A Time of Change

Navajo Rez #1

by Aimée Thurlo, David Thurlo

Josephine Buck is working hard to achieve her dream of becoming a hataalii, or Navajo healer, while balancing classes at the local community college and work at The Outpost, Tom Stuart's trading post. The Outpost function's as the heart of a small community, selling everything from groceries to fabric, from cheap tourist souvenir, to high-end artisan-created jewelry. Moreover, Tom Stuart has become a surrogate father to Jo and others on his staff.

Jo arrives early one morning to find her beloved boss dead in his nearby home, an apparent suicide. It soon becomes clear that Tom was murdered - but why? Jo and the police - in the person of Detective Katie Wells - aren't the only ones looking for answers.

Tom's estranged son, Ben, arrives home on compassionate leave from the US Army, determined to find out who killed his father. Ben and Tom have been moving toward reconciliation, and Ben regrets the years he wasted being angry at his dad. Seeing Jo is a sharp reminder of their time as high school sweethearts... and of the fact that she walked away from him when he needed her most. For Jo, Ben's return releases an unexpected awakening of old passions - but knowing he'll soon return to the Army makes Jo wary of her new desires.

Before either Jo or Ben can try to pick up the pieces of "what might have been", someone tries to break into The Outpost; then another break-in takes place at Jo's home. It soon becomes clear that Tom's murder was just the first step in a chain of violence - and that Detective Wells isn't working very hard to find his killer. Jo and Ben have no choice: they must solve the murder, and they must work together to do it.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Native American, Contemporary

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Aimee and David Thurlo are the authors of the Ella Clah mysteries, the Sister Agatha mysteries, the Lee Nez vampire novels all set in New Mexico. David grew up on the Navajo Indian Nation, and Aimee, a native of Cuba, lived in the southwest for forty years.

Aimée passed away peacefully at her home on the morning of February 28, 2014, after a brief struggle with cancer and related complications. She was attended by her husband of 43 years, David. Aimée was 62 years old.

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was OK. Not as good as the Hillerman’s series.

[Kathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not like this book and did not finish it. Very amateur writing style, wooden characters, told from too many points of view.

[Molly Whitebear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having finished the Thurlo's Ella Clah series, I luckily found this, the first of their Trading Post Series!

I actually found this very enjoyable and was loving it more and more, the further I got into the book. It didn't weave as much of the Navajo traditions into this tale as the Ella Clah series did, and of course, the everyday workings of the tribal police were absent that had been a large part of the Clah Series, but the story in this first book of the series, though different than what I had become so used to, was very well done and exciting I thought. Different in a good way!

I'm already into the second book of this series and am hoping that David Thurlo will decide to continue this series he began with his late wife and writing partner, Aimée! I'd love to read more about these interesting and colourful The Outpost characters they created!

[Donna Seidel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful characters and story line.

This mystery flowed smoothly, as though it was really happening right in front of us. The characters are well developed, and the reader is able to see things through each of the characters’ point of view. The Thurlos continually make that possible and have always entertained us with books that are worth reading!

[Nancy Trent · Rating 5 out of 5]

A time to change

Really good book I like the way it was written. It’s kind of written along the lines of Tony Hellman. I’ve really got into the series on the Navajo reservation. It’s a good mystery story

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was a little more 'romance' than I like.. but good like the rest of Aimee' and David's books

[Helen-Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like these authors, though not quite in the same league as either of the Hillermans. Still, when I see one of their books on a library shelf, I usually bring it home to read.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay read. I liked learning about the traditions of the Navajo culture, but the plot didn't quite keep me engrossed. (Jo and Ben- main characters; Leigh Ann, Regina, Esther, and Del)

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

“A Time of Change” is a good murder mystery written by Aimėe and David Thurlo. The story takes place in southwest New Mexico. Jo Buck is an employee of The Outpost, owned by Tom Stuart. It is located just outside the Navajo reservation. Jo goes in early one morning at the request of her boss, Tom. She finds him dead in his home. The police come to investigate and call his death a suicide. However, Jo isn’t buying that. Tom’s son, Ben, is granted an emergency leave from the Army to come home for his father’s funeral. He doesn’t accept the suicide cause of death either. Detective Katie Wells doesn’t seem to be investigating Tom’s death very vigorously which is not normal procedure. After being threatened, robbed at the trading post, and having an intruder in her home during the night, Jo finds herself a target. Because the police do not seem to be doing their job, it falls to Jo and Ben to do a little investigating. Things become more and more dangerous for all concerned and the mystery builds right up to the end of the novel.

I enjoyed reading this book because it was a thrilling mystery. I recommend it highly.

Night Owl Reviews sent a free print copy of this book in return for my honest review. You can find this review on my blog at http://wp.me/p2pjIt-7D

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

A woman tries to solve her friend's murder while reconnecting with the dead man's son.

The plot - part mystery, part romance - develops quickly and moves from start to finish with few excessive side stories. From the outset, it's obvious there are only two ways the romance can go, and even that quandary is soon resolved. The interest comes from seeing how the details play out. The descriptions of different ways modern Navajo live were interesting, although being outside my education, not immediately verifiable.

