Murder at Medicine Lodge: A Tay-Bodal Mystery

I've never been much for historical murder mysteries, so it is with great surprise that Ms. Medawar's Murder at Medicine Lodge stirred my soul, as well as my intellect, in ways I'm at a loss to explain. The characterizations were exquisitely detailed, vividly drawing out the multifaceted comparisons and contrasts between the main characters and their constituent groups. The notion of the 19th century native american society, a concept very difficult to effectively explain to the Eurocentric view that most of us are prisoner to, is masterfully conveyed without infringing on the integrity of the plot. With respect to plots, the intricacy of the multiple plotlines worked on many different levels, and Ms. Medawar ingeniously weaves them together for a satisfying finale which will keep you guessing until the last page. All the author requires is your full attention and some basic level of intellectual acumen, otherwise the figurative forest becomes too dense! A challenge most of us can rise to. Personally, I could not put this book down; it ranks with the popcorn page-turners of Clancy but is with the sense of satisfaction of disecting a Huxley. Ms. Marple and Mr. Poirot move over, there is a new master sleuth in town and his name is Tay-bodal, and if you are not too careful, you just might learn a thing or two in the process.