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Arthur Nakai Mysteries #1
Path of the Dead
Arthur Nakai is an ex-marine and ex-member of the Shadow Wolves, an ICE tactical unit recruited by the US Government to hunt human traffickers and drug smugglers on the US/Mexico border as part of Homeland Security. With that life behind him, he now lives with his wife, Sharon, as owner/operator of White Mesa Outfitters in New Mexico. Sharon, a KZRV-TV field reporter and weekend anchor, has flown to Belen, New Mexico, to cover the newest renovations to the Fred Harvey House, unaware that her path will soon cross with that of a serial killer who has just added to his list of young victims by brutally murdering sixteen-year-old Renee Braun earlier that morning.Arthur's life is shattered when acting Navajo Nation Police Chief, Jake Bilagody, makes a personal visit to White Mesa. Arthur learns that Sharon's cameraman was found strangled to death inside their news van and Sharon is missing. Meanwhile, the killer has already begun his journey north toward the Canadian Rockies with Sharon in tow. Together they meet up at a safe house with his lover, a woman whose dreams of a better life blind her to the evil that sits beside her until a twisted change of fate intervenes as an early winter storm begins to build.Arthur's search takes him into the majestic mountain ranges of Montana where he enlists the help of his friend and ex-Shadow Wolf, Abraham Fast Horse, a local Blackfoot outfitter. After receiving a phone call from a member of the Blackfoot Brotherhood, Arthur and Fast Horse track the killer to an unforgettable showdown.
216 pages, Hardcover
Published August 14, 2018
136 people are currently reading
1127 people want to read
About the author
Mark Edward Langley
4 books92 followersMARK EDWARD LANGLEY is the award-winning author of the Arthur Nakai Mystery Series. HIs series has won the PSWA Award, the Firebird Award and the Feathered Quill Award for Fiction and has been praised by Publisher's Weekly, Writer's Digest, and Midwest Book Review. He has also appeared in The Albuquerque Journal, the Farmington Daily Times and other newspapers around the country.
Mark's debut Arthur Nakai novel, "Path of the Dead," took Arthur from his quiet home in Northwestern New Mexico to the bone-chilling mountains of Montana in a race against time that was praised by bestselling author Craig Johnson of Longmire fame as being "one heck of a debut novel!"
HIs second novel, "Death Waits in the Dark," a book William Kent Kreuger praised by saying "I recommend this book with a full heart," and Anne Hillerman wrote, "The tightly written noir plot moves from scene to scene like a thriller, building suspense in every page." finds his protagonist dealing with the lingering effects of PTSD, a case involving drilling and fracking on Native land, and coming to grips with the loss of people close to him.
Mark's third book, "When Silence Screams," finds Arthur wading through the dark world of teenage prostitution where he discovers that missing teenager April Manygoats has already been sold to a man known to everyone in the trade as The Cuban. Running underage girls is his business, and the revolving door of the flesh trade is always rotating. Praised by Spur Award Winner James Wade who said, "There's not a better detective writer in the American West." and Publisher's Weekly who stated, "Detective fans will enjoy this thriller that powerfully depicts the crisis of abducted indigenous women." It is now a finalist for the Silver Falchion award for Best Mystery 2022!
Mark also is an active member in the Western Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers and the Public Safety Writers Association. Mark has also contributed to three anthologies and is currently writing his fourth Arthur Nakai Novel, "The Source" and the first novel of his new Skye Roanhorse series, "Bloodlines."
Mark and his wife, Barbara, divide their time between their home base in Indiana and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Mark's debut Arthur Nakai novel, "Path of the Dead," took Arthur from his quiet home in Northwestern New Mexico to the bone-chilling mountains of Montana in a race against time that was praised by bestselling author Craig Johnson of Longmire fame as being "one heck of a debut novel!"
HIs second novel, "Death Waits in the Dark," a book William Kent Kreuger praised by saying "I recommend this book with a full heart," and Anne Hillerman wrote, "The tightly written noir plot moves from scene to scene like a thriller, building suspense in every page." finds his protagonist dealing with the lingering effects of PTSD, a case involving drilling and fracking on Native land, and coming to grips with the loss of people close to him.
Mark's third book, "When Silence Screams," finds Arthur wading through the dark world of teenage prostitution where he discovers that missing teenager April Manygoats has already been sold to a man known to everyone in the trade as The Cuban. Running underage girls is his business, and the revolving door of the flesh trade is always rotating. Praised by Spur Award Winner James Wade who said, "There's not a better detective writer in the American West." and Publisher's Weekly who stated, "Detective fans will enjoy this thriller that powerfully depicts the crisis of abducted indigenous women." It is now a finalist for the Silver Falchion award for Best Mystery 2022!
