Die Maskentänzerin

by Naomi M. Stokes

Der Regenwald an der Pazifikküste der USA ist uraltes, geheimnisvolles Land der Quinault-Indianer. Joan Tidewater, eine moderne, junge Indianerin, hat erst vor kurzem zum Glauben ihrer Ahnen zurückgefunden und ihre Rolle als Schamanin und Erbin der indianischen Tradition angenommen. Zugleich arbeitet sie als Polizistin im Reservat der Quinault und gilt dort als eine engagierte Hüterin der Recht der Indianer. Der grausame Mord an einem Indianerjungen gibt ihr Rätsel auf. Derartige Rituale sind Joan unbekannt. Doch dann erkennt sie, dass sie den Weg ihrer Ahnen gehen muss, um den Fall aufzuklären.

Genres: Mystery, The United States Of America, Native American

Paperback

First published February 1, 1997

Reviews

[Debora · Rating 1 out of 5]

sooo bad. how many genres can you mix into one book? Big scramble of shallow characters, unrealistic exaggerated crazyness, (Orca vs. Siberian Tiger, REALLY???) and random plots. The writing style is fluent enough so you actually manage to read the whole book. And by the middle of it you think it is quite all right. But then it went from bad to worse to ridiculous. what a waste of time.

[Susana · Rating 4 out of 5]

strange, unusual, creepy, storytelling

found some annoying editor mistakes

[Beth Gibson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book features Jordan Tidewater, a Quinalt Indian tribal sheriff for her people of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state. A young boy is found murdered in an odd, ritualistic way. Jordan must figure out what has happened and prevent further murders from occurring.

The book starts out interestingly enough because it is so different from the average murder mystery. Unfortunately it got so bogged down in Indian mysticism. Now I understand some would be necessary to explain the method and reason behind the murder. However, there are long passages when the grandfather is training the son. And when Jordan goes on a vision quest, and nothing is produced from it that aids her in solving the crime, it just aids in filling a bunch of pages. And many other diversions that really add nothing.

Read this book if you are interested in Indian lore. It is really good for that. If you are interested in a title woven, mysterious, intriguing plot, you probably should skip it. The second murder was resolved in a very off-hand sort of way (she finds out by reading a letter left for her). And the first murder was resolved in a very anti-climactic manner. I think the author was trying to use the book as as a forum, and not as entertainment.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is dense in information. The actual story is pretty straightforward, but is surrounded by so much cultural anthropology and mysticism that it takes a while to wade through. I think it's part of a series, based in the Northwest with several Native Americans in law enforcement as central characters. For this book, it's Jordan Tidewater, who is both tribal sheriff and a shaman -- and a beautiful single mother. There was so much material, but it all kind of finished up in a hurry.

[scherzo♫ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hints of a great story but the writing is killing me: stilted, awkward, over-written, repetitive, condescending, beating every point into the reader's head from every possible vantage point. The first 50 pages introduced 13 characters, the next several pages did massive info dumps on another six characters. I don't have the patience for this one.

[Jonna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this book, especially after "The Tree People", the author's first book, was so wonderful.

[Rhonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

the storyline was good but I felt there was quite a bit of information added that was not needed.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn't get past the gruesome child sacrifice.