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Vanished #1-3
The Vanished Series: Books 1-3
The first three books in the Amazon #1 Best Selling Paranormal Suspense series!
When the crows gather over a remote Navajo Reservation in the deep Southwest, it is a sign that the thin veil that separates our world from the one beyond is about to open. Without a barrier between life and death, things pass between both worlds. Some of them are good. Most of them are not.
Three strangers find themselves on the front lines of a supernatural battle that spans generations, crosses our world and the world beyond, and forges bonds that last through life and death. This complete set contains the first three books in the Vanished Follow the Crow (Book 1), Beyond the Veil (Book 2), and T he Coyote Way (Book 3).
What readers are
★★★★★ - Grabs you by the heart, leaves you breathless
★★★★★ - Impossibly intriguing
★★★★★ - Mystery, Tradition, and Afterlife rolled into three parts
★★★★★ - Good vs. Evil Navajo Style
★★★★★ - Good from Start to Finish
When the crows gather over a remote Navajo Reservation in the deep Southwest, it is a sign that the thin veil that separates our world from the one beyond is about to open. Without a barrier between life and death, things pass between both worlds. Some of them are good. Most of them are not.
Three strangers find themselves on the front lines of a supernatural battle that spans generations, crosses our world and the world beyond, and forges bonds that last through life and death. This complete set contains the first three books in the Vanished Follow the Crow (Book 1), Beyond the Veil (Book 2), and T he Coyote Way (Book 3).
What readers are
★★★★★ - Grabs you by the heart, leaves you breathless
★★★★★ - Impossibly intriguing
★★★★★ - Mystery, Tradition, and Afterlife rolled into three parts
★★★★★ - Good vs. Evil Navajo Style
★★★★★ - Good from Start to Finish
632 pages, Paperback
Published January 23, 2021
4721 people are currently reading
1390 people want to read
About the author
B.B. Griffith
20 books214 followersB. B. Griffith writes best-selling supernatural thrillers. He is the author of the Vanished series, the Tournament series, and the Gordon Pope thrillers. He lives in Denver, CO, where he is often seen sitting on his porch staring off into the distance or wandering to and from local watering holes with his family.
See more at his digital HQ: https://www.bbgriffith.com.
If you like his books, you can sign up for his mailing list here: http://eepurl.com/SObZj. It is an entirely spam-free experience.
See more at his digital HQ: https://www.bbgriffith.com.
If you like his books, you can sign up for his mailing list here: http://eepurl.com/SObZj. It is an entirely spam-free experience.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews
November 16, 2020
A Navajo reading the books
The beginning was okay, then it got weird... Decided to keep reading...not skipped page in last book. Navajo do not paint their faces...I know it is just a story. Glad I can return it.
The beginning was okay, then it got weird... Decided to keep reading...not skipped page in last book. Navajo do not paint their faces...I know it is just a story. Glad I can return it.
July 19, 2021
Couldn’t finish it
Apparently, the author knows nothing about the Dine people, their culture and beliefs, the area (4-corners/reservation), and the Navajo nation. I found the lack of research and knowledge very disrespectful.
Apparently, the author knows nothing about the Dine people, their culture and beliefs, the area (4-corners/reservation), and the Navajo nation. I found the lack of research and knowledge very disrespectful.
November 30, 2024
Kindle Unlimited
Follow The Crow
Beyond the Veil
The Cowboy Way
A trio of tales by Griffith, published under the title of The Vanished Series
The Vanished is something I have wanted to read for over a year but got in too deep with Netgalley reviews to follow up on it. But it was worth the wait - this is an excellent story, told very well, a family story taking place in northwestern New Mexico - Chaco Flats, Farmington, Gallup, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and the small village of Chaco located on the Navajo Reservation.
There are several memorable characters who carry over in the series. Carolyn Adams is an oncology nurse at the main hospital in Alberquerque, working on the Intensive Care Unit for cancer patients, which is separate from the main ICU. Dr. Owen Bennet also works with cancer patients at the Alberquerque hospital. Both also donate time to the Chaco Health Center on the reservation. The other constant throughout the series is The Walker. The Walker is a changing personality, an escort, one you will learn to appreciate as things roll along. And, of course, the crows. If you find this story interesting, Google Chaco Canyon, which is south of Chaco Flats. It is a very rare Anasazi Solar and Lunar Observatory that became a gathering place for tribes from as far away as southern Mexico and California. Over 300 ruins are preserved. It is a treasure of history right in our backyard.
FOLLOW THE CROW. THE primary story here revolves around the Navajo Dejooli family. Ana was Ben's little sister, born with heart issues, a youngster who disappeared several years ago from the Albuquerque hospital ICU while a family friend, Ben's best friend Joey, was sitting with her during their extensive death watch. No one ever found out what happened to her body. Ana was a fey child, always happy, a girl who lived in her imagination and was loved by everyone who knew her. Ben has never gotten past the fact that they were not able to say goodbye to Ana as custom dictated. There is a Navajo ritual that separates the living from the dead that helps to accept the loss of a loved one. They were denied that closure, and it still hurts.