Mark also is an active member in the Western Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers and the Public Safety Writers Association. Mark has also contributed to three anthologies and is currently writing his fourth Arthur Nakai Novel, "The Source" and the first novel of his new Skye Roanhorse series, "Bloodlines."
Mark and his wife, Barbara, divide their time between their home base in Indiana and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
August 18, 2019
A 16-year old girl is brutally murdered as this story opens. The killer, not satisfied with the slashing of her body until her breath is gone, rapes her after her death. Then he is ready for his next victim.
Arthur and Sharon Nakai are tentatively trying to keep their marriage fires stoked after several years and the loss of a baby. Still in love, they are noticing that things between them aren’t quite as special as they once were. But when Sharon, a reporter for a local TV station, flies out of town to cover a story, those worries disappear when she is kidnapped by an Apache responsible not only for the death of that 16 year old girl but others as well.
Arthur, a former member of the Shadow Wolves, a tactical unit trained as part of Homeland Security, sets out to track the killer down and save his wife.
Beautiful imagery and interesting Navajo teachings are woven into this story. There are no real surprises, and the story ends pretty much as expected. Although the characters were a little one-dimensional and I would have liked to feel a little more emotion from Arthur rather than the “big strong man saves the little woman” impression I got from his character, all-in-all it was a good story that kept me interested. I’m hoping the author, Mark Edward Langley, continues a series with these characters so we can learn more about them.
I rated this a solid 3 stars with a thank you to NetGalley Blackstone Publishing for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest review.
Arthur and Sharon Nakai are tentatively trying to keep their marriage fires stoked after several years and the loss of a baby. Still in love, they are noticing that things between them aren’t quite as special as they once were. But when Sharon, a reporter for a local TV station, flies out of town to cover a story, those worries disappear when she is kidnapped by an Apache responsible not only for the death of that 16 year old girl but others as well.
Arthur, a former member of the Shadow Wolves, a tactical unit trained as part of Homeland Security, sets out to track the killer down and save his wife.
Beautiful imagery and interesting Navajo teachings are woven into this story. There are no real surprises, and the story ends pretty much as expected. Although the characters were a little one-dimensional and I would have liked to feel a little more emotion from Arthur rather than the “big strong man saves the little woman” impression I got from his character, all-in-all it was a good story that kept me interested. I’m hoping the author, Mark Edward Langley, continues a series with these characters so we can learn more about them.
I rated this a solid 3 stars with a thank you to NetGalley Blackstone Publishing for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest review.
August 19, 2018
Visit the locations in the novel
Navajo wind – I wanted to read this since I’ve been to this part of the world and even stood in the very spot of Four Corners for ..well five minutes as it turned out. Still, I’d not read a thriller set here before!
Fascinating from the point of view of the setting – that’s what attracted me to this book unsurprisingly as it delves into many areas surrounding the Navajo Apache reserve which covers much of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado.
It’s not the most exciting novel in that the chase and the kidnaps are nothing too out of the ordinary, but the context of the political, police and social history of the place interested me a lot. I would definitely want to read what ever the author writes next and I hope this is the start of a very unique series.
New Mexico traditions and landscape, Apache culture and more play a huge role in this thriller and I’d love to see more in future. Shadow Wolves too. I’m quite taken with it all.
That Navajo wind blows a chilly breeze into the thriller landscape despite the heat!
Navajo wind – I wanted to read this since I’ve been to this part of the world and even stood in the very spot of Four Corners for ..well five minutes as it turned out. Still, I’d not read a thriller set here before!
Fascinating from the point of view of the setting – that’s what attracted me to this book unsurprisingly as it delves into many areas surrounding the Navajo Apache reserve which covers much of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado.
It’s not the most exciting novel in that the chase and the kidnaps are nothing too out of the ordinary, but the context of the political, police and social history of the place interested me a lot. I would definitely want to read what ever the author writes next and I hope this is the start of a very unique series.
New Mexico traditions and landscape, Apache culture and more play a huge role in this thriller and I’d love to see more in future. Shadow Wolves too. I’m quite taken with it all.
That Navajo wind blows a chilly breeze into the thriller landscape despite the heat!
June 30, 2025
A graphically brutal story, it starts off with a couple who has lost a child in infancy (or before it was born??) and wonders if it's time to try again for another. Each goes off to work for the day, but Sharon crosses the path of a serial killer who hates women and must teach them a lesson while she (a journalist) on assignment with her cameraman. The resulting situation is killing the cameraman and kidnapping the journalist - thinking she's his ticket to freedom heading to Canada.
