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Antelope and Burns Mystery #1
Blood Relay
Win a free print copy of this book!
22 days and 16:30:57
15 copies available
U.S. only
In this richly layered debut thriller 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.
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.
336 pages, Paperback
First published February 24, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
August 10, 2026
Early thoughts: This book hooked me immediately by giving me crime information I didn't know. This creates a setting element that is unnaturally terrifying, and yet close enough to touch. Great start!
Feeling: Failing infrastructure as horror
I’m curious about: how this one will treat the material? It's a story about violence against indigenous women and I don't like when those revel in details. *edit This one does not and I'm grateful.
"Each tribe deals with their own issues. In this story, our heroic women could testify in multiple state and tribal courts. I chose to create Choctaw, Quapaw, Seminole, Miami, and Muskogee tribal police who cooperated with the women who were outside of their jurisdiction, but in reality, that does not always happen."
What worked:
🗣️ I really love mystery thrillers that teach me something-- an interesting hobby, an unusual career, law enforcement or crime info I haven't encountered, or a setting I know nothing about. This book teaches about crime and forensics and how these subjects affect First Nations communities, performing horses, and the quiet but serious issue of abandoned rest stations.
🔤 This book dives deep into language and linguistics, which I think gives a story another dimension. Not just, what happened? But, how do the narrator and characters think about and express what happened? "“Chahta anumpa doesn’t always have names for animals that translate neatly into English. Crows, for example, are called fala and a raven is fala chito, meaning ‘big crow.’ Like Dels’s horse, Issi. That means ‘deer,’ but the Choctaw word for horse is issoba, meaning ‘like a deer.’ Did you notice that Dels yelled ‘whoa’ at Worf to get him to stop? The Choctaw word for ‘stop’ is issa, which could confuse Issi if Dels yelled issa. The racers have to be consistent with their commands.”" p65
What didn’t:
👊🏽This may sound a little strange, but I felt like the author (or maybe publisher?) pulled her punches sometimes. Certain scenes and statements fall flat because they're too generalized. This could have been a matter of style, an editing choice, or an audience consideration. There is nothing wrong with this. But being so compelled the whole time, I wanted some of the sentences and scenes to go one step further.
🧠Here's a tiny scene logic issue: "She panted. She tried again with the bottom edge of the tape and this time managed to roll it upward over her bottom lip." The first sentence here is illogical because her mouth is taped.
Who this is for: Fans of gritty narrative crime thrillers will appreciate this one.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Content Notes:
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
murder, high crime, lack of services, lack of restrooms, missing person,
Feeling: Failing infrastructure as horror
I’m curious about: how this one will treat the material? It's a story about violence against indigenous women and I don't like when those revel in details. *edit This one does not and I'm grateful.
"Each tribe deals with their own issues. In this story, our heroic women could testify in multiple state and tribal courts. I chose to create Choctaw, Quapaw, Seminole, Miami, and Muskogee tribal police who cooperated with the women who were outside of their jurisdiction, but in reality, that does not always happen."
What worked:
🗣️ I really love mystery thrillers that teach me something-- an interesting hobby, an unusual career, law enforcement or crime info I haven't encountered, or a setting I know nothing about. This book teaches about crime and forensics and how these subjects affect First Nations communities, performing horses, and the quiet but serious issue of abandoned rest stations.
🔤 This book dives deep into language and linguistics, which I think gives a story another dimension. Not just, what happened? But, how do the narrator and characters think about and express what happened? "“Chahta anumpa doesn’t always have names for animals that translate neatly into English. Crows, for example, are called fala and a raven is fala chito, meaning ‘big crow.’ Like Dels’s horse, Issi. That means ‘deer,’ but the Choctaw word for horse is issoba, meaning ‘like a deer.’ Did you notice that Dels yelled ‘whoa’ at Worf to get him to stop? The Choctaw word for ‘stop’ is issa, which could confuse Issi if Dels yelled issa. The racers have to be consistent with their commands.”" p65
What didn’t:
👊🏽This may sound a little strange, but I felt like the author (or maybe publisher?) pulled her punches sometimes. Certain scenes and statements fall flat because they're too generalized. This could have been a matter of style, an editing choice, or an audience consideration. There is nothing wrong with this. But being so compelled the whole time, I wanted some of the sentences and scenes to go one step further.
