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denjzen's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good book! It was an interesting insight into reservation life today.
blogginboutbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I needed a book set in Wyoming for a reading challenge, so I decided to re-read this series opener which I first read a number of years ago. I liked it then and read several of the subsequent books, although I remember little about any of them now. Although I expected to enjoy the first installment as much as I did before, I just ... didn't. Not that I hated it, I just didn't love it.
The Indian reservation setting makes this series unique and I did enjoy learning more about Arapaho traditions and culture. That's the best part about THE EAGLE CATCHER, in my opinion. As far as the mystery goes, the plot of the novel is pretty humdrum. There's little action or suspense. It's easy to see where the story is going, which makes the tale drag. Character-wise, you would think the rez would be populated with some interesting story people. Not so much. First of all, there are too many Arapahos to keep track of and because none of them are really fleshed-out, they all seem like one-dimensional clichés. It probably won't come as too big a surprise that Father John, our priest hero, isn't a super exciting MC. Vicky Holden should be more interesting, but she's really not. Additionally, neither John nor Vicky ever felt real enough for me to really connect with and care about them.
Considering all these elements, THE EAGLE CATCHER was just an okay read for me. I appreciate that the book is a mostly clean read and that it highlights Arapaho culture in a sympathetic and interesting way. However, the characters aren't developed well enough, the plot is too predictable, and the story dragged so much that I almost put the book down several times. Needless to say, this time around, I won't be continuing with this series.
The Indian reservation setting makes this series unique and I did enjoy learning more about Arapaho traditions and culture. That's the best part about THE EAGLE CATCHER, in my opinion. As far as the mystery goes, the plot of the novel is pretty humdrum. There's little action or suspense. It's easy to see where the story is going, which makes the tale drag. Character-wise, you would think the rez would be populated with some interesting story people. Not so much. First of all, there are too many Arapahos to keep track of and because none of them are really fleshed-out, they all seem like one-dimensional clichés. It probably won't come as too big a surprise that Father John, our priest hero, isn't a super exciting MC. Vicky Holden should be more interesting, but she's really not. Additionally, neither John nor Vicky ever felt real enough for me to really connect with and care about them.
Considering all these elements, THE EAGLE CATCHER was just an okay read for me. I appreciate that the book is a mostly clean read and that it highlights Arapaho culture in a sympathetic and interesting way. However, the characters aren't developed well enough, the plot is too predictable, and the story dragged so much that I almost put the book down several times. Needless to say, this time around, I won't be continuing with this series.
garnetofeden's review against another edition
4.0
Being a geologist (which wasn't the case when I first encountered the series), I enjoyed the role that oil played in the plot.
Rating reviewed 12/26/2022.
Rating reviewed 12/26/2022.
lavoiture's review against another edition
3.0
Reasonable whodunnit on an Indian reservation. Good characters.
mindyt's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. It was a good mystery and a good historical base. I learned about Arapaho traditions throughout the book. I’m looking forward to reading her next novel in the series.
karenreads1000s's review against another edition
3.0
An enjoyable mystery. Interesting Reservation life and Jesuit history. Will likely read more in the series.
meakidpa's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book well enough. The mystery was interesting (although not especially clever), and I liked the characters. However, the portrayal of Catholicism is . . . interesting. Overall, I am happy for the positive portrayal, but some stuff is weird. She gets some stuff so exactly accurate (for example, the names of various vestments), but then implies that the people were able to get a steel drum as an altar because they "insisted on it" (yeah, you can insist all you want, the consecration ain't gonna be on a steel drum - or at least shouldn't). Additionally, any good priest is not going to hang around with a woman he has even possible feelings for. It doesn't matter how sure he is in his vow of chastity, if he is a good priest, he's going to avoid the near occasion of sin. Overall, definitely a good middle-of-the-night nursing read, but Agatha Christie remains the queen.
ccallan's review against another edition
3.0
This was my first Margaret Coel mystery, though I had read her biography of Chief Niwot many years ago and appreciated its attempt to shift the narrative by making Indigenous People human, and not just the subject of movies and colonial history. I'm not sure she would write the same book now that she did back in 1988, so hat's off to that contribution.
This book first appeared in 1995 and seems to carry on that tradition of upending the traditional Cowboys and Indians narrative. And it succeeds, I think, as well as telling a gripping tale of murder, dispossession, and continued racism. I winced a couple times -- "his eyes searched a crowd of Araphahos" on page one seemed to set it up for continued othering of people, though gladly those moments were few and far between. It did not help that the main character is white, and a Catholic priest at that. He is very sympathetic to local people and respectful of local cultural practices, which comes through very clearly. But did he have to be white? Are there Indigenous crime solvers on the Wind River reservation? It would have been good to explore that.
This book first appeared in 1995 and seems to carry on that tradition of upending the traditional Cowboys and Indians narrative. And it succeeds, I think, as well as telling a gripping tale of murder, dispossession, and continued racism. I winced a couple times -- "his eyes searched a crowd of Araphahos" on page one seemed to set it up for continued othering of people, though gladly those moments were few and far between. It did not help that the main character is white, and a Catholic priest at that. He is very sympathetic to local people and respectful of local cultural practices, which comes through very clearly. But did he have to be white? Are there Indigenous crime solvers on the Wind River reservation? It would have been good to explore that.
francesflaim's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent book! Couldn't put it down or wait to finish it. Gave it 4 stars though because I feel like Margaret Cool will only get better throughout this series!