The serial killer's crimes are horrendous, extremely brutal, and he shows no fear nor any mercy to any woman or anyone who gets in his way. Definitely, according to a vision of one in the Indian tribe, this serial and her husband travels on a “path of the dead”, but Sharon's husband Arthur Nakai, is no stranger to fighting, tracking, lack of sleep, and pain. He is on a mission to find her before she becomes his next victim. Along with the help of his brotherhood, they will unite and stop at nothing until they find her and can hopefully save her before it’s too late.
Note/Trigger warnings: Excessive Foul Language, Extreme Violence, Violence towards women, Rape/Sex with corpse.
I typically wouldn’t read or finish a book with subject matter as noted, but the cause for wanting to see justice done and evil ended made me invested and engaged in the story to see how this would end.
Although there was a bit of surprise towards the ending, the conclusion felt rushed and unfinished, like “slamming on the brakes” and not moving forward. It never even addressed the subject matter the story started out with. Disappointing. Although plenty of suspenseful moments, I'd rate this more a 2.5 rating but round up because of an excellent narrator.
3 Stars
The serial killer's crimes are horrendous, extremely brutal, and he shows no fear nor any mercy to any woman or anyone who gets in his way. Definitely, according to a vision of one in the Indian tribe, this serial and her husband travels on a “path of the dead”, but Sharon's husband Arthur Nakai, is no stranger to fighting, tracking, lack of sleep, and pain. He is on a mission to find her before she becomes his next victim. Along with the help of his brotherhood, they will unite and stop at nothing until they find her and can hopefully save her before it’s too late.
Note/Trigger warnings: Excessive Foul Language, Extreme Violence, Violence towards women, Rape/Sex with corpse.
I typically wouldn’t read or finish a book with subject matter as noted, but the cause for wanting to see justice done and evil ended made me invested and engaged in the story to see how this would end.
Although there was a bit of surprise towards the ending, the conclusion felt rushed and unfinished, like “slamming on the brakes” and not moving forward. It never even addressed the subject matter the story started out with. Disappointing. Although plenty of suspenseful moments, I'd rate this more a 2.5 rating but round up because of an excellent narrator.
3 Stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2019
I typically don't give star ratings or write comments about books that I DNF. However, I need to say something here. The initial conversation between the the protagonist couple was so off the mark from reality that it made me want to puke. Sorry, that's not they wording one should use in a book review, but I don't seem to be cable to come up with anything else to say. Having a baby is going to help the distance she perceives between them? And this "distance" is literally that - he doesn't sleep next to her in bed now? And all kinds of other trivial things that are normal as couples spend time together over years? I listened a bit longer because I was knitting and needed something. Bad choice. All elements as far as I got continued horribly cliched. Nothing appealing at all for me. Had to stop.
April 29, 2018
Basis of the story of a ex- ICE individual with a kidnapped wife appeared a little too bland and wooden.. It seemed that the author was trying to become another Tony Hillerman, but couldn't quite make the grade
October 17, 2018
The title of this book changed on my kindle from “Navajo Wind” to “Path of the Dead”, and that is why it took me a while to find this book to read. Once I did I was put with a book that I did not want to put down until I got to the last page. You are taken on a journey from the person who is kidnapping and killing women, to the couple and their struggles from the past and for every day. That is until Leonard Kansewah, kidnaps Sharon Nakai who is a local news reporter. More importantly her husband Arthur is a retired Marine and was part of a special ops team shadow wolves. They were recruited by the Government to track drug smugglers, human traffickers, they worked with Home land security and were an all Native American Indian unit because of their tracking abilities. Now seeing that the FBI has gotten nothing in the first few hours he decides to look into things himself. This is where the real story begins. You are taken on a journey through the west and through mostly Native American lands which only enhance this story. The story has suspense and mystery and will keep you hooked until the very end. A very good book. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
March 21, 2021
This is a new author to me Mark Edward Langley.
I am going a vacation to New Mexico to the reservation.
An abused child Leonard Kanesewah , his mother would beat him and blame him for why his father left home. She would hit him and the say she was sorry afterwards. That it would never ever happen again. After so long of her doing this he took care of it and ended the beating.
So he did what he was good at doing leave a Path of the Dead .
This is what he gets the most excitement out of doing.
I loved this book Path of the Dead book #1
Mark thank you for a book that kept me reading and hard to put down at night.
Can't wait for the second book to get here.. I can't wait for the third book to come out.
I am going a vacation to New Mexico to the reservation.
An abused child Leonard Kanesewah , his mother would beat him and blame him for why his father left home. She would hit him and the say she was sorry afterwards. That it would never ever happen again. After so long of her doing this he took care of it and ended the beating.
So he did what he was good at doing leave a Path of the Dead .
This is what he gets the most excitement out of doing.
I loved this book Path of the Dead book #1
Mark thank you for a book that kept me reading and hard to put down at night.
Can't wait for the second book to get here.. I can't wait for the third book to come out.
July 9, 2020
"I did not know who he was or why he was shown to me; I saw only the blackness of his heart. Before, he travelled the path of life. Now, he travels the path of the dead."
Intriguing but the storytelling was rushed or at least I felt a bit bored at first then after a while everything was happening so fast.
As for the plot, Arthur, an ex-marine, whose wife has been kidnapped by a killer, takes action while FBI is preoccupied.
I was keen on the native American theme; however, descriptions were brief and the events were predictable.
Intriguing but the storytelling was rushed or at least I felt a bit bored at first then after a while everything was happening so fast.
As for the plot, Arthur, an ex-marine, whose wife has been kidnapped by a killer, takes action while FBI is preoccupied.
I was keen on the native American theme; however, descriptions were brief and the events were predictable.
nope
May 18, 2020Not interested in racist, xenophobic, anti-indigenous fantasies where white authors make the lead an indigenous man.
See more specific critic here: https://twitter.com/debreese/status/1...
See more specific critic here: https://twitter.com/debreese/status/1...
March 24, 2018
Navajo Wind by author Mark Edward Langley is a well written and fast paced suspense thriller which will take you through some of the most beautiful and rugged country in the United States. I thoroughly enjoyed this book for the wonderful main characters, the imagery of the locations, and the American Native culture.
The book begins with a very graphic scene of a young woman being murdered by Leonard Kanesewah, an Apache who has become a serial killer. He leaves his victims in a certain pose as if they will be able to fly to their new life.
Arthur Nakai is a retired marine and an ex-member of an elite Special Ops group known as the Shadow Wolves. The Shadow Wolves are an ICE tactical unit recruited by the US Government to hunt human traffickers and drug smugglers on the US/Mexico border as part of Homeland Security. Arthur's wife, Sharon, a KZRV-TV field reporter has been taken hostage by a brutal Apache serial killer who is trying to escape to the border, Leonard Kanesewah.
The local authorities who are trying to track him think he will head to the border for Mexico. Arthur decides before he starts tracking Kanesewah, he needs to tell Sharon's father face-to-face. Edward is a shaman and tells Arthur of a vision, and this information leads Arthur to head north.
I won't post spoilers, but I am hopeful to read more of Arthur, Sharon, Jake, Edward, and Abraham Fast Horse with the Black Foot Brotherhood in some of the most beautiful places in the west I have hiked and roamed.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The book begins with a very graphic scene of a young woman being murdered by Leonard Kanesewah, an Apache who has become a serial killer. He leaves his victims in a certain pose as if they will be able to fly to their new life.
Arthur Nakai is a retired marine and an ex-member of an elite Special Ops group known as the Shadow Wolves. The Shadow Wolves are an ICE tactical unit recruited by the US Government to hunt human traffickers and drug smugglers on the US/Mexico border as part of Homeland Security. Arthur's wife, Sharon, a KZRV-TV field reporter has been taken hostage by a brutal Apache serial killer who is trying to escape to the border, Leonard Kanesewah.
The local authorities who are trying to track him think he will head to the border for Mexico. Arthur decides before he starts tracking Kanesewah, he needs to tell Sharon's father face-to-face. Edward is a shaman and tells Arthur of a vision, and this information leads Arthur to head north.
I won't post spoilers, but I am hopeful to read more of Arthur, Sharon, Jake, Edward, and Abraham Fast Horse with the Black Foot Brotherhood in some of the most beautiful places in the west I have hiked and roamed.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
March 15, 2018
I read Tony Hillerman’s Leaphorn and Chee books for years! When I saw a brand new author with a story about Native Americans I jumped right in! I was not disappointed. Full of great characters, this author brought this story to life. Authur Nakai and his wife, Sharon, have a few issues, but their devotion is never in question. When he is informed that Sharon has been kidnapped by a known serial killer, all efforts by the police chief and the FBI to stop him from tracking down his wife are futile! He has the skills…and the motivation!…to save his wife from certain death and nothing can stop him. He’s great!
