Book Review: Murder at the Spirit Cave

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Murder at the Spirit Cave     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Frederic Bean
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Police Procedural   Woman Main Character   Ethnic
Series: Carla Jenkins & Captain Groves # 1
Bantam, Dec 1999, $5.99, 336 pp.

After decades of being male, the Texas Rangers admit their first female agent. Carla is the daughter of renowned former Ranger Captain Alfred Jenkins. She is teamed with her father's former partner, Captain Claude Groves. Their first case together sends them to Terrell County to investigate a scalping, an incident that the Rangers have not had to deal with in about a century.

However, the scalping turns out to be different than the way Native Americans used to perform the act. The casualty lost more than just his hair. Someone removed his penis and testicles, and stuffed them in the victim's mouth. The intestines were removed and placed in a design that makes the murder appear to be a ritual killing. Two more identical homicides follow. Carla leads Claude into places the senior partner would not think of investigating as they puzzle out the who and why behind the murders.

What Tony Hillerman does for New Mexico's Native Americans, Frederic Bean accomplishes for Texas's Indian population. The author intertwines tidbits about Native American traditions and rituals within a taut who-done-it. The characters of MURDER AT THE SPIRIT CAVE are superbly drawn. Readers will admire Carla while adoring Claude. This first entry looks as if fans will have plenty to look forward to in the next century.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner