The recently released Sinking Suspicions by Sara Sue Hoklotubbe is number three in her popular Sadie Walela series. Hoklotubbe lives in Pagosa Springs and is a member of the Cherokee Nation. Her hero, Sadie, is also Cherokee and an amateur sleuth who somehow always ends up in the middle of trouble. Lots of it.
This time, it is Sadie’s friend and neighbor, Buck Skinner, who has a problem. Buck’s ranch adjoins Sadie’s property, and she has known him all her life. As this adventure opens, Buck is dealing with the potential loss of his ranch because, somehow, someone has stolen his identity, and now the IRS is threatening to take away everything he holds dear. The World War II veteran, who fought with the famed 4th Marine Division, is at a loss as how to deal with this problem. He hasn’t told anyone about his troubles.
Sadie’s life, meanwhile, is undergoing a huge change. The 37 year old is embarking on a new adventure as a travel agent selling trips to Maui. Sadie’s boyfriend Lance, who is 50, is the police chief of the neighboring town of Liberty. Sadie and Lance both have emotional wounds left by lost loves and are trying to work on their relationship.
To prepare for her new job, Sadie flies to Maui, so she can tell her clients firsthand about the charms and benefits of the destination.
While Sadie is in Hawaii, Hoklotubbe’s description of the surroundings is enticing. Those readers who have had the good fortune to visit Maui will recognize many of the locales. Hoklotubbe also deftly weaves little known, fascinating historical facts about World War II into her story, such as the U.S. Army 422 Regimental Combat Team in Hawaii, which was comprised almost exclusively of Japanese-American men and was the most decorated unit in U.S. military history.
Back in Oklahoma, Lance is dealing with several mysteries. One strikes very close to home: Buck is missing.
Hoklotubbe takes the action back and forth between Lance in Oklahoma and Sadie in Hawaii. Lance has to deal with a disturbing theory that might link Buck to the murders of two men. In Hawaii, Sadie experiences a large earthquake that destroys her cellphone and takes out power on the island, leaving her no way to talk to Lance. The chapters flow back and forth adding to the tension of the story.
Upon initially arriving in Maui, Sadie made friends with Pua, an employee of Playin’ in Paradise Travel. After the earthquake, Sadie goes to Lanai with Pua to check on her mother, Tutu Lehua. While they are there, Tutu tells Sadie that Pua’s father was Cherokee from the mainland, and that he died in the war before she could tell him that she was having his baby. Listening to Tutu’s experiences, Sadie learns about the effects of World War II on the locals and also feels a kinship with Pua and Tutu by seeing parallels between the treatment of Native Americans and Native Hawaiians by white culture.
Finally, Sadie returns home and the danger, mystery and action take on renewed furor. Hoklotubbe unfolds her story using the viewpoints of Sadie, Lance and Buck. As an added bonus, readers are treated to the viewpoint of Sonny, Sadie’s wolf-dog.
Hoklotubbe has created a fascinating mystery that highlights the problems faced by older citizens who are faced with identity theft, bureaucratic computer errors and the possible loss of their homes and way of life. Readers can look forward to the continuing adventures of Sadie and Lance in this intriguing series.
sierrapoco@yahoo.com. Leslie Doran is a Durango freelance reviewer.
If you go
A book signing and author event with Sara Sue Hoklotubbe will take place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main Ave.