Authur’s friend, Abraham Fast Horse, is another man who is devoted to his wife. Have I mentioned how much I like that in a story? Happy, devoted couples always works well for me. Between these two men and their friends and connections, the chase is on. And it’s quite a chase through beautiful but dangerous areas.
I was mesmerized and read the whole book in one sitting. Mr. Langley is a talented writer, keeping the story moving at a fast clip without skipping the details that make a story breathe. I hope that Mr. Langley is working on his next story, maybe with more about Fast Horse!
I recommend this book for all readers and all age groups! Grab a copy and…
Enjoy! ARC graciously provided by Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for an honest and voluntary review.
2shay
Authur’s friend, Abraham Fast Horse, is another man who is devoted to his wife. Have I mentioned how much I like that in a story? Happy, devoted couples always works well for me. Between these two men and their friends and connections, the chase is on. And it’s quite a chase through beautiful but dangerous areas.
I was mesmerized and read the whole book in one sitting. Mr. Langley is a talented writer, keeping the story moving at a fast clip without skipping the details that make a story breathe. I hope that Mr. Langley is working on his next story, maybe with more about Fast Horse!
I recommend this book for all readers and all age groups! Grab a copy and…
Enjoy! ARC graciously provided by Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for an honest and voluntary review.
2shay
June 2, 2018
This isn't my usual reading choice, but like many people, the Navajo people fascinate me and finding a new book that takes place in their territory in New Mexico. I read a number of David & Aimee Thurlo's Navajo series many years ago and it felt good to return to 'familiar' territory. I've never visited this corner of the world, however, although perhaps one day.
Sharon and Arthur Nakai are trying to figure out why things don't seem to be the same between them, several years after the loss of a baby. The mood is sombre that morning when Sharon leaves for a job and Arthur is left to brood at home. Then Sharon is kidnapped by a man who has killed at least ten other women and the chase is on.
Arthur, an ex-military and Shadow Wolf (tracking human traffickers at the Mexico/USA border), sets out to find his wife and take care of the man who took her. He contacts his friend, Abraham Fast Horse, a Blackfoot he worked with in the Shadow Wolves, to help.
The story moves quickly and I got pulled right in and thoroughly enjoyed it. My only quibble is that it seemed to end quite suddenly and a bit predictably, although it was definitely the right (and only) way to end it. Outside of that, I hope Mr Langley continues with this series as I will be keeping my eyes out for it!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.
Sharon and Arthur Nakai are trying to figure out why things don't seem to be the same between them, several years after the loss of a baby. The mood is sombre that morning when Sharon leaves for a job and Arthur is left to brood at home. Then Sharon is kidnapped by a man who has killed at least ten other women and the chase is on.
Arthur, an ex-military and Shadow Wolf (tracking human traffickers at the Mexico/USA border), sets out to find his wife and take care of the man who took her. He contacts his friend, Abraham Fast Horse, a Blackfoot he worked with in the Shadow Wolves, to help.
The story moves quickly and I got pulled right in and thoroughly enjoyed it. My only quibble is that it seemed to end quite suddenly and a bit predictably, although it was definitely the right (and only) way to end it. Outside of that, I hope Mr Langley continues with this series as I will be keeping my eyes out for it!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.
November 26, 2018
Quick and easy read. I read this book initially because of the New Mexico setting. Since I grew up in New Mexico I was expecting to recognize many of the place names. However, the story only stays in New Mexico briefly, then heads north.
Characters are good in a pulp fiction kind of way -- brief descriptions and more exposition than meaningful dialogue, but good nonetheless. This was my first novel by Langley, but I'll very likely read more. The 3-star rating is more for the lack of developmental depth of the tomes I usually like to read, but for the audience this book is intended to appeal to, it is quite good.
A few things that almost drove me away -- the bad guy is a real creeper. Opening sequence is truly disturbing and I really felt uneasy with a story beginning with such brutality being described in such detail. However, again, the remainder of the book did not continue quite so brutally, though there is a great deal of brutality in the book. The other thing that pretty much turned me off is the behavior of the villain concerning the undergarments of his 16-year-old victim. Tough to take.
Descent observations, solid writing skills, and a story that moves quickly make this a good choice for those who enjoy single-subject murder/action/thriller genre books.
Characters are good in a pulp fiction kind of way -- brief descriptions and more exposition than meaningful dialogue, but good nonetheless. This was my first novel by Langley, but I'll very likely read more. The 3-star rating is more for the lack of developmental depth of the tomes I usually like to read, but for the audience this book is intended to appeal to, it is quite good.