🧠Here's a tiny scene logic issue: "She panted. She tried again with the bottom edge of the tape and this time managed to roll it upward over her bottom lip." The first sentence here is illogical because her mouth is taped.
Who this is for: Fans of gritty narrative crime thrillers will appreciate this one.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Content Notes:
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
murder, high crime, lack of services, lack of restrooms, missing person,
October 23, 2026
The thrill of the win. The weight of defeat.
Devon A. Mihesuah creates those exact emotions wrapped around tightly in Blood Relay. Mihesuah takes us to the expansive lands of Oklahoma's reservations. She focuses on the Native American people and their culture drifting from the sacredness of times past to the demands of the relentless present.
Dels Billy is a champion Indian horse relay rider. Tall and determined, Dels puts everything into her rides. She works non-stop with her particularly chosen horses and practices the grueling mounts and quick dismounts in the relay. But what Dels cannot control are the dark intentions of someone who wishes her gone. And that happens on a lonely stretch of highway after one of Dels' greatest wins. Gone within seconds into the Oklahoma wind.
Enter Detective Perry Antelope, a member of the Choctaw Nation and a twenty-year veteran of the police. Perry is married to Troy, a professor at the local college. She has two teenage children. Honoring her family and her heritage always comes first. Perry keeps herself fit and active. She runs six miles a day and practices knife wielding and tae kwon do. Perry is a force.
It's been six months since she was introduced to her new partner, Detective Sophia Burns. Sophia left the Las Vegas police force to work in Oklahoma. She also was an ex-Olympian shot putter. Each partner has their own skill sets and wits. Believe me, those skills are gonna come to the surface in Blood Relay.
The call comes in on the missing Dels Billy. Perry and Sophia arrive at the scene of Dels' pickup truck and horse trailer. Dels is gone and only Lee, her teenage helper, remains brutally beaten inside the truck. Lee remains unconscious. Those interviewed know no reason as to why Dels was abducted. Could she be one of the numbers of Indigenous women taken by force like in so many neighboring states?
Devon A. Mihesuah puts her heart and soul into Blood Relay. Notice how she slides in teachable moments to engage her readers into understanding the Indigenous ways. It gives us a greater grasp of knowledge here. Her well-developed characters reflect the good and the extremely evil nature of humans in the present and in the past. Mihesuah creates an almost "battle scene" towards the end that will leave you breathless. I am overjoyed to realize that this is the first book in an Antelope and Burns Mystery Series. This is a powerful reflection of the Native American story that needs so desperately to be told. Mega, mega bravos here for Devon A. Mihesuah.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Bantom Books (Random House) and to the talented Devon A. Mihesuah for the opportunity.
Devon A. Mihesuah creates those exact emotions wrapped around tightly in Blood Relay. Mihesuah takes us to the expansive lands of Oklahoma's reservations. She focuses on the Native American people and their culture drifting from the sacredness of times past to the demands of the relentless present.
Dels Billy is a champion Indian horse relay rider. Tall and determined, Dels puts everything into her rides. She works non-stop with her particularly chosen horses and practices the grueling mounts and quick dismounts in the relay. But what Dels cannot control are the dark intentions of someone who wishes her gone. And that happens on a lonely stretch of highway after one of Dels' greatest wins. Gone within seconds into the Oklahoma wind.
Enter Detective Perry Antelope, a member of the Choctaw Nation and a twenty-year veteran of the police. Perry is married to Troy, a professor at the local college. She has two teenage children. Honoring her family and her heritage always comes first. Perry keeps herself fit and active. She runs six miles a day and practices knife wielding and tae kwon do. Perry is a force.
It's been six months since she was introduced to her new partner, Detective Sophia Burns. Sophia left the Las Vegas police force to work in Oklahoma. She also was an ex-Olympian shot putter. Each partner has their own skill sets and wits. Believe me, those skills are gonna come to the surface in Blood Relay.