Ben lives in the family home, half of a duplex, with his grandmother and his father. His mother left them after Ana disappeared, herself disappearing into the wide world. Reservation housing is for the most part simple. Several generations of the Dejooli family have resided there, and it is small but comfortable and truly 'home' to them all.
And now Ben, a Navajo policeman in his thirties, gets knocked unconscious on the job. Transported to Albuquerque hospital before he regains consciousness, he can't wait to escape and hastily promises his nurse, Carolyn Adams, that he will follow up with an MRI as she feels there is an underlying problem. He shouldn't have passed out, certainly not for as long as he was out. Only ongoing harassment from Carolyn and Dr. Owen Bennet gets him in to have the scans done.
And he has brain tumors that are cancerous, the disease is too involved for surgery to be an option. Ben can't stand the idea of the hospital ICU after months of sitting with his sister there, so he eventually talks Dr. Bennet into ordering his chemotherapy administered at his home on the reservation. And Carolyn, who volunteers at the clinic there along with Dr. Bennet, will have to administer it. Though the hospital has offered it in the past, she has never been involved in administering it in anything but the hospital setting. They will have to work it out together. They will work out a lot of things, together.
BEYOND THE VEIL The second in a paranormal series, set for the most part on the Navajo Reservation in NW New Mexico and sold as The Vanished Series Books 1-3, Beyond the Veil is a continuation of the first story but completely stand alone. The story is much richer, however, if read as a series. In Beyond the Veil, we have Ben Dejooli, Caroline Adams, Owen Bennet, and the (new) Walker, from the first novel. We also hear from Grant Romer and his grandfather. Grant is a tweenie, riding his bike all over the oil fields out of Midland, Texas. His grandfather is a tool-pusher on one of the rigs, returning to work from retirement when Grant's parents are killed in a car wreck. Grant has a special second sight, and a very close bond with Chaco. The giant crow Chaco and Ben's childhood friend Joey have starring roles as well. This is a very entertaining and compelling book. I couldn't put it down.
THE COYOTE WAY Centered around the Native Market held in Santa Fe, New Mexico every autumn. The Coyote Way is a stand-alone novel but much richer when viewed in the series. Grant lives now with Caroline and Owen in an RV, and the adults travel over the massive Navajo Reservation treating the ill during the day at various health clinics while Grant is attending the Navajo school in Chaco. He has his first crush, a Navajo girl with a mean older brother, and his interdependent relationship with the crow Choco has matured into a part of life as he now knows it.
Many native communities nationwide are involved in a push to be prepared for the annual street sale in Santa Fe, including the Chaco school children, who are helping prepare the booth for their art to be displayed and sold. Tens of thousands of tourists attend this sale every year. The biggest part of the annual income of these families comes from these sales, and many have spent most of the year preparing items to sell. And as lovely and quaint as Santa Fe is, it is also massively crowded, especially during this week, and prime for a terror attack. Everyone has to be on the lookout for weird. And there is quite a bit of weird around most of the time, so it's a difficult job to spot the dangers in this crowd. And there are many dangers, for our intrepid Navajo.
Reviewed on December 19, 2021, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, and BookBub. Not available for review on Kobo or GooglePlay.
Follow The Crow
Beyond the Veil
The Cowboy Way
A trio of tales by Griffith, published under the title of The Vanished Series
The Vanished is something I have wanted to read for over a year but got in too deep with Netgalley reviews to follow up on it. But it was worth the wait - this is an excellent story, told very well, a family story taking place in northwestern New Mexico - Chaco Flats, Farmington, Gallup, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and the small village of Chaco located on the Navajo Reservation.
There are several memorable characters who carry over in the series. Carolyn Adams is an oncology nurse at the main hospital in Alberquerque, working on the Intensive Care Unit for cancer patients, which is separate from the main ICU. Dr. Owen Bennet also works with cancer patients at the Alberquerque hospital. Both also donate time to the Chaco Health Center on the reservation. The other constant throughout the series is The Walker. The Walker is a changing personality, an escort, one you will learn to appreciate as things roll along. And, of course, the crows. If you find this story interesting, Google Chaco Canyon, which is south of Chaco Flats. It is a very rare Anasazi Solar and Lunar Observatory that became a gathering place for tribes from as far away as southern Mexico and California. Over 300 ruins are preserved. It is a treasure of history right in our backyard.
FOLLOW THE CROW. THE primary story here revolves around the Navajo Dejooli family. Ana was Ben's little sister, born with heart issues, a youngster who disappeared several years ago from the Albuquerque hospital ICU while a family friend, Ben's best friend Joey, was sitting with her during their extensive death watch. No one ever found out what happened to her body. Ana was a fey child, always happy, a girl who lived in her imagination and was loved by everyone who knew her. Ben has never gotten past the fact that they were not able to say goodbye to Ana as custom dictated. There is a Navajo ritual that separates the living from the dead that helps to accept the loss of a loved one. They were denied that closure, and it still hurts.
Ben lives in the family home, half of a duplex, with his grandmother and his father. His mother left them after Ana disappeared, herself disappearing into the wide world. Reservation housing is for the most part simple. Several generations of the Dejooli family have resided there, and it is small but comfortable and truly 'home' to them all.
