Deception on All Accounts

Sadie Walela #1

by Sara Sue Hoklotubbe

Is murder always a simple transaction? Don't bank on it.Sadie Walela's life is about to be turned upside down.

One morning Sadie unlocks the door at the Mercury Savings Bank and confronts a robber who's been lying in wait for her and her fellow employees. He flees after stealing money and killing her coworker. When a whirlwind of events leaves Sadie herself under suspicion, she sets out to clear her name.

This banker turned sleuth is suddenly plunged into an unfamiliar world in which people are not always as they appear—not her employer, not the homeless man she's befriended, not the police officer who takes an interest in the case, not the man she falls in love with. And, as she's beginning to imagine, not even herself.

Sadie is a blue-eyed Cherokee living in northeastern Oklahoma, a half-blood who finds she sometimes has to adapt to get by in the white man's world. As she faces adversity at each bend in the road, she adapts and moves forward, much as her father's ancestors did. But as she comes to term with murder, romance, and her hopes for a career, Sadie finds deception on all accounts.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Indigenous, Mystery Thriller, Womens

212 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2003

About the author

Sara Sue Hoklotubbe is the author of the Sadie Walela Mystery Series and winner of the New Mexico/Arizona Book Award for Mystery/Suspense, winner of the WILLA Literary Award by Women Writing the West, and winner of Mystery of the Year by Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers. She was also a finalist for the ForeWord Book of the Year Award and the Oklahoma Book Award.

She may be reached through her website at www.hoklotubbe.com

Reviews

[Margaret · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like Sara Sue Hoklotubbe's Sadie Walela mystery series with a young half-breed Cherokee woman as the protagonist. Ever since starting my reread of Tony Hillerman's Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee detective series I have been on the lookout for crime fiction written by Native American authors.

Deception on All Accounts was a huge disappointment. The characters are flat and formulaic, the plot was in complete disarray, and the dialogue was just painful. One of the things I find most compelling about Hillerman's series is how integral the Navajo culture and the landscapes of the Southwest are to the characters and the mysteries. In Hoklotubbe's novel, the fact that it takes place in Oklahoma is inconsequential and the Cherokee background of the main character is alluded to occasionally almost as an aside. I did finish the book because I wanted to be sure I was not judging it unfairly, but I really cannot recommend it to anyone.

[Lynn Lipinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book but found it flat. The rural Oklahoma setting doesn't come alive in the writing, and the details of modern-day life for a part-Cherokee woman aren't as interesting as I'd hoped.

[Brad McKenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadie Walela reminds me of Kinsey Malone. Except she's not a detective.

The author creates great characters by allowing them to have mundane tasks to do. One of the great things about Kinsey's series is that there's a depth to it, a history. The same is true for Sadie. She has an ex-husband, she has a god and rides her horse. Little things go a long way. And, I get to learn about Cherokee beliefs to boot.

The ending was a bit of a stretch, but only a bit. Maybe that's why I didn't give it 5 stars. Before I get into spoilers for my own reminder, I'll just say, it you like Sue Grafton, you'll like Sara Sue Hoklotubbe.


I picked up on Jaycee being the pronunciation of J.C. about halfway through. And since the bank robber and murder had his own PoV as Johnny, I figured out the twist. But still, that didn't ruin the book for me.

When Jaycee's wife tried to kill Sadie, I thought it came out of nowhere at first. But then I remembered the hangup call. I didn't think anything of it at the time because it was over and done quickly.

Getting the money from Jaycee's insurance policy (a bit of a stretch for me) at the end seemed like a way for Sadie to be able to set up a foundation in Soda Pop's name. The little kid dying almost seemed tacked on but it was a great way to give Sadie even more depth.