The call comes in on the missing Dels Billy. Perry and Sophia arrive at the scene of Dels' pickup truck and horse trailer. Dels is gone and only Lee, her teenage helper, remains brutally beaten inside the truck. Lee remains unconscious. Those interviewed know no reason as to why Dels was abducted. Could she be one of the numbers of Indigenous women taken by force like in so many neighboring states?
Devon A. Mihesuah puts her heart and soul into Blood Relay. Notice how she slides in teachable moments to engage her readers into understanding the Indigenous ways. It gives us a greater grasp of knowledge here. Her well-developed characters reflect the good and the extremely evil nature of humans in the present and in the past. Mihesuah creates an almost "battle scene" towards the end that will leave you breathless. I am overjoyed to realize that this is the first book in an Antelope and Burns Mystery Series. This is a powerful reflection of the Native American story that needs so desperately to be told. Mega, mega bravos here for Devon A. Mihesuah.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Bantom Books (Random House) and to the talented Devon A. Mihesuah for the opportunity.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
June 6, 2026
Blood Relay was one of those books where I found myself just as interested in the setting and community as I was in the mystery itself. The story is rooted in Choctaw culture, Indian Horse Relay racing, and the realities facing Indigenous communities, all of which gave the novel a perspective that felt fresh and different from the crime fiction I usually read. Devon Mihesuah's research is impossible to miss. The world feels authentic, lived-in, and deeply connected to the issues the book explores.
I also really liked Perry Antelope and Sophia Burns. Their partnership felt established from the start, like I had stepped into the middle of a long-running series rather than meeting them for the first time. They came across as real people with lives, histories, and relationships outside the case. That human element helped keep me invested even when the investigation slowed down.
My biggest issues were the pacing and level of detail. The book spends a lot of time explaining, describing, and expanding on background details. Sometimes that worked because it added context and depth. Other times it felt over-described (I didn't need to know the makeup of each meal) and slowed the momentum of the mystery. The novel almost feels like two different books stitched together: a measured, thoughtful crime investigation in the first half and a much more intense thriller in the second.
For me, the most thought-provoking part wasn't the mystery itself but the larger themes underneath it. The story draws connections between the exploitation of land and the exploitation of people in a way that feels intentional. This is a crime novel with something to say, and Mihesuah makes sure you hear it. Even when the execution didn't fully work for me, I appreciated the ambition behind it. Absolutely worth reading for the setting, the culture, and the conversations it sparks, even if the pacing occasionally gets stuck in the mud.
I also really liked Perry Antelope and Sophia Burns. Their partnership felt established from the start, like I had stepped into the middle of a long-running series rather than meeting them for the first time. They came across as real people with lives, histories, and relationships outside the case. That human element helped keep me invested even when the investigation slowed down.
My biggest issues were the pacing and level of detail. The book spends a lot of time explaining, describing, and expanding on background details. Sometimes that worked because it added context and depth. Other times it felt over-described (I didn't need to know the makeup of each meal) and slowed the momentum of the mystery. The novel almost feels like two different books stitched together: a measured, thoughtful crime investigation in the first half and a much more intense thriller in the second.
For me, the most thought-provoking part wasn't the mystery itself but the larger themes underneath it. The story draws connections between the exploitation of land and the exploitation of people in a way that feels intentional. This is a crime novel with something to say, and Mihesuah makes sure you hear it. Even when the execution didn't fully work for me, I appreciated the ambition behind it. Absolutely worth reading for the setting, the culture, and the conversations it sparks, even if the pacing occasionally gets stuck in the mud.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A well-told contemporary mystery with a tough Choctaw heroine which centers diverse Indigenous traditions, including relay horse racing, and reckons with missing Indigenous people and also land allotments. I believe the 2nd volume of this Oklahoma-based police procedural is in the works!
The author is an enrolled citizen of the Choctaw Nation and a Chickasaw descendant, professor, and historian; she teaches Indigenous Studies at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS.
