This book is the first in the Ella Clah series. Ella Clah, a Navajo, works as an FBI agent out of Las Angeles. Both of her parents are Navajo. Her father a Christian minister and her mother, a woman who kept to the traditional Navajo ways allowed both of their children, Clifford, Ella's older brother and Ella.  

Clifford chose the more traditional way and studied to become a hataalii, a Navajo holy man or medicine man who protects the tribe and community by performing rituals, rites and blessings. Ella left the reservation, went to college in California and became an FBI agent.

In this first book, Ella returns to the reservation when her father is murdered. Ella finds that her father had been engaged in building a new church on the reservation. This project had split the community between traditional and non-traditional Navajos. A primary suspect is Ella's brother, Clifford.

Ella, forbidden by her supervisor to get involved with the investigations, works behind the scenes, trying to solve her father's murder, and heal the rift that has developed between traditional and non-tradition beliefs, in the community, in her family, and within her self.

This was a pretty good read, in the same genre as Tony Hillerman's novels, but an original and engaging book in its own right. I will definitely find the next book in the series. I grade it a B or 86%.

Death Walker, Aimée and David Thurlo, Forge, ©1996, 380 pp. ISBN  0-312-85651-2

Death Walker is the second book in the Ella Clah series that takes place in NW New Mexico on the Navaho Reservation. I started reading this series several months ago and have read many of the books. Read the rest of my review at Review Stream.com

While on patrol, Ella Clah watches the daughter of a powerful Senator crash her car in what is apparently a fatal crash. Evidence leads her to believe that the young woman was murdered. The Senator is angered by this conclusion and sets out to block Ellah's investigation into the case. He also attacks Carolyn and calls her autopsy into question and uses her influence to remove her from her position as Medical Examiner.

At the same time, tension between Navajo workers and whiter workers at the nearby mine is increasing. Some encounters become violent. Because she is a Navajo who left the reservation, neither the members of her tribe nor the whites trust the "L.A. Woman."

I enjoyed this book. It was a nice read and I found the Ella Clah character becoming more interesting and more three dimensional. I grade it at 89% or a B+.

Enemy Way, Aimée and David Thurlo, Forge, ©1998, 350 pp. ISBN 0-312-85520-0

In the fourth Ella Clah book, Ella must deal with increasing violence on the Reservation. L.A. type gangs have appeared and rival gangs are becoming increasingly violent. Burglaries are occurring and the fiancée of her friend Wilson Joe is found murdered.

As Ella leads the investigation, she seems to discover far more violence than can be explained by the gang activities. The group known as the "Fierce Ones" featured in the Blackening Song appears to be responsible, holding the parents of the gang members accountable in the "Old Way" of the Navajo.

On a more personal level, her mother, Rose is severely injured in a car wreck caused by a drunken driver. The driver is arrested, but is a local attorney with enough connections to have had previous such arrests dismissed. As Rose lies in the hospital facing the inability to walk again, her will to live seems to diminish.

This series keeps getting better. Ella is becoming more real with each book and is readapting to the Reservation. There are several solid plot threads that weave together into a tight knot Ella must unravel. I give this book a 91% or A-.

Shooting Chant, Aimée and David Thurlo, Forge, ©2000, 349 pp. ISBN 0-312-87061-2

This is the fifth Ella Clah book. In this book we find a major change in Ella's life: she is going to have a baby. Naturally she's concerned that the new baby may negatively affect her career. At the same time, the Navajo clans who have always viewed Ella's clan with suspicion are increasing their efforts to watch Ella and make certain she has not chosen the evil way as an ancient legend suggests. Matters are made worse because the father is a member of one of these clans.

On the mystery front, the Fierce Ones, a group of Navaho men who are trying to get members of the tribe to behave according to the old standards where the tribe took care of its own and made certain people behave responsibly, are becoming more active. Ella is forced to confront them when a man is murdered in the parking lot of a medical supply company that is being picketed by the Fierce Ones. Ella discovers that one of the Fierce ones is her brother. When circumstances require her to arrest her brother, the rumors and concerns that she has chosen the evil way run rampant. Another good solid effort by the Thurlos. Ella becomes more interesting and multi-dimensional with each book. I give this book a 92% or an A.

Red Mesa, Aimée and David Thurlo, Forge, ©2001, 348 pp. ISBN 0-312-87060-4

In Red Mesa, Ella Clah, now the mother of an eighteen month old girl named Dawn, faces her most difficult cases yet.

Justine, her right hand detective assistant and her cousin, undergoes a change of behavior that brings her into conflict with Ella. The difficulties escalate and Ella becomes the prime suspect when Justine is kidnapped and presumably killed.

Those people within the tribe who believe she has gone over to evil escalate their observations to threats and violence. Ella is put on administrative leave which feeds the suspicions of her enemies. Ella feels pressure from all sides. She is torn between her job and family and no longer has Justine to help her.

This is a very good book. The intensity of the series continues to increase and Ella becomes more real with each book. I give this book a 93% or an A.

Changing Woman, Aimée and David Thurlo, Forge, ©2002, 384 pp. ISBN  0-312-87059-0

Plant Them Deep, Aimée and David Thurlo, Forge, ©2003, 336 pp. ISBN  0-765-30478-3

Tracking Bear, Aimée and David Thurlo, Forge, ©2003, 384 pp. ISBN  0-765-30476-7

Tracking Bear is the ninth book in the Ella Clah series. I’ve been reading the series from the first one, Blackening Song. During the process I’ve gained insight into the Navaho worldview. Read the rest of my review at Review Stream.com

Wind Spirit, Aimée and David Thurlo, Forge, ©2004, 320 pp. ISBN  0-765-30477-5

In this provocative books in the Ella Clah series, former FBI agent and single Navaho mother, experiences a NDE, or near death experience. Read the rest of my review at Review Stream.com target=top

White Thunder, Aimée and David Thurlo, Forge, ©2005, 256 pp. ISBN  0-765-31174-07

I like this episode in the Ella Clah series by Aimee and David Thurlo. Since her near death experience in an earlier book, Ella is different. She’s less confident that her FBI training will solve all the crimes she confronts and is more willing to recognize the parts of her that are one of Dineh. Read the rest of my review at Review Stream.com

Mourning Dove, Aimée and David Thurlo, Forge, ©2006, 320 pp. ISBN  0-765-31175-5

Turquoise Girl, Aimée and David Thurlo, Forge, ©2007, 304 pp. ISBN  0-765-31715X