Murder on the Red River, first in this series, fires on all cylinders, as a hard as nails crime fiction novel, as women’s fiction, as an historical novel, and as Native American fiction (although that part reads pretty damn real). It’s the ‘70s and Cash, a 19-year old Chippewa survivor of the foster care (what a joke that phrase is) system of North Dakota, has just one friend, the local sheriff. His name is Wheaton (you’ll see what Rendon did there when you read the book) and he’s the only person left who looks out for her. She looks out for him right back, to the extent of finding out who murdered a stabbing victim and apprehending their asses in a very satisfying takedown. This book has scenes so real you feel like you’re sitting in the corner and Cash is so gutsy and so capable that you’ll follow her anywhere.

In Girl Gone Missing, the second novel, Cash Blackbear takes time off from her studies at university to take down sex traffickers. Wow. Even better than the first book in this series, and a special shout out to the setting. You wouldn’t think the prairie could have that much personality, or that strong an influence over its characters.

The third novel, Sinister Graves, introduces us to an auntie/wise woman, Jonesy, someone I hope we meet again if the series goes on, and there is a scene in a farm house with the hero and a minister and his crazy wife and a baby at risk that is a master class in ratcheting up tension. *shiver*

Book Review Monday Chatter girl gone missing marcie r. rendon murder on the red river sinister graves