Seven Black Stones

Molly Bearpaw #3

by Jean Hager

The Apportioner sees what's going on over there and she don't like it. When she gets mad enough, she'll send a punishment, like she did in the old days. Lot of people are going to die. The words were spoken by Zebediah Smoke, whose ramshackle property bordered the Cherokee Nation's new, half-completed bingo hall. Zeb's listeners, his great-nephew and a retired professor who had come to record the old man's stories for posterity, could dismiss his rantings as an old man's melodrama. But in a matter of days Zeb's words seemed to come true. The first victim was found in his garage, dead of carbon monoxide poisoning. While the sheriff wanted to rule it a suicide and close the case, Molly Bearpaw, whose own life had been darkened by suicide, was sure that this was not. So was the teenage daughter of the dead man. And besides, there was the matter of the seven small black stones left in a circle on the seat of Ed Whitekiller's pick-up truck. Whitekiller had been chronically unemployed and perpetual womanizer. While Molly was suspicious of his angry wife, and his latest lover's angry husband, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was something other than a crime of passion. And when another dead man was found within shooting distance of Zebediah Smoke's shack, she knew that seven black stones would be found there, too. Now, she only had to find out why... Jean Hager's most masterful work yet, Seven Black Stones captures the confluences of the traditional and the modern forces in contemporary Cherokee life. With its powerful sense of time and place and rich characterizations, this mystery delves into the issues between men and women, lovers and family, that are common to us all, and thatforce Molly Bearpaw to find not only a killer, but the truths of her own life.

Genres: Mystery, Native American

294 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

aka Leah Crane, Marlaine Kyle, Sara North, Jeanne Stephens and Amanda McAllister.

Jean Hager is the award-winning author of two acclaimed mystery series. One features the half-Cherokee police chief, Mitch Bushyhead. The other stars an investigator for the Cherokee Nation, Molly Bearpaw, and includes her two previous novels, Ravenmocker and . Winner of numerous awards, Jean Hager lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Series:
* Mitch Bushyhead
* Molly Bearpaw
* Iris House B&B

Reviews

[☯Emily Ginder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. If you want to know why, please go to my blog: http://emilyg.booklikes.com/post/7463...

[Karla Huebner]

Another mystery found at the book exchange. The series features characters from present-day Cherokee culture, which makes it somewhat interesting on those grounds, although I wouldn't say that an enormous amount of specifically Cherokee culture appears in this book (which may simply mean that the Cherokees have assimilated pretty strongly into the dominant US culture). Actually, given that the Cherokees are one of the most famous tribes, especially among the so-called Five Civilized Tribes, and that apparently every American whose white ancestors arrived 200+ years ago likes to think s/he is part Cherokee (I'm being sarcastic, but a lot of people do think this), I'd kind of like either to have more information about Cherokee culture OR have a different tribe. But that's really neither here nor there, these are mystery novels and I thought this was readable enough entertainment.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Another good entry in the series. I enjoy investigating with Molly and I think this new job will suit her. The story was interesting and I enjoyed reading it.

[Shirley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad.

The plot is pretty good in this mystery novel but I caught a few errors throughout. The most irritating thing, though, are the numerous typographical mistakes in the book. I always expect to find a few in a book but this one contained more than any other book i have ever read. I assume those mistakes weren't made by the author, but by the typesetter.

[Judith Pollack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good sequel in the (hopeful) series.

This story picks up in the loves and investigations of Molly Bearpaw. Well crafted mystery, well paced. And, unlike the second book, the manuscript was proofed and edited.

[Linette M. Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Good Read

This is my first reading experience with Jean Hagler. I liked her character Molly and I hope she (Jean ) will write more with her. (Molly )

[Patricia L. Douglass · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the story. Typos really bug me though.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Molly Bearpaw is worried that she might lose her job; thuse, she welcomes the distraction of being asked to check into the supposed suicide of Ed Whitekiller. His daughter is positive that he would not have killed himself although he was found in his truck with 7 black stones in the passenger seat, the apparent victim of CO poisoning. The sheriff has refused to check it out despite the bruised area on the back of Whitekiller's head as he asserts it is a suicide. He reluctantly is pushed into a cursory investigation due to Molly"s persistence. When another person is killed and 7 black stones are left at the site, the sheriff can no longer discount the murders.
Hager has fairly good plots and characters. I like the Native American settings but she lacks the writing finesse of Tony Hillerman. Still, her books are solid B level books.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

#3 in the Molly Bearpaw Cherokee Indian mystery series set in Cherokee County Oklahoma. Mary is the investigator for the Native American Advocacy League and responsible for investigating claims of civil rights violations for Cherokees. Like the two in the series, Mary spends more time investigating actual crimes than potential civil rights violation claims.

Mary is asked by a 14 year old to investigate her father's death to show that it was not suicide. Mary works with the sheriff of the adjoining county to determine what happened. It is not long before there is a second death. The story revolves around the building of an Indian bingo casino on the land next to an elderly Cherokee who doesn't approve of it and feels it will bring death and destruction upon everyone.

[bex · Rating 3 out of 5]

i like the characters and the story line. I'd definitely like to read more of the series. But i think i'd like it better with a more stable POV. It shifts a lot even within scenes but doesn't really feel like omni either.

[Carol Hubbard · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this book very much at all. I figured out the mystery on page 37 (before the murder even occurred) and it took the author another 257 pages to conclude her novel.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third in this great series about a Cherokee, Molly Bearpaw who investigates crimes for Native American Agency

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting story and now I am going to see what I can learn on finger weaving

[Cheryl Nobles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it. Because I live in the same area the books are written for me it is like reading a movie. I can truly visualize and feel the temperature she talks about in the book .