And now Ben, a Navajo policeman in his thirties, gets knocked unconscious on the job. Transported to Albuquerque hospital before he regains consciousness, he can't wait to escape and hastily promises his nurse, Carolyn Adams, that he will follow up with an MRI as she feels there is an underlying problem. He shouldn't have passed out, certainly not for as long as he was out. Only ongoing harassment from Carolyn and Dr. Owen Bennet gets him in to have the scans done.
And he has brain tumors that are cancerous, the disease is too involved for surgery to be an option. Ben can't stand the idea of the hospital ICU after months of sitting with his sister there, so he eventually talks Dr. Bennet into ordering his chemotherapy administered at his home on the reservation. And Carolyn, who volunteers at the clinic there along with Dr. Bennet, will have to administer it. Though the hospital has offered it in the past, she has never been involved in administering it in anything but the hospital setting. They will have to work it out together. They will work out a lot of things, together.
BEYOND THE VEIL The second in a paranormal series, set for the most part on the Navajo Reservation in NW New Mexico and sold as The Vanished Series Books 1-3, Beyond the Veil is a continuation of the first story but completely stand alone. The story is much richer, however, if read as a series. In Beyond the Veil, we have Ben Dejooli, Caroline Adams, Owen Bennet, and the (new) Walker, from the first novel. We also hear from Grant Romer and his grandfather. Grant is a tweenie, riding his bike all over the oil fields out of Midland, Texas. His grandfather is a tool-pusher on one of the rigs, returning to work from retirement when Grant's parents are killed in a car wreck. Grant has a special second sight, and a very close bond with Chaco. The giant crow Chaco and Ben's childhood friend Joey have starring roles as well. This is a very entertaining and compelling book. I couldn't put it down.
THE COYOTE WAY Centered around the Native Market held in Santa Fe, New Mexico every autumn. The Coyote Way is a stand-alone novel but much richer when viewed in the series. Grant lives now with Caroline and Owen in an RV, and the adults travel over the massive Navajo Reservation treating the ill during the day at various health clinics while Grant is attending the Navajo school in Chaco. He has his first crush, a Navajo girl with a mean older brother, and his interdependent relationship with the crow Choco has matured into a part of life as he now knows it.
Many native communities nationwide are involved in a push to be prepared for the annual street sale in Santa Fe, including the Chaco school children, who are helping prepare the booth for their art to be displayed and sold. Tens of thousands of tourists attend this sale every year. The biggest part of the annual income of these families comes from these sales, and many have spent most of the year preparing items to sell. And as lovely and quaint as Santa Fe is, it is also massively crowded, especially during this week, and prime for a terror attack. Everyone has to be on the lookout for weird. And there is quite a bit of weird around most of the time, so it's a difficult job to spot the dangers in this crowd. And there are many dangers, for our intrepid Navajo.
Reviewed on December 19, 2021, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, and BookBub. Not available for review on Kobo or GooglePlay.
October 29, 2020
This is a must-read series for anyone who enjoys speculative fiction about the afterlife. The books weave in the Navajo myths and culture, breathing fresh life into a story that's been told in many different ways. The books are divided into chapters told from the perspective of the different characters. Each character is so fleshed out, with a distinctive voice and motivations, that the approach enhances the story flow and keeps the reader turning the pages. I especially enjoyed how the Grant Romer character's voice changes as he grows from an eight year old boy into a teenager. Still the same character, but with the expected changes that hormones bring. Also, the ending did not disappoint. The story felt complete and balance was restored. Well done, B.B. Griffith!
June 17, 2021
A thoughtful reader of my novels gave me this book series, believing I'd enjoy it. They were 100% correct and I'm grateful they passed this along to me! But it wasn't the storyline that won me over, it was the writing style of the author. Within the first page I'd fallen in love with the author's voice for the opening character and didn't want to put the book down. It was the superb writing style that made me care deeply about every character, and that is what propelled me through the unexpectedly bizarre supernatural world these characters found themselves a part of. I especially enjoyed the Native American influences. Highly recommend this series for the writing alone. If you like paranormal with Native American overtones I think you'll love it.
December 19, 2020
Like so many other books, this series took me where I likely could not go myself - inside the Navajo reservation outside Albuquerque NM and inside mystical rituals and powerful totems away from the typical tourist path. I loved the 3 related stories of this series, as well as the ordinary characters involved in extraordinary events. I highly recommend read all 3 in succession.
January 25, 2018
Great set of books to read..looking forward to reading more of his works...A'ho...
Loved this book..learned more about my heritage. ..looking to learn even more...already ordered another book about my Navaho heritage. .
Loved this book..learned more about my heritage. ..looking to learn even more...already ordered another book about my Navaho heritage. .
October 27, 2021
BB Griffith has no knowledge of the Navajo. In the first book he refers to several bars,there are no bars on the Rez, Alchol is illegal. I gave up reading it after this.
August 18, 2022
Enjoyed this series.