A few things that almost drove me away -- the bad guy is a real creeper. Opening sequence is truly disturbing and I really felt uneasy with a story beginning with such brutality being described in such detail. However, again, the remainder of the book did not continue quite so brutally, though there is a great deal of brutality in the book. The other thing that pretty much turned me off is the behavior of the villain concerning the undergarments of his 16-year-old victim. Tough to take.
Descent observations, solid writing skills, and a story that moves quickly make this a good choice for those who enjoy single-subject murder/action/thriller genre books.
December 19, 2018
Paths
It was definitely a good book. It kept me enthralled. I didn't even realize my Kindle was dying. It was so exciting I didn't want to quit reading. I can't wait to read the next one.
It was definitely a good book. It kept me enthralled. I didn't even realize my Kindle was dying. It was so exciting I didn't want to quit reading. I can't wait to read the next one.
June 24, 2022
Arthur Nakai is an ex-marine and ex-member of the Shadow Wolves, an ICE tactical unit recruited by the US Government to hunt human traffickers and drug smugglers on the US/Mexico border as part of Homeland Security. With that life behind him, he now lives with his wife, Sharon, as owner/operator of White Mesa Outfitters in New Mexico. Sharon, a KZRV-TV field reporter and weekend anchor, has flown to Belen, New Mexico, to cover the newest renovations to the Fred Harvey House, unaware that her path will soon cross with that of a serial killer who has just added to his list of young victims by brutally murdering sixteen-year-old Renee Braun earlier that morning.Arthur's life is shattered when acting Navajo Nation Police Chief, Jake Bilagody, makes a personal visit to White Mesa. Arthur learns that Sharon's cameraman was found strangled to death inside their news van and Sharon is missing. Meanwhile, the killer has already begun his journey north toward the Canadian Rockies with Sharon in tow. Together they meet up at a safe house with his lover, a woman whose dreams of a better life blind her to the evil that sits beside her until a twisted change of fate intervenes as an early winter storm begins to build.Arthur's search takes him into the majestic mountain ranges of Montana where he enlists the help of his friend and ex-Shadow Wolf, Abraham Fast Horse, a local Blackfoot outfitter. After receiving a phone call from a member of the Blackfoot Brotherhood, Arthur and Fast Horse track the killer to an unforgettable showdown.
This was the first in the Nakai series and I was surprised at how well it was written. Combining the beliefs of the Navajo as well as the brotherhood that only those who have served understand, it was a great read from beginning to end.
This was the first in the Nakai series and I was surprised at how well it was written. Combining the beliefs of the Navajo as well as the brotherhood that only those who have served understand, it was a great read from beginning to end.
April 7, 2024
I thought this book--really a long novella in length--was one of the most driven suspense stories I have read in a long while. Arthur Nakai, the main character, who is the tribal trouble-shooter as well as the victim's husband, is a mix of Jim Chee and Jack Reacher. He is both a protector and a fierce hunter. And it is Nakai's fierceness that gives the story its drive, its urgency. Mark Langley's writing is quick-paced while also including insights into universal human emotions, the particulars of any marriage, and the challenges of career. I couldn't put it down. Langley is part-Hillerman, part-Craig Johnson, but he is mining new territory as well, taking chances and donning costumes that are his own. Uniquely personal, he makes his main character's issues feel like they are each of ours. The Nakais' emotional rollercoaster of miscarriages and mourning feel authentic because personal. And the Southwestern tribes and tribal cultures are portrayed with empathy as well as understanding. Langley is a rare voice, but one that should have (and I think will have) a growing readership with every new book in the Nakai series. --Ken Funsten, CFA
June 12, 2018
I enjoyed this book but I did skip some of the more gratuitous passages, especially the opening with the murder of a young girl. The plot made me think of Liam Neeson in Taken when he says "I will find you and I will kill you." but in this case the lead is Arthur, an ex Shadow Wolf, Native American who's wife is taken by the hideous killer and used as collateral across a large part of America. There is a lot going on in the area when she is kidnapped and the police/FBI are somewhat preoccupied. Arthur uses all his wits and his contacts to try and find his wife.
The writing is tight and the pacing is excellent and there are some genuinely tense moments as Sharon does her best to survive, knowing her husband will try to find her. The characters are credible and the behaviours fit the situations. I will look out for more by this author.
I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review.
The writing is tight and the pacing is excellent and there are some genuinely tense moments as Sharon does her best to survive, knowing her husband will try to find her. The characters are credible and the behaviours fit the situations. I will look out for more by this author.
I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review.
