An Edgar nominee and a solid entry. The glimpses of Kiowa culture add interest and theft and murder are interlaced with experiences with wild boars and grandfather bisons. Will try another in the series ( )

"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. ( )

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. ( )

This mystery introduces Mae Sawpole who is a Kiowa currently working in the Silicon Valley as a firm that gets companies ready for their IPOs. She is under deadline and having problems with her partner messing things up when she gets a call from her grandfather back in Oklahoma which gets her on the next plane to see him.

Mae, who is known as Mud in Kiowa country, is surprised when her grandfather isn't waiting for her when she gets off the plane. She is even more surprised at her welcoming committee. A counselor in the tribe, an old friend of her grandfather, and a woman who seems to have an agenda are all looking for her grandfather.

She heads to her grandfather's home with Wilson, the old friend, but he seems to be doing everything possible to delay her. When she finally gets to her grandfather's she finds a Wilson dead in her grandfather's private workroom.

Mud had to figure out how to find her grandfather who has been accused of stealing a priceless Peace medal and who just might be a suspect in Wilson's death. It doesn't take much time for Mud to discover that there is some illegal fracking going on somewhere on Kiowa land and also that an unscrupulous art dealer is searching out and selling priceless Kiowa artifacts including the one her grandfather is accused of stealing.

This was an engaging story steeped in Kiowa history and culture. Mud is an intriguing character who is torn between her life in California and her life in Oklahoma. Her grandfather is currently the Kiowa story keeper, and he has trained Mud to be his successor, but she can't do that from California. Nor can she run her business from Oklahoma.

This story does bring some of the plot threads to a successful conclusion, but quite a few others, including Mud's future, are left dangling for future books in this series. ( )

Wow, this book grabbed me from the first page, and I read it in a single sitting! Mae receives a cryptic call from her grandfather and heads home to Oklahoma where things just keep getting strangers. First, when her grandfather doesn't show up at the airport, she's forced to accept a ride with an elder who seems a little off. And everyone else seems to be urgently searching for her grandfather, who may have stolen a priceless artifact from the tribal museum. This book is written by a Kiowa storyteller and the voice of Mae--dubbed Mud by a cousin in childhood--is perfect as she tries to navigate her pride in her heritage, her love for her grandfather, and manage a difficult business partner long distance.

I hope that this is just the first of many great books to come from D. M. Rowell.

Thanks to Crookes Lane Books for access to a digital ARC on NetGalley.