In a Wyoming blizzard, Father John O'Malley stumbles onto a corpse dumped in a ditch. When he returns with the police, it has vanished. His Arapaho neighbors on Wind River Reservation fearfully tell him the person's ghost will wander the world causing mischief until it is properly buried.
With a sinking heart, Father John learns a young Arapaho, Marcus Deppert, has vanished from the reservation. Marcus had spent time in federal prison for drug dealing, and Father John fears he may be in trouble again. He searches for the young man while simultaneously looking for a way to save St. Francis Mission, where he is head pastor. He has learned the Jesuits plan to sell the mission to a development company, the Z Group, that wants to build a recreation center. Meanwhile, Arapaho attorney Vicky Holden visits her estranged daughter, Susan, who is living on a ranch with three white men. Susan is obviously addicted to drugs, and Vicky fears the men are operating a drug ring. Father John wonders if the men are somehow responsible for Marcus's disapperance, especially after Marcus's former girlfriend is murdered. Vicky and Father John work together to save Susan and to expose the drug ring. They find evidence the Z Group could be involved. The closer they get to the truth, the more they put their own lives in danger. | ||
Plot & Themes Tone of story - depressing/sad How difficult to spot villain? - Somewhat obvious Time/era of story: What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 60% Murder of certain profession? Misc. Murder Plotlets - local police w/ IQ of a houseplant Kind of investigator Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Any non-mystery subplot? descript. of violence and chases - 0 % Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 50 % How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20 % Crime Thriller Yes Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Ethnicity/Race Main Adversary Identity: - Male Age: - 40's-50's Profession/status: Motive of antagonist - money/treasure The antagonists are: - Drug kingpins How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters Setting United States Yes The US: - West Farm/Ranch? Yes Farm/Ranch: - ranch Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |