiobook read by Stephanie Brush. show less

I've enjoyed all of Ms. Coel's novels. "The Shadow Dancer" was no exception. This novel continues with the adventures of Father John O'Malley and Vicky Holden. Ms. Coel always seems to come up with interesting plots and characters for her novels. I've not read her novels in any particular order and I find that they stand alone. There is no need to read them in chronological order. The only negative comment I have about the storyline in this book, is that Vicky (a normally intelligent character), was off in this novel. Some of her actions were not that of an intelligent person. Still worth the read!

I've enjoyed all of Ms. Coel's novels. "The Shadow Dancer" was no exception. This novel continues with the adventures of Father John O'Malley and Vicky Holden. Ms. Coel always seems to come up with interesting plots and characters for her novels. I've not read her novels in any particular order and I find that they stand alone. There is no need to read them in chronological order. The only negative comment I have about the storyline in this book, is that Vicky (a normally intelligent character), was off in this novel. Some of her actions were not that of an intelligent person. Still worth the read!

The plots are three: potential loss of the mission; Vicki's ex- is murdered (good riddance) and a computer geek goes missing. Oh and let's not forget the Jim Jones style false prophet. As this is book #8, I'm so over the priest-indian woman lawyer romance. Coel's books on Arapaho Wyoming are informative and interesting. The stories are becoming somewhat repetitive.

Christianity (Catholicism) vs. Native ways, White man laws vs. Indian Laws, celibate white priest vs. lawyer indian woman divorced from snake who is convinced the family just needs to be together again and everything will work out. Murder, threatened racist mayhem, lines drawn, sides taken ....

There was a time when I really liked Margaret Coel's books set in Arapaho country in Wyoming. Many, many years and all of Tony Hillerman's books have passed through my hands since. The Shadow Dancer isn't a bad mystery, it's just a little predictable and I am so over the theme of whether it's okay for an indian man/woman to be in love with someone who isn't. Just get on with it already.

In this 8th book in the Wind River series attorney Vickie Holden finds herself suspected of murdering her ex-husbands. Add to this is a missing Arapaho computer geek and a man some natives are calling a prophet who claims the Old Times are coming back. An enjoyable mystery.

Father O'Malley's mission is in danger of losing its charter and a young man from his parish has disappeared HIs old friend, Vicky Holden, has moved back from Denver when her ex-husband is found murdered and she is the prime suspect.