Spirit Sickness

Emmett Parker and Anna Turnipseed #2

by Kirk Mitchell

In the tradition of Tony Hillerman and Joseph Wambaugh comes this suspense thriller reuniting Bureau of Indian Affairs Criminal Investigator Emmett Quanah Parker and FBI Special Agent Anna Turnipseed, two Native American cops torn between their heritage and the law.

A fire-gutted police cruiser found in a remote part of the Navajo reservation bears witness to a horrific inside are the bodies of a tribal patrolman and his wife. As BIA Investigator Emmett Parker and FBI Special Agent Anna Turnipseed know, a cop's murder is never simple, raising countless questions and suspicions.

When another murder is discovered, the case explodes into an otherworldly realm. Both Parker, a Comanche, and Turnipseed, a Modoc, are well acquainted with the eerie shadowland between native myth and modern homicide investigation. Now they will have to touch minds with a murderer who has woven personal madness with Navajo myth to create his own reality -- and with it the need to kill and kill again.

Genres: Mystery, Native American, Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Crime, Audiobook

374 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Kirk Mitchell is an author who is known for his time travel, alternate history, historical fiction, and adventure fiction novels. Mitchell has also created several novelizations of movies.He writes under the pseudonym of Joel Norst

Kirk Mitchell served as a deputy sheriff on the Paiute- Shoshone Indian reservations of the desert country that includes Death Valley, and was a SWAT sergeant in southern California, before beginning his career as a full-time writer.

Reviews

[Terri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another book about the southwestern Indians, and written by an author who will "replace Tony Hillerman". Ain't gonna happen. Just because an author writes about the Native Americans in the Four Corners area of the US does NOT mean the story can even rival Mr. Hillerman's.
In this case, there are at least 4 different tribes involved, 3 or 4 investigative groups, and countless (too many) others involved. It makes for a very complicated story that is difficult to follow. In addition, the partial conversations between the two main characters that dwell/or not, on their personal relationship (that is, then isn't, then is again) further complicate matters and detract from the main story. Mr Hillerman, you're still the man!

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is one that stereotypes Native Americans as superstitious, violent, mentally ill and shallow. I was offended. The primary protagonists - a BIA agent and an FBI agent were also stereotyped and vapid. Too many characters, too little character development, and in the end you just didn't care. I read this for a mystery book group and all who attended (around 20 of us) did not like the book. I recommend that you NOT waste your time reading this book.

[Steve Payne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Gila Monster viewpoint wore pretty thin after awhile. I'm glad Anna & Emmett finally got past this not talking about their feelings portion of their relationship. Plenty of action, not all of it believable.

[Ben · Rating 2 out of 5]

Is this a good book? Not exactly. Is the premise believable? I didn't think so. Was it still pretty fun and at least, mindlessly entertaining enough to count for a beach read? Absolutely.

[Hannah Katakam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the first one - bad guy was not very interesting so it just felt a little dull in comparison. Also the romance had a bunch of unnecessary drama - felt forced.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A grizzly murder of a Navaho policeman and his ride-along wife bring BIA Investigator Emmett Quanah Parker and FBI Agent Anna Turnipseed to the Window Rock Reservation. Anna is pulled back from her convalescent leave (she was brutally tortured on her first case), and she and Emmett are sorting out their personal relationship; the professional relationship is strong.

There are many familial/clan relationships on the Window Rock Reservation. There are drug enterprises, alcohol runners, adults who were mistreated as children, and several red herrings. The plot is complex; the people even more so. There are secrets to protect family and secrets to hide vicious crimes. The characters are mostly sympathetic because the reader is introduced to the circumstances that made them the way they are. The various Native American cultures are fascinating in the ways they effect the characters. The conclusion is edge of the seat thriller. Highly recommended for mystery and adventure readers. Spirit Sickness is a riveting story.

Readalikes/Similar Authors:
Tony Hillerman’s Navaho Tribal Police Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee series; Michael Connelly - Dark Sacred Night; James Patterson & Marshall Karp - Red Alert; Jonathan & Jesse Kellerman - A Measure of Darkness; Jeffrey Deaver - The Cutting Edge; Elizabeth George - The Punishment She Deserves; Faye Kellerman - Walking Shadows; Patricia Cornwell - Chaos; Robert Crais - The Wanted; Matthew Sullivan - Murder at the Bright Ideas Bookstore; Margaret Coel’s Arapaho attorney Vicky Holden/Father John O’Malley mysteries; Nevada Barr’s Anna Pigeon series; C.J. Box’s Joe Pickett novels; Thomas Harris thrillers.

Pace: Moderate
Characters: Complex; strong woman; complicated backstories
Story: Intricately plotted
Language: Compelling
Tone: Strong sense of place; suspenseful;
Frame: Window Rock Navaho Reservation (AZ, NM, UT); Contemporary

[Randy Daugherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bureau of Indian Affairs Criminal Investigator Emmett Quanah Parker and FBI Special Agent Anna Turnipseed, two Native American cops torn between their heritage and the law.
A fire-gutted police cruiser found in a remote part of the Navajo reservation bears witness to a horrific crime: inside are the bodies of a tribal patrolman and his wife. As BIA Investigator Emmett Parker and FBI Special Agent Anna Turnipseed know, a cop's murder is never simple, raising countless questions and suspicions.
When another murder is discovered, the case explodes into an otherworldly realm. Both Parker, a Comanche, and Turnipseed, a Modoc, are well acquainted with the eerie shadowland between native myth and modern homicide investigation. Now they will have to touch minds with a murderer who has woven personal madness with Navajo myth to create his own reality -- and with it the need to kill and kill again.
This was a great read, the blending of myth and reality, Dine' landscape and the attraction of Emmett to Anna and yet fighting it since it wouldn't look right. I so look forward to the next in the series.

[Wanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots going on in this book. Parker and Turnipseed pick up from where they left off in the previous book. She is still recovering a bit from injuries she suffered and he is determined to get her back out in the field and going again. They are investigating the murder of a tribal policeman and his wife on the Navajo reservation. There are quite a few law enforcement agencies involved and it can cause problems at times. They have to look into the background of the victims and the people on the reservation aren't very helpful.
Lots of discussions about tribal culture and there are several different tribes represented throughout the book. Anna and Emmett are still working on their relationship and there are some definite bumps in the road with that. Some stealthy characters, beligerent youths, ex-cons, and lots of secrets. There were quite a few characters involved and the closer to the end of the story the more you found out how they were all connected. Interesting learning some stuff about gila monsters. The main bad guy as in the previous book was definitely a bit off.

[Cheyenne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I really did like this book. The detective plot is complicated and well-planned. Each character serves an important purpose to the plot. The introduction of Native American elements is interesting and purposeful. The twist is dark exciting. Anna has more of a role in this novel as well.

That said, I may not read another in this series. Though the plot was well-structured, it's sometimes really hard to follow. At one point, I missed connecting a name to a particular scene and was lost for about 25 pages of so. I also needed the twist explained to me (which, I'll give him credit, Mitchell does do at the end). My real issue, though, is Emmett and Anna. Emmett wasn't the strong lead male that he was in novel #1--he struggles emotionally throughout and acts consistently catty with Anna, all because he has a crush on her. Anna is still undeveloped as a character. In response to most questions (okay, so an exaggeration) her response is a simple "No" which is simply uninteresting.

[Susan DELLNER · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my second read of this series and I really enjoyed this book. Poor Turnipseed all those injuries! First of all - the fascinating information on all the different tribes and bands of Native Americans. I'm so ignorant about all the people who were here long before "Manifest Destiny." Not only their numbers but all the totally different traditions. Next the detectives themselves are very interesting from two different tribes and how that all works. Of course the simmering relationship between Parker and Turnipseed is of great interest. Will Parker figure out how to get around Turnipseed's tragic childhood and all the scars left behind? Then the cases themselves are very different from other murder mysteries. The writing style makes for an easy read and the informative descriptions of native customs are wonderfully scatted through the stories which provides great insights. I'm off to get the next book in the series. What a great find!

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than the first novel, but my main problem with both books is that the pace and tension varies little throughout the story. As a result, the whole thing is a bit too extraordinary and full throttle. There's no ebb and flow. Most of the dialogue and all of the procedural parts of the plot are intense and often over-the-top. I don't like constantly being stressed out by a narrative. Also, the relationship between the two main characters is awkward and seems shallow. Tropes seem to vary little. They seem to have this intense attraction to one another but what it's based on is anyone's guess. There's not much in the way of depth and subtlety. Intense flashbacks are the primary method of giving backstory. I'm not sure I'm willing to stick around to see if this changes. That being said, this does switch up the mystery genre for me a bit, and it made a diverting change.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars. This is the third book I've read in this series. I like it less and less the more I read. I still like the author's attempt to include indigenous American beliefs and practices, combined with the realities of life today. I do not like that The Man always goes crazy if he thinks The Woman (his professional partner) is in danger, and must inevitably rush in to rescue her. I also don't like the development of The Woman's role as the petite, much younger professional protege and less-and-less well hidden sexual interest of The Man. This author is certainly not Tony Hillerman. Will I try one more in the series?.......hmmmmm

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a while since I read Cry Dance, but Parker and Turnipseed came back full force almost immediately in this second in the series. More a thriller than procedural, the mystery is still excellent and kept me guessing all the way through. The story is both frightening and moving, in about equal measures, and definitely not for the queasy of mind.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parker and Turnipseed are partnered again for another case...and neither is certain that she is totally recovered from their FIRST case. This one involves sick, twisted, Native lore, mixed with paranoia and murder.

I continue to wonder about the authenticity of the author's credibility to write from Native points of view. But I'm invested in these two at this point

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Parker and Turnipseed series, and this one was even more complex than Cry Dance. The characters are intriguing, the plots are exciting, and the writing is super intelligent. Can't wait to read the next book.

[Reforming · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent mystery, particularly if Native American culture interests you.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit bloody, but a good story, without any digressions. Both primary characters grow and become more interesting and sympathetic.

[Roger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good audio book.

[Laurie Markoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this entire series. The characters are very deeply drawn, the details about Native American history and spirituality are fascinating.

[Jeanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a long time Tony Hillerman fan, I found this series fit the bill. I like how the writer's stories describes the history and legends of multiple tribes.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyed story and reader.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8. As a fan of Tony Hillerman, I really got into these books and the detail included.

[Debbie Higgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it and will read more of the series.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

couldn't finish it.....

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suspense thriller in the tradition of Tony Hillerman, combination BIA agent Emmet Parker and FBI Anna Turnipseed delve deeply into Navajo tradition to solve a spiderweb of murders.

[Michael Wojciehoski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mitchell is very imaginative and creative. He puts Hannibal Lector to shame. On the Big Rez - murder, sins, gang bangers… Who did what and to whom? Many twist and tangles. Interesting.

[Lynn Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. I am a big Tony Hillerman and Anne Hillerman fan and Kirk Mitchell is amazing as well. If you like Native law enforcement and murder mysteries and Native culture then this series is for you. The books are fast paced and real page turners.

[Cornerofmadness · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know I’ve read other Parker and Turnipseed books probably out of order. This is #2 and it might have been my last if I had read it first. Let me put that in context. The mystery was pretty good. It was something else that really put me off the book.

The story is set on Navajo land but Parker and Turnipseed aren't Navajo (Comanche and Modoc respectively). A cop and his wife were murdered and set on fire. This is Anna Turnipseed's first big case after being tortured in book #1 and Emmett Parker asked for her to be on the case, They are also working with Caucasian FBI agent, Summerfield and Navajo cops, Tallsalt and Yabeney among others.

As more victims are claimed, the killer is obviously deriving his desire to kill from Navajo stories from the Moth Way and the Gila Monster. He sees himself as the Gila and has taken to planting them at various crime scenes. The case bounces between Phoenix and various reservations. And the mystery was very interesting. There really isn't enough to solve it for the first two- thirds of the book and the rest comes later and very fast, one clue after the other.

So I like the mystery part. What I didn't like was Turnipseed and Parker. Okay, I didn't like Parker. I don't remember having a problem with him in other books but in this he's pretty terrible. It's unclear how much he knows about Anna's past, that she's a survivor of incest, abused by her father. At least in the beginning, it's unclear. He certainly knows in the end. At the beginning after seeing the burned bodies, Anna has a nightmare and he is there to comfort her. He makes a sexual move and she is repelled and he goes on and on about this for the rest of the book. Why do men think that this is what a woman wants after a tragedy? (not all men of course but obviously Emmett Parker does and I've known a few personally so that colors my reaction to this).

There is no feel of attraction between them, not to me. Jealousy yes. Seeing each other as a possession would be closer. And Parker acts like a complete and utter patronizing dick to her for the rest of the book. At the end she invites him to join her in a partners of abuse survivors’ therapy meeting with her therapist and he shuts her down. When another woman in the know yells at him for this his reaction is “Then what the hell am I supposed to feel- Some kind of guilt just for being male?”. Wow. That just says all you need to know about Parker. Her asking him to understand what it’s like to be the survivor of incestuous rape is happening just to make him feel bad. He resents a woman he supposedly cares for because he thinks she's trying to scapegoat all men for what her father did. Nice. It's soured me on the whole series.

Other things that annoyed me: Why is it every Caucasian in a pro-Native American book depicted as insensitive asshole? Don't get me wrong. I know that there are many who are. On the other hand, not ALL are, I've been a non-Native worker on a reservation. I'd like to think I wasn't a patronizing racist. Summerfield does calm down as we go along and seems to hate the desert more than the people. I do wonder though why there are never Hispanic or African FBI/Cops in these things. I have a cynical answer for that.

I didn't appreciate the potshot taken at Hillerman's books in this. If the Dine themselves showed their appreciation of the man's works, it's fair to say that they're good and respectful works.

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read from Kirk Mitchell. It was loaned to me from a friend, and I found out from the covers that this author is heavily compared to other Native American mystery writers. This one is about N.A. law officers going after N.A. bad guys. There are multiple Gila monster attacks throughout.
Although I didn't dislike it, it just didn't do it for me as an engaging mystery. I didn't connect with the characters, and the plot got a little confusing by the end. Maybe because I was skimming at that point. I would possibly read another book by this author, but there are many others that'll come before him.

[LAB · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spirit Sickness, by Kirk Mitchell, is a title in a series featuring FBI agent Anna Turnipseed and BIA investigator Emmett Parker. I listened to this instead of reading it hardcopy; it was performed well. Both detectives are Native Americans and they get called in on cases involving tribal residents. In this case it was a person who corrupted a Navajo legend to justify the need to be a repetitive killer. It was entertaining enough to keep me engaged, but was not strong on character development or plot sophistication. This one was not as good as others I've read in the series, but it wasn't bad enough to put me off of the author. I'll read another one of these days.