An Indian boy informs Jamaica that the buffalo herd was out of its confines. Even though it’s the Quiet Time when the pueblo is closed, it’s Jamaica’s job to investigate the report. She arrives to find Jerome Santana standing in the center of the herd. Jerome is Mama Anna’s son. Jamaica attempts to get his attention to no avail. The buffalo stampede, and Jerome is killed. Jamaica only barely manages to hang on to her Jeep and not be trampled herself.

Jamaica suspects that Jerome was drugged, but Indian customs preclude the standard autopsy and inquest, particularly during the traditional Quiet Time. Nevertheless, Jamaica feels compelled to look into the incident. Even being suspended from her job doesn’t convince her to drop the case.

Narrator Jamaica makes short, cryptic references to earlier events in her life which hint of an earlier book, but Wild Indigo is the debut by author Sandi Ault and the first book in a proposed series starring Jamaica Wild. The story introduces an uncommon heroine in an unusual setting, but the book is not without flaws. The mystery plot as outlined above gets frequently and seriously derailed as Jamaica gets in-depth experience in Indian traditions and mysticism and when she expounds at length about wolves and raising a wolf pup. The book’s pacing is awkward with numerous flashbacks and diversions interrupting the narrative.

Not much attention is devoted to character development. Jamaica is more fully developed than the others, but she remains something of an enigma. The various Indians (and there are many) are mostly one-dimensional, proud and honorable, often inscrutable, but not much more.

Readers who are intrigued by the original heroine and setting may be interested in checking out Wild Indigo, but mystery fans who like their stories to be gripping and smooth-flowing may be disappointed.

--Lesley Dunlap