June 23, 2021
Very interesting. Navajo lore. Coyote/shape shifters, a love story or two. A good mystery. All in all a really good airplane/vacation book
July 23, 2018
There are not nearly enough novels out there that represent Navajo culture and life on a reservation. I grew up less than 2 hours from Farmington, NM and less then 45 minutes from two smaller reservations. Life is tough and B.B did a great job of highlighting the cultural differences... fear of doctors, belief in chants and healing rituals, a life spent finding a balance between being true to your culture and surviving in one that tries to tear you down.
This three book series was awesome and I love the urban fantasy type feel that is threaded into ancient Navajo folk lore. Be prepared to be sucked in and kept on your toes because you really never know what will happen throughout any of the three books. I love it when I can’t guess what’s going to be the plot twist 60% of the way through.
All I can say is READ THIS!!
This three book series was awesome and I love the urban fantasy type feel that is threaded into ancient Navajo folk lore. Be prepared to be sucked in and kept on your toes because you really never know what will happen throughout any of the three books. I love it when I can’t guess what’s going to be the plot twist 60% of the way through.
All I can say is READ THIS!!
Read
July 31, 2020I enjoyed the Vanished series (three books) very much. The Navajo topic, covering the location and cultural heritage didn't disappoint even though it stretched the imagination. I'm a big fan of Tony Hillerman and I think he would have saluted B.B. Griffith for his thorough research and story telling craft.
I loved the format of the book, separate chapters for each main characters, all speaking from the heart in the first person. I also liked the characters which is always a big plus fo me when I pick up a book. Last but not least I appreciated the rich descriptions and vibrant vocabulary used by the author. I'll definitely look at some of his other books.
I loved the format of the book, separate chapters for each main characters, all speaking from the heart in the first person. I also liked the characters which is always a big plus fo me when I pick up a book. Last but not least I appreciated the rich descriptions and vibrant vocabulary used by the author. I'll definitely look at some of his other books.
October 17, 2022
I am reading Book 1, and am dismayed to discover that the author is not familiar with the Navajo Nation place names. Chaco Canyon is a historical park, not a town. Window Rock, Shiprock, Nageezi Chinle and other significant locations within the Navajo Nation are not mentioned. There is no difference in the voices or thought processes of the characters: Caroline, Ben and Owen all sound the same. The author appears to have created both rituals and names that do not exist. Subsequent books may improve, but if a reader wants to learn about the Navajo Nation, read Tony Hillerman.
December 27, 2024
I don't think I'll be revisiting this series. It was really a slog to make myself finish up the last hundred or hundred and fifty pages of the third book and I'm just not interested in continuing a story with these characters.
What's good: The magic in the book is so interesting I really wish more time were spent devoted to it and not the characters and their relationships. I really loved the description of the chaos spirits getting loose and wreaking havoc at the oil rig. I desperately wanted more scenes like that. The coyote also was pretty spooky, I really had hoped to see more of that entity with the horrific implications made about it. Literally all the good parts of the story for me were where the magic and mythology of the world came into play. I liked Joey and the other crow totem circle members. Caroline's aura sight was really neat, I wanted more exploration of it. Ben is at his best when he's thinking about his familial relationship, like with his sister, grandmother, dad or mom. Ben and Joey deserved more page time as friends too. Young Grant in the second book is cute.
What's not so good: It's just very weird to have a book so heavily focused on specifically Navajo mythology where only one POV character is Navajo and he's dead almost the entirety of the story. Like why not have Joey as another POV? He was cool. It also felt paced oddly at spots, it seemed like there was a lot of "hurry up to wait" happening even with the time skips. Then the long built confrontations kept getting pretty easily resolved.
What I couldn't stand: I think I hate all of the main characters. They're all so annoyingly wrapped in self pity and while self-deprecating humor can be fun sometimes after the fiftieth time Caroline joked about how neurotic she was I was ready to start skipping her chapters. But it wasn't just her! Ben falls into this huge well of "I wish I weren't dead but I am so I have to accept it" then goes round and round with that thought in circles, making no real progress emotionally (until the third book), Owen gave me increasingly icky Nice Guy vibes (iirc he even calls himself a nice guy at one point which YUCK DUDE) as the story went on, and Grant completely loses what little charm he has after they timeskip him into an angsty teen, especially when he changes his accent which felt so unnecessary. I just didn't like ANY of the POVs they all drown in "woe is me, I'm so unsure, I'm so flawed" pity parties. And their relationships with each other just aren't well developed or interesting to me. Caroline and Ben fall in love after like two days of seeing each other, it's Disney levels of unbelievable. Owen and Caroline have a one-sided thing that turns into a one-and-a-half sided thing that does nothing but grate my nerves. Owen and Ben think of each other mostly in relation to how much the other one is involved with Caroline. Owen and Grant don't do anything especially close with each other until it's time for Owen to take a bullet then suddenly Grant's calling him Dad. Like, huh? Did I miss the part where they actually grow into a father-son relationship or did it happen over the time skip where we didn't get to see? It just didn't make any sense to me, it felt like a cheap attempt at making Owen's apparent death even more serious. Owen in general is a big Nothing character for me. I don't think I liked one thing about him but maybe that's just because he spends too much time mooning over Caroline. Which speaking of...