The author is an enrolled citizen of the Choctaw Nation and a Chickasaw descendant, professor, and historian; she teaches Indigenous Studies at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS.
October 12, 2025
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.
March 5, 2026
4.5⭐
Exciting mystery set in Oklahoma. When a horse relay rider goes missing on the ride home after a race, her trailer was found damaged and abandoned her male companion was left in serious condition. Fast-moving, yet filled with fascinating information on the Native American culture and law enforcement there. Speaking of law enforcement, three badass women are determined to find and save the horse relay rider. And if you are interested in what a horse relay rider is, you need to read this book. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Exciting mystery set in Oklahoma. When a horse relay rider goes missing on the ride home after a race, her trailer was found damaged and abandoned her male companion was left in serious condition. Fast-moving, yet filled with fascinating information on the Native American culture and law enforcement there. Speaking of law enforcement, three badass women are determined to find and save the horse relay rider. And if you are interested in what a horse relay rider is, you need to read this book. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
June 23, 2026
Normally I am not much of a fan of police procedurals because I get bored of the unneccessary level of detail they include, and this one did have that flaw in a way, but regardless, the premise was really compelling and I was drawn into the mystery and characters from the first chapter. I stayed on the edge of my seat for all the twists and turns. The mystery was a little predictable but still fascinating, with dimensions that set it apart.
What sets this book apart from other mysteries of its type is not only two female detectives working together, but also the fascinating cultural element of exploring how indigenous folks live and work in rural Oklahoma while still keeping their culture and history alive. I always love to see two badass women as leads, and these two were badass throughout.
Sophia is a former Olympic shotputter, and Perry is a mixed martial artist whose complicated but loving long-term marriage is something I'd love to see more of on the page. Healthy heterosexual long term partnerships where the romance isn't the point? Yes please! She also got through so many scrapes and got beat up and threatened at every turn, and still stayed laser focused on her case; I liked how the book showed how hard that career was on their bodies and families.
The mystery focuses on a story plucked from the headlines, real life missing persons cases among indigenous women, who get kidnapped in sex trafficking rings. Against the backdrop of a horse relay race circuit, which was a very interesting setting, a woman rider is taken. Also at stake was land allotments, another interesting angle this book gets into. That part got a little needlessly complicated but was also news to me and interesting to learn about.
Sometimes this book got a bit too heavy-handed with cultural references like music and brand names, which could get annoying, but I could also tell the author was a historian by trade and that is reflected in her writing style, which I did like overall.
It had a real Dark Winds vibe, except without the supernatural elements. Real life horrors only.
I hope we get more of this universe. I would totally read more adventures of Detective Perry Antelope. This is a really solid and fast-paced mystery that covers some dark topics, and yet I think it would make a good beach read. I could picture a lot of this as a TV miniseries because the writing style was cinematic in a sort of brisk way.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What sets this book apart from other mysteries of its type is not only two female detectives working together, but also the fascinating cultural element of exploring how indigenous folks live and work in rural Oklahoma while still keeping their culture and history alive. I always love to see two badass women as leads, and these two were badass throughout.
Sophia is a former Olympic shotputter, and Perry is a mixed martial artist whose complicated but loving long-term marriage is something I'd love to see more of on the page. Healthy heterosexual long term partnerships where the romance isn't the point? Yes please! She also got through so many scrapes and got beat up and threatened at every turn, and still stayed laser focused on her case; I liked how the book showed how hard that career was on their bodies and families.
The mystery focuses on a story plucked from the headlines, real life missing persons cases among indigenous women, who get kidnapped in sex trafficking rings. Against the backdrop of a horse relay race circuit, which was a very interesting setting, a woman rider is taken. Also at stake was land allotments, another interesting angle this book gets into. That part got a little needlessly complicated but was also news to me and interesting to learn about.
Sometimes this book got a bit too heavy-handed with cultural references like music and brand names, which could get annoying, but I could also tell the author was a historian by trade and that is reflected in her writing style, which I did like overall.
It had a real Dark Winds vibe, except without the supernatural elements. Real life horrors only.
