Blood Relay: A Novel

by Devon Mihesuah

In this richly layered debut mystery reminiscent of the real issue of missing and murdered Indigenous people, a badass Choctaw detective discovers an insidious plot against her reservation while investigating the disappearance of a beloved champion athlete.

Choctaw Detective Perry Antelope has been with her partner, Sophia Burns, for only six months. Perry is a seasoned investigator while the ex-Olympian shot putter Sophia is a former street-smart police officer. Together, they are an intrepid pair with an established record of success. But when Perry and Sophia are called to investigate the disappearance of Dels Billy, a beloved women’s Indian Horse Relay rider, they quickly realize that it’s not as cut-and-dry as anything they’ve faced before.

Piece by piece, they uncover unsettling connections between Dels’s disappearance and a series of unsolved abductions of women from Oklahoma reservations. But the perpetrator always seems to be one step ahead, and Perry soon finds herself—and her family—in the crosshairs of a ruthless killer. Despite her husband’s pleas for her to drop the case, Perry is determined to prevent Dels from becoming another statistic.

As the investigation deepens, Perry and Sophia follow a tangled web of clues that point to a close-to-home plot more chilling than they could have imagined. Torn between her family’s safety and her duty to her community, Perry must race against the clock, and across tribal Nations, to find Dels before her murderous abductor can carry out their sinister plan.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Indigenous, Mystery Thriller, Crime

336 pages, Paperback

Expected publication February 24, 2026

About the author

Devon Mihesuah is member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and is a historian by training; she received her Ph. D. in American History from TCU in 1989, and was professor of American Indian History in NAU's history department for ten years; she is now professor of Applied Indigenous Studies, serves as award winning Editor of the American Indian Quarterly and edits University of Nebraska Press' book series, "Contemporary Indigenous Issues"; Mihesuah's research, writing and speaking focuses on the necessary themes of decolonization and empowerment strategies.-- Library of Congress Authorities

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's not much better than a novel whose main characters are intelligent, kick-ass women. This book has a great story line, excellent characters and for this Northeaster, I learned about a type of horse racing done in the west called Indian Relay Racing - an intense sport requiring great athleticism. If you're looking for a well told plot line, great dialogue, and unexpected twists, this is the book for you.

[Brenda Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow. this book had me hooked!
touched on so many real issues- most importantly disappearing native people, whether police brutality, stolen land but most importantly human trafficking.

Perry and Dels had me sweating the last few chapters desperate to know how it ends.

[Octopodey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this book. I appreciated the tightly plotted mystery, the wonderful characters, and the scene setting.

I really, really, really liked that the reader was dropped into life in Oklahoma and expected to be able to keep up, and not hand held regarding what words meant that characters use daily or what their life is like.

I recommend this book highly.

I received an election ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Sacha · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

When I'm reading a mystery/thriller that features a detective as a protagonist, I need a good backstory, a lot of insight into who they are now and why, and the ability to root for them even though that goes against some of my incoming feelings much of the time. In Det. Perry Antelope, this is exactly what I got. Better still? Perry's newish partner is another smart and formidable opponent to the dirtbag individuals who harm and disappear indigenous women (and children). These two work together in a compelling way that made me hope they'll be featured in more stories like this going forward.

Perry and Sophia come together because of Dels, who goes missing, and is an Indian Horse Relay rider (hence the title and cover). I had never heard of this activity previously, so in addition to getting an intriguing mystery with multiple possibilities and great characters, I enjoyed learning. Though I was previously unfamiliar with Mihesuah's work, I wasn't surprised to learn that it includes a good amount of nonfiction relating to indigenous issues and communities. That really comes through here in a way that enriches the story (versus feels didactic). Readers do receive a lot of cultural insight and background, and that really makes this particular mystery standout (positively) from its peers.

This is a satisfying mystery that I will largely recall for its compelling characters and cultural elements. I plan to read some of that aforementioned nonfiction and really look forward to more in this genre from Mihesuah, too.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

As fast paced as any good mystery novel should be, but with more depth and heart than most any I’ve read before.

Dels Billy, a fierce female horse relay competitor, is taken from a rest stop on the team’s drive home following a competition win. The horse trailer and the youngest member of the team, beaten unconscious, are all that are found at the scene. Detective Perry Antelope is called in due to the potential nature of the crime; fear that Dels Billy is the most recent in a historical trend of MMIW (missing and murdered indigenous women). Mihesuah sheds light on an indignant issue within our country (and Canada) through the lens of the women trying to prevent further tragedy.

Perry Antelope, Sophia Burns, and Raquel Hunter are some of the most bad ass female law enforcement characters, while still portraying the realities of their line of work. I appreciated the fact that Antelope was stubborn and determined to find Dels without being a robotic archetype of a “strong female”; she is determined because she cares and is portrayed showing vulnerability throughout the novel.
Similarly, physical pain and exhaustion weren’t glossed over because strong women are still human.

The plot felt well paced and there were moments I’d think I was catching on, just to be met with a twist. There were enough characters that cast suspicion to keep me unsure without feeling like I had to keep my own legal pad of notes to keep track of everyone.

Lastly, I had no idea that places like Picher, Oklahoma existed and I already foresee this leading to further reading/research. Just another example of how much depth Blood Relay contains - much more than your average whodunnit mystery novel.

[Greg Kerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Police Procedural and Very OK😉

That is OK as in Oklahoma! We moved from AZ to OK last year and, though AZ is home to numerous indigenous nations, OK was the landing spot for more than 30. Plus, AZ has only 14 countries while OK has 70+. Having relatives in law enforcement in AZ I’m aware of the issues of jurisdictional boundaries that exist between tribal nations and state districting.

Interestingly, there was no mention of the FBI investigating “murders on tribal lands, typically when the victim is an American Indian or Alaska Native and the crime occurred on a reservation.” This was common in AZ and NM (I knew an FBI employee and is was a common thread in Tony Hillerman’s Joe Leaphorm/Jim Chee series). Also no mention of the FBI “Operation Not Forgotten” initiative that “directs additional FBI personnel, analysts, and victim specialists to assist with investigations of violent crimes in Indian Country, particularly those involving missing and murdered indigenous persons.”

The protagonists are real people and amazingly likable (hope there is a sequel) and are all strong women. Plus there are a couple of incidents that occur that are unusual and add color to the story.

Great read and wonderful storytelling.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚Blood Relay
✍🏻Devib Nihesuah
Blurb:
In this richly layered debut mystery reminiscent of the real issue of missing and murdered Indigenous people, a badass Choctaw detective discovers an insidious plot against her reservation while investigating the disappearance of a beloved champion athlete.

Choctaw Detective Perry Antelope has been with her partner, Sophia Burns, for only six months. Perry is a seasoned investigator while the ex-Olympian shot putter Sophia is a former street-smart police officer. Together, they are an intrepid pair with an established record of success. But when Perry and Sophia are called to investigate the disappearance of Dels Billy, a beloved women’s Indian Horse Relay rider, they quickly realize that it’s not as cut-and-dry as anything they’ve faced before.

Piece by piece, they uncover unsettling connections between Dels’s disappearance and a series of unsolved abductions of women from Oklahoma reservations. But the perpetrator always seems to be one step ahead, and Perry soon finds herself—and her family—in the crosshairs of a ruthless killer. Despite her husband’s pleas for her to drop the case, Perry is determined to prevent Dels from becoming another statistic.

As the investigation deepens, Perry and Sophia follow a tangled web of clues that point to a close-to-home plot more chilling than they could have imagined. Torn between her family’s safety and her duty to her community, Perry must race against the clock, and across tribal Nations, to find Dels before her murderous abductor can carry out their sinister plan.
My Thoughts:
Dels Billy, a fierce female horse relay competitor, is taken from a rest stop on the team’s drive home following a competition win. The horse trailer and the youngest member of the team, beaten unconscious, are all that are found at the scene. Detective Perry Antelope is called in due to the potential nature of the crime;Perry Antelope, Sophia Burns, and Raquel Hunter are some of the most bad ass female law enforcement characters, while still portraying the realities of their line of work. . She is a tall, athletic, former olympic shot-putter and California street cop. Raquel is a woman of few words, a Lighthorseman (native police) and former marine. She is fearless and quick thinking and admired by Perry. The three women end up working together on the case of a missing Indian horse relay champion who is taken from a roadside despite having a man travelling with her. What follows are several more dead bodies, family drama, and the unravelling of an extensive plot targeting several neighbouring nations. If you're looking for a well told plot line, great dialogue, and unexpected twists then add this to your TBR list
Thanks NetGalley, Bantam Books and AuthorDevon Mihesuah for the advanced copy of "Blood Relay" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#BantamBooks
#DevonMihesuah
#BloodRelay
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️Trigger Warnings: : Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Injury/Injury details

[Helena Perez · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️: 3 / 5

Publication Date: February 24, 2026

I want to thank Bantam and Net Galley for allowing me to get an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

The prologue and first chapter had me hooked. The prologue is full of song references and quick banter that changes dramatically. The first chapter follows the main detective and POV of the story, Detective Perry Antelope.

