![\"NativeCrimes\"](\"https:\/\/ewgreenlee.files.wordpress.com\/2014\/12\/nativecrimes.jpg\")
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As a self-published author, the little time I have for literary pursuits is limited.\u00a0 I rarely have time to read works of others, let alone find time to write for myself.\u00a0 I know two writers personally, all the others I’ve met online.\u00a0 One of those\u00a0writers is my sister, who has yet to release her story.\u00a0 The other is good friend, Steven Wright, that I met back in the 1980’s, only to lose communications with over 20 years and later to discover we had both moved back to Oklahoma, our son’s were in the same fraternity at the University of Oklahoma, and that we each had written a story.\u00a0 I promised to read and review Steven’s\u00a0story.<\/p>\n
First, let me say that I have the utmost respect for anyone who will share their stories with the fear of being reviewed and criticized.\u00a0 As a self-published author myself, I make mistakes, but I want to share a story and then let the reader decide if they liked it.\u00a0 I’ve read some of the most highly acclaimed stories, only\u00a0to shake my head and wonder why I wasted so much time.\u00a0 Steven’s story could be polished more with the help of a beta readers group.\u00a0 Some of the grammar and plot issues could have been caught and corrected in advance of printing.\u00a0 It is difficult to write a book, but even harder to edit it.\u00a0\u00a0On a scale of 5, I give it a 3 for grammar and some plot development, but this is easily corrected.\u00a0 With this said, I want to concentrate on the story.<\/p>\n
Native Crimes is an original and imaginative\u00a0story that blends true historical events woven into the life of an orphaned child named, Payat, now an adult graduating college, none other than the University of Oklahoma.\u00a0 Payat’s Apache lineage leads to a journey of self-discovery and the unveiling of a family secret.\u00a0 What makes this story original is that it blends\u00a0events I had no idea existed, such as the Yale secret society of Skull and Bones involving Prescott Bush, patriarch of the Bush\u00a0family –\u00a0who were reported to have stolen items from Geronimo’s\u00a0grave, including a knife that provided him\u00a0with invisibility.\u00a0\u00a0While you are reading chapters of historical basis, the next chapter might be developing plot and\u00a0character around these events and the powers of the knife.\u00a0 I found this to be very clever and turned to the Internet to read these stories.<\/p>\n
The chief antagonist of the story is Tuno, a native without a tribal identity, addicted to meth, with an almost demonic need to kill anyone in his way, including\u00a0Payat’s mother.\u00a0 Now an adult, Payat is targeted by Tuno to discover the whereabouts of the knife.\u00a0 A college classmate, Julie, joins Payat in his search for his past and is\u00a0drawn into the string of events that lead to more murders.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The path of death leads\u00a0from Oklahoma to the Mescalero Apache lands of New Mexico.\u00a0 Oddly enough, Steven’s description of those lands was based on a trip he made to Roswell, New Mexico.\u00a0 I lived in Ruidoso for over 3 years, so I could envision from his descriptions the events unfolding before my eyes.<\/p>\n
Steven’s most poignant part of the book comes from a retelling of the Trail of Tears.\u00a0 A history most of us are aware of and ashamed of.\u00a0 Its retelling connects us emotionally to\u00a0Payat, who looks desperately to find himself,\u00a0questioning his Christian upbringing and the ways of the Apache people.\u00a0 Here Steven\u00a0displayed his best writing skills.<\/p>\n
Without giving too much away, the story is further complicated with the historical events\u00a0surrounding the Lost Dutchman mines and yes, the Roswell UFO incident. It is at the end of the story that a conglomeration of secrets are revealed why\u00a0Tuno not only\u00a0wants the knife, but Mexican\u00a0Drug Cartels and clandestine powers in the federal government.\u00a0 Here Payat reaches manhood and\u00a0finds his inner Apache\u00a0warrior, and to find\u00a0peace with himself and\u00a0to lay to rest unanswered questions of his lineage, faith, and his mother’s death.<\/p>\n
In this\u00a0age of comic book reboots, oversexed teenage vampires, and other formula novels –\u00a0Native Crimes stands out\u00a0– unique and imaginative, worthy of being read, worthy of exploring how our past shapes our future, and a reminder of our past.\u00a0 I found the story to be very respectful of Native Americans and keeps many of their traditions alive and well.\u00a0 On a scale of 5, I give the story’s originality a 4.5.\u00a0 I was entertained and made to think.<\/p>\n
Good job Steven!\u00a0 Thank you for sharing your imagination\u00a0with me.\u00a0 Now get busy writing your next story.<\/p>\n
To learn more about Steven Wright and Native Crimes:<\/span><\/p>\n Facebook: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nativecrimesbook<\/a><\/p>\n Amazon: http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Native-Crimes-Steven-Wright\/dp\/1491225041<\/a><\/p>\n