This group is dedicated to reexamining cold cases. Brandon is asked by an elderly Tohono O’odham woman, Emma Orozco, to look into the circumstances surrounding the 1970 death of her daughter, Roseanne. The particulars of the case tell a particularly grisly story. Roseanne’s body had been dismembered, stuffed in an ice chest, and left by the side of a highway.

Brandon’s interest in the case is heightened by the realization that this murder had occurred when he was a young lawman. Though not directly responsible for the mismanagement of the case, he still would like to lessen the old woman’s sorrow over the death of her daughter with the acknowledgement that justice had been served. He would like to see her daughter’s killer held accountable for his ruthless action.

Not being an official lawman is both a blessing and a curse for Brandon Walker. He can operate outside the law to some extent. He can disregard the necessity of search warrants. He will not be prosecuting this case. He doesn’t have to go through “proper channels” when he would like to exhume Roseanne’s body. A simple approval from her mother will suffice. On the down side, he no longer has access to law enforcement records or any other sources that greatly aid in tracking suspects. Fortunately he still has an ally in Brian Fellows, a deputy in his former department. But Brandon must be careful not to do anything to jeopardize his young friend’s career.

On initial inspection, Day of the Dead appears to be yet another serial killer thriller. Describing this novel in such terms is doing an injustice to the quality of Jance’s writing. A more accurate description would include the information that it is a portrayal of the different worlds inhabited by Anglos and the Tohono O’odham people. The book carefully details how these two worlds interact or conflict and how those people, who in truth belong to both cultures, must struggle to reconcile the diverse feelings and thoughts generated by their dual heritage.

Day of the Dead is a powerful novel because it illustrates the emotional ties of individuals such as Lani Walker, a Tohono O’odham young woman who has been reared by Anglo adoptive parents. Her parents, Brandon and Diana Walker, have ties to their daughter’s cultural roots. They understand much of the culture but their baseline of emotion is Anglo. The wrestling of thoughts and feelings from both sides makes fascinating and educational reading.

The characters in this novel are outstanding. They are thoughtful, intelligent creations. Even those operating on the other side of the law display a complex reaction to events. As Larry Stryker, physician and local philanthropist, muses - it is amazing how the course of his whole life has changed direction as a result of a seemingly inconsequential act. Other characters experience similar thought processes. Gabe Ortiz, Tohono O’odham medicine man, car mechanic by trade, remarks that his act of repairing an automobile one day probably determined the direction of the lives of at least two young women.

The author presents an unbiased view of several unusual lifestyles. The fact that an individual has decided to embrace two cultures simultaneously and live in limbo somewhere in between is presented without any opinion concealed or otherwise on the author’s part. No judgment is deemed necessary. Homosexuality is treated in like manner. The true villain of the story (whom the reader knows early on) is an intelligent, complex character. Though the villain’s actions are truly heinous, had not certain circumstances arisen, those subsequent actions might have been much different.

Day of the Dead is a book that deserves a reader’s undivided attention. It is an educational journey into the lives of the Tohono O’odham people as well as an exploration of the possibility of how events can shape lives.

--Andy Plonka