Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Review - Mask of the Deer Woman

Title:  Mask of the Deer Woman
Author Lori. L. Dove
Publisher:  Berkley
Genre:   Multicultural Fiction
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   336
Date of Publication:   January 21, 2025
My Rating:   5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

To find a missing young woman, the new tribal marshal must also find herself

At rock bottom following her daughter’s murder, ex-Chicago detective Carrie Starr has nowhere to go but back to her roots. Starr’s father never talked much about the reservation that raised him, but they need a new tribal marshal as much as Starr needs a place to call home. In the last decade, too many young women have disappeared from the rez. Some dead, others just… gone. 

Now, local college student Chenoa Cloud is missing, and Starr falls into an investigation that leaves her drowning in memories of her daughter—the girl she failed to save. Starr feels lost in this place she thought would welcome her. And when she catches a glimpse of a figure from her father’s stories, with the body of a woman and the antlers of a deer, Starr can’t shake the feeling that the fearsome spirit is watching her, following her. What she doesn’t know is whether Deer Woman is here to guide her or to seek vengeance for the lost daughters that Starr can never bring home.


MY THOUGHTS:

“When Indigenous women disappeared, they disappeared twice.”

Carrie Starr, the new tribal marshal, didn’t grow up on the reservation. An ex-Chicago detective, she’s deeply grieving the loss of her daughter. While her father was raised there, Starr never learned much about reservation life. Now, she’s trying to help a desperate mother find her missing daughter, Chernoa Cloud.

Chenoa isn’t the only young Native American woman who’s gone missing, but sadly, few are concerned. As the tribe’s only law enforcement, Starr works tirelessly to find little evidence to support her search for Chenoa.

As Starr delves deeper, she encounters some intriguing lore. The Mask of the Deer Woman might be more than just a legend. She must connect the dots to see if it’s connected to Chenoa’s disappearance. Time is running out, but Starr is determined to bring justice for the young women who’ve already lost their lives.

Laurie L. Dove’s debut novel is a powerful and impactful story. Indigenous people on reservations often face immense challenges. This fictional story about a missing young woman could be biographical, reflecting the sad state of affairs.

I was drawn into Starr’s story, especially her tragic loss of her daughter. This fuels her determination to find Chenoa. The legend she encounters adds a captivating and heartbreaking layer to this novel.

Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Laurie L. Dove is an author at Berkley / Penguin Random House, and an award-winning journalist with a master's degree from Harvard University. Her debut novel is MASK OF THE DEER WOMAN.


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