What I HATED: I'm so over love triangles. This series has a love triangle between a dead guy, a neurotic nurse, and Dr. Nice Guy. Every time the focus shifted onto who Caroline wanted to be with, I felt like cat vomiting. It actively made the story worse and felt forced. Caroline isn't believably in love with either men, both men are hung up over her despite impossible circumstances, they aren't even mad enough at each other to be interesting rivals for her affections. I just HATE love triangles.
Pass on rereading this and pass on continuing this series for me. There isn't enough magic in it to keep me going and every POV characters makes me yak.
What's good: The magic in the book is so interesting I really wish more time were spent devoted to it and not the characters and their relationships. I really loved the description of the chaos spirits getting loose and wreaking havoc at the oil rig. I desperately wanted more scenes like that. The coyote also was pretty spooky, I really had hoped to see more of that entity with the horrific implications made about it. Literally all the good parts of the story for me were where the magic and mythology of the world came into play. I liked Joey and the other crow totem circle members. Caroline's aura sight was really neat, I wanted more exploration of it. Ben is at his best when he's thinking about his familial relationship, like with his sister, grandmother, dad or mom. Ben and Joey deserved more page time as friends too. Young Grant in the second book is cute.
What's not so good: It's just very weird to have a book so heavily focused on specifically Navajo mythology where only one POV character is Navajo and he's dead almost the entirety of the story. Like why not have Joey as another POV? He was cool. It also felt paced oddly at spots, it seemed like there was a lot of "hurry up to wait" happening even with the time skips. Then the long built confrontations kept getting pretty easily resolved.
What I couldn't stand: I think I hate all of the main characters. They're all so annoyingly wrapped in self pity and while self-deprecating humor can be fun sometimes after the fiftieth time Caroline joked about how neurotic she was I was ready to start skipping her chapters. But it wasn't just her! Ben falls into this huge well of "I wish I weren't dead but I am so I have to accept it" then goes round and round with that thought in circles, making no real progress emotionally (until the third book), Owen gave me increasingly icky Nice Guy vibes (iirc he even calls himself a nice guy at one point which YUCK DUDE) as the story went on, and Grant completely loses what little charm he has after they timeskip him into an angsty teen, especially when he changes his accent which felt so unnecessary. I just didn't like ANY of the POVs they all drown in "woe is me, I'm so unsure, I'm so flawed" pity parties. And their relationships with each other just aren't well developed or interesting to me. Caroline and Ben fall in love after like two days of seeing each other, it's Disney levels of unbelievable. Owen and Caroline have a one-sided thing that turns into a one-and-a-half sided thing that does nothing but grate my nerves. Owen and Ben think of each other mostly in relation to how much the other one is involved with Caroline. Owen and Grant don't do anything especially close with each other until it's time for Owen to take a bullet then suddenly Grant's calling him Dad. Like, huh? Did I miss the part where they actually grow into a father-son relationship or did it happen over the time skip where we didn't get to see? It just didn't make any sense to me, it felt like a cheap attempt at making Owen's apparent death even more serious. Owen in general is a big Nothing character for me. I don't think I liked one thing about him but maybe that's just because he spends too much time mooning over Caroline. Which speaking of...
What I HATED: I'm so over love triangles. This series has a love triangle between a dead guy, a neurotic nurse, and Dr. Nice Guy. Every time the focus shifted onto who Caroline wanted to be with, I felt like cat vomiting. It actively made the story worse and felt forced. Caroline isn't believably in love with either men, both men are hung up over her despite impossible circumstances, they aren't even mad enough at each other to be interesting rivals for her affections. I just HATE love triangles.
Pass on rereading this and pass on continuing this series for me. There isn't enough magic in it to keep me going and every POV characters makes me yak.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2021
I just finished this amazing series and can't say enough about the writing, the plotting, and the rich infusion of Navajo culture, customs, and mythology within the story. Griffith has crafted an absolutely compelling tale about good and evil and the gatekeepers that protect our human world from chaos.
Ben DeJooli is a reservation policeman who finds himself caught between duty and desire. Scarred by the disappearance of his younger sister years ago, he fights to solve the mystery until a diagnosis of brain cancer changes the purpose of his life. He falls in love with Caroline, a nurse serving on the reservation who is tasked with his chemo care. She returns his affection, but her special ability to see the auras or 'smoke' of others tells her his death is imminent. Owen Bennett, an oncologist at the same hospital also cares for Ben as he, too, falls in love with Caroline. The three are drawn into the mystery of the Circle, a group tasked with protecting the human world from the chaos residing in the afterlife. When Ben dies, he becomes the Walker, responsible for leading the dead into the afterlife and the one tasked with keeping coyote from breaching the veil between worlds. When he fails, trouble breaks out everywhere, and the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.
The Native legends of Crow and Coyote infuse the narrative, providing an in-depth look at a mythology little-known to most, as well as creating a well-drawn paranormal world. I loved this three-volume work, even though the ending made me sad.
