Ghost Dancer

Howard Moon Deer #1

by Robert Westbrook

"Fans of Hillerman will love this unique and quirky detective duo." —Leslie Glass, bestselling author of Judging Time A Native American working on his Ph.D. A cop blinded in the line of duty. A chic resort's only hope to stop a killer cold in his tracks. GHOST DANCER A Howard Moon Deer Mystery Once a land of Pueblo dwellers, the town of San Geronimo Peak, New Mexico, is prime ski country. P.I. Howard Moon Deer and ex-cop Jack Wilder are headed there to meet their first client—a former U.S. senator and the ski slope's owner. Instead, they find his body—and a murder case to solve. Overrun with pleasure seekers, plunderers, and fanatics, San Geronimo has no shortage of suspects. But investigating the senator's two very different daughters, his political enemies, and his complex business dealings leads only to false clues. Then the senator's granddaughter is kidnapped—and the new detectives are plunged into a dangerous race for a little girl's life...and for their own. "Terrific…I couldn’t put it down." —Margaret Truman, author of Murder at the Watergate "A clever, sexy, modern mystery. Imagine Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin in contemporary New Mexico. I look forward to more adventures for this engaging team." —Tom Savage, author of The Inheritance

Genres: Mystery, Native American, Detective, Fiction, Westerns

313 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 1998

Reviews

[Paleowin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written mystery that doesn’t follow the stereotypes one expects for a murder mystery. The characters have depth, development, are imperfect yet likable and engaging. I find some of the negative reviews frankly hilarious as well. Is this book anti Christianity or anti Republicans? Not at all, unless you’re so unable to separate individual actions from a group mentality that you think critiques of individuals are the entire group. If you’re uncomfortable with the facts that Native Americans have been treated terribly, self-professed Christians commit sinful (and illegal) acts, and that racial tensions often fall along political lines, you probably won’t like this book. You also shouldn’t read history or true crime either, as you certainly can’t handle what’s been done in the name of religion or political beliefs... But how illogical are you to pick up a book about a person with disabilities, a Native American, and a family planning doctor and expect the whole *murder mystery* to be everyone holding hands and singing praise to the lord??? Anyways, very fun book, can’t wait to read the rest of the series. Wish they weren’t out of print!

[Shirl Peters · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hateful book

Let's see: if you've ever voted Republican, or if you drive an American made car, or if you are antiabortion or if you like McDonald's I would highly advise not wasting your time with this book. Unfortunately this is not the new Tony Hillerman .

[Juliana Nedelkow]

I totally agree with Shirl Peters: This is a "hateful book". It's only purpose is to serve as a political forum full of bias, misconceptions and negative ideas.

It distorts the beauty of the Southwest and the peoples who reside there, demeaning everything that does not agree with the author. What a blatant insult to Tony Hillerman to suggest they are in the same league!!

I wish I could have a refund!!

[Josie H. Krieger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not Hillerman

Would have been better without the left wing retoric. Wanted to read about cultural but got political. Not my cup of tea😕

[Charlotte D. anderson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ghost Dancer (A Howard Moon Deer Mystery Book 1)

I was disappointed because the book had explicit scenes and I couldn’t find any reviews that mentioned it. Please let other readers know.

[Shirley Reed-Packebush · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a good mystery and I kept wanting to finish it but life and chores called. Would read more by this author.

[Jeannine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I chose to read this book because the intro said "fans of Tony Hillerman will love this book", Let's be very clear, whoever wrote that statement never read a Tony Hillerman book or they think that all books containing Native American characters are alike. The main characters are a young Lakota, Howard Moon Deer, haphazardly working on his PHD and a retired, blind ex-cop, Jack Wilder. They become friends and decide to open a detective agency. At their first meeting with their first client, on a mountain during a blizzard, they find the client shot dead with an arrow. Add in a right-wing,militant Christian group, an abortion clinic, a ski resort, some New Wave characters and a little Fifty Shades of Gray and its all downhill from there.

[Carin · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I got this book in Audio version I was excited to hear a new story line from an author I had not encountered. I listened as I worked in my garden in Colorado Springs. I am a conservative and a Christian and was sad the way the author used the book to characterize my beliefs and values in a very negative light. The representation of my town and the people who live here smacked of the authors distain for what I personally believe is good and why I love living here. I will be praying that this young man finds faith and begins to see why his book is a sad thing.

