D.M. Rowell’s debut, Never Name the Dead, is a fascinating mystery enshrouded in the history and culture of the Kiowa of Oklahoma. Although it takes place in only one day, it’s a slow-paced story that fits the skill and style of a tribal story keeper.
Mud never felt accepted by the Kiowa, although her grandfather raised her to be the next story keeper for the tribe. Instead, she fled to California, where she uses her skills in her own business in Silicon Valley. Then, her grandfather calls saying she needs to come home. With no other message, she leaves her business on the eve of an important event, and flies to Oklahoma. But, her grandfather isn’t at the airport waiting for her.
Instead, she finds several other tribal elders who are looking for her grandfather, James Sawpole. She catches a ride with one, but feels blocked and manipulated the entire time. It’s only when her cousin Denny catches up with her that she feels safe. But, Denny warns her of local problems. Fracking is polluting the water. Families are being forced to sell their Kiowa treasures for needed cash, and the Kiowa’s valuable Jefferson Peace Medal has disappeared. Somehow, Mud’s grandpa is mixed up in all of that. But, when she arrives at his home, she finds a body. And, her grandfather is missing.
Although Mud and Denny start out together to find their grandfather, it’s actually Mud’s quest. Denny accuses Mud of forgetting who she is, the next tribal story keeper who left the Kiowa behind for California and business. Now, in her search for her grandfather, in her encounters with a wild boar and a buffalo, Mud has to find her way home to her people. She has to find answers to a thief and a killer who is destroying their community. As a story keeper, she needs to find the tribe’s truth.
As I said, Never Name the Dead can feel slow at times when we’re used to fast-paced thrillers and mysteries. But, the story accommodates the pace. A Kiowa story keeper must introduce themselves and the background before getting to the heart, the truth of the story. Rowell does that with a beautifully written debut, history, culture, and social issues all written as a story.
D.M. Rowell’s website is http://www.dmrowell.com/
Never Name the Dead by D.M. Rowell. Crooked Lane Books, 2022. ISBN 9781639101276 (hardcover), 336p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I read a galley to review for a journal.
