Eight stars
Joseph Flynn is one of the newer authors I have discovered, his work catering to genres I quite enjoy. Flynn has penned a number of strong thrillers, including the Jim McGill political collection, which led me to eventually find this series debut. John Tall Wolf is a great investigator, with intuition and the backing of the Federal Government. An Agent with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Tall Wolf has a penchant for seeing things that others miss, not only because of his heritage. In this opening novel, the reader is able to experience John Tall Wolf at his best, with the perfect introduction to what is sure to be a stellar series. Flynn has done it again and now I am on a new binge!
When adventure sends two young boys to explore a dried-up lake in Austin, Texas, what they discover will floor them. While seeking riches, the boys come across the skeletal remains of someone who was wrapped in chains. It is impossible to identify the victim at first glance, but the likelihood seems high that it is wanted bank robber and fugitive, Randy Bear Heart.
With all the commotion, the FBI finds their way to Austin to look into the discovery, especially if it might be Bear Heart. As one of the victims who died at Bear Heart's hands was indigenous, the BIA—Bureau of Indian Affairs— is along for the ride, with its unique Special Agent John Tall Wolf serving as representative. Tall Wolf is a unique blend of cultures, sentiments, and investigative prowess, all of which play into why he is the perfect addition to any team trying to get to the bottom of the case.
While the FBI hopes to use John to their advantage, he has other ideas. Making it clear that he does not answer to the White Man alone, John forges ahead with the investigation, reined in only by his own boss, Marlene Flower Moon of the BIA's Office of Justice Services. Armed with intuitive abilities and a thirst for the truth, John Tall Wolf begins a trek across the North American continent for answers and the truth behind the skeleton in the lake. What he finds shocks him, almost as much as his own personal history of struggle in the community of New Mexico he calls home. Joseph Flynn does a great job introducing the reader to John Tall Wolf and sets the scene for a great series with this wonderful opening novel.
Those who have yet to discover the work of Joseph Flynn will have to take my word for it when I say that things get addictive fast and there is no stopping the action. Flynn keeps a great flow to the storytelling, while providing insights into the case at hand. The narrative builds and forks repeatedly, but in a way that is both understandable and well worth the reader's time. As momentum hits its peak, the reader finds themselves in the middle fo a case that needs resolving, but whose players are anything but straightforward. Much like two of the other mystery/thriller based series I have read under the Flynn umbrellas, this piece begins with a bang and only gets better with the addition of well-placed characters and some strong settings. With a peppering of themes and a great introduction into the backstory of John Tall Wolf, Flynn keeps the reader on their seat until all comes together by the final pages. I am eager to get into the next book to see just how much the protagonist grows on me.
I rely on the plot to provide the reader something alluring. Flynn has been able to do that here, with not only the case at hand, but the mysterious backstory of its protagonist. There is so much to unpack in the book, though not over a long story, so Flynn has to work effectively. He does well to develop a strong sense of mystery and some surprises along the way. With a great story comes wonderful possibilities and Flynn has capitalised on this. I am eager to delve deeper and see just what else Flynn has in store for readers, as well as how Tall Wolf will cross paths with Jim McGill, (in this series or only the one I have read?). Bring on the next adventure and the quirks of John Tall Wolf!
Kudos, Mr. Flynn, for another great opening novel to a series I am sure to binge!
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