Broken Fields
Cash Blackbear, a young Ojibwe woman, is back on the case after two men are found dead on a rural farm in Minnesota in the next installment of the acclaimed Native crime series.
1970s Minnesota. It's spring in the Red River Valley and Cash Blackbear is hoping to make some spending money doing spring field work for local farmers while attending college—and she finds a dead man on the kitchen floor of the property's rented farmhouse. The only possible witness to the murder is the young daughter of a Native laborer. The girl is too terrified to speak about what she’s witnessed, and her parents seem to have vanished.
In the wake of the murder, Cash can't deny her intuitive she is suspicious of the dead man's grieving widow, who offers to take in the girl temporarily. While Cash scours the county and White Earth reservation trying to find the missing mother before the girl is placed in the care of a social worker—the same woman who placed Cash in foster care a decade earlier—another body turns up. Concerned about the girl's fate, and with the help of local Sheriff Wheaton, Cash races against the clock to figure out the truth of what happened in the farmhouse.
Broken Fields is a compelling, fast read with seamlessly woven in details of rural life, the American Indian Movement, abusive labor practices, and women's liberation.
The series
The Cash Blackbear Mystery series immerses readers in the gritty, atmospheric world of northern Minnesota, where the complexities of identity, justice, and the human condition collide. At the heart of this captivating series is Cash Blackbear, a sharp-witted Ojibwe investigator whose quiet strength and unrelenting sense of justice make her a standout in the world of crime fiction. Cash's tenacity and deep connection to her Native American heritage drive each mystery, offering a unique blend of suspense, cultural depth, and intricate storytelling.
Read full series description
Set against the backdrop of the rugged Red River Valley, these mysteries unfold with a delicate balance of tension and reflection. Cash navigates the challenges of both the criminal world and the complex dynamics of Native American life. As she uncovers truths buried beneath layers of history and prejudice, each case pushes her toward new revelations about her own identity and the fragile boundaries between right and wrong.
The series has been lauded for its authentic portrayal of Indigenous culture, as well as its fresh approach to the crime genre. In each novel, Rendon brings forth a rich, immersive world where the past and present intertwine, and where the pursuit of justice is often as much about confronting personal demons as it is about solving the crime at hand. With a distinctive voice that combines mystery with powerful social commentary, the Cash Blackbear Mystery series is more than just a collection of whodunits—it’s an exploration of the untold stories of Native communities, a window into the complex relationships that shape them, and a testament to the resilience of those who fight for what is right.
Whether solving murders, uncovering long-buried secrets, or challenging the societal structures that influence every case, Cash Blackbear’s journey is one of discovery and determination. For those looking for a series that blends gripping mysteries with profound cultural insight, A Cash Blackbear Mystery offers a deeply rewarding experience that leaves readers both satisfied and thoughtful long after the last page is turned.
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