As a mere male I found this book incredibly funny. I was fully prepared to be totally turned off by yet another devastating attack on the male psyche delivered by just one more male-hating, in-your-face, banner-waving, card-holding member of some feminist brigade. Instead, I found that Stephanie writes with warmth and wit, scoring some direct hits about both sexes.

It's a book I've gladly given as a gift to two girlfriends and now, my wife.

I agree with some other reviews - this book is a veritable classic. Why is it out of print?

GREAT BOOK! Brought lots of laugh

I know Stephanie Brush personaly, and this book was written with her natural talent. I have read the book, and its always good as a gift, and great to share a laugh with a loved one... and its a great group conversation piece.

Melissa, just an ordinary teenager, trying to be "in", but never really being in the spotlight, suddenly has two of the biggest hunks in the school who like her. Matt's incredibly funny and plays the most outragous pranks, while Kirk as a more serious side. The problem is, she doesn't know who to choose...

I first read this story several years ago and over time, it has remained vividly in my memory. I can recall scenes and dialogues and picture the images painted by Ms. Williams' words in my mind. Katie's story draws you in before you realize it and you are swept into the mountain country of Arizona in the Old West, struggling along side an orphaned family. Ms. Williams brings the era and the people alive, touching fiction with history. Almost all the characters, especially Katie and Bill, offer something of interest to the reader - you get the sense that each has his or her own story. "Home Mountain" is a sweet story (a bit unrealistic), a historical romance without a doubt, but something about it lingers. It is a tale of the strength of spirit, of family and of love and if you enjoy historical stories, it is worth a read.

This is a wonderful read. It was full of history, set just after the Civil War, that took you to that time & place. I have read this book twice & recommended it to my friends who have also enjoyed it. I didn't want it to end. The story of a young school teacher who sets off West to make a new life for herself, just after the Civil War. It is the story of the people she meets, the families of her students & a also the romance/love she comes to know.

I read the hard copy version. As usual, I started with the editor's synopsis inside the jacket, but in this one, the editor must not have read the book. No, the parents are not clamoring for Sheriff Brady to arrest the football star. The book is pleasant enough, and fast reading, but it is incredible that most of the subplots eventually tie together. That's too much of a coincidence for me. I found the climatic scene in the canyon a bit difficult to follow. It seems like Joanna Brady would have been killed had that really occurred.

I believe I have read all of the Joanna Brady novels by J.A. Jance, and to me, this was the best one yet. The young love theme permeates the whole story, though there are other factors at work here. Mystery surrounds Brianna's family more than it does her in particular, as you know what happens with her and Ignacio fairly early in the story, but it is clear that things are not what they seem with her wealthy family. It almost seems that we have two stories in one here, but in the end, they do get tied together neatly. With each novel, we learn more about Joanna, and of course, if you have read some of the later novels before you read this one, as I did, you already know how some of the plotlines in this book pertaining to Joanna and her friend Marianne Meculyea develops, though they aren't played out fully in this particular story. I am not going to say more because I don't like to give away too much of the story, it will ruin it for readers who have yet to read this one, but trust me, you won't be disappointed!

Joanna Brady is the no-nonsense sheriff of a border town in Arizona, and she is thoroughly delightful in this story of murder in the treacherous canyons near the Mexican border.

The recently widowed mother of a 10-year-old girl, Joanna cannot help but be moved by the vicious murder of Brianna O'Brien, the beautiful and popular daughter of the town's most prominent family. The reader, too, is drawn into Brianna's all-too-brief life, and is there with her in Skeleton Canyon as she joyously awaits the arrival of her secret lover, Ignacio Ybarra, equally young, beautiful, and deeply in love. Brianna does not live to meet her lover--but who killed her? And why? It's up to Joanna to find out, and her job is much hampered by the arrogance of Brianna's father, whose distrust of the local law enforcement community is matched only by his racial hatred of Mexican-Americans.

Brianna and Ignacio were involved in a forbidden love affair, at least by the senior O'Brian's lights. Did he find out and have his own daughter killed? It seems highly unlikely, since Ignacio is very much alive--and a suspect. But why would he murder his beloved? What secrets in the O'Brian family coalesced to cause this inevitable tragedy?

While Joanna and her crew struggle to find the answers, the reader is treated to magnificent descriptions of the rugged Southwest, whose beauty masks murderous dangers such as killer flash floods. Equally interesting is the supporting cast: Joanna's friend Angie, a former hooker turned straight; two old and entertaining drunks in the bar where Angie works; Joanna's indomitable mother, who has a secret of her own; and more.

This is the 5th in the Joanna Brady series, and the first I have read. It stands alone beautifully, but got me so hooked that I must get my hands on the next book immediately! Highly recommended for mystery lovers looking for a good, strong, read.