[Kmystraveler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert Westbrook is a very good writer. Ghost Dancer is entertaining and it includes something about the culture of Taos/Santa Fe in the year 2000. It also includes a bit about the politics and how they diverge from right wing Colorado Springs. This is a perfect book for a summer read, or as a vacation book- it truly is a good mystery. The character of Howard, a Native American is well developed and Jack, the retired blind detective a perfect mentor. Can’t wait to read more!

[Jeff · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pale imitation of Hillerman

Clumsy attempt to copy Tiny Hillerman, without the sense of history and culture and place that leaps off every page of a Joe Leaphorn book. Throw in some sex, some really unrealistic expositional dialogue and a lot of Christian bashing, and you have Howard Moon Deer.

[Trudie V. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t like the narrator. Didn’t like the misogynistic attitude toward women. Same old story: man killed, investigators find the killer, make women sex objects. Enough! Others can make murder mysteries interesting without continuing the same old crap of objectifying women and making it plain that only men can solve the crime.

[Lavon Moffett · Rating 1 out of 5]

the story . was excellent,but too much sex. very disappointing as the story in itself was Good.

[Janet Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

A decent mystery, although formulaic, and ok performance by Kaibo Schwab. What annoyed me is that this is one of the most bigoted things I ever listened to--never mind the digs against Republicans, Christians (most of whom are not crazed), American cars, people who eat at McDonalds, etc, but declaring all kids cared for by grandmothers as disadvantaged hit my button. I, with advanced degrees and experience in early childhood education, am one of many grandmothers who abandoned careers in order to nurture our grandchildren. I could not help but be insulted, and based on my experience in primary education can attest to the fact that most kids in my low economic audience elementary were better served by grandmothers than parents who were too overwhelmed with making a living or managing their own emotional lives to have much left over for their kids. Believe me, tv was not a part of child care for me or the other grandmothers I know, and I would welcome a conversation about the differences between children put into commercial childcare vs home care--plenty of studies on that topic. The multiple sex scenes in this mystery are gratuitous, adding nothing to the plot or character development. I won't bother to read or listen to another from this writer.

If you want to write mysteries, write mysteries instead of using your novel as a vehicle to express your political and sociological views. Howard Moon Deer is an interesting character, but the author's baggage is simply too much to deal with.

[Suanne]

I heard that Robert Westbrook’s Howard Moon Deer mysteries were the next big series for fans of the Leaphorn/Chee/Manuelito Native American mystery series written by the father-daughter duo of Tony and Anne Hillerman. With that in mind, I embarked on this series.

There is a dual hero set-up here with Howard Moon Deer and his friend/boss Jack Wilder. Howard is a late twenties Lakota who fled the reservation to attend Ivy League schools and travel in Europe. He’s half-heartedly working on his dissertation in culinary psycho-sociology, titled “Philosophical Divisions at the Top of the Food Chain.” Jack is a San Francisco cop who was blinded in an automobile accident and forced to retire. They both settle into a little town in New Mexico, San Geronimo, and open a detective agency.
Howard and Jack are hired by an ex-politician who now owns a ski resort. At their first meeting, the detectives find their client dead on the slopes. There are multiple suspects ranging from right-wing militant anti-abortion Christians and San Geronimo’s New Wave population. As Howard is a typical lusty young man, there are some explicit sex scenes which might bother some readers.

Overall, the story lines are not as tight nor the characters as endearing as those in the Hillerman series. As Howard is estranged from reservation life and doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere, the book lacks the deep sense of culture, history, and belonging that permeates the Hillermans’ books. Simply because a series has a Native American protagonist does not mean it is as good as a Hillerman.

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

One review suggested that Westbrook’s novel was Hillerman-esque. It’s not! Hillerman is known for his atmospheric writing of the Southwest that included significant cultural references to the Navajo people. Westbrook includes little cultural references as Howard Moon Deer was not raised in his Pueblo heritage. And he apparently linked up with blind ex-cop Jack Wilder by happenstance. Jack Wilder’s investigative skills seem to be centered in his ‘spidy senses’—abilities that he gained because he is blind. Yeah—right!

The wealthy owner of a ski resort was intending to hire the two—that is until he was murdered just as they arrived in New Mexico. The victim was also a womanizer which leads to numerous possible motives to want him dead. And then there is always the ‘greed’ angle—so money may have played a role as well.

