D. M. Rowell

Kiowa, cultural-heritage, customs-and-belief-systems, historical-figures, historical-places-events, historical-research, history-and-culture, traditions, religious-symbolism, religious-practices, relationship-issues, artifact, theft, family, family-dynamics, amateur-sleuth, cultural-exploration, Oklahoma, greed, murders, investigation, storyteller, advertising, fracking, tribal-police, threats, sabotage, false-conclusions, contemporary*****

She is Mae at her advertising agency in California where there is an important deal near to closing and she has work to do on it. She is Mud in her hometown at the Kiowa reservation in Oklahoma where grandfather has called her for help with the thefts of important tribal artifacts. She is both, and there are crises in each part of her life at the same time. One of those parts includes a murder involving both greed and theft of historical items belonging to family. She and her cousin discover an illegal fracking operation which poisons all water in the area, and a confusing murder. She is an apprentice storyteller and an amateur sleuth with a deep sense of justice. Her cousin, on the other hand, hops from accusing one suspect after another. And the characters are so well depicted that I felt as if I knew them in my own world here in Wisconsin. Twisty and filled with tribal lore.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!… (más)

"As I washed with the sage smoke, I tried to release my worries for the agency, Grandpa, and the Tribe. I physically opened, with my arms stretched to the sky above, and mentally released my spirit to the wind— opened myself to discovery. I stepped out of the pungent smoke and sent a silent prayer with the drifting smoke upward to Daw’Kee, the Creator, this time asking guidance in finding the truth."

This is one of those books where unfortunately a lot of reviewers will feel the need to overinflate their rating, something I've noticed with books related to Native Americans.

But frankly if I were just rating this as a mystery it would be 2 stars. The mystery of Mud, our protagonist's grandfather stole the tribes valued Jefferson Peace medal is the weakest part of the story. But this book has a huge cultural aspect regarding the Kiowa people and its traditions that I really enjoyed.

Still it's only a 3 star read, overall.

Thank you Crooked Lane books and netgalley for giving me an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.… (más)

D.M. Rowell’s debut novel, Never Name the Dead, is a wonderful novel. Both a murder mystery that hits the ground running right from the beginning, and an exploration of Kiowa Indian culture and history, it seamlessly blends both in a remarkable book that I just could not put down. The writing is excellent, the plotting well done, and the characters are superbly drawn. It was such a pleasure to read this book. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.… (más)