Book Review: Spirit Sickness

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Spirit Sickness     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Kirk Mitchell
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Ethnic   Woman Main Character
Series: Anna Turnipseed and Emmett Quanah Parker # 2
Bantam, Jul 2000, $23.95, 386 pp.

After her last case, FBI Special Agent Anna Turnipseed is placed on convalescent leave. The Indian is unsure whether she can return to her field job. The legendary Bureau of Indians Affair Investigator Emmett Parker worked with Anna on that investigation that has left her so shook up. Emmett wants Anna to join him on future cases although he hates her department, writing them off as bunglers.

In Window Rock, Arizona located on the Navaho Reservation, a police officer and his wife are found cooked to death inside a police car. Parker is assigned the case and pushes Anna into working with him on the task force. Although afraid, Anna accepts the assignment and accompanies Emmett to the sight of the double homicide. In the background, the Gila Monster, a human using the form of a Navaho myth, plans to eradicate more cops before going after his final targets.

Fans of Tony Hillerman and the Thurlos will want to read SPIRIT SICKNESS, a thriller that captures the cultural identity of the Navaho Nation. Kirk Mitchell is a talented storyteller who creates characters that seem real though not particularly likable. The subplots bring the main story line together with no lose threads, remarkable as that seems, because this compelling tale is rich with sidebars.

Harriet Klausner

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