Defiled: The Sequel to Nailed Featuring John Tall Wolf (A Ron Ketchum Mystery, Book 2)-- by Joseph Flynn

 Fiction / Thriller

281 pages / 2898 KB

5 Stars

 

As I mentioned in my review of Nailed, I would have this book loaded on my eReader before the review was posted. It was. I did, however, have to wait a short while before I could read it. I knew once I started, I would not want to set it down. My suggestion? Make a pot of coffee and set yourself down early in the morning. I leave it to you how to handle kids and spouse. Perhaps you would be better off checking into a hotel with room service? For a much-needed break? Yes. There you go.

 

Indeed, John Tall Wolf returned, and helped solve the mystery of the death of a rich and not overly loved developer in Goldstrike, and the dirty bomb set to detonate and ruin the pristine lake for years and years. 

 

I don’t know that you need to read Nailed first, but, if possible, I suggest you do as it sets the tone, introduces the main characters, etc. Great story, marvelous read. Perfect escape. Oh, and I read somewhere that this is where John Tall Wolf was introduced. THAT explains why I missed someone. I’d already read the series!

Nailed (A Ron Ketchum Mystery Book 1) —by Joseph Flynn

 Fiction / Mystery

342 Pages / 2173 KB

5 Stars

 

As I’ve stated on several reviews, I read fiction for the escape and to feel better when I put the book down than when I picked it up. Mr. Flynn has yet to let me down.

 

My favorite series of his, to date, has been the John Tall Wolf series. Ron Ketchum is running a mighty close, photo-finish second. (And I see where the next Ron Ketchum book features John Tall Wolf in it! It will be loaded on my reader before this review is posted. Honest. Trust me.)

 

This book has a mountain lion out hunting humans, a racist killer nailing a black minister to a black, charred tree. A town mayor “for life” who is a high-rolling movie star. Killers, scammers, and down-home boys trying to do their jobs and maintain the peace. 

 

The only think about this book I didn’t like was it was too short, and I reached the end. Fortunately, (and I just checked my reader) Defiled is downloaded and ready to read. Alas, it will be my carrot. When chores are finished, I have a date with John Tall Wolf AND Ron Ketchum.

Powwow in Paris (A John Tall Wolf Novel Book 6) --by Joseph Flynn

Fiction / Mystery

213 pages / 1253 KB

5 Stars

This is the 6th, and to this date (5 May 20) last in the series. I'm really sorry, the books are great fun, and this one was no exception. 

Grandfather White River has been asked to speak at a congress of indigenous peoples in Paris who wish to have their holy relics returned to them. The French are not much inclined to do same. Sell them, perhaps, but for no money? Uh, probably not. They seem to have the idea what's taken in love and war is theirs. Oh, but the French have never met Grandfather White River, or John Tall Wolf, or Marlene Flower Moon aka Coyote. But they will.

Bodaway comes to Paris to apologize to his Great Grandfather, Alan White River for trying to kill him. He also apologizes to Coyote for shooting her, and to John Tall Wolf for trying to kill him. He longs for and hopes for forgiveness from all. But he still belongs to Coyote.

And the terrorists who try to kill a few hundred people and destroy a couple of France's iconic emblems have never met Coyote, either. But they will.

I have read all six books, and found mistrakes in 3 or 4 of them. Were they intentional? I don't know. Did they detract from the story? Not at all. Am I gonna tell you? Nope. Buy the books and find 'em yourself!

Big Medicine (A John Tall Wolf Novel Book 5) --by Joseph Flynn

Fiction / Mystery

153 pages / 3198 KB

5 stars

We have our second female President, and she wants John Tall Wolf in her cabinet, a position he doesn't want, but when your President asks...

And Marlene has disappeared. She turned in her resignation when President Morrissey took office and hasn't been seen since. Where is Coyote? What is she up to?

As if those weren't enough to give Tall Wolf a migraine, his Great Grandfather, Alan White River known the world over for stealing the Super Chief has been released from prison after serving two years and is now living with Tall Wolf in DC. Rebecca, Tall Wolf's wife is living and working in Los Angeles area. And Tall Wolf must find a stolen lap top computer that contains information that can be used for tremendous good or tremendous evil, and he has 3 days in which to do so.

Oh, yes, and Bodaway, Tall Wolf's cousin who tried to kill him and had an up close and personal encounter with Coyote that he lives to regret, returns. Others who, for whatever reasons, have such up close and personal encounters with Coyote do not live to tell about it. 

The fun thing about these books is the characters. And they are fun. I laugh out loud often. I'd truly like to have coffee with most of them. Well, not the antagonists, maybe, but the protagonists. We see another side of Coyote here. It's different. But it's Marlene. And it just might surprise you.

Oh, and there's another mistake. And, no, I'm not telling. Read the book. It's a fun read, even if you find the mistrake. Honest. Trust me.

Smoke Signals (A John Tall Wolf Novel Book 4) --by Joseph Flynn

Fiction / Mystery

189 Pages / 1958 KB

5 Star

Coyote is Trickster. Coyote is also very intelligent. One reason Coyote has survived so long since humans came into her territory, is she learns, she adapts, she's wily.

