Native Blood, the 4th in the Harry Przewalski series of smart private eye novels, was due to be released on Dec. 6, 2023, but is now scheduled for official release on Jan. 28, 2024. Excellent review from Midwest Book Review: "Hard-boiled detective Harry Przewalski returns in another investigation that challenges his abilities in Native Blood, which mingles First American issues and struggles with the death of an academic researcher. When an Athabaskan native, archaeology student, and chancellor's son is implicated in the crime, Harry suspects that far more is going on (and at stake). His involvement will prove him right in unexpected ways as the puzzle unfolds.
Concurrent to the evolving murder mystery is a probe into Native American culture, genetics, and the conflicts that evolve from prejudice and the perception of all these elements and more. Harry has his hands full as he reveals these politics and influences and, especially, the mercurial and controversial conflicts between race and racial theory that embroils the science, academic, and outside communities in a struggle to discern truth from prejudice. The social facets and aspects of Native history and studies add an extra layer of value to the tale as Harry evolves a long list of suspects and begins to absorb facts and truths he never knew about before this latest case:
"Motives for murder are like weeds, Harry thought. They sprout adjacent to the dead...
'She's ... she's a difficult individual. Bitter.'
'Oh yeah? Bitter enough for murder?'"
Good question. Even more important are the cultural and political revelations that emerge as the underbelly of university processes and politics are revealed, exposing new details about protests, historical precedent, and scientific pursuits. One facet of Native Blood that keeps it so thoroughly engrossing is the surprises that keep emerging from Harry's case. Readers receive a healthy degree of thought-provoking inquiry into racial theory, cultural and historical precedent and expectations, and the rationales of scientific method and prejudice that (in this case) justify murder as a resolution tactic (albeit a poor one, if one attracts the tenacious attention of an investigator like Harry, who is operates like a dog on a bone).
The writing is astute, revealing, and commanding. Leonard Krishtalka builds insights not just into historical and political influences, but Harry's evolving character and responses to dilemmas well outside his comfort zone. Creative chapter headings (such as 'White Guy History,' 'Dose of Derangement' and 'I Promise to Confess') add tension and reflection to the story, while a sense of comic relief emerges at unexpected moments to lighten the load of Harry's investigation. The result is a spirited, thought-provoking brush with death and racial issues that will attract both prior fans and newcomers. Native Blood is dedicated to using classic hard-boiled detective devices in modern social and racial inspections replete with scientific and history quandaries that (apparently) are worth killing for. Libraries and readers seeking engrossing stories packed with atmosphere and intrigue will find plenty to appreciate as Native Blood unfolds its extraordinary circumstances and revelations."
Also great review from Readers' Favorite: "In Native Blood by Leonard Krishtalka, a biological anthropologist investigating indigenous genetics is killed and the blame lands on the chancellor's Athabascan Native son, an archaeology student engaged in protesting early American genomic probes. Harry Przewalski, a private eye, is sucked into an intricate network of field flaws as the focal point becomes a vanished flint spearhead, its implications challenging established notions of America's original settlers. Conflicts between anthropology, genetics, and Native American roots are revealed, as are historical ties between anthropology, racism, and the oppression of indigenous cultures. Native Blood is the fourth book in the Harry Przewalski crime series, preceded by The Bone Field, Death Spoke, and The Camel Driver.
"The lesson of anthropology is the death of theory... Deadly serious. I mean that literally." And Leonard Krishtalka certainly does in his exceptionally crafted thriller Native Blood. There are several things that Krishtalka does right to make this novel an engrossing read, and most of them come down to the main character, Harry Przewalski. Harry is incredibly well-developed and imperfect enough to be believable. Krishtalka backs Harry up with witty dialogue and some decently heavy background baggage and then has him reference detective novels and find himself followed by someone who may or may not have a minivan. I love the visual imagery, from crime scenes to an office the size of a prairie outhouse. Against the wit there also deeply troubling themes that arise. Here we are confronted with the brutality of our past, its clash with our present, and violence against First Americans and, in the case of the dead, the persistent assault on women. Overall, this is a fantastically written and immersive read. Very highly recommended."