I hope we get more of this universe. I would totally read more adventures of Detective Perry Antelope. This is a really solid and fast-paced mystery that covers some dark topics, and yet I think it would make a good beach read. I could picture a lot of this as a TV miniseries because the writing style was cinematic in a sort of brisk way.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Did Not Finish
January 20, 2026I 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.
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.
October 9, 2026
Liked it! Loved that the cops were all women and two? Indian women. I say ? Cause I’m not sure about Burns. Complex story that felt grounded and all of it worked. May catch this one at TXBF.
April 13, 2026
Actual Rating 3.5
I've read quite a few mysteries by Indigenous American authors focusing on MMIW because it is a very real issue, and the author did a good job with this theme. The author incorporated relevant cultural and historical information that added depth to the mystery. It was especially interesting to learn about the land allotments, and this aspect was included in a meaningful way.
There were instances when the pacing was a bit on the slower side, including a chapter of two detectives watching camera footage, but the pace picked up in the last quarter which led to a good ending. And sometimes there were just too many details - exactly what kind of drink (brand name and flavor) the characters are drinking, the number of stitches on a character's pair of pants (not quite, but close), etc.
One thing that put me off right from page one was the nonstop pop culture references, especially the name drops of songs. This is a personal preference, and I don't mind when it happens a couple times, but they were constant.
Overall this was a good mystery with solid characters, but there were aspects of the writing that kept it from being as strong as it could've been. Definitely still recommendable though. My thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I've read quite a few mysteries by Indigenous American authors focusing on MMIW because it is a very real issue, and the author did a good job with this theme. The author incorporated relevant cultural and historical information that added depth to the mystery. It was especially interesting to learn about the land allotments, and this aspect was included in a meaningful way.
There were instances when the pacing was a bit on the slower side, including a chapter of two detectives watching camera footage, but the pace picked up in the last quarter which led to a good ending. And sometimes there were just too many details - exactly what kind of drink (brand name and flavor) the characters are drinking, the number of stitches on a character's pair of pants (not quite, but close), etc.
One thing that put me off right from page one was the nonstop pop culture references, especially the name drops of songs. This is a personal preference, and I don't mind when it happens a couple times, but they were constant.
Overall this was a good mystery with solid characters, but there were aspects of the writing that kept it from being as strong as it could've been. Definitely still recommendable though. My thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
February 24, 2026
Book Review 🩸
thank you so much partner @bantambooks @randomhouse @storygramtours for the gifted copy!
Blood Relay
by Devon A. Mihesuah
out now!
In this richly layered debut thriller inspired by the real crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people, a Choctaw detective uncovers an insidious plot against her reservation while investigating the disappearance of a beloved champion athlete.
🩸 My thoughts:
I flew through this one. From the first disappearance to the final reveal, the mystery had a tight grip. With a compelling duo, it’s seasoned, sharp, and layered. What really stood out was how much depth the story carries. It’s not just a missing person case. it’s rooted in real issues, history, and community, making the stakes feel heavier and more urgent. The story is detailed and full of information. If you enjoy books that are impossible to look away from, this is crime fiction that hits hard and lingers.
Happy reading 📖
thank you so much partner @bantambooks @randomhouse @storygramtours for the gifted copy!
Blood Relay
by Devon A. Mihesuah
out now!
In this richly layered debut thriller inspired by the real crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people, a Choctaw detective uncovers an insidious plot against her reservation while investigating the disappearance of a beloved champion athlete.
🩸 My thoughts:
I flew through this one. From the first disappearance to the final reveal, the mystery had a tight grip. With a compelling duo, it’s seasoned, sharp, and layered. What really stood out was how much depth the story carries. It’s not just a missing person case. it’s rooted in real issues, history, and community, making the stakes feel heavier and more urgent. The story is detailed and full of information. If you enjoy books that are impossible to look away from, this is crime fiction that hits hard and lingers.
Happy reading 📖
August 16, 2026
Bookish Thoughts: I enjoyed this fast paced debut mystery about a missing woman. I love the main protagonist who is an impressive Choctaw detective with the Oklahoma Police Department. I also learned about a new sport that I didn’t know existed…an Indigenous horse relay race. I appreciated the author’s note about the alarming rise of Indigenous women who go missing. If you love a good mystery that is a page turner, this one is for you!
