Harriet Klausner's Review Archive


Recent Reviews
All Reviews By Author: 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
All Reviews By Title: 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Search Reviews

THE FIRE CARRIER
Jean Hager
Mysterious Press, April 1997, $5.99,245 pp.
ISBN: 0446403873
The Fire Carrier is Jean Hager's fourth novel starring Buckskin, Oklahoma's half-Cherokee Chief of Police Mitch Bushyhead, a person struggling with his Native American identity as he enforces the American law. He is also dealing, rather poorly, with his precious sixteen year old daughter growing up and away from him. On top of all this, he nurses a broken heart when his long distance lover begins to step out on him. Professionally, his small town faces the outbreak of a major crime wave leading to fear and frustration.

When Henderson Sixkiller breaks out of jail, he plans to rescue his sister from her abusive husband, Tyler Hatch, a paragon in the eyes of most people. When Tyler s corpse is found,Mitch finds several suspects. These include the victims wife and child, his brother-in-law, and Dr. Rhee Vann - but all have air tight alibis. The old tribal traditionalists believe that The Fire Carrier, an evil Cherokee spirit, is causing all the troubles that besiege the town. While dealing with his personal problems, Mitch must sort superstition from fact in order to find the killer.

Jean Hager, known for her mysteries that showcase Native American protagonists, does a brilliant job weaving cultural lore and myths into a modern day murder mystery. The Fire Carrier is an excellent police procedural that features many potential suspects and cleverly disguised red herrings to keep readers eagerly turning the pages to learn what will happen next.This is one of Ms. Hager s most ingeniously executed works and comes highly recommended.

Harriet Klausner


Search the archive.
Return to the main page.