Ben DeJooli is a reservation policeman who finds himself caught between duty and desire. Scarred by the disappearance of his younger sister years ago, he fights to solve the mystery until a diagnosis of brain cancer changes the purpose of his life. He falls in love with Caroline, a nurse serving on the reservation who is tasked with his chemo care. She returns his affection, but her special ability to see the auras or 'smoke' of others tells her his death is imminent. Owen Bennett, an oncologist at the same hospital also cares for Ben as he, too, falls in love with Caroline. The three are drawn into the mystery of the Circle, a group tasked with protecting the human world from the chaos residing in the afterlife. When Ben dies, he becomes the Walker, responsible for leading the dead into the afterlife and the one tasked with keeping coyote from breaching the veil between worlds. When he fails, trouble breaks out everywhere, and the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.
The Native legends of Crow and Coyote infuse the narrative, providing an in-depth look at a mythology little-known to most, as well as creating a well-drawn paranormal world. I loved this three-volume work, even though the ending made me sad.
February 11, 2018
I've only read a couple of works involving Native American mythology and have always found the subject intriguing. This series didn't disappoint. I would say that the first and third books in the series were more satisfying in this regard than the second. The second book lacked the suspense and building tension that the first offered, but was still a fun, fast read. All three books did a good job of character development, particularly the first. I would say that I felt that the first book, with a few adjustments, could have read like a stand-alone work. The second and third books seemed more connected to one another in tone and overall feel, and generally seemed to take the series in a direction that seemed a departure from the first. Nevertheless, the third book did a good job tying off the various ends of the backstory, events that happened to various key characters in the first two installments, and bringing things to a satisfying climax and resolution. I'd give the first book a 4.5, the second a 3.5, and the final installment a solid 4. I thoroughly enjoyed the Vanished Series and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a new twist on the paranormal mystery genre.
September 4, 2018
Absolutely wonderful. Quality writing. Quality characters. Great story
This is an amazing series. I was drawn to the description because of the Navaho themes and background, which I always enjoyed in Tony Hillerman’s books. Incidentally, I came away feeling that this author understands Navaho culture and mythology as well as Hillerman.
Griffith’s writing is superb. The books are written in the first person by three or four different narrators and in the present tense - something that I have not seen done successfully before, but which is pulled off here so well that you quickly forget the unusual format and are drawn deep into the lives of the characters. These are finely drawn with distinct voices - especially Grant, the young boy who comes into the story in the second book, and matures to difficult teen in the third.
I don’t want to add any details about the plot as I don’t want to introduce spoilers. Just take my word for it, it’s unique. It’s thrilling, surprising, shocking, wonderful, moving. I read the last few chapters through brimming eyes. And it wasn’t because I was reaching the end of the book.
Read it. I don’t think you’ll regret it.
This is an amazing series. I was drawn to the description because of the Navaho themes and background, which I always enjoyed in Tony Hillerman’s books. Incidentally, I came away feeling that this author understands Navaho culture and mythology as well as Hillerman.
Griffith’s writing is superb. The books are written in the first person by three or four different narrators and in the present tense - something that I have not seen done successfully before, but which is pulled off here so well that you quickly forget the unusual format and are drawn deep into the lives of the characters. These are finely drawn with distinct voices - especially Grant, the young boy who comes into the story in the second book, and matures to difficult teen in the third.
I don’t want to add any details about the plot as I don’t want to introduce spoilers. Just take my word for it, it’s unique. It’s thrilling, surprising, shocking, wonderful, moving. I read the last few chapters through brimming eyes. And it wasn’t because I was reaching the end of the book.
Read it. I don’t think you’ll regret it.
February 24, 2018
Impossibly intriguing!
So well- woven.I don't know how to describe why I loved this book(really,it's one long amazing book).It was a departure for my normal genres I read,which are mystery /romance combos.The humor in this tale is dark,and perfectly fits the subject which is Death.There are many things this white chick learned about Navajo ways while reading it.Perhaps it's even a jumping off point for learning even more.I know one thing,Chaco the "thin thing",a huge crow who talks like a beach bum,totally stole my heart.But the story isn't about a crow.Crows definitely play a role,however.Love plays a role,even in death,...nifty little triangle between Ben,a Navajo cop who dies and becomes,The Walker,(not a spoiler alert)!Caroline,his oncology nurse,and Owen,the doctor in love,with her.Together with Grant,they form a powerful force to try to balance the chaos by Coyote.I'm not going to explain any further.Each chapter is,by turn,written in the voice of the four main characters.I loved that best about all three novels.
So well- woven.I don't know how to describe why I loved this book(really,it's one long amazing book).It was a departure for my normal genres I read,which are mystery /romance combos.The humor in this tale is dark,and perfectly fits the subject which is Death.There are many things this white chick learned about Navajo ways while reading it.Perhaps it's even a jumping off point for learning even more.I know one thing,Chaco the "thin thing",a huge crow who talks like a beach bum,totally stole my heart.But the story isn't about a crow.Crows definitely play a role,however.Love plays a role,even in death,...nifty little triangle between Ben,a Navajo cop who dies and becomes,The Walker,(not a spoiler alert)!Caroline,his oncology nurse,and Owen,the doctor in love,with her.Together with Grant,they form a powerful force to try to balance the chaos by Coyote.I'm not going to explain any further.Each chapter is,by turn,written in the voice of the four main characters.I loved that best about all three novels.
February 20, 2024
If you like Tony Hillerman's Joe Leaphorn novels and are into urban fantasy THIS is the series for you!