Some of the coolest aspects of this story, was the way the story tackled difficult topics related to the experiences of Native American people. I loved the power all of the female characters exemplified, even when the believability of it felt far-fetched at times.

As for my reservations, I found some of the meandering thoughts to be distracting. Right as the plot would pick up, there were be an intrusive thought to take the reader to a different time in the detective’s past. I also felt like Del’s POV could have been introduced earlier in the story to help build tension. Instead it felt like the chapters with her POV felt almost like an addition done after the fact to explain details at the end of the book.

Overall I thought this was an interesting book. I would recommend this for anyone looking for a detective mystery with a focus on women and Native American stories. I found the author’s note at the end of the book helped to put everything put the story into perspective.

Would recommend for those who are fans of
- Oklahoma setting
- Character & plot driven stories
- Police procedural stories
- Native American stories
- Women-led stories

⚠️ violence, murder

Characters: 7
Atmosphere/setting: 9
Writing style: 4
Plot: 5
Intrigue: 7
Logic: 4
Relationships: 7
Entertainment: 6
Total: 3.0625

[Miranda]

I really really wanted to like this book. I kept reading until 36% desperately trying to find something to like. I should be the target audience for this book--I love diverse mysteries featuring bad ass female detectives, and I love finding a new debut voice to champion. Unfortunately, this book and I were not meant to be. I’ll take some of the blame for that--I went in expecting a mystery, and this is more of a thriller, so that got us off to a bad start, however, I stand by my other two main critiques.

First, the writing is very, very clunky. The sentence structure does not vary, and once you notice, it grates on you the whole time. This is a debut novel, so I try to be generous with my assessment of craft, but I was ready to put this one down at 20% because the clunky sentences were driving me batty.

Second, the pacing at a micro-level is very inconsistent. We take long detours as characters describe the bike trails around a lake that we are going to spend a few moments finding a body and, at least in the first third, never return to. We have good scenes that establish character relationships without exposition, and then at the end, we get two paragraphs expositing what we just read.

Unfortunately, this book needed a little more time in the oven, and a few more editing passes to hit the level of writing quality I expect in my literature.

I received an advance review copy in exchange for this honest review.

[Lizabeth Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 out of 5.

The investigation into the disappearance of Dels Billy, a beloved Indian Horse Relay rider, uncovers a disturbing series of unsolved abductions of Native American women from various tribal lands in Oklahoma. it's up to Oklahoma City homicide detective Perry Antelope and her partner Sophia Burns to navigate the dangerous threats to themselves and their loved ones in order to find the truth before it's too late.

This ARC is courtesy of NetGalley and Bantam, an imprint of Random House. The anticipated publication date is February 24, 2026.

I was captivated from the start, both with the mystery and the many strong female characters. The author did an excellent job introducing both the characters and the situation without an overwhelming data dump. This ticked all my boxes, an engrossing mystery, strong characterizations, realistic depictions of Native American cultures, relatable professional and personal relationship, and remarkably badass women all made this book a massive winner for me.

Sadly there is no indication of a sequel (or a possible series), at least at the time of this review. Still I will continue to hope for more with Perry, Sophia, and Rachel sometime in the future. Highly recommended to fans of mysteries, particularly those with an interest in Native culture. Fans of Tony Hillerman should also enjoy this.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up

There was a lot to like in this debut fiction novel by Devon Mihesuah, and I thought that the book really shone the brightest when teaching the reader about Native customs and culture. It is clear that the author enjoys sharing this information, and she does it well, with a great level of detail and enthusiasm.

The story focuses on missing Indigenous women, a topic that always deserves more attention, and the premise of a missing relay race rider immediately captured me. The characters were also very well done, and they felt fully fleshed out and relatable - I'm always here for a group of badass female leads, and these ladies didn't disappoint!

Where the book suffered, however, was in the overall storyline. The plot structure was rather basic and straightforward, and it never felt twisty or veered away from exactly where you imagined it would go next. Don't get me wrong, it was NOT a bad story, but all in all, it felt a little underwhelming, and I found myself starting to skim through the last 1/4 of the book just to get to the end point. The dialogue also felt a bit unnatural and forced at times, which came off a little clunky.

