"Death Walker, an Ella Clah Mystery"

(Reviewed by Judi Clark AUG 30, 1998)

Tony Hillerman step aside! Here's another Tribal detective story, but I think it covers the Navajo belief system a little more thoroughly.  After reading Death Walker, I feel I understand more of what a Skinwalker is and what it is not.  Mind you, this is still written in the style of a mystery novel, so don't expect it to be too deep.

The main character, Special Investigator, Ella Clah, left the Reservation for a number of years and returned when some Skinwalkers were threatening her family (this happened in the previous book, but there is enough reference in this book to know this).  Now her people are faced with what appears to be a "Skinwalker wannabe" who is killing all of the teachers of Navaho traditions.  She balances between the special forces that her people believe in and her skills that she learned as an FBI agent.  

The Thurlos do a good job reinforcing the Dineh thinking throughout the book.  The advantage that this couple have is that David grew up on the Navajo Reservation in Shiprock and Aim�e is from Havana Cuba, thus they both have a non-Anglo background. I believe this helps lend credibility to the characters and events.  I would like to read their other books that are not part of this series to see if they mix magical realism (see Latin American section) into their southwest novels. I also look forward to reading more books in this series!

• Amazon reader rating: from 3 reviews

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Bibliography (with links to Amazon.com):

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Bibliography: (with links to Amazon.com)

Ella Clah Series

• Blackening Song (1995)
• Death Walker (1996)
• Bad Medicine (1997)
• Enemy Way (1998)
• Shooting Chant (April 2000)
• Red Mesa (April 2001)
• Changing Woman (March 2002)
• Tracking Bear (April 2003)
• Plant them Deep (November 2003)
• Wind Spirit (April 2004)
• White Thunder (April 2005)
• Mourning Dove (April 2006)
• Turquoise Girl (April 2007)
• Never-Ending-Snake (August 2010)

Lee Nez Series

• Second Sunrise (November 2002)
• Blood Retribution (October 2004)
• Pale Death (October 2005)
• Surrogate Evil (November 2006)

Sister Agatha Series

• Bad Faith (November 2002)
• Thief in Retreat (December 2004)
• Prey for a Miracle (June 2006)
• False Witness (October 2007)

 

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Book Marks:

• The official Aimee and David Thurlo Web site
• Chapter One excerpt from Bad Medicine
• Cresent Blues review of Red Mesa
• Read an excerpt from Second Sunrise, the new Lee Nez novel
• Read an excerpt from Bad Faith, the new Sister Agatha Series

 

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About the Author:

Aimee and David Thurlo have been married for over thirty years and writing together for nearly as long. Aim�e is a native of Havana, Cuba.  David grew upon the Navajo Reservation in Shiprock, New Mexico. They write articles as well as novels (many Harlequin Intrigue and romances which appear under Aim�e's name and pseudonyms).  They live in Corrales, New Mexico.