I was drawn in by the cover of 'The Vanished Crow' love me some corvids. Then I quite enjoyed Ben Dejooli's character and the depiction of his life on the rez. I've spent a lot of time on the back of a motorcycle over the years in these environs and quite enjoyed re-visiting them thru these books.
I've also been on a nurse kick for awhile (looking askance at Cassie Alexander's Edie Spense series) and Caroline and Owen scratched 'that' itch nicely. I will say don't get attached to firmly to any particular character in this series (oh, mysterious *spoilers*)
This particular set was a 3-1 on kindle unlimited so . . .
å
The stories DO connect and there is (in some cases) a significant time shift between novels. The whooo-hooo timey-wimey bendy stuff is getting bendier by the book. So far highly enjoying them and fixing to dive directly into book #4 before my kindle unlimited time runs out.
I was drawn in by the cover of 'The Vanished Crow' love me some corvids. Then I quite enjoyed Ben Dejooli's character and the depiction of his life on the rez. I've spent a lot of time on the back of a motorcycle over the years in these environs and quite enjoyed re-visiting them thru these books.
I've also been on a nurse kick for awhile (looking askance at Cassie Alexander's Edie Spense series) and Caroline and Owen scratched 'that' itch nicely. I will say don't get attached to firmly to any particular character in this series (oh, mysterious *spoilers*)
This particular set was a 3-1 on kindle unlimited so . . .
å
The stories DO connect and there is (in some cases) a significant time shift between novels. The whooo-hooo timey-wimey bendy stuff is getting bendier by the book. So far highly enjoying them and fixing to dive directly into book #4 before my kindle unlimited time runs out.
March 9, 2020
Truthfully, I didn't read the whole thing although it has great reviews.
I liked book one - once I got into it. One of the issues I had with it was that each chapter was written in first person and was by a different character so I had to really read and pay attention .
Once I got into a few chapters - I really liked the storyline. There is a lot of myth, folklore and also history about that Navajo Nation - that part I loved and I felt like Griffith had probably done a lot of research to be able to attach the Navajo Nation part to those myths and folklore.
It was gritty but kept me on the edge of my seat.
Book 2 started with a Walker - I just couldnt quite wrap my head around what was going on or what was being told.
All in all a great book, great reviews, lots of research done for the book- that I could tell .
I liked book one - once I got into it. One of the issues I had with it was that each chapter was written in first person and was by a different character so I had to really read and pay attention .
Once I got into a few chapters - I really liked the storyline. There is a lot of myth, folklore and also history about that Navajo Nation - that part I loved and I felt like Griffith had probably done a lot of research to be able to attach the Navajo Nation part to those myths and folklore.
It was gritty but kept me on the edge of my seat.
Book 2 started with a Walker - I just couldnt quite wrap my head around what was going on or what was being told.
All in all a great book, great reviews, lots of research done for the book- that I could tell .
January 5, 2022
A thrilling roller coaster ride through the mystical world of the indigenous Navajo people. Never a dull moment. The four main characters include a doctor and nurse from a Navajo health clinic, a teenage boy from the Texas oil country, and a Navajo police officer. Their lives become intertwined on a mission to save our physical world from malevolent spirits that escape from behind the thin veil that separates physical from the spiritual afterlife. These spirits take different forms to spread chaos, and ultimately destroy our world. A masterful creation that brings to mind the familiarity with the Navajo people of Tony Hillerman and the entrancing writing of Tolkien.
Some graphic violence but not gratuitous at all, merely descriptive of the power of the entities on the other side of the veil and their willingness to use any means to achieve their goal.
Loved every page.
Some graphic violence but not gratuitous at all, merely descriptive of the power of the entities on the other side of the veil and their willingness to use any means to achieve their goal.
Loved every page.
September 11, 2022
A well written book series based within Navaho Mythology that will stir your imagination as the story comes alive with people you will care about as the story unfolds into an explosive climax as it grabs your heart with uncertainty until the very end.
One hell of a story, wrapped in a bit of Navaho mythology that will grab your imagination and heart as this well written story unfolds. It unfolds a bit slowly as the characters are brought to live in a manner that brings them alive as you read; yet the story rises to an explosive climax, that will bring tears as you reach the end. The three books are well connected and well worthy of your time and should be added to your reading list.
One hell of a story, wrapped in a bit of Navaho mythology that will grab your imagination and heart as this well written story unfolds. It unfolds a bit slowly as the characters are brought to live in a manner that brings them alive as you read; yet the story rises to an explosive climax, that will bring tears as you reach the end. The three books are well connected and well worthy of your time and should be added to your reading list.
November 12, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this series with its wonderful, substantive characters. Every one of them, major, minor, two-footed, or four-footed, was believable and sprung to life in my imagination. The characterization of New Mexico (and later the Permian Basin) in Follow the Crow was spot on, including roadside vendors of the exquisite roasted piñon (equally delicious fresh from the cone, and luckily for me, in season as I read book 3). I loved the educational journey into Native American (Navajo/Diné in particular) lore. I did not want this series to end!
Please write more - I'm sure the venerable Chaco has seen countless stories unfold, and doubtless has something to say about New Mexico's spectacular cloudscapes!
