A dramatic mystery steeped in Native American culture and history — a pretty thick atmosphere of (massive) historic injustice coupled with modern ills. Syd — of Cherokee descent — works for the Bureau of Indian Affairs — a placement that simultaneously troubles her and gives her a feeling of being able to help. She is driven by a need to protect, and is overcome with guilt from a traumatic, long ago event when she was absolutely unable to do so. Now she is being sent back home to Oklahoma to investigate a skull discovered dangling her old ID badge from it’s empty jaws…

The mystery is engaging and Syd is a good strong character. The narrative is a bit muddy and more angst ridden than I like. Native American history in the U.S. is beyond depressing and quite a lot of Syd’s inner dialog is spent fuming about one injustice after another. I can’t fault her for this, but it actually detracts from the story and eventually makes me go numb. I have read a lot of Native American history though both fiction and non-fiction, but if this is new to you, you will learn a lot.

I'm Native American and live in Oklahoma so I thought this book was really interesting. Syd is Cherokee and left her small town of Picher, Oklahoma to move away, hoping to leave behind the traumatic experience she had as a teenager. She never planned to return to Picher but her job with the Bureau of Indian Affairs has her return when a skeleton is found with her old ID inside it. Back in her home town, she finds out her sister is missing and the town is damaged from all the mining that took place decades ago. This is ultimately a mystery but all the facts about Oklahoma make it unique.

A fantastically crafted story. The mystery surrounding the characters, the misdirection and unreliable narrators made for a heart stopping, couldn’t put down read. Bringing light to the plight of native women is so important, hope this book gets the attention it deserves.

I wanted to love Vanessa Lillie’s Blood Sisters. It features a Cherokee woman working as an archeologist for the Bureau of Indian Affairs on Narragansett land in Rhode Island. Lillie herself is Cherokee, and lives in Rhode Island. I liked the book, but I didn’t love it.

Syd Walker was one of three young girls alone one night when two masked white men broke into the trailer. She’s lived with fear ever since the night one of her friends was killed by those men. Syd managed to save her sister, Emma Lou, then, but she couldn’t save her from her marriage and drug addiction. Now, fifteen years later, in 2008, Syd hasn’t been home since the night she sent her brother-in-law to jail and tried to rescue her sister. Syd’s married; lives in Rhode Island with her wife, and she doesn’t want to return to Oklahoma.

When Jo Mankiller, Syd’s boss, calls, she wants Syd to go home to Picher. Mankiller is focused on missing indigenous girls and women. A skull was found in a tree, with a message meant for Syd. Something is wrong in Picher, and Mankiller wants Syd to find out what the local BIA is hiding. And, Emma Lou is missing. Despite Syd’s original protests, she’s back in Oklahoma. No one is happy to see her. Syd’s parents insist Emma Lou isn’t using, and wouldn’t have left her little girl behind. Syd’s anger only builds as no one will cooperate, and her fear for her sister fuels her anger.

Blood Sisters brings to light the events of fifteen years earlier, and turns them upside down. It’s a story that captures the story of missing girls and women, the problems with drugs and the failure to deal with them. It’s a story of land and politics that the Cherokee can’t seem to escape.

As I said, I wanted to love the book. But, I found Syd frustrating with her fear and anger. I understand why she has it. And, she isn’t an investigator. She’s an archeologist. Her attitude, though, doesn’t help in her attempts to talk with people in the community. She knows that scared and mad go together for her. She’s a loner. But, scared and angry just didn’t work for me with this book.

An action-packed, intoxicatingly original thriller! Ever character is beautifully crafted, the mystery compelling and fresh. The story explores the themes of sisterhood, friendship, and the search for justice in a system that has historically ignored Indigenous women. An important and gorgeously written story.

Our main character is Syd, a Cherokee archaeologist for the BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs), who returns to Oklahoma to investigate the disappearances of two woman. One of them her sister. But not everybody is happy for her to be back. And danger waits around every corner.

Fresh and utterly absorbing. You’ll want to clear your schedule!

Blood Sisters is an intriguing story with a lot of diversity. The story and characters could be stronger, but overall not a bad read.

I am not a fan of the way this story is told - just didn't like the main character's voice. I have family in Oklahoma so had been very excited about it.

I really appreciated the Native American history and own-voice story (especially with the dedication/acknowledgment page). The sisters bond throughout the book was very interesting and I found myself turning the pages so quickly at the end, with a few plot twists!

I was instantly drawn into this mystery/thriller by it's Criminal Minds meets Bones vibe. Our main character, Syd, is a Cherokee lesbian archeologist who works for the BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) identifying remains found on reservation/trust land in New England. When a skull is found with her card in its mouth on the property where her childhood best friend and her family were murdered in her home town in Oklahoma, Syd is sent to assist in the investigation. She has been away from home for 3 year, vowing not to return after saving her sister from a drug overdose. Her return to investigate the found remains coincides with her sister going missing and small town reservation drama. This is an action packed read that had me wanting to yell at Syd for some reckless behavior. The mystery that unfolded was a wild ride and I hope this is just the beginning of Syd's story. Like many Native authored novels, there was a lot of fascinating/horrifying information about the US government's treatment of Native people who were forcibly relocated to Oklahoma. This would typically be a 4 star read for me but gets the upgrade to 5 for telling a different story than most mystery thrillers out there and telling it well.

Brilliant, gripping, heartbreaking thriller.

This is an incredible book that should make every possible list of must reads this year. Buy it. Take it to the beach, to a cozy cabin, wherever. Just read it

LOVE LOVE LOVE! What a great read. This novel had me going through every emotion. Will definitely be recommending.