Sinister Graves
Set in 1970s Minnesota on the White Earth Reservation, Pinckley Prize–winner Marcie R. Rendon’s gripping new mystery follows Cash Blackbear, a young Ojibwe woman, as she attempts to discover the truth about the disappearances of Native girls and their newborns.
A snowmelt has sent floodwaters down to the fields of the Red River Valley, dragging the body of an unidentified Native woman into the town of Ada. The only evidence the medical examiner recovers is a torn piece of paper inside her bra: a hymnal written in English and Ojibwe.
Cash Blackbear, a 19-year-old Ojibwe woman, sometimes helps Sheriff Wheaton, her guardian, on his investigations. Now she knows her search for justice for this anonymous victim will take her to the White Earth Reservation, a place she once called home.
When Cash happens upon two small graves in the yard of a rural, “speak-in-tongues kinda church,” Cash is pulled into the lives of the malevolent pastor and his troubled wife while yet another Native woman dies in a mysterious manner.
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Marcie R. Rendon
Marcie R. Rendon is a writer whose stories are shaped by the land and culture of her Ojibwe roots. Growing up on the White Earth Reservation in northern Minnesota, her connection to Native American heritage is woven deeply into her work, offering a voice that is both personal and universally resonant. With an academic background in criminal justice and human development, she brings a unique perspective to her writing—focusing on the complexities of identity, the search for justice, and the power of community.
A Cash Blackbear Mystery
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.
A Cash Blackbear Mystery consists of four books and series is set to expand with the upcoming release of one more book. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