Please write more - I'm sure the venerable Chaco has seen countless stories unfold, and doubtless has something to say about New Mexico's spectacular cloudscapes!
February 20, 2023
I suck at these reviews.. Ok first if you love Native American lore and you are sceptic about anything woo woo! Then this is a great series...I love everything and anything related to crows...and native folk lore! Griffith brought sceptics and believers together in this series...So no spoilers here...the only complaint I have is maybe a little too much reminiscing on the past here..I personally got a little bored with the I was a doctor ...nurse ...cop ..thing .But that said pretty surprising entertainment. True to what I understand about the Navajo....6 Years is along damn time to wait for the damned climax!...lol check it out I recommend this Griffith guy! I may even read another of his books! Praise to Chaco I love him truly do! Owen no-one exists like him do they??? What a champ! END!
February 1, 2018
A look into Navajo folklore
A fascinating look into Navajo folklore. Great characters and plot twists. Caroline is an overworked oncology nurse, Owen is the kindest doctor on her floor. When an end of shift patient arrives, Caroline gets a feeling that there's much more wrong with Ben than he cares to admit. Owen and Caroline come up with a plan to get Ben to go for a recommended MRI that Ben dismisses. As Ben's symptoms increasingly becomes undeniable,he finally gets the MRI and receives devastating news. As Ben struggles with treatment, Caroline is by his side and their relationship blossoms but fate has a different plan for them.
A fascinating look into Navajo folklore. Great characters and plot twists. Caroline is an overworked oncology nurse, Owen is the kindest doctor on her floor. When an end of shift patient arrives, Caroline gets a feeling that there's much more wrong with Ben than he cares to admit. Owen and Caroline come up with a plan to get Ben to go for a recommended MRI that Ben dismisses. As Ben's symptoms increasingly becomes undeniable,he finally gets the MRI and receives devastating news. As Ben struggles with treatment, Caroline is by his side and their relationship blossoms but fate has a different plan for them.
December 12, 2022
If you like mystery, suspense, paranormal & excitement, these are the books you MUST read!! Unforgettable characters, storyline & superb writing combine to make an excellent read! WARNING!! This is NOT an "I'll read for 20 minutes before going to bed" book. Ain't gonna happen. My best recommendation: pick a weekend, stock up on easy foods, munchies & drinks, stay in your jammies, lock the door with "Do Not Disturb" sign on it, turn off your phone, curl up on your bed, couch or most comfy reading chair with your blankie and just binge read the trilogy. Gonna be worth it. (Don't forget to breathe!)
February 8, 2022
Griffith starts this series out in the style of Hillerman. Gripping, believable, and balanced. A good amount of research is reflected in the story and characters, enough that these characters might join the Leaphorn and Chee club.
Writing about First Angry is a daunting task; legend and tradition tell us that capturing him is not a challenge humans are up to, even if we steal his warnings. With the changing of the Keeper the story slows and loses the energy it started with. But, maybe this is just the work of the Trickster?
Writing about First Angry is a daunting task; legend and tradition tell us that capturing him is not a challenge humans are up to, even if we steal his warnings. With the changing of the Keeper the story slows and loses the energy it started with. But, maybe this is just the work of the Trickster?
October 15, 2022
I listened to the audio version of these books. The overall 3-book series was good, but I had a bit of trouble with the first book. Two of the main characters meet, barely make a connection and then become long lost lovers was a bit pushed or far fetched for me. Surely the author could have found a way to connect them other than one lost kiss?
Otherwise, the rest of the story told through the remaining books kept me listening—except when the failed romance between those two main characters was thrown into the forefront. Honestly, making them friends would have been a better plot point.
Otherwise, the rest of the story told through the remaining books kept me listening—except when the failed romance between those two main characters was thrown into the forefront. Honestly, making them friends would have been a better plot point.
October 18, 2023
strange but so compelling!
Wow. I really loved this book (it’s really one book in three parts)and it is hard to describe why. Perhaps it is because the characters are so real and I like them so much that the strange otherworldliness of the story is anchored by them. Perhaps it is because of the rich and authentic background of the Navajo culture, and the opportunity the story gives to learn more than I have ever known about it. Perhaps it is just plain good storytelling. Or all of the above.
Good stuff. I highly recommend.
Wow. I really loved this book (it’s really one book in three parts)and it is hard to describe why. Perhaps it is because the characters are so real and I like them so much that the strange otherworldliness of the story is anchored by them. Perhaps it is because of the rich and authentic background of the Navajo culture, and the opportunity the story gives to learn more than I have ever known about it. Perhaps it is just plain good storytelling. Or all of the above.
Good stuff. I highly recommend.
April 1, 2025
Author disrespectfully uses the Navajo lands, people and culture to create a completely inaccurate rendering of their world. He can't even get places, locations and basic details correct, like the Rez is dry, no bars. why would he do that? Maybe the story is decent fiction but I couldn't get over it and stopped reading. And I am white myself and even I know more about the people and the country. Also I think pretending to use their mysticism is bad energy. I got a vibe while reading it that was too dark and not being an idiot I quit . reading.
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