The Witch of the Palo Duro

by Mardi Oakley Medawar

Book Overview

"Another great storyteller is emerging."-Tony Hillerman Award-winning authorMardi Oakley Medawar In 1866 the Kiowas return to their traditional winter camp at Palo Duro Canyon for the first time in... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425167356
• ISBN13: 9780425167359
• Release Date: February 1999
• Publisher: Berkley
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.0" x 0.8" x 4.3"

Customer Reviews

Where are you, Ms. Medawar?

I discovered Tay-Bodal quite by accident and I just loved the book I read, which sent me out in search of other Tay-Bodal books. Alas, there are only four, and none currently in print. The stories are well-plotted, the style engrossing and humorous and the characters endearing (except for the villains, naturally). In addition to getting a great mystery, I also got a history lesson in each book and learned a great deal about the Kiowas and their tragic fate over 100 years ago. I also learned about Native American culture, their religion and medical practices. Why aren't there MORE of these books? That's what I want to know. They are just wonderful.

A good read - and culturally leavel-handed

In short, I am impressed with Ms. Medawar's novel. It is a pleasant read, with reasonably interesting plot twists and a good backdrop. I must admit that when I first began the book, I got the erroneous first impression that it would be another "new age" apology for the long-lost and noble Amerind culture of the Kiowa-Comanche; a point of view that I confess I do not share. I put the book down. I returned to it months later (this weekend) with a mind to read it no matter what, and was most pleased. It provides a fairly accurate (though perhaps a wee-bit sugar coated) depiction of Kiowa-Comanche camp life prior to the Red River War. Also, Ms. Medawar provides what I beleive to be an even-handed portrayal of the Kiowa-Comance ethos and ethic, warts-and-all. Perhaps most importantly, however, is the fact that she spins an enjoyable mystery with a most enjoyable setting and all-too-human characters. I strongly recommend this book.

The characters come alive in this mystery.

I love reading mysteries...and I read Death at Rainy Mountain by this same author. The authors style really captures the richness of each character and made me feel a part of the story. I couldn't put the book down until I finished it. Keep creating the Tay-bodal books there excellent.

Sheer brilliance

Late in 1866, the Kiowas are starting to prepare their winter camp at Palo Duro Canyon, Texas when trouble besets the tribe. A renowned healer and seer, Skywalker, mysteriously disappears. Several horses are killed and just about everyone claims to have seen a shape-changing witch. However, all hell occurs when the wife of one of the chiefs suddenly, for no apparent reason, dies. Everyone believes the witch killed her. So when Tay-bodal's spouse, Crying Wind, accidentally gives too much medicine to an ailing infant, Red Bird convinces his tribesmen that she is the evil witch. Tay begins to investigate what is causing the mishaps that are happening to his fellow tribesmen in order to not only save the life of his spouse but to save the tribe from falling apart. Instead of relying on special powers, Tay uses scientific investigative techniques to learn the truth behind the problems that have led to the tribe being on the brink of mass hysteria. However, by his inquiries, Tay has placed himself in danger with the conflicting political sides of the tribe and a dangerous individual who desires the truth to remain hidden. Still, the mischief maker does not understand that Tay loves his wife and nothing will stop him from insuring that the charge of witchcraft is proven false. WITCH OF THE PALO DURO, the second novel in the historical fiction Tay-bodal series, is a well written book that complements the original novel, DEATH AT RAINY MOUNTAIN. Tay is a unique character, who approaches his investigations using deductive and inductive reasoning while being surrounded by superstitious individuals who seek mystical solutions to problems. The story line is interesting and the secondary characters add to the genuine feeling of a post Civil War nineteenth century tribe. However, this series is all about contrasting Tay with his peers and Mardi Oakley Medawar succeeds in her endeavor. Harriet Klausner