Seventh in the series, and probably better if you're already a little familiar with the characters. There's no mystery here, although there are two deaths by suicide. The main story is the pollution of the groundwater by a huge mining corporation, their utter indifference to the law, and the inability of the residents to bring them to account. The problems on the reservation make this melancholy - alcoholism, drug use, unemployment. The major employer is the mine, pumping poison into the water they have to drink. There are Bowen's usual rich characters, excellent sense of place, unique dialect, and rather poetical writing. Not for the first time I wish there were a music playlist to go along with the book. I was happy that Du Pre didn't spend half the book griping about Benetsee not telling him what to do. But while it ended on a hopeful note, I think Bowen relied on Bart and his fortune way too much. Whatever happened, there was Bart, willing to shell out thousands of dollars (millions, actually) to make it better. That was a bit too fairy-tale, although it's hard to see a positive ending otherwise.

Share/Like this Review?