Joanna Brady begins investigating the death of a local artist named Rochelle Baxter. Soon it is established that Rochelle was poisoned and the likely suspect is her boyfriend, LaMar Jenkins. Jenkins admits that Rochelle was trying to break up with him, so he has motive and plenty of opportunity. Another disturbing finding is that Rochelle is not who she claimed to be. There are connections with the state of Washington, and soon author Jance's first well-known character, J.P. Beaumont, shows up to help with the investigation. Joanna resents the intrusion of an outside agency and is, to say the least, uncooperative with J.P. In this reader's opinion, no book is big enough for these two larger-than-life characters. One of them has to take a back seat and, in this case, it's J.P. Joanna continues to treat him rudely until, inexplicably she has a change of heart and welcomes him into the investigation. There is also a hint of romance towards the end of the book and this seems awkward and out of place. Jance is an accomplished writer and this book is no exception, but the books seem to come across better when they are featuring either Joanna Brady OR J.P. Beaumont.

Joanna is tough and she's good. In this book she's paired with JP Beaumont, a character from another set of Jance series.

One of the things I particularly like about this book is that Jance is able tell more of the stories of many of the characters in previous books. Angie and the Parrot man, Bobo, JP's first wife and more are all interwoven into this book. AND, she does all of this without losing the main story.

As Joanna works to solve a murder about a woman, she learns the woman was in a witness protection program, based out of Seattle, until it was time for her to testify in court. JP is sent from Seattle to help her and to find out the leak of the witness protection program.

Together these two make a great combination. Something I didn't expect.

Although each of these books by Jance in the Joanna series can be read alone, I would suggest you read them in order.

Enjoy.

I've been waiting for this book for months, having read all of the previous Joanna Brady and JP Beaumont novels. After going to Jance's local signing I wasted no time digging and in devouring the book.

Jance works her magic beautifully, creating a compelling murder mystery while merging her two series into one. It was very interesting that Beaumont was written from a first person point of view while Brady was written in the third person. I thought that the switching back and forth actually added to the novel rather than being a distraction.

If I had to have one complaint, I'd have to say tha the main villain's demise is a bit disappointing but that didn't take anything away from an otherwise fabulous novel. If you're a fan of Beaumont or Brady, you'll love this one.

A rambler with historical overtones, The Spirit Woman is set on a Wyoming Indian reservation peopled with vaguely familiar and rather sedate characters that leave a reader wondering whose cookie cutter Margaret Coel borrowed to cut them out. No genuine surprises in plot or character come to the reader's rescue to convince you these are real people with real problems. The book has the feel of a formula mystery, just well crafted enough to be mildly entertaining, yet hindered by the writer's unwillingness to get off the fence and pull out all the punches. The plot is a little too respectable, plodding through correct mental, social and historical territory as if the author is afraid to offend. You'll find no flamboyant, action driven main characters like Stephanie Plum or Kinsey Millhone here. Main characters Father O'Mally, a recovering alcoholic, and Vicky Holden, a divorced Arapahoe lawyer, are likeable enough, but come across as humorless and powerless. Their progress through the book is chiefly emotion driven and interesting at times. But the characters lack the necessary appeal of flesh and blood people and the plot has few twists or unpredictable events that could have elevated this novel into a superior read. The book's strong point is the setting, the landscape and weather managing to steal the show. Reminiscent in the style and pace of an English cozy mystery that's been transplanted to the modern American west, it should be a moderately satisfying read for Tony Hillerman and Agatha Christie buffs alike. But fans of fast paced suspense by the likes of Sue Grafton, Janet Evanovich and Elmore Leonard may find The Spirit Woman tedious at best. Good enough for a Rainy Day, but if it falls out of your beach bag you probably won't mourn the loss.

A rambler with historical overtones, The Spirit Woman is set on a Colorado Indian reservation peopled with vaguely familiar and rather sedate characters that leave a reader wondering whose cookie cutter Margaret Coel borrowed to cut them out. No genuine surprises in plot or character come to the reader's rescue to convince you these are real people with real problems. The book has the feel of a formula mystery, just well crafted enough to be mildly entertaining, yet hindered by the writer's unwillingness to get off the fence and pull out all the punches. The plot is a little too respectable, plodding through correct mental, social and historical territory as if the author is afraid to offend. You'll find no flamboyant, action driven main characters like Stephanie Plum or Kinsey Millhone here. Main characters Father O'Mally, a recovering alcoholic, and Vicky Holden, a divorced Arapahoe lawyer, are likeable enough, but come across as humorless and powerless. Their progress through the book is chiefly emotion driven and interesting at times. But the characters lack the necessary appeal of flesh and blood people and the plot has few twists or unpredictable events that could have elevated this novel into a superior read. The book's strong point is the setting, the Colorado landscape and weather managing to steal the show. Reminiscent in the style and pace of an English cozy mystery that's been transplanted to the modern American west, it should be a moderately satisfying read for Tony Hillerman and Agatha Christie buffs alike. But fans of fast paced suspense by the likes of Sue Grafton, Janet Evanovich and Elmore Leonard may find The Spirit Woman tedious at best. Good enough for a Rainy Day, but if it falls out of your beach bag you probably won't mourn the loss.

