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THE DAY OF THE DEAD
by J. A. Jance
HarperCollins, December 2004
384 pages
18.99GBP
ISBN: 0007194269


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

Thirty years ago, a heinous crime was committed. Larry's wife Gayle returns home covered in blood. She claims she is saving her doctor husband. There is a lot of blood to clean up.

The author, J A Jance successfully ties together many stories. Here are some of them. Maria's parents die; she is shipped to an orphanage. After finally being sent to a tough facility where people are abused, Maria and two other girls pretend they are diagnosed HIV positive. This keeps the predators away. Later, she is in dire straits, having been sent away like someone less than a person. Not only does her abuser come, but she also hopes that death comes soon.

Brandon Walker, former Arizona sheriff, meets a Papago Indian woman. She comes to him to ask for his help in solving the murder of her daughter, Roseanne. This crime was committed 30 years ago. Brandon is invited to join a group of retired FBI, cops and forensic people called TLC (The Last Chance). After hearing about old unsolved crimes, the group decide if they want to try to solve them. Brandon jumps at the chance. He listens to the Indian woman, Emma, as she tells the gruesome story of how Roseanne's body was desecrated, and knows he has to help find the answers.

Emma is sent to Brandon by the most interesting person in the story, Gabe Fat Crack. Gabe is a medicine man but also practices Christian Science. He loses his sight to diabetes. As he becomes more ill, his sense of wisdom does not wane. He claims there are many lost girls in their lives. All of them need someone to save them.

There is so much work to be done in saving people. Heading the Medicos for Mexico program is Gayle and Larry Stryker. They are well-respected people in the community; Larry used to be a practicing physician on the reservation for several years. From early in the story, Gayle Stryker emits the sense of evil. She uses most people and has a vindictive streak that is unmatched by few literary characters. Gayle has a toy boy and when he tries to leave her, she does not take kindly to it. You immediately know he is going to pay for not following Gayle's rules.

This is a story of abuse and passion mixed with Native American culture. Evil people with distorted views make you realize that they can be so evil and yet appear so normal.

J A Jance is a master painter of the Arizona spirit and soul. I am a fan of Joanna Brady and J P Beaumont, but I must say that Brandon Walker is my new favorite of the three. The reader is able to begin meeting Brandon's family. His two biological sons disappoint him and are shown as bullies as children; one is dead and the other is in prison. In the boys' early lives, Brandon rescues Brian and also becomes a father to his step-son, Davey. Each has grown to be responsible men. I know that there are many stories that can come from this family.

Be advised that the subject matter is chilling and not for the weak of heart. The reader knows from the beginning who is good and who is bad. This story is excellently written by Jance, accomplishing the sense of tradition and how disjointed unities hold together as glue for the community.

Reviewed by Rita Ratacheck, March 2005

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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