Ghost Dust: Ben Pecos Mysteries, Book 7

Ben Pecos Mystery #7

by Susan Slater

Indian Health Services psychologist Ben Pecos and his eleven-year-old son are enjoying a summer vacation to Ben’s New Mexico pueblo ancestral home when Ben is called back to duty, this time on the Navajo reservation. It’s the year of the global pandemic and the Navajo Nation is under particular threat, especially when supplies ordered by the tribe are being stolen before they ever reach the reservation. Trucks have been hijacked and one driver killed. On their way, Ben and Zac are caught in a huge sandstorm, known to the Native people as ghost dust. Ben slows their vehicle and Zac has an almost supernatural experience. A pronghorn antelope appears beside his window, meeting his gaze and keeping pace with the pickup truck in the gritty, driving sand. Then it vanishes. As Ben works to coordinate relief efforts for the tribe and find out what has happened to their missing medical supplies, Zac meets a new friend, a boy who tells him about Skinwalkers. These humans who can take animal form and make evil things happen represent the darker side of tribal culture. Zac remembers the antelope—did it have kindly intentions, as he imagined, or was it a Skinwalker? As the days pass, the virus isn’t the only danger in the Navajo community—a delivery driver is beaten, and an unexplained murder hits the family of Zac’s new friend. Ben’s wife Julie joins in the effort, only to have her own life threatened as well. Ben has his hands full on all sides, and the twists don’t let up until the final pages of this heart-pounding thriller. Praise for Susan Slater and the Ben Pecos “This is a wonderful book with loveable heroes.” – Library Journal, (on The Pumpkin Seed Massacre) “Susan Slater’s Thunderbird is a witty, absorbing tale.” —Publishers Weekly “Slater effectively combines an appealing mix of new and existing characters … dry humor; crackling suspense; and a surprise ending.” —Booklist “… a gripping novel. We mystery lovers hope it’s the first of many.” – Tony Hillerman “A solid, suspenseful narrative and colorful glimpses of Native American life strongly recommend this …” – Library Journal (on Thunderbird) “… Ben Pecos—raised far from New Mexico’s Tewa Pueblo—could become as lasting a fictional presence as Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee.” – Chicago Tribune

211 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 10, 2020

About the author

Susan has lived in the Southwest for 32 years. The enchantment of New Mexico comes alive in her Ben Pecos series - The Pumpkin Seed Massacre, Yellow Lies, Thunderbird, and A Way to the Manger.

Reviews

[Nancy Quatrano · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a Ben Pecos fan and love how he's getting to move about the country, now. I learn so much about the various American Indian cultures and views as I visit places like Alaska, Arizona, and New Mexico. And he and wife Julie are now in Florida - until they aren't! Gold Dust made me want to shake Julie Pecos though - just like those gals who would go into the haunted basement in those old movies - WHAT ARE YOU THINKING, woman????? But I enjoy that she's determined and intrepid. This was a good read with some interesting twists and turns - as is usually the case with this author.

[Bruce D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben and Julie working on the pandemic on the Navajo reservation

Another good story about Ben and Julie Pecos on the Navajo Reservation. Ben and his son Zac arrive first at the reservation so Ben can assist the Drs and other personnel in fighting the virus pandemic. Zac meets Nathan, and they become close friends. Julie arrives, and she and Ben work hard helping control the pandemic, breaking up a theft ring in the process. Recommended reading.

[Linda Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hastily written.

I usually love Sister's stories. This one seemed to be hastily written and boring. The characters were shallow, even Ben. It seems to me that in an effort to get the message out about government corruption, the author simply created a story to fit that narrative.

[Margaret Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting pandemic story

Dr Ben Pecos is sent to help at a Navaho reservation. The story tells of the difficulties dealing with a severe outbreak of a virus. COVID 19 isn’t named but it is obvious. Murder mayhem suffering ensue. Ms Slater writes exciting, well written books Her people are very believable and likeable. It is a great read.

[Connie Shelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saved finishing this one until Slater's next in the series was close to being released because I just couldn't let go of Ben and Julie. Both are excellent reads! Ghost Dust puts Ben back in New Mexico where he is dealing with the pandemic while working on the Navajo rez. Classic Slater and classic Ben Pecos. I can easily see Tony Hillerman's influence as this author's mentor.

[Connie Shelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Ben Pecos series, and this one does not disappoint. Once again, Ben is caught up in current day issues that affect his people and his family. I could not put this one down!

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

this book is part of a series about a native American who works with the American Indian tribes as physical Dr and his family.

[Lee Brothers · Rating 5 out of 5]

1/29/25 in rereading this it made me aware once again of the pandemic and the struggles that everyone went through during that time. The reservations had a really rough because of the lack of so many fundamental things that many people take for granted. The storyline is amazing and I loved reading it again!!!

A very different story from normal and yet right up there with what’s happening today. A lot of attention to detail but not so much that it took away from the story. The author brought in the mystical to the storyline which added a lot of depth but I think the author could’ve given more of a detailed backstory to explain The Shapeshifters. I was surprised at the protagonist. Looking forward to the next book!!

[J.J. Rusz · Rating 2 out of 5]

No doubt author Susan Slater had good intentions in “Ghost Dust”—to highlight the disparate impact COVID had on Native Americans in the Southwest. But chapter after chapter reads like a bureaucrat’s handbook for dealing with pandemic-related bottlenecks and snafus. Ben Pecos and recent spouse Julie Conlin do uncover some hanky-panky late in the book. But maybe the only fresh element for the series is a relationship that develops between Ben’s recently discovered Alaskan-born son Zac and Nathan, a Navajo boy who has to grow up too fast.