When four women go missing from the Taos Pueblo reservation, it's personal for Deputy Eva Duran. One of the missing women is her best friend, Paloma, a heroin addict who left behind an eighteen-year-old son, Kai.
There seems to be a lack of interest in the case from local law enforcement, so Eva teams up with tribal police officer and longtime friend Cruz Romero to help her find the women-- an investigation that becomes even more important when the missing women begin turning up dead.
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Having read previous books by the author, I looked forward to Redemption with anticipation, and I was not disappointed. I have visited the Taos, New Mexico area, and I appreciated learning more about Taos Pueblo, the reservation, and the traditions and beliefs of the people who live there.
Redemption touches upon the plight of missing Indigenous women and the problem of drugs on the reservation and shows how the tribal, city, and county police forces work together to solve crimes. The four women Eva is searching for are all highly talented in arts that are important to the Pueblo people: drum making, basket making, jewelry making, and hoop dancing. When their bodies began to be found, I felt as though a part of these artistic traditions died with them.
The cast is a strong one, with Eva at its heart. Her tribal name is Lightning Dance, but with her quiet demeanor and accurate marksmanship, she earned the nickname "Silent But Deadly" at the police academy. She often wants to go rogue to get the job done, but her intelligence keeps her in check. She knows being a loose cannon will not get the bad guys locked up in prison, and that such behavior will probably get her kicked off the police force-- and she loves her job.
Readers see the points of view of several characters. For example, we hear Paloma's thoughts as she hopes Eva will be able to find her. We hear from Paloma's son, Kai, a mercurial eighteen-year-old whose emotions sometimes get the best of him, and we hear from Alice, the woman who's holding the women captive. Although Alice's heart is in the right place, she still reminded me a tiny bit of Annie Wilkes in Stephen King's Misery. But my favorite character has to be Nathan "Little Bear" Trujillo, a little boy who's living a nightmare and wants it to end. I certainly wouldn't mind seeing him again.
Redemption is a fast-paced tale with a main character I want to hear more from. I look forward to the next book in the series.
Redemption by Deborah J. Ledford
eISBN: 9781662510465
Thomas & Mercer © 2023
eBook, 363 pages
Police Procedural/Native American mystery, #1 Eva Duran mystery
Rating: B+
Source: Net Galley
I do like stories that take place on the Reservation, Cathy. I like to learn about different places, too, and it's always surprising to me how little I know about different places in my own country. At any rate, the story does sound engaging and I'm glad you found a lot to like.
ReplyDeleteI did-- and I want more.
DeleteThis sounds really good, Cathy...and that first line made me snort until I realized how sad that fact really is. I'm happy to see so many novels take on the terrible shame of what is still happening to Native American women.
ReplyDeleteSo am I, especially when the novels are written by Indigenous women.
DeleteThe setting of this one is a big draw for me! Onto my list it goes. :D
ReplyDeleteI love the entire Taos/Santa Fe area.
DeleteI've not read this author but I have visited Taos on a couple of occasions and I love that area, so I would enjoy reading a mystery that is set in that area. Sounds like this one fits that bill!
ReplyDeleteIt certainly does. I love that area, too. I'd love to go back.
DeleteIt sounds good and I like the location. And it's good the author has Indigenous heritage. There are not only many non-Native people writing about Indigenous people and lives (thankfully, this is changing), but there are people in academia assuming the identity of various nations, when they are not Native. The NY Times just had an expose of a woman who teaches at UC as an Indigenous person and she isn't. So, on many levels, this appears to be a good read.
ReplyDeleteNon-Natives writing about Indigenous peoples-- like Tony Hillerman-- doesn't bother me as much as those posing as Indigenous when they're not. Non-Natives, like the aforementioned Hillerman and others like Margaret Coel, have helped open readers' eyes to these important cultures.
DeleteYes, I don't blame them. But it has been steps forward when Indigenous writers' works are being published. But the Indigenous pretenders in academia and elsewhere are just morally wrong. And is appears that Deborah Ledford has Eastern Cherokee heritage. Someone named Ledford just resigned from a post and is described as Eastern Cherokee.
ReplyDeleteYes, Ledford is Cherokee. She's a local author and I met her at The Poisoned Pen a few years ago.
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