I received a complimentary ebook ARC from publisher Bantam and NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
February 24, 2026
A fantastic debut thriller that features a really badass Choctaw detective and her ex-shotput Olympian partner who take on a missing Indian horse relay rider's disappearance only to stumble upon a much bigger MMIWG case. Suspenseful, compelling and utterly relevant. This story will keep you on the edge of your seat and have you rooting for the female protagonists. Steeped in real life Oklahoma history with a moving author's note included at the end, the book is perfect for fans of authors like Vanessa Lillie, Marcie R. Rendon and Laurie L. Dove. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review.
March 20, 2026
A bit of a disappointment. I had read a previous book by the author and enjoyed it- The Hatak Witches. Finally she's getting some publicity by the NYT and it's over this slow and boring effort. There's an entire chapter of two detectives reviewing go pro camera footage of a relay race with detailed nuances into the sport that left me pleading - no mas! A mediocre plot too that is all over the place.
The themes of trafficking and murder of indigenous women as well as environmental exploitation were compelling as was the pace of the final third of the story. The two OKC detectives were on a mission to find the missing woman and would not be thwarted by jurisdictional issues. Just a violent cage fight ending. Yes, I will read another one. The tribal diversity of Oklahoma and its history of oppression and exploitation of its resources and people shout to be read and understood.
The themes of trafficking and murder of indigenous women as well as environmental exploitation were compelling as was the pace of the final third of the story. The two OKC detectives were on a mission to find the missing woman and would not be thwarted by jurisdictional issues. Just a violent cage fight ending. Yes, I will read another one. The tribal diversity of Oklahoma and its history of oppression and exploitation of its resources and people shout to be read and understood.
July 22, 2026
I enjoyed this. All of the major characters are female—not just the victim! Yay! And they are all badass. Sometimes the dialogue felt a bit exposition focused and unnatural. Sometimes there was a bit too much (imo) extraneous details (like exactly what everyone ordered at Wendy’s lol) and when I read that the author was mentored by the author of the Cash Blackbeard series, well that style fit. And in the beginning the sheer number of names and people to keep track of was a lot. Still I had a great time. The final quarter was thrilling. And the setting of the showdown was super interesting. Hope there are more books to come!
November 3, 2026
I really liked this book. It’s the story of an American Indian woman who goes missing after a horse race in which she competed. It also looked at the lands that are owned by the Indian people and those are trying to get their hands on it. The book was well written and I will look out for other books by this author
July 1, 2026
I absolutely loved this mystery!! Once I started reading I was hanging off every word. I had to know what was going to happen next. It kept me wanting more after every page. I was so happy with the way it ended and glad that I didn’t have to shed any tears. Great Read!!
August 7, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
June 20, 2026
Fantastic!! And I am beyond excited there is another Antelope & Burns book on the horizon!
November 1, 2025
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.
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.
December 1, 2025
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.
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.
November 14, 2025
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.
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.
July 24, 2026
this was really interesting & i think it addresses a really important topic! only giving it 3 stars because the writing itself bothered me, it read pretty plainly and it was very much telling and not showing. it almost felt like a script for a movie or show in some parts because it was literally all dialogue of just conversations back and forth. My favorite part of most mystery thrillers is the like, unknown? the mystery? and it felt like most of the questions that i should’ve had while reading were basically immediately answered lol
November 21, 2025
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.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 15, 2026
Enlightening in one way or another- for the first time I really have an understanding of why people find mansplaining so irritating. This is a police procedural written by someone expert in Native American culture and with zero knowledge of police procedures. Unrealistic plot and superhuman detectives. Mediocre writing, but I would have been okay if……….ah, did I mention the mansplaining ? Every freaking paragraph.
Actually my 2 rating might be generous.
Actually my 2 rating might be generous.
June 12, 2026
I enjoyed the topic and the learning about the various cultures of the region but overall, I found this poorly written.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
📚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
✍🏻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
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