The Killing of Monday Brown: A Phoebe Siegel Mystery

In her latest job, Montana PI Phoebe Siegel, introduced in By Evil Means , hopes to clear a Crow Indian suspected of murdering a grave robber. The brisk narrative begins when a vanload of people spills into the PI's yard. Sent by Kyle Old Wolf, Phoebe's friend and a member of the local police, they're all related to the murder suspect, Matthew Wolf. He is accused of killing Monday Brown, whose body is missing, as is most of the latest batch of artifacts that he had sold to Jurgen Muller, a hulking German who is haunting Billings and snarling at the locals. The Wolfs are staying quiet about the two artifacts they found in Matthew's car. Phoebe is barely on the case when James Eagle, a friend of Matthew and his brother Steven, is murdered. Kyle says the answers Phoebe wants are on the nearby reservation, but even with the help of a psychologist familiar with the Indians, the investigation grows stranger and more dangerous. Prowell adds dimension to her twisting plot and varied cast with Phoebe's unsentimental interest in a culture she finds baffling in both its traditional and modern aspects. (May)