Effigies

Mary Anna Evans
Poisoned Pen Press (2007)
ISBN 1590583434
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (10/06)

"Effigies" has it all.  Mary Anna Evans manages to incorporate romance, archeological information, Native American history, and issues with racial prejudice in to her mystery.  I loved reading this fiction novel.  At the end of the book, the author has a section that discusses aspects of her story that are actually true.  This made "Effigies" much more enjoyable because as she slips the well-researched information into her story, she also slips this knowledge into our minds. 

The tale takes place in Mississippi.  Faye and her friend Joe are excavating a Choctaw Indian site that sites near Naih Waiha which is a sacred mound.  This mound sits on private property.  The owner, Carroll Calhoun, is a farmer that does not want his land touched.  He is afraid that he will lose the right to farm on his land if it is discovered how important this site actually is.  This problem creates an interesting dilemma for the local people.  The farmers want to support this farmer because they are also in danger of having to go through the same experience.  The local Indians do not want the site disturbed at all.  They see the archeologists as grave robbers.  This creates an additional problem for one of the Choctaw Indians on the team.  This matter becomes really serious when Calhoun tries to tear the mound down.  He ends up getting murdered.

Before Calhoun's murder, a black politician steps forward to tell a story about an attempt that was made on his life when he was a young man in this town.  He would like the people who attacked him to step forward, and to learn the identity of the man who helped rescue him.  The question arises as to whether or not Calhoun was involved with this, and if his murder was related to this or to his attempted destruction of the mound.  The plot thickens as certain people try to cover up the past. 

"Effigies" is a story that should not be missed.  I really enjoyed how well the characters are developed.  It is really easy to visualize them.  The descriptions of the surrounding area are vivid.  I also enjoyed the Indian folklore stories that area put in between some of the chapters.  It enriched my experience as a reader.  I felt more in touch with the Choctaw tribe.  The twists and turns of the plot kept me on the edge of my seat guessing.  This story is third in the Faye Longchamp archaeological series.  It was the first one for me to read and now I cannot wait to go back and read her earlier stories. 

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