Killing Raven (Coel, Margaret)
Adult/High School-When two Arapaho teenagers find a murdered white man partly buried in river sand, strains between the tribe and a group of vigilante militant extremists escalate into a tense atmosphere of fear and hatred. Blaming the new gambling casino as an evil brought into the area to further the miseries of the poverty-stricken tribe, the militants bring unproven charges against it and threaten staff. After taking a job with the casino, Arapaho lawyer Vicky Holden begins an investigation into its finances and calls on her friend Father John O'Malley for help. The two are working through their own difficult relationship but are able to cooperate to untangle clues. This ninth book in the series can be read on its own. Coel expertly portrays a modern tribe that is trying to deal with the constant erosion of its customs by encroaching society and fending off poverty. She carefully draws a picture of Native American casinos, balancing the good the tribe can do for itself through the income with examples of the bad effects gambling can have. In addition, Coel aptly captures the anguish Father John has as he confronts his love for Vicky and his loyalty and devotion to his calling while she tries to deal with her unrequited love for him, plus her own loneliness and life challenges. An intriguing and often action-filled story.Pam Johnson, Fairfax County Public Library, VACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.