"Hard-boiled detective Harry Przewalski returns in another investigation that challenges his abilities in Native Blood, which mingles First American issues and struggles with the death of an academic researcher. When an Athabaskan native, archaeology student, and chancellor's son is implicated in the crime, Harry suspects that far more is going on (and at stake). His involvement will prove him right in unexpected ways as the puzzle unfolds.
Concurrent to the evolving murder mystery is a probe into Native American culture, genetics, and the conflicts that evolve from prejudice and the perception of all these elements and more. Harry has his hands full as he reveals these politics and influences and, especially, the mercurial and controversial conflicts between race and racial theory that embroils the science, academic, and outside communities in a struggle to discern truth from prejudice. The social facets and aspects of Native history and studies add an extra layer of value to the tale as Harry evolves a long list of suspects and begins to absorb facts and truths he never knew about before this latest case:
"Motives for murder are like weeds, Harry thought. They sprout adjacent to the dead...
'She's ... she's a difficult individual. Bitter.'
'Oh yeah? Bitter enough for murder?'"
Good question. Even more important are the cultural and political revelations that emerge as the underbelly of university processes and politics are revealed, exposing new details about protests, historical precedent, and scientific pursuits. One facet of Native Blood that keeps it so thoroughly engrossing is the surprises that keep emerging from Harry's case. Readers receive a healthy degree of thought-provoking inquiry into racial theory, cultural and historical precedent and expectations, and the rationales of scientific method and prejudice that (in this case) justify murder as a resolution tactic (albeit a poor one, if one attracts the tenacious attention of an investigator like Harry, who is operates like a dog on a bone).
The writing is astute, revealing, and commanding. Leonard Krishtalka builds insights not just into historical and political influences, but Harry's evolving character and responses to dilemmas well outside his comfort zone. Creative chapter headings (such as 'White Guy History,' 'Dose of Derangement' and 'I Promise to Confess') add tension and reflection to the story, while a sense of comic relief emerges at unexpected moments to lighten the load of Harry's investigation. The result is a spirited, thought-provoking brush with death and racial issues that will attract both prior fans and newcomers. Native Blood is dedicated to using classic hard-boiled detective devices in modern social and racial inspections replete with scientific and history quandaries that (apparently) are worth killing for. Libraries and readers seeking engrossing stories packed with atmosphere and intrigue will find plenty to appreciate as Native Blood unfolds its extraordinary circumstances and revelations."
Also great review from Readers' Favorite:
"In Native Blood by Leonard Krishtalka, a biological anthropologist investigating indigenous genetics is killed and the blame lands on the chancellor's Athabascan Native son, an archaeology student engaged in protesting early American genomic probes. Harry Przewalski, a private eye, is sucked into an intricate network of field flaws as the focal point becomes a vanished flint spearhead, its implications challenging established notions of America's original settlers. Conflicts between anthropology, genetics, and Native American roots are revealed, as are historical ties between anthropology, racism, and the oppression of indigenous cultures. Native Blood is the fourth book in the Harry Przewalski crime series, preceded by The Bone Field, Death Spoke, and The Camel Driver.
"The lesson of anthropology is the death of theory... Deadly serious. I mean that literally." And Leonard Krishtalka certainly does in his exceptionally crafted thriller Native Blood. There are several things that Krishtalka does right to make this novel an engrossing read, and most of them come down to the main character, Harry Przewalski. Harry is incredibly well-developed and imperfect enough to be believable. Krishtalka backs Harry up with witty dialogue and some decently heavy background baggage and then has him reference detective novels and find himself followed by someone who may or may not have a minivan. I love the visual imagery, from crime scenes to an office the size of a prairie outhouse. Against the wit there also deeply troubling themes that arise. Here we are confronted with the brutality of our past, its clash with our present, and violence against First Americans and, in the case of the dead, the persistent assault on women. Overall, this is a fantastically written and immersive read. Very highly recommended."