Westbrook chose to include a subplot involving anti-abortionists and their Christian organizers. Why? It didn’t add much to the overall narrative arc except to portray them as a threatening group in society. Plus, he eventually identifies this groups’ leadership as more interested in financial gain than moral issues.

Net—the story was a bit of a mess and am puzzled as to why the publishers chose to reissue the series.

[Sonja Dewing · Rating 1 out of 5]

The characterization of women is disturbing. "How he knew that she was an attractive female of the species, covered up as she was in powder suit and goggles in a snowstorm, is one of the sweet mysteries of nature. His nerve endings simply whispered sex; though as a civilized male in the age of AIDS, he did his best not to show any interest."

There are so many things wrong with those sentences.

I hope the author finds a good review group that includes women.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fascinating tale of betrayal, jealousy, morality, and greed. The characters are so interesting: a blind detective, a Native American working on a PhD, an abortion doctor, a Christian group protesting abortion and its leader's greedy true agenda, and slighted daughter who wants more and more. There is also a tie-in to Little Red Riding Hood. However, despite the page-turning andonly knuckle-biting action, I still have questions about Howie's trip to Colorado Springs that I do not think were resolved. So only 3 stars.

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a tough one to rate. I thought the plot was good. The characters were interesting for the most part. I like the topics and the location. I didn't like the gratuitous sex and felt there was too much emphasis on it for how it ended. I also felt some of the characters weren't realistic or were too simplistic for their age and experience which bugged me. I guess I'm spoiled by Hillerman.

[Bruce Mendelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

decent mystery for first effort

pretty good character development and entertaining.
But , I enjoy books where I learn something: some history, archeology, native customs. there was none of that in this book. kind of like a decent tv show. good, not great or even a very good book

[Michael S Coleman · Rating 1 out of 5]

So some of it is just dumb..."awakened by a POP of a cork and then Shen appears with a glass of red wine, Oh would you like a glass? She leaves and returns with a gallon of Gallo burgundy." Wine cork don't "pop" and Gallo gallons have screw tops. C'mon now. So much to disbelieve I could barely finish it,

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Tony Hillerman and was hoping for something similar here.

This book falls way short of that.

The characters were tough to like, plot was weak and nothing really felt like New Mexico to me.

I struggled with the polarized politics and racial attitudes in the book.

Just was not something I enjoyed.

[Kate Lima · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hoping there would be more Native American mythology or more time on a reservation; I was picturing a novel that's similar to Tony Hillerman's... I was disappointed in that. Still, it was an engaging story. It's definitely more modern than Hillerman, and there's more sex and sex-talk than I care for.

[Linette M. Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable even though a little predictable

A really good read, sometimes a little wordy, but that was okay. The story was good, the characters were believable. I would like to read more with these two.

[Boone Aamodt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t think much of the authors style. Takes quite a while to understand what’s going on and character development is slow and then a little too detailed. Very anti fundamental Christian who are portrayed as stupid and violent. Pro abortion in a big way.

[Todd Addison · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was pretty good, I kind of compare these type books to Hillerman and I think this one was ok I'm going to read a couple more to see if they continue to stand up. Either way I will continue to read Mr. Westbrook because I enjoy these stories.

[Mary Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting, funny, real

Westbrook used words with such picturesque delight that I reread passages just to savor them. A quirky pair of flawed PJ's added to the easy-to-visualize beauty of New Mexico and Colorado make for a series I want to follow.

[Jerome Alterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

For the first book in a series it was a great way to spend a few hours. A bit rough at times, the author managed to smooth things out and bring it all together in the end. If you're into mysteries this is a good one.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

A MODERN INDIAN

This book had a great storyline filled with interesting characters. It was cleverly plotted wit many twists and turns before the conclusion was reached. A fun book to read.

[Susan B Town · Rating 5 out of 5]

I agree there were a lot of controversial views central to the plot in this book, but I found it to be a very good story. The protagonists were interesting and different from any I've encountered in 75 years of constant reading. I plan to read more by this author.

[Luann Boettler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Howard Moon Deer keep dancing

The story was a little slow at first but after about 20pages I was hooked. I enjoyed that this young Native American was a blind detective's seeing eye guide