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Peter Bowen
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Coyote Wind: A Gabriel Du Pre Mystery (Montana Mysteries) Paperback – January 1, 1996

by Peter Bowen (Author)
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 875 ratings
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When a thirty-year-old plane wreck is discovered, French-Indian cattle-brand inspector Gabriel Du Pre+a7 takes up his deputy duties to find out why one of the skeletal remains has a bullet hole in its head. Reprint.
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  1. Book 1 of 15
    The Montana Mysteries Featuring Gabriel Du Pré
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    St Martins Pr
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 1996
  5. Dimensions
    4.25 x 0.5 x 7 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0312956010
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0312956011
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ St Martins Pr (January 1, 1996)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0312956010
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0312956011
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.21 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.25 x 0.5 x 7 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 875 ratings

About the author

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Peter Bowen

Peter Bowen

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Peter Bowen (b. 1945) is best known for mystery novels set in the modern American West. He published his first novel, Yellowstone Kelly, in 1987. After two more novels featuring this real-life Western hero, Bowen published Coyote Wind (1994), which introduced Gabriel Du Pré, a mixed-race lawman living in fictional Toussaint, Montana. To date, he has written thirteen Du Pré mysteries. Bowen lives and writes in Livingston, Montana.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
875 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Sandy
5.0 out of 5 stars Top Notch Mystery in Montana
Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2023
Verified Purchase
I have never read a better series of modern "westerns" than Peter Bowen's Gabriel Du Pre' novels. Not only did I learn a lot about Montana's native population, but each of Bowen's books present a challenging mystery for Du Pre' to solve. I love the inclusion of the mystical medicine man and his antics. Perhaps the thing that makes Bowen's Du Pre' books so great is how his characters are fleshed out. You will find no cardboard cut-out cowboys, villains or heroes in any of his books. And the main characters' families are a delightful and funny brew of love and mayhem. Although I suspect that the current "Yellowstone" series borrows heavily from Bowen's novels, they do not compare.
For those just starting out with this series by reading "Coyote Wind", please be aware that the dialog is tricky to read, but ever so rewarding to absorb.
3 people found this helpful
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robert
4.0 out of 5 stars from beginning to end
Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2011
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I recently finished reading the last book (Nails) in the Gabriel Du Pre mystery series by Peter Bowen and since I've read the previous 12 books in the series I thought it might be appropriate to sum up some of my impressions for the newbies who might wish to follow Du Pre's exploits.
Overall I've enjoyed these books because of the characters and how they're developed in the setting of a small Montana town. It should be noted that the books are more about the people than about complex mysteries and detailed detective work. It's not a fast moving thriller but rather a slow paced evolution and in the end it's not really about how the mystery is solved but rather the voyage getting there.
Some features become redundant throughout the book like Gabe's almost non stop alcohol consumption and his steady diet of cheeseburgers and fries. Also always there are his almost constant efforts to track down the apparently ageless and shifty shaman for assistance in solving crimes. These are just a few of the features that reappear consistently throughout Bowen's mysteries. Sometimes these habits are comfortable like a well worn slipper but at other times they can almost be annoying like a rock that's found it's way into the slipper when they're introduced too frequently.
There's a fairly large cast of characters that we find throughout the books and we begin to know each one as we would in any small town. Some of these people are introduced in the beginning while other interesting characters are added along the way.
Like many small town's, especially in rural areas, there is occasionally some prejudice toward "outsiders" in Du Pre's village and this rears it's sometimes ugly head in several of his books. Sometimes this prejudice is directed at those from big cities, environmentalists, flat landers, federal law enforcement agents or simply anyone who might threaten the lifestyle of the people. Yes, sometimes it even leads to murder. While this prejudice is sometimes hard to swallow it's an important part of the towns character and the desire of the people to keep from being swallowed up by "progress".
The mysteries are good and the characters are even better and that is why I would recommend at least an introduction to the Gabriel Du Pre mysteries.
21 people found this helpful
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MetaphoricalOldGuy
3.0 out of 5 stars A few good things, but still about average for a Gabe Du Pre mystery
Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2015
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It is hard to decide how to review these Gabe Du Pre mysteries. Gabe and everyone else around him seems to live a life of "eat-more-beef," "drink whiskey while driving," and drive well above the speed limit. It is at once a simpler lifestyle and a thumb in the eye of authority of all kinds. Californians and environmentalists are the ill-informed and despicable enemies and Gabe, who works as a brand inspector, has a life in which he always has enough money (about which he cares not at all) and plenty of time (about which he cares a lot).