May 12, 2020
Arthur has some mad military skills. A former Marine and ICE operative he is now content to stay at his ranch and give tourists an authentic Western experience. He lives with his tv reporter wife, Sharon and a wolf hybrid dog. After a miscarriage, their marriage has plateaued and feels stagnant. But when Sharon is kidnapped by a vicious serial killer, Arthur brings together his friends, his skills and his Native American wisdom to rescue Sharon and bring justice to the killer.
This is a quick and easy read. The killer is irredeemable, no sympathy there. The dialogue is stilted. all the Native American characters routinely spout off philosophy and bits of wisdom. I didn't care much for Sharon; she was annoying, whiny and not especially resourceful. The dog was great and the action is fast. The ending was abrupt. Not a bad read while sheltering in place.
This is a quick and easy read. The killer is irredeemable, no sympathy there. The dialogue is stilted. all the Native American characters routinely spout off philosophy and bits of wisdom. I didn't care much for Sharon; she was annoying, whiny and not especially resourceful. The dog was great and the action is fast. The ending was abrupt. Not a bad read while sheltering in place.
May 30, 2021
Fresh!
I really liked that the book is not your usual serial killer thriller. First you are in a part if the U.S. that isn't normally featured in books. Second, it features native Americans in a positive and enlightened way. Third, it is very well written with enough description to bring life and feeling without it being too wordy and dry.
I can remember being a kid and driving through the south west on vacation and stopping at a roadside stand to buy turquoise jewelry from Navajo indians it sparked an interest in the Navajo nation that really has never left. When I found this book I was curious and excited to see what it was like. Very happy that I did read it and will definitely read more of the series.
I really liked that the book is not your usual serial killer thriller. First you are in a part if the U.S. that isn't normally featured in books. Second, it features native Americans in a positive and enlightened way. Third, it is very well written with enough description to bring life and feeling without it being too wordy and dry.
I can remember being a kid and driving through the south west on vacation and stopping at a roadside stand to buy turquoise jewelry from Navajo indians it sparked an interest in the Navajo nation that really has never left. When I found this book I was curious and excited to see what it was like. Very happy that I did read it and will definitely read more of the series.
August 25, 2025
This book is a caricature, not a story. It’s a white outsider’s version of Navajo life, written by someone who has clearly never lived it, never breathed it, never understood it. Every page drips with stereotypes, clumsy appropriations, and the kind of arm’s-length “research” that reduces real people and cultures to cardboard cutouts.
The result? A narrative that feels both boring and rushed. Flat characters sketched in clichés, plots that stumble forward without depth or nuance, and prose that mistakes speed for suspense. The author’s background as law enforcement/ICE only seeps through as a kind of low-grade hostility, a worldview that paints over Indigenous culture with paternalism and bigotry.
The result? A narrative that feels both boring and rushed. Flat characters sketched in clichés, plots that stumble forward without depth or nuance, and prose that mistakes speed for suspense. The author’s background as law enforcement/ICE only seeps through as a kind of low-grade hostility, a worldview that paints over Indigenous culture with paternalism and bigotry.
August 8, 2018
A fast read about a man hunting for his wife against a lot of odds. Langley introduces Arthur Nakai, a man with more talents than he's using in his current daily life, and his wife Sharon, who is taken by a serial killer. This blends a sort of trope of the movie Taken with some Tony Hillerman style Navajo wisdom into a book that might actually make a better movie. That said, it's entertaining if at times a little unrealistic: I do think this kidnapping would have been high priority for local, tribal, and federal law enforcement. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Very plot driven and a good one for travel.
July 31, 2020
PATH OF THE DEAD by Mark Edward Langley won’t disappoint! At first I found myself feeling overwhelmed with details, only to find myself engrossed in the story because of his precise descriptions of everything. Mark writes in such clarity that you’re not just a witness to the happenings in this story, instead you feel as though you are right along for the ride. I loved having a new culture to me brought aboard. Arthur, Sharon, and Fasthorse are all characters you will want to learn and explore more with. How do you top this book off? By reading Book 2 of The Arthur Nakai series, DEATH WAITS IN THE DARK. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading the next.
February 8, 2021
My First Read By Mark Edward Langley... path of the Dead.
Leaving Dead Body's in his Path
No one is of any value.
Kanesewah, was A abused child by his mother, When he was a kid she would beat him and then apologise and say it would never happen again. Although it did happen again and again..
Then one day,That problem was solved by his own hands.
But leaving a trail a Dead Bodys
Is what he does best.
Its the Thrill he gets from what he does..
This Book was Definitely one that I enjoyed.
Thank you Mark.
Soon to be Reading Book 2.
Leaving Dead Body's in his Path
No one is of any value.
