Coel offers gripping tale with ‘Silent Spirit’

   Among the mystery series I read with dedication is Margaret Coel’s Wind River stories. While the degree of difficulty in solving the mysteries varies by book, the characters and topics always are compelling.
   Her latest Wind River outing, “The Silent Spirit,” is an exceptional addition to the series.
   Father John O’Malley is back from the sabbatical in Rome he tried to resist. But now he is only the interim pastor at St. Francis Mission on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. He has found a home among the Arapaho people and does not want to leave, but he knows he could be reassigned at any moment.
   He picks up ex-con Kiki Wallowingbull hitchhiking along the highway. The young Arapaho is headed to Los Angeles to discover what happened to his great-grandfather, who never returned after appearing in the silent movie “The Covered Wagon” in 1923. Kiki is convinced he was the victim of foul play and wants to find the truth for his grandfather. Father John tries to talk Kiki out of the trip, knowing the odds are long that he will find anything.
   Kiki does uncover some information, but is murdered upon his return to the reservation. The law thinks it is another drug deal gone bad, but Father John suspects something else is at work, especially after Kiki’s grandfather says the young man had cleaned up his life.
   Meanwhile, Arapaho attorney Vicky Holden receives a call from a mystery man claiming responsibility for Kiki’s death but who is unwilling to come forward. While she tries to figure out who the killer is, Father John launches his own investigation to clear Kiki’s name.
   The book switches back and forth between the modern crime and the making of the silent movie, which is a fascinating tale in and of itself. Coel, who was a historian before turning to novels, incorporates real events or topical issues that add resonance to her books. And the reservation is a powerful character as well, this time in the grip of winter.
   If you are a fan of Coel’s, you won’t want to miss this one. If you are a new reader, there is enough explanation of the characters and back story to start reading here. “The Silent Spirit” will give you a taste of the author at the top of her game.