Still, this was a promising debut from the author, and I am looking forward to seeing what she writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Viccy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Native American woman goes missing. Dels Billy is a champion Indian Relay rider, which is a brutal sport that is part of the warrior culture of Native Americans; the rider circles a track twice, switching horses halfway through, while riding bareback. Collisions and chaos rule. Detective Perry Antelope and her partner, former Olympic shot-putter Sophy Burns, are called into investigate when Dels' truck and horse trailer are found abandoned at a closed highway rest stop. The young man who was riding with Dels is found beaten up and almost does not survive. The investigation soon reveals a large amount of tension in the Billy Family over their lot procurement, left over from the days of the colonization of Indian lands. But, also running through the novel is the story of the thousands on Native men, women and children who go missing every year. And no one seems to able to stop it. A fascinating look at law enforcement among Native Americans. I learned a lot about many aspects of Native life. Highly recommended.

[Morgan (youarethelibrarian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perry, Sophia, and Raquel won’t rest until they find Dels Billy, a horse relay racer who goes missing after winning a race.
This book, while fiction, shines light on the real issue of missing and murdered indigenous women (MMIW).

The dialogue was short and choppy, but I figured in a real investigation as a detective you would have to be that way, short and to the point. And then I got used to the cadence of it.

I honestly don’t know how Perry kept going after all she’d endured, but I admired her for it and understood her drive. I liked seeing her interact with her family, too. I’d totally be up for more books with Perry, Sophia, and Raquel investigating!! Maybe even having Sophia or Raquel being the ones telling the story. I feel we got a really good sense of who Perry is, and I’d like to know more about Sophia, and Raquel especially.

* I received an eARC from the publisher and NetGalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

An immersive propulsive procedural that begins with the abduction of Dels Billy, an Indian relay rider, and expands into bigger issues. Oklahoma City Detectives Perry Antelope and Sophia Burns are assigned to the case but it ranges outside of the city limits, thus pulling in tribal officers, most notably Lighthouse Officer Raquel, a former Marine. Who took Dels and why becomes an even bigger question when Perry, on a break, is almost run down on the side of the road where she's running. This leans in on the disappearance of indigenous women but there's a more complex issue here specific to Dels. Perry and Sophia make good partners (this focuses mostly on on Perry) but Raquel is the most intriguing of the trio. Yes it's a little unrealistic and over the top in spots but you gotta root for them all. It's gritty, it's fast paced, and it's interesting. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Don't miss the afterword. I'd welcome another outing with these three.

[lori pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballentine for the free book in exchange for my honest review.

Detectives Perry Antelope, Raquel Hunter, and Sophia Burns investigate the disappearance of Indian Horse Relay rider, Dels Billy. Dels was supposed to return home after a race and vanished. Piece by piece, the detectives uncover unsettling connections between Dels’s disappearance and a series of unsolved abductions of women from Oklahoma reservations. As the three investigate, it becomes clear that land that Dels partially owned may be at the root of her disappearance. This is a race against time to find Dels alive!

This is a well written, police procedural story with strong female characters. The fast pacing adds to the suspense. I loved the indigenous heritage and setting of the book. HIghly recommend.

[Lauri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great, fast-paced story! I was fascinated by the Indian Horse Relay Races - Wow! It would really take some coordination and strength to race a horse around the track, jump off and literally jump onto the back of the next waiting horse. Rinse and repeat. You'd have to be in some kind of great physical shape to manage that! The story starts there and goes on to chronicle a missing rider and the search for her by a couple of female cops who know that when native women disappear, it doesn't usually end well. They are going to find her and they are not going to let jurisdictions slow them down. It's pretty violent and includes land theft and human trafficking, but also shows how dedicated they are to finding their friend and will not stop until they do. It's a good read about strong women.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am grateful to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the opportunity and privilege of reviewing this copy of Blood Relay. I lived in Oklahoma for a short time back in 1964-65 but I never knew the extensive Native American history that is contained there. Although a work of fiction, this novel contains much truth of the awful and shameful history of the native Americas in this area. I loved the main detective characters, Perry and Sophia. Perry especially is a hard worker with brains and a strong moral imperative. There is plenty of action and danger as the detectives chase down the kidnappers of a young woman and murderers of two others. This novel kept me turning the pages long after I should have been doing my chores! It is easily five stars for me.