Kanesewah, was A abused child by his mother, When he was a kid she would beat him and then apologise and say it would never happen again. Although it did happen again and again..
Then one day,That problem was solved by his own hands.
But leaving a trail a Dead Bodys
Is what he does best.
Its the Thrill he gets from what he does..
This Book was Definitely one that I enjoyed.
Thank you Mark.
Soon to be Reading Book 2.
August 3, 2021
My First Read By Mark Edward Langley... path of the Dead.
Leaving Dead Body's in his Path
No one is of any value.
Kanesewah, was A abused child by his mother, When he was a kid she would beat him and then apologise and say it would never happen again. Although it did happen again and again..
Then one day,That problem was solved by his own hands.
But leaving a trail a Dead Bodys
Is what he does best.
Its the Thrill he gets from what he does..
This Book was Definitely one that I enjoyed.
Thank you Mark.
Soon to be Reading Book
Leaving Dead Body's in his Path
No one is of any value.
Kanesewah, was A abused child by his mother, When he was a kid she would beat him and then apologise and say it would never happen again. Although it did happen again and again..
Then one day,That problem was solved by his own hands.
But leaving a trail a Dead Bodys
Is what he does best.
Its the Thrill he gets from what he does..
This Book was Definitely one that I enjoyed.
Thank you Mark.
Soon to be Reading Book
August 19, 2018
Path of the Dead by Mark Edward Langley was a good solid read. It grabs you from the start with a murder and keeps your attention as Sharon is taken by the serial killer and her husband Arthur (known tracker) hunts them down and tries to get her back. I found the story interesting and the characters are compelling and you get to know them as the story unfolds. Thank you Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC book for my honest opinion.
October 10, 2020
I discovered Mr. Langley during my wait for the next Longmire novel. I wasn't expecting much, which was my first mistake. As soon as I sat down to read it, I found myself not wanting to stop. When it read the last word on the last page, I was disappointed that I was going to have to wait a while to catch up with Arthur and see where his travels take him next. I would rank Arthur Nakai right up there with Walt Longmire and Joe Pickett. -- John Riley on Amazon.com
February 5, 2022
You never know
Desert to snowy mountains, the settings were described well, as was the journey. Arthur is a great character, one who has the solid qualities you want to see in a hero. He has his wife, his ranch, his business, but there was a life before that. You never know what can happen in the blink of an eye what can change everything you woke up knowing. Then the thrills begin.
Desert to snowy mountains, the settings were described well, as was the journey. Arthur is a great character, one who has the solid qualities you want to see in a hero. He has his wife, his ranch, his business, but there was a life before that. You never know what can happen in the blink of an eye what can change everything you woke up knowing. Then the thrills begin.
March 20, 2025
Path of the Dead is a thrilling and emotionally charged mystery that grips you from the first page. Arthur Nakai is a compelling protagonist—strong, determined, and deeply human—as he embarks on a dangerous journey to save his wife from a ruthless killer. The novel’s rich descriptions of the New Mexico desert and Montana mountains add depth to the high-stakes action, making the setting feel as alive as the characters. Langley masterfully blends suspense, culture, and personal stakes, creating a story that is both heart-pounding and deeply moving. A must-read for fans of gripping thrillers!
May 3, 2018
Crime and mystery is not my usual read, awe but this book with its real characters I could hardly put it down. It had really gruesome murder scenes and murders, but I loved the old Native American sayings,and even how the vision of his father in law set Arthur Nakai off in the right direction to look for his kidnapped wife who had been taken by the killer.
The characters, the land that was traveled being areas I had been through and the old ways that were a part of the story made it and awesome read for me and if there is some place that lists ‘the best last line in a book’ I would nominate this books last line, best one I have read in quite awhile.
The characters, the land that was traveled being areas I had been through and the old ways that were a part of the story made it and awesome read for me and if there is some place that lists ‘the best last line in a book’ I would nominate this books last line, best one I have read in quite awhile.
October 12, 2018
A crash that keeps you spellbound.
Langley knows his stuff as a cold blooded killer takes you on a ride deep into the wilderness. A loving husband who knows the ways of a fugitive on his heels. The only thing Langley gets wrong is changing a revolver into an automatic during exciting scenes that lead to a tense standoff.
I'm looking forward to another meeting with Arthur Nakai.
Langley knows his stuff as a cold blooded killer takes you on a ride deep into the wilderness. A loving husband who knows the ways of a fugitive on his heels. The only thing Langley gets wrong is changing a revolver into an automatic during exciting scenes that lead to a tense standoff.
I'm looking forward to another meeting with Arthur Nakai.
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