Blending mystery and the
complexities of criminal cases on the tribal lands in Oklahoma, Scalp
Dance: A Sam Chitto Mystery by Lu Clifton opens just outside of Hugo,
Oklahoma. Lieutenant Sam Chitto is a member of the Oklahoma Choctaw Police. A man
of honor and principles haunted by his past, he is also very frustrated with
the rules and regulations regarding crimes and jurisdictional land
boundaries.
Frustration stemming from situations such as the current rape case he working
where a non-Indian is the assailant and most likely nothing is ever going to
happen to him.
Sam Chitto has made it clear to
Director Daniel Blackfox that he wants and needs a change from the normal daily
grind though this new case he had handed to him is not what he had in mind.
The case involves the homicide of a man found on the Tuskahoma council house
grounds. The victim was decapitated which, while clearly the cause of death,
was also done in such a way to leave very little evidence behind. The head,
once removed, was placed next to the body. It is also apparent that prior to
death the deceased had been spread eagled and staked down to the dried ground
made hard by the summer heat. Despite what must have gone on there is nearly no
evidence on or around the body. Since the dead man, one Delbert Wilcox not
listed on the tribal roll, was married
to Emma Love Wilcox of the Chickasaw, Director
Blackfox is going to pair Sam Chitto with Police Sergeant Frank Tubbe of
the Chickasaw Nation. The director wants Tubbe and Chitto to work the case hard
and fast and do as much as they can before the FBI swoops in and takes over.
That might have worked better if the
person or persons involved had stopped at just one. They didn’t. As the bodies
begin to accumulate, it slowly becomes clear the who and why behind it all in Scalp
Dance: A Sam Chitto Mystery by Lu Clifton.
This is one of those cases where the
review buzz and hype is actually warranted. Author of the middle school books
titled Freaky Fast Frankie Joe, Immortal Max, and Seeking
Cassandra, Lu Clifton has created a very strong novel of mystery as
well as psychological complexity. She has taken the clichés of a son haunted by
the unsolved case of his murdered father and a husband haunted by the death of
his wife from cancer where the simple act of eating and enjoying food made by a
woman could be viewed as a sign of disrespect to the dead wife, and managed to
rework them both in ways that are fresh for readers. Add in various ongoing
cases made more difficult by the legal complexities with regards to crimes on
Indian lands in Oklahoma and more makes Scalp Dance: A Sam Chitto Mystery a
solidly good read.
It will also be interesting to see
what happens in the next book in the series. While the ending works and reveals
the identities and motivations, it also raises at least a couple of questions in
the mind of this reader as how this series will move forward. Nothing more can
be said without very possibly ruining the book. That certainly will not happen
here. It also would not be surprising if Scalp Dance: A Sam Chitto Mystery racked
up several awards for author Lu Clifton. It truly is that good.
Scalp Dance: A Sam Chitto Mystery
Lu Clifton
Five Star
February 2016
ISBN# 978-1-4328-3129-5
Hardback (also available in eBook
format)
256 Pages
$25.95
Material supplied by the good folks of the Plano
Public Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2016
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4 comments:
Good story line. I see the murder is a gruesome one. I'm curious as to why the picture is of Texas, but the setting seems to all be in Oklahoma.
I think you got confused. The blog header picture is a Texas roadside maker along the western border of the state because I am a native Texan and live in Texas (and like the picture), but the book cover images on the review are not of Texas.
Well, duh. Why didn't I look at the title? It clearly says, Kevin's Corner and I've seen it before. It looks a lot like areas around Phoenix, Arizona where I was raised. Thanks for clearing that up.
lol....no problem. Just glad the book cover had not mutated in some strange way. It has happened before with blogger.
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