Navajo Police Special Investigator Ella Clah must draw on all her analytical skills as she confronts an escalation of gang violence on the reservation, the murder of her best friend, Lisa Aspass, during a burglary, and her mother's near-fatal encounter with a drunk driver. YA-As a special investigator with the Navajo police force, Ella Clah finds herself and her department straining to meet the demands placed upon them. First, Ella's mother is seriously injured in a car accident caused by a drunk driver who happens to have a lot of political clout. Then, vicious gang wars break out, leaving several 16 year olds dead. Next, someone murders the fiancee of Ella's close friend, Wilson Joe. Vigilante groups form to counteract both the gangs and the skinwalkers, or Navajo witches, who are becoming a major component in the gang wars and the murder. Through the law enforcement training she has received as an FBI agent, and the guidance of her brother, Clifford, who is a Navajo hataalii, or medicine man, Ella brings all the differing aspects of the story together in a memorable standoff with the leaders of the skinwalkers. From descriptions of the great beauty of the area and the monumental natural terrain, to the ever-changing weather in the Southwestern desert, each scene includes bits of information that tie the story and the people to the land. Justine, Ella's cousin, best friend, and associate on the force, shows more of her own personality as the story progresses and details about her character begin to surface, adding depth and substance to her initially sketchy profile. The story starts with tremendous energy and never lets up. A book for fans of Tony Hillerman as well as readers who enjoy Nevada Barr's strong female characters. Pam Johnson, Fairfax County Public Library, Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. Ella Clah is a special investigator for the Navajo police. She's FBI-trained and educated, but the black-and-white technology of modern law enforcement is often at odds with the overtly mystical world of the Navajo reservation. Ella's brother says her investigative skills are a gift from the spirits rather than a product of training and experience. Ella needs all her skills--modern and spiritual--to combat a crime surge and a personal tragedy. Lisa Aspass, the fiance e of Ella's best friend, is brutally murdered in what appears to be a burglary attempt. Then Ella's mother is struck by a politically connected hit-and-run driver. She may never walk again. Gang violence is escalating, and an attempt is made on Ella's life. Neither mystical insights nor modern forensic science are needed for Ella to realize that much of the violence is somehow connected to her. A masterfully written, carefully plotted mystery featuring one of the genre's most believable and empathetic protagonists. Wes Lukowsky