[Suzette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This police drama is absolutely excellent from start to finish. The plot is incredibly realistic and engaging—it pulls you right into the story and keeps you hooked until the very last page.

The characters are wonderfully developed, each one feeling authentic and relatable. Their interactions and personal journeys make the story even more compelling, and I found myself genuinely invested in their outcomes. The pacing is perfect, making this a true page-turner that’s easy to read without ever feeling shallow.

If you love well-written police dramas with believable plots and characters that come to life, I highly recommend Blood Relay. It’s a gripping and enjoyable read that you won’t want to put down!

[Mary C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detectives Perry Antelope and Sophia Burns are called in to investigate the disappearance of Indian Horse Relay rider Dels Billy as she was returning from a race. Is this another case of missing Indigenous women? As the two investigate, it becomes clear that land that Dels partially owned may be at the root of her disappearance. The two are in a race against time to find Dels alive. Information on indigenous communities add to the story. Strong female likeable female leads.
#BloodRelay #Ballantine #Bantam #NetGalley

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this one...

A trio of powerful women relentless in their pursuit of justice, refreshing in its clarity between right and wrong. It reminded me of P.J. Tracy's Monkeewrench series. It was also a gripping induction into the fight for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives, something we should all do more to support.
Suspenseful, serious, emotional, and hopeful

[Lauren Bayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and informative, with important themes, but the author still has a lot to learn in her jump to fiction. The book is best when it is teaching (and I learned so much about horse relay and chat piles and jurisdiction), but the pacing and prose are a bit stilted. I was hoping for more red herrings and instead got more history lessons.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a compelling and layered mystery set in Oklahoma with two fabulous bad ass female investigators. This story deftly weaved together themes of tribal land rights, missing women, human trafficking, environmental issues, and the mental and physical toll of being a female in law enforcement. I really really hope this is the first in a series! Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book!

[Kerry Pickens · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author addresses social issues among the Native Americans in Oklahoma, such as land allotments, sex trafficking, violence among Native Americans as well as outsiders, abandoned mines that contaminate the environment, and overlapping police jurisdictions. I have read many of the author’s books, and although this is a murder mystery the focuses is on bringing to light the violence towards Native Americans that has not been addressed in an effective manner.

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like any book with strong female characters and this book had plenty! The main character is a Native police officer who sets out to find a missing woman. Everyone had good character development and there is a strong mystery. Very enjoyable book.

I received an early copy through Netgalley but all opinions are my own.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt more informative than anything else. Like maybe the author should have just written a nonfiction book about indigenous people. The pacing felt off and sometimes the dialogue seemed awkward and unrealistic. I liked the relationship between the main character and her husband. I liked that even though they disagreed on things, it was obvious that it was out of love and not malice.

[Donna Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

E-ARC generously provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review! Thank you!

This was a fantastic thriller book, which captures the tenacity of three Native American women searching for a missing women. The author absolutely delivers within her deep and personable characters, as you see all of their flaws and diverse personalities. The plot really goes into the deep and troubling issues of missing and murdered Native American people. The themes are true to reality as it discusses the big issues offering to Native people and even gives fantastic descriptions about the people and their history on different topics. The stylistic choice of keeping it focused on the three women was a good highlight on such strong and powerful women. I loved the focus on such strong female characters through their own empowerment and impressive diversity. Overall, this was a great thriller book filled with in-depth characters and a deep and real plot.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This was a fantastic police procedural mystery/thriller with THREE indigenous women leading the case. It was so suspenseful, and I also learned a lot about various indigenous cultures and the impacts that still reverberate today from how those tribes were treated by the government. Definitely a great book club book!

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this debut novel by Devon Mihesuah. It’s a fast-paced, atmospheric thriller that revolves around the kidnapping of Dels Billy, a renowned Indian Horse Relay rider. Investigating her abduction are Choctaw Detective Perry Antelope and Sophia Burns, a former Olympic shot putter. Blood Relay has strong female characters, a story that shines a light on the current plight of missing and murdered Indigenous women, as well as giving the reader insight into the life and culture of those living on tribal reservations in Oklahoma today. I would highly recommend this book to mystery readers, and I hope to see more stories featuring Perry Antelope and Sophia Burns. I think this book is a great read-alike for readers who enjoy the works of authors Anne and Tony Hillerman, Margaret Coel, William Kent Krueger, Thomas Perry and Ramona Emerson. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Penguin Random House for an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.