Mourning Dove - (Ella Clah) by Aimee Thurlo & David Thurlo (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

What seems to be a carjacking gone wrong leads to the death of Jimmy Blacksheep, a Navajo member of the New Mexico National Guard recently returned from Iraq. When Navajo Police Special Investigator Ella Clah receives a mysterious package in the mail, she begins to suspect that Jimmy's death is part of something larger.

Complicating the case is the fact that Jimmy's brother, Samuel Blacksheep, is also a cop, on the Farmington PD. Samuel is also ostensibly investigating Jimmy's death, but Ella wonders why Jimmy sent his secret message to her rather than his own brother. If Jimmy didn't trust Samuel, perhaps Ella shouldn't either.

When even the FBI's experts are unable to figure out the dead man's message, Ella realizes that she must use Navajo lore, not cryptography, to decode it. Tantalizing clues link Jimmy's death to his military service-but what could the medic have seen in Iraq that would make him a target for murder back home?

Ella's personal life seems just as complicated as her case. Her mother, Rose Destea, marries her long-time beau, Herman Cloud, and moves in with him. While Ella is delighted to see her mother happy, she cannot help but worry about making sure her daughter, Dawn, is safe and cared for at all times. Dawn's father asks for a change in custody arrangements that will reduce Ella to a weekend mother-a much easier fit with her workload but something that will take a terrible toll on her heart.

Review Quotes

"Gripping. A spirited blend of Navajo culture and police procedure." --Booklist on Tracking Bear

"Mystery readers who like their murders solved by applied intelligence will love Ella Clah." --New York Times bestselling author Tony Hillerman

"It's Tony Hillerman country, done in a low-key humanistic style." --New Orleans Times-Picayune on Wind Spirit

"Tracking Bear is a great police procedural that gives readers an insightful look into the culture of the Navajo living on the reservation today. The who-done-it is complex, compelling and exciting." --Midwest Book Review

"Realistic, fast-paced, and intense. Action scenes keep the plot moving at a quick pace with some surprises along the way, adding to the excitement." --School Library Journal on Changing Woman

"A hair-raising opening. The Thurlos hit all the right notes: they have an intriguing, growing character at the center of a series that combines fast-moving plots and a wealth of fascinating cultural information." --Booklist on Wind Spirit

"Red Mesa is an engrossing mystery as intricately woven as a fine Navajo rug. It kept me guessing to the end." --New York Times bestselling author Margaret Coel

"A fascinating story. Ella Clah, strong and vulnerable at the same time, is an intriguing character of great depth, and the surprise ending will delight all mystery lovers." --Romantic Times BookClub Magazine on Red Mesa

"An intense, spellbinding family drama in which the battle between good and evil affects both modernist and traditionalist Navajo. Prime reading for fans of Tony Hillerman and other Southwestern mysteries." --Library Journal on Red Mesa

About the Author

Aimée and David Thurlo are the authors of the Ella Clah series, the Lee Nez series of Navajo vampire mysteries, and the Sister Agatha novels. Their other works include Plant Them Deep, a novel featuring Rose Destea, the mother of Ella Clah, and The Spirit Line, a young adult novel.
David was raised on the Navajo Reservation and taught school there until his recent retirement. Aimée, a native of Cuba, has lived in the US for many years. They live in Corrales, New Mexico, and often make appearances at area bookstores.