Jaycee coming in guns blazing at the end without gloves so the snakebite wound on his hand was visible didn't work for me at all. I get what the author was going for, he's so distraught about losing both his wife and Sadie that his careful planning is forgotten, but it didn't work for me.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just re-read Sara Sue Hoklotubbe’s DECEPTION ON ALL ACCOUNTS, and it was as inspiring and gripping the second time through. Echoes of the previous reading enhanced with anticipation, a sinking feeling as Sadie carefully prepared vegetables for that party, a hint of warning that things weren’t right, with my previous reading just long enough ago for me to still be surprised by twists and turns and disgusted by immoral banking practices. I value the lessons from history (a reminder of why I don’t carry twenties) and lessons for life, caring for others, valuing a simple life rather than “chasing the green frog” (money). I like Sadie and her cadre of good friends, including her half-wolf Sonny, protective and loving and fierce.
THE AMERICAN CAFE and SINKING SUSPICIONS have a place now near the top of TBR Mountain, and I’m a happy reader, knowing there are more Sadie Walela books in my near future.

[Cat Rayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deception on All Accounts proved a fast, entertaining read. Characters with dimension, well plotted mystery, just the right amount of twists to void lulls.

Sara Sue Hoklotubbe is a worthy storyteller. She doesn’t weigh down her writing with excessive imagery but conservatively spatters her tale with gems of descriptive prose. Adding Indian culture and the state of Oklahoma is a bonus.

The book was picked up this morning to pre-look during morning coffee an intent to read in a freer afternoon. Three hours later I had read the last page.

Well done, Ms. Hoklotubbe!

[Christy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the characters in this book, although I felt there were too many, some of which were randomly introduced. Great descriptions, decent dialogue, and more, but the plot and subplots were ridiculous, I found myself actively suspending my disbelief and at other times laughing out loud at how unbelievable it was. I had hoped I'd want to read the rest of this series but I barely made it through this one.

[Kathy Sebesta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked volume two in the Sadie Walela series, so I went back to the start, book one.

It turns out to have been a bad choice. Book one then two would've been good reads. Unfortunately, book two turns out to have flashbacked just about everything in book one, so there wasn't any point in reading two then one.

So. Start with this book, segue into two, then find three (currently on hold at my library).

[Steve Payne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. The setting is not to far from my home. Sadie is a nice enough person but there really is no mystery here. One thing that really bothered me was the the big time gaps from chapter to chapter. What happened in the last 2 months since the last chapter ended.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Not the best mystery I've ever read, but I fell in love with the characters. It was a really quick read that had me wanting more. I will most likely be reading the next book in the series!

[Toni Kania · Rating 4 out of 5]

NIce, regular, old fashioned mystery novel - and a very good one. A series of four by this author who is part Cherokee as is her protagonist. On to No. 2!

[Susan Ronnenberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

The pacing on this first novel in the Sadie Walela series really picked up toward the end. I’m definitely continuing with the next one in the series.

[Carolyn Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

First mystery by this author. Just okay. I enjoyed reading about the Cherokee culture. Will try her next book!

[Bill Deleplank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story with plenty of plot twists!

[Trudy Ackerblade · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is no literary masterpiece, but it was a very pleasant read. I enjoy books written by indigenous authors and this was no exception.

[Christine Fitz]

DNF I just kept waiting to get hooked, but I couldn't. Saddd

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you do a search for "Native American mystery writers" you will be hard pressed to find Native American authors. Hoklotubbe is one of them, and her main character, Sadie Walela, is a young Cherokee woman who works in a bank (as did Hoklotubbe). I appreciate the authenticity of the characters (and the bank robbery!) and I think Hoklotubbe's books would be great for young adults as well as adult readers.

[Terra · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent mystery set against the backdrop of small-town Oklahoma and its Native culture. This is a fun read, beautifully written, and the rural Oklahoma setting within modern-day life for a mixed blood Cherokee woman drew me in.

[Edie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A blend of mystery and Cherokee Culture (Sinclair Browning)
Well written and very entertaining.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had hoped for more about the Cherokee.

[Kathy Pettycrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good mystery. I really liked the Cherokee information and history that was part of the story.

[Cherith]

student recommendation

[Melanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good trashy fun!

[Maggie Holmes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book to want to read more; however, the mystery wasn't the best part of the story. The characters were. I want to know more about what is going to happen to Sadie and Charlie and the rest of the town. I felt the Cherokee aspects were interwoven to the story without being pedantic. I appreciated especially that Hoklotubbe is really Cherokee, not just an Anglo/European who has become interested in the culture. It is a crime that our textbooks treat each nation as if it was the same as every other nation. But then we also treat China as if it all one people as well.