I've read nine of these guys and they read very fast. They are formulaic and repetitious across books. The mysteries themselves are interesting, but not overly complicated. I cannot explain why I have read them one, after the other, like eating potato chips. I can tell you that the ninth one was the point when I knew I was done. These books just aren't quite good enough.

These are like much weaker versions of Tony Hillman novels. There the protagonists seem to have deeper values and beliefs and the mysteries are more interesting and complex.

So, I have given most books of the nine books in the series that I have read a three-star rating, with just a couple getting a two-star rating because they had weaker plots or characters.
41 people found this helpful
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Frank Watson - Writer
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Book to Set Up Series
Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2019
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Not many books that I can say this about, but I can say it that COYOTE WIND by Peter Bowen is definitely: Brilliant!

To start with, I find the main character - Gabriel Du Pre – to be fascinating and original. He is Indian/Metis (descendent of French voyageurs) in extremely rural Montana. His job is livestock brand inspector, though he seems to do more-or-less what he wants, when he wants.

De Pre seems to know everybody in the community, including Benetsee, an old Indian mystic who seems to appear at random times for reasons of his own.

De Pre also seems to know every inch of the area.

And its history for generations back.

This knowledge of people and places serves him well when the wreck of an airplane is found on the mountains with the remains of four persons long dead. Only problem, the remains of one of the four consist only of a skull and a few finger bones.

Federal authorities are called in to investigate (the crashed plane had not filed a flight plan) though after so many years nobody expected to find any answers.

De Pre, however, with all his knowledge and an insatiable curiosity, investigated on his own, even when he realized the secrets he was uncovering.

This is the first book in the series, and Bowen has done an excellent job providing background and insight in De Pre, the other fascinating characters, and the Montana setting while providing a satisfactory stand-alone mystery.
9 people found this helpful
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Nana
4.0 out of 5 stars Coyote Wind: Gabriel Du Pre
Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2021
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Although I did not understand many of the clues and language of this story, I found the story intriguing. The disappearance of a brother, a years old plane crash with 2 bodies and a native people who live in a part of the country with a life code different than the big cities.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

LK
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written puzzle
Reviewed in Canada on November 8, 2017
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This book is written in a unique style - clipped and sparse prose it still paints such vivid pictures they imprint in your mind like a brand on cattle. The characters are complex and very evocative of the real world community they portray. A unique view of the world, values, morals and community the world of the Metis is sketched out clearly. It’s hard not to love flawed Gabriel and his family, the hard life of Montana. Its a good puzzle ,still the mystery takes a back seat to the people and the complexities of the social setting. I was unable to put the book down and felt like I’d met people I’ve always wanted to know. It’s a gem and I hope the rest of the series doesn’t lose that thread.
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Eldon
4.0 out of 5 stars Coyote Wind
Reviewed in Canada on December 18, 2021
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I enjoy these books because the plot is not your average crime novel. The background of the characters is authentic and the reader is carried along to a satisfying conclusion. As a Canadian reader living north of Montana I can relate to the way of life and weather portrayed. On a picky note revolvers don’t have safety catches that you can you can engage or disengage, Manitoba never had Provincial Police, and has used the RCMP. The stubby beer bottles described went out of use ten years before the book was published.

On a personal note I have many Métis relatives, went to school with Métis and have many Métis friends. I think the author is very hard on non Métis Canadians.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Coyote Wind (the Montana mysteries featuring Gabriel Du Pre’
Reviewed in Canada on June 17, 2020
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I really enjoyed this book. Du Pre’ is a great character, reminds me of family. His Maria is a good kid. And Madeline is a great match for him
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