Mourning Dove

Ella Clah #11

by Aimée Thurlo, David Thurlo

What did the dead man know? Jimmy Blacksheep, a Navajo member of the New Mexico National Guard recently returned from Iraq, is killed in what appears to be a carjacking gone wrong. But when Navajo Police Special Investigator Ella Clah receives a mysterious package in the mail, she begins to suspect that Jimmy's death is part of something larger. Ella finds she must use Navajo lore, not FBI cryptography, to decode Jimmy's message. Tantalizing clues link Jimmy's death to his military service―but what could the medic have seen in Iraq that would make him a target for murder back home? Ella's personal life seems just as complicated as her case. Her mother, Rose Destea, marries her long-time beau, Herman Cloud. Then the father of Ella's daughter, Dawn, asks for a change in custody arrangements that will reduce Ella to a weekend mother―a much easier fit with her workload but something that will take a terrible toll on her heart.

Genres: Mystery, Native American, Fiction

336 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

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

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It is the 11th in the Ella Clah series. I began reading the series after I had read everything written by Tony Hillerman. The two authors have similar subjects but are not directly comparable. Mr. Hillerman is a man and naturally writes from the male perspective. The Thurlos' work is about female cops and written from that perspective. I find the work to be more comparable to that of Anne Hillerman, who took over the series written by her father.

This work is not one of the best in the series. The plot and story line are solid as one expects from this author. I cannot put my finger on the issue but it just doesn't seem to have the spark that the other novels in the series have. My verdict is if you have read the series, read this one. If you have not read the series, start at the beginning. It is a great series. If you read this book first, and were not inspired, read more. It really is a good series.

[Jennifer E. Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I jumped right in for this 11th book in the series for a book club, but it was great for a stand alone novel. I know I was missing some back story, but it was easy to follow. I really enjoyed reading about Ella and her family, and how she untwisted the mystery. There are lots of characters, but it felt realistic in that it takes many agencies and their agents to work a case like this. I added book 12 to the TBR because I want to know a little more about Ella’s story

[Kathy Schouten · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, I enjoyed Ella and her co workers in this mystery novel on the Navajo reservation. It incorporated a little more of her personal life, which was nice. The main mystery around the death of a soldier was tied in with the investigation of a car jacking scheme. Lots of fire fights.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good one. Interesting story. Some character questions answered, but I'm wondering about others. Reading the series as I can get the books.

[Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really do enjoy these Ella Clah mysteries on three levels. First I enjoy the southwest setting and Navaho mysticism. This brings back memories of the time we lived in Arizona and explored things such as Chaco canyon and the four corners area with the girls and when I was a graduate student at ASU and it was a magical and fun time. On a second level, the stories are just good cop mysteries. The crimes are solved and the cases built using just good old hard work and police procedures with no preternatural insights such as Sherlock Holmes or some other mysteries series. On a third level I enjoy the development of many of the characters and back characters whose stories are woven into each book, all of which could be read as stand alone, yet which have developed over the series. The theme of Ella trying to find balance as a single mom and head detective, of her mother who is finding a new sense of worth and purpose and Ella’s daughter who has gone from “the child” to a willful and wily teenager.

[Alyson Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like Tony Hillerman type books - you will enjoy this!The main character, Ella Clah, struggles to balance her personal life with family and her daughter with her life as a tribal police officer. In the Navajo way - balance is the way of harmony. The characters are well rounded and the personal struggles are well balanced with the investigation. The descriptions of the New Mexico scenery provide a view of the Shiprock and Window rock areas from the navajo perspective - all in all wonderous!

[Emily Kestrel · Rating 2 out of 5]

The protagonist, policewoman Ellah Clah, is a likeable character, but the mystery itself was rather blah. I'm not that interested in gun smuggling or carjacking, the central issues in the story, so that probably had a lot to do with it. There were also quite a few action-movie type scenes with car chases and extended shoot-outs with the bad guys, and if you like this sort of thing, you may very well enjoy Mourning Dove more than I did. Despite not being that impressed by this one, I would definitely try the Thurlos again, if the plot sounded more to my taste.

[DElizabeth DeWolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soldiers, mystery and tradition

When Ella dives into the mystery be hung a Navajo soldiers short story after its writer is killed, she and many departments have to work together with a mile for the bad guys inside the investigation it is complex and riveting to the end. A traditional marriage of Ella's mother ties together parents and their love of family and children four stars as the plot is difficult to unfold and this makes the story drag for the first quarter of the novel

[Dr Mark C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Latest Ella Clah, Navajo Policewoman, out solving another murder on the Rez, with current topic of Iraq.
Pretty much a standard Thurlo novel, with the usual characters moving through their livs. Easy read, no fancy phrases or word smithing. Plot is OK. For entertainment mostly, might pick up on a few more Navajo cultural outlooks and words.

[Doris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story followed the recent surge in books based on soldiers and their heroics, focusing on the murder of a returning soldier in what appears to be a botched car-jacking.

Although the story was interesting, I found it to be rather blah, with even the family issues that normally make this series different pushed to the background.

[Michele bookloverforever · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is a great series for those interested in Navajo traditions & customs on the big reservation and how they can conflict with 21st century living. Ella and her relatives and colleagues are all well drawn and complex characters.

[Michael Starsheen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great entry in this series

I gave this book five stars because it was suspenseful, rich in cultural diversity, and fast paced. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a great read.

[Sarah Haman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fantastic book about the Navaho reservation. It includes info on the traditions, the differences between the traditionalists and the modernists and how to deal with an ex who wants 1/2 custody - or life changes!

[Marion · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting but the navaho way of not using given names was irritating in a novel. it was also predictable.

[Edna Little Fish In Running Waters Spring · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellah Clah Mysteries are exciting

[Edie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of the better ones. Much of the book dragged on and on without much of interest.

[Rena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the genre, so I will continue to read this authors' books.

[Harry Lane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining police procedural. Engaging protagonist, interestingly devious plot. Did not measure up to Hillerman with regard to depicting the Navajo culture.

[Catherine Woodman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Ella Clah and this whole series, altho' it wouldn't be bad for her to get a love interest that lasted at some point--she is a great Native American and the mysteries are very good

[Theresa Leonhard · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Dorothy Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I follow these authors.

[Susan Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Ella Clah read. I enjoyed all the Tony Hillerman books, and this ranks up there with them. Ella is a Navajo tribal police officer.

[Laurie D'ghent · Rating 4 out of 5]

So refreshing to find a police novel that's not all blood and guts and really twisted crimes. A little swearing, no sex. I would read more by the authors.

[Thea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book and saw the progression of Ella.

[Mary Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new found author. Thoughtful mysteries with a Navaho influence.