Dry Bones by Craig Johnson Viking hardcover - 9780525426936 - $27.95 - 5/12/15
Writing in the tradition of Tony Hillerman, among others, Craig Johnson has produced a cracking good mystery that conveys aspects of American Indian culture and society as well as yet another example of how this people has been and continues to be put upon by our government, business and general population.
As usual, there’s a lot to learn from Mr. J., in this case about paleontology. Wyoming has always been a great source of Jurassic and other fossils, and in this book we meet a large one: Jen, a T-rex also known by a number of other names, details of which you’ll get when you read. Take it from me, if it’s in here, it’s real. This author doesn’t just make stuff up. Well, yes he does, but not the facts. If you heard it about dinosaurs, geology or the academia surrounding them from Craig, you can believe it.
The discovery of an intact skeleton of the fearsome predator on land owned by a Northern Cheyenne elder by two scholars collecting for a small-time local museum precipitates a course of jiggery-pokery only known in the circles of scientific exploration. Does the critter, which seems to be worth something like Eight Million Dollars belong to the U.S., the local museum, the owner of the property or the tribe?
Enter the FBI (and make sure to note the other meaning of this acronym) in the person of Agent Mike McGroder whom you may remember from Hell is Empty where he’s shot and nearly bleeds to death as the result of the malice of a vicious serial killer. He’s OK now and back at the job. This veteran of the war against crime owes Walt and steps right up to help in the investigation of the suspicious death of the unfortunate owner of the ranch on which the discovery is made. He’s smart and tough and has a real sense of humor to boot.
As usual, Walt depends upon the usual cast of characters we’ve come to love (more on this later) as he juggles a possible murder investigation, a publicity-hungry Acting Deputy Attorney General (ADAG), an elusive young scientific researcher, a dysfunctional reservation family and the impending arrival of his daughter Cady and granddaughter Lola. The pressure’s on, and Walt handles it as he always does, deftly, but in his own particular way, a way that doesn’t always sit well with others. Add to this the eventual inclusion of a nemesis from Walt and Vic’s past that accelerates the creep factor, and you have one good story.
So, about this. There’s an inside joke about Craig’s books and their description as being “character driven”. It’s true, and when you see the following list, you’ll get what I mean. Throughout the series, these people have become like family, always evolving, changing, growing, passing through the vividly described landscape interacting in ways we feel are natural. We believe in them. Here they are.
•Walt – grizzled, steadfastly resolute, self-doubting, guilt-ridden, honest to the bone, compassionate, savvy and when necessary, violent.
•Henry Standing Bear – Northern Cheyenne giant, best friend, mentor, moral compass, sometime accomplice, savior and when necessary, violent.
•Victoria Moretti – undersheriff, sometime lover, potty-mouth of epic proportions, cynic, 3rd generation cop, sister-in-law to Cady and when necessary, violent.
•Cady – at once tender and tough, brilliant legal mind, at times at odds with her Father, but always loving and not violent.
•Ruby – dispatcher of the Absaroka County Sheriff’s Department, mother to the crew and guardian of Walt’s health and well-being.
•Cesar (Sancho) Saizarbartoria – Basque deputy, new father, source of information on infant behavior and supplier of equipment and material for the care thereof. Mellow, but when necessary, violent.
•Double Tough – as the name implies, one hard case, former roustabout and deputy with not much to say, but when necessary, violent.
•Brandon White Buffalo – the other FBI, true giant and leader of the Northern Cheyenne tribe. Brother to Virgil White Buffalo, sometime spirit guide to Walt.
•Lonny Little Bird – legless elder of the tribe, jokester (although dry to the point of being dusty) and keen observer of his world.
•Lola Long – the female chief of tribal police and solid, dependable backup or point person, whatever’s needed.
•Lucian Connelly – former sheriff, alcoholic, curmudgeon of the first order, profoundly wise in matters of crime, chess player and when necessary, and frequently when not necessary, violent.
If you’ve read the books, you know these folks, and my bet is that you love them for all their strengths, weaknesses, good and bad traits. The characters make these stories, the plots and the landscape provide the stage upon which they strut and fret. Read Dry Bones. Read all of Craig’s books. You won’t be sorry.