Vicky Holden is a woman you can identify with. She becomes like a good friend you watch struggling with personal as well as career issues. Be sure to add this to your collection.

This book is now 7 years old and may be a little hard to find but perhaps you could find it in a used bookstore as I did. The plot is very easy to follow and the characters are all very believeable. Paul Bishop is a veteran homicide cop in Los Angeles (at least he was at the time of this book). The book revolves around the death of a woman who's fingerprints identify her as someone who was murdered 18 years before. The woman's ex- husband may or may not have done the deed. Fey Croaker the lead investergator on the case is one tough cop. The book has a lot of twists and is a pretty quick read. If you like police novels and who-done its, you'll really like this one.

After consuming everything Hillerman has written, and learning something new about Native American culture from each book, and after Hillerman's squib on the Dust jacket, my expectations were set so far above what this trite book delivered that even two stars seems kind... As a 1/8 Arapaho [& 1/8 Blackfoot] i had hoped to learn something about their life. The characterizations were also paper thin, including both the male and female protagonists... and the denouement was telegraphed for miles... ergo, even as a mystery/suspense novel, this one flunked.

Ghost Walker is the story of Father O'Malley a Jesuit priest who works at St. Francis on the Arapaho reservation, and in his free time solves crime. Father O'Malley is a likeable character, with two problems: he has just discovered a body in a ditch by the side of the road, and two: he has financial trouble and is having difficulty making ends meet.

I wanted to like Ghost Walker, because it contained some of my favorite fictional elements: Native American Characters and Mystery, but the writing was inconsistent, and I really couldn't decide whether this book was supposed to be a 'cozy' mystery or hard-edged murder mystery, as a result it was neither, and the story suffered as a result.

Pros: Unique characters, interesting setting, some Native American Lore described.

Cons: O'Malley interfered WAY too much in Police Investigations. Police AND FBI, seemed to sit by the phone, waiting for O'Malley to call. (Yeah, right.) Substance and Alcohol Abuse themes felt a little bit heavy-handed for this reader, and I felt a bit sermonized to. The ending left me saying: Where's the mystery?

Overall, this was an okay read. I would have liked it better if it had been either a hard-edged mystery or a cozy. As both, it was rather weak, and it left me with a blah, ambivalent feeling.

This series by Ms. Coel is refreshing because the main characters are not perfect people. They are just like us with doubts and failures and struggles to deal with while solving crimes too. Excellent story telling and the Native American/southwestern flavor is a plus.

I enjoyed the first two novels in this series, but not this one. Her attorney protagonist became a shrill, irrational, self righteous zealot with no facts to support her breathless polemics. (All it would take is an unspecified "natural disaster" and then The Terrible Thing would happen!). The contrived "factual" rationalization for her position was as predictible as it was silly. This is a novel long on overly emotional protagonists drenched in self absorbed angst and prolix, confession prone bad guys, but short on rational plot development. It makes one long for Laconic Joe Leaphorn from Hillerman's novels. If you like the manufactured emotional trapeze of a soap opera, you will like this book.

I have bought Ms. Coel's other mysteries partly because her protagonists and mysteries are interesting, and partly because they are set in my home state. In this particular story, however, science was murdered in addition to a drunken cowboy, a tribal chairman, and odd assorted other unfortunates. Irritating careless errors certainly decreased my enjoyment of the book and detracted from the storyline. For instance, Ms. Coel has lightning flashes that follow closely after claps of thunder, "underground lakes" that are filled up with water pumped into oil wells to increase production, and "one to the minus six" being "much less" than "one in ten million"...(one to the minus six equals one). I found myself hunting for the next mistake instead of enjoying the mystery. Better luck next time, I hope.

Arapaho lawyer Vicky Holden plays the Lone Ranger as she opposes the construction of a nuclear waste storage silo on the Legeau Ranch near the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. Most of her tribe see the silo as an opportunity for jobs, but Vicky worries that the site will harm her people.

Her vocal opposition has stirred up the enmity of her opponents. One of them wants to quiet Vicky and all other opposition to the construction by using any means at his/her disposal. One opponent to the site is killed and Vicky nearly becomes a victim also. She turns to her one known ally, Father John O'Malley. Working as a team, the intrepid amateur sleuths begin to investigate why someone wants any opponents to the silo silenced. As they dig deeper, the pair becomes aware of their own attraction to each other. Still, they must solve the case if they plan to survive the silo construction.

Margaret Coel is rightfully being acknowledged as the female Tony Hillerman. The lead protagonists are wonderful characters and the story line is a very interesting blend of a modern problem (nuclear waste) and Native American folk lore. More novels like THE DREAM STALKER and readers will soon be calling Tony Hillerman the male Margaret Coel.

Harriet Klausner