John Tall Wolf his fiancé of the RCMPs, and his boss, Marlene (Coyote) find themselves in the Washington Cascade mountains. Marlene still wants Tall Wolf, but she is learning, adapting, becoming more wily. Who will win this dancing contest? It's anybody's guess, but there is a strong indication that Coyote has met her match. Will she figure it out?

There is a bear prowling these woods and he's hungry. He isn't particular who he eats, he just wants someone, anyone, and seems to really want Tall Wolf. There is also a monster who makes an appearance or two. Something no one has seen and lived to talk about. The monster also wants Tall Wolf.

Again, Tall Wolf is playing well with others, which I find refreshing, instead of all the books with protagonists who are terminally ill with testosterone poisoning. Tall Wolf has his share, and then some, but he isn't poisoned by it. He sees no harm in sharing, in fact, he sees benefit in same, if not now, perhaps later. He even tries to make his boss look good.

Marlene has more of a presence in this book, and it's great. How much does she change? I'm not sure, but Book 5 is waiting for my perusal.

Super Chief (A John Tall Wolf Novel Book 3) --by Joseph Flynn

Fiction / Mystery

220 pages / 3419 KB

5 Stars

Want to make a statement? Want to commit an act of domestic terrorism and not have anyone die? Steal a train! Not just any old Amtrak train, but the Super Chief, spiffed up and on its way to a museum in Chicago. Make it disappear. Then hope and pray that John Tall Wolf isn't sent to find you. (Your prayers will not be answered.)

Tall Wolf, the Apache and Navajo adopted by Haden Wolf and his wife Serafina Wolf y Padilla, finds himself being forced to go the one place he swore he'd never go – onto a reservation. Not just any reservation, but the one his birth mother was from. And some members of his blood family still want him dead. But not all.

If you've not read any of the series, you can start here, but I highly recommend you start at the beginning and read sequentially. Many of the minor characters move through the books, and I think you'll enjoy the series more if you get in at the beginning.

Once again, Tall Wolf is playing well with others, local cops, train cops, and feds. Coyote is still trying to get Tall Wolf, but something changes. Just barely. True, she wants Tall Wolf, has claimed him, and that claimed ownership makes her meaner than a mama bear when someone else goes after him. They are still dancing around each other, and my advice is, don't get between them as Tall Wolf's cousin, Bodaway, found out.

A terrific series to binge read

War Party (A John Tall Wolf Novel Book 2) --by Joseph Flynn

Fiction /  Mystery

155 pages / 2182KB

5 stars

John Tall Wolf is Apache and Navajo who works as a BIA cop. His boss is Coyote. If that's not enough to grab your attention and hold it, as a Fed, he should be in competition with other Feds, like the FBI &c. Instead, Tall Wolf plays well with others including the local cops and actually prefers others get the credit. 

Eight 'Indians' rob a bank in New Orleans during a city-wide hacking job where all traffic lights go 'green.' Due to the Native American ethnicity of the robbers, Tall Wolf is called in. 

Why eight? What kind of sign language do they use during the robberies (yes, there's more than one)? What tribe do they belong to? All good questions, and eventually, all is made clear.

There was one major mistake in the story. Is Mr. Flynn using Aaron Elkins's tactic of deliberately placing a mistake in his books to get letters from readers? I don't know. Was their a mistake in Book 1? I don't remember. And, no, I'm not divulging said mistake. If you catch it, you'll chuckle like I did. If you don't, it won't affect the story at all.

A great read. In this time of Novel Coronovirus, I think I'll binge the whole series.

The President's Henchman, a thriller --by Joseph Flynn

Fiction / Thriller

434 pages / 3074KB

5 Stars

I used to say that thriller's weren't my genre of choice, however, I can no longer state that. I've now read two of Flynn's books (Tall Man in Ray-Bans was my first) and am a full and complete convert. There's enough adrenaline in this book to satisfy just about anyone, but enough laugh-out-loud humor to satisfy me. In fact, the humor can be deadly; I strongly recommend you not read it while eating. 

Jim McGill is an ex-cop, married to a woman who becomes President. He isn't into ribbon cutting and sweet smiles, so gets his PI license, opens an office, and brings one of his ex-cop buddies, Sweetie, to work with him. Sweetie quickly earned my respect. She's no nonsense, hard as diamonds, loaded with compassion and empathy, and her relationship, such as it is, with her landlord is delightful. The characters are believable, the story is engrossing, and I can hardly wait to read the next in the series.

Tall Man in Ray-Bans (A John Tall Wolf Novel Book 1) --by Joseph Flynn

Fiction / Mystery

224 pages / 1697 KB

5 Stars

I read this in three days. I resented having to put it down. If you are a fan of the Hillerman's books about Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito, I think you'll like John Tall Wolf. Tall Wolf is a BIA Agent/cop, with, as he says, "a license to scalp."

The beginning of the book is nice back-story, and a great intro to the main characters and his family. An interesting perspective on Coyote, too that will become, I'm confident, a series running sub plot. 

Yes, if you're a fan of the Hillerman's books, you'll love John Tall Wolf. Time to rearrange your bookshelf and bring a new kid home with you. I laughed and chortled all the way through this book. Book 2 is my self-imposed carrot—if I don't get certain chores done, I can't order the book! Excuse me, I have to get to work.