My biggest complaint is the one character who is consistently referred to by two names. The first time, I thought it was an editorial error. The second time, I was confused. Clarify that matter, and I'd be willing to read another book in the series when I'm looking for an easy, entertaining story that requires little thought.

This book contains alcohol use, drug use, sex, smoking, and swearing.

[Gerri Balter · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am a big fan of the Ella Clah series and looked forward to reading the beginning of this new series. At first it reminded me of Tony Hillerman's Jim Chee. The protagonist, Jo Buck, tries to straddle both the Navaho and white cultures. She is training to be a medicine woman. I had two problems with this book. The first one is the plot. Time after time, Jo and the rest of the poeple involved were put in danger without anyone learning anything new. I became bored because the plot didn't seem to be moving forward. Then there was the intimacy scenes between Jo and a man she loves. I have an overactive imagination and a little goes a long way. I felt too much was described. I am an adult and can figure out what happens. I don't need nor want so much information. This is not a book I could recommend to anyone.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Navajo Indian Jo Buck is studying with one of her tribe elders to become a Navajo healer. She also works at The Outpost, which sells a little bit of everything in the small New Mexico community near the Navajo reservation. Jo enjoys her job at The Outpost and greatly respects her boss, Tom Stuart, the owner of the business. When Jo finds Tom dead early one morning, she, as well as Tom's son, Ben, do not believe for one minute that it was a suicide, as the detective on the case initially believes. Jo and Ben, now a Marine home on leave, have only a few weeks to determine what really happened to Tom before Ben has to return to Afghanistan, and to make amends with each other, as well, as they parted ways on rocky terms several years ago.

[SuperWendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A surface read for me. I never felt the authors were digging deep enough into their characters. Heroine has interesting potential, but frankly I began to think of the hero as bipolar for the amount of flip-flopping he did. Nice southwest flavor, but felt that the story could have benefitted from a more even tone/style. One minute you have a gritty suspense novel with victims that were tortured to death, the next you have a cutesy-small-town vibe going on. An uneven read that lands around a C- for me.

http://wendythesuperlibrarian.blogspo...

[Lynn Lerch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another winner for Aimee Thurlo. At first I thought it might be a Harlequin Romance in hardcover but it isn't. It is a good mystery. The owner of a trading post is murder in his house. His son is due home from deployment in the next week. When he gets home he discovers he doesn't inherit the trading post. His former high school sweetheart who has been working at the trading post inherits it instead. Someone wants something and wants it now. There are more murders and a good conclusion is at hand.

[♥ Sandi ❣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a gift from the authors

I really liked this book. It ended as such a feel good story. It had romance, crime, blackmail, Native American culture and great twists. Many options left open to follow this up with a sequel - while still remaining a great story well tied up at the end. Altho a new author for me - this is a seasoned author with many published books. I will read more. 4 stars

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an enjoyable read with a good story line and a lot of information about Navajo culture. An Army sergeant came home on emergency leave to bury his father and learns that his father's death was not suicide but murder. He and his father's trusted employee (and his former teenage love) work together to find the murderer.

[Teri Stich · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Aimee Thurlo's books, Ella Claw and Sister Agatha are perfect reads. While I did enjoy this one and towards the end I did get captivated I don't feel it's her best work. Hadn't I known it was her newest I would have thought it was an earlier work. Her characters just didn't have their usual depth and well there was a predicatablity to it. Good but not great!

[Deshay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like the Ella Clah series so was glad to see another series with a southwestern setting. But this was more romance-oriented so it just didn't grab me that much. I did like the way all of the employees of the trading post came together in a crisis while at the same time my experience in a retail store setting found that a bit unrealistic.

[Elyse · Rating 2 out of 5]

It took me awhile to get through this one. When I first got it out of the library I decided that I was sick of it and I wouldn't finish. It had to go back anyways. I kept thinking of the story of this book and decided that I need to finish it so I can find out the mystery part of it. I always used a book sock to cover the book up because I am not very fond of the cover.

[bumblethunderbeast · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had Harlequin tendencies, but I loved the main character with her desire to be a medicine woman, a healer to her community. And this was probably the best opening line I've read in a long time. It started simply with "She walks in beauty."

[Ralynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book, lots of danger,throw in a little romance and some mystery and you have a great book, there was one little love scene that wasn't too bad, just a heads up. Really liked this book and plan on reading more from this author.

[Sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. I was drawn to it because it was set in New Mexico. I'm intrigued enough with these authors to read another one of theirs. My parents like them.

[Cyn McDonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mystery with graphic sexual tension -- almost, but not quite, romantic suspense.

[Darlene Torday · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this different love story between two native americans of different tribes. It was different with both of them having baggage from previous loves.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paths cross, some in beauty, some not, rushing to a conclusion.

[Kelly Is Brighid]

Would’ve liked it more if had been classified as YA.