The main purpose of this novel isn't to tell a gripping crime story, but to tell us as much as possible about Kiowa culture, traditions, history and rituals, just as a Kiowa storyteller should.
As I didn't know much about Kiowa culture it was quite interesting although there were no big surprises regarding the case(s) and sometimes the story felt too long-winded and a bit incredible because our heroine was awake well over 30 hours without sleeping a minute.

When I started this book, I didn't realize it was the second in the series, but luckily, D.M. Rowell includes plenty of backstory/information regarding the Kiowa culture to keep everyone informed and understanding the story. I enjoyed this book, despite the rattlesnakes (no thanks!), and I have to say that the murder kept me thinking and made me want to figure it out before Mud & Denny did. I also really appreciated the inclusion of all of the cultural references of the Kiowa. I had never known anything about the Kiowa before reading this book, and am very interested in it now. I definitely want to go back and read the first Mud Sawpole book, and I look forward to any other books in the future. Very well done, and I'd say more of a 4.5 than just a 4!

This is the second book, which appears to start where the first ended. There is enough background information to understand what is happening.

Mae "Mud" Sawpole is a Kiowa woman who has left the tribe to start a business in Silicon Valley. Mud returns to Oklahoma at the behest of her grandfather.

Mud and her cousin, Denny, must work together to solve the mystery of the dead white man, who is stealing precious artifacts, and who is allowing fracking on tribal land.

This story blends together the rich history of the Kiowa people with a fast-paced thriller. I enjoyed reading this and understanding more of the Kiowa culture. I also appreciated the glossary for the definitions of the words used from the Kiowa language. Just a reminder to myself (and all) -- just because it is different doesn't make it bad.

Thank you, Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley, for the opportunity to read the eARC of Silent are the Dead.

3.75 stars
Very unique. wish i read book 1 first
Back on tribal land, Mud Sawpole discovers an illegal fracking operation threatening the Kiowas ancestral home. A local businessman involved in artifact thefts is murdered, and a tribe elder is accused. With her cousin Denny, Mud investigates the death while also fighting to stop the frackers destroying Kiowa land. Embracing tribal customs, she seeks answers but uncovers more questions. Racing against time, Mud and Denny search for the real killer and confront the possibility of a traitor among them. As danger looms, Mud may become the next victim.

“Silent Are the Dead” by D. M. Rowell is a gripping sequel in the Mud Sawpole series that delves deep into the heart of the Kiowa tribe’s struggles and triumphs. The protagonist, Mud Sawpole, returns to her roots after a high-powered career, only to find herself embroiled in a whirlwind of crime that threatens to engulf her and her tribe.

The narrative weaves a complex tapestry of tribal traditions, modern challenges, and the unyielding spirit of the Kiowa people. Rowell’s storytelling is masterful, blending suspense and cultural richness to create a novel that is both thrilling and enlightening. The book’s exploration of identity, heritage, and the impact of external forces on indigenous communities is poignant and timely.

As Mud Sawpole confronts an illegal fracking operation that desecrates the sacred lands of the Kiowa, she also grapples with an internal menace—a betrayal from within the tribe that involves the theft of precious artifacts. The tension escalates when this internal conflict intertwines with the external threat, leading to a crescendo of danger and deceit.

Rowell’s characters are beautifully fleshed-out, with Mud Sawpole standing out as a beacon of resilience and determination. Her journey is not just a quest to solve a mystery but a deeper search for meaning and connection to her cultural roots. The supporting cast adds layers of complexity to the narrative, each with their own motivations and secrets that enrich the plot.

The setting is a character in itself, with the vast landscapes of the Kiowa homeland serving as a silent witness to the unfolding drama. Rowell’s vivid descriptions of the environment transport readers to a place where the past and present collide, where every stone and stream holds a story.

“Silent Are the Dead” is a compelling mystery and a profound reflection on the struggles of preserving one’s culture in the face of modernity. It’s a tale of courage, community, and the unbreakable bond between a people and their land. With its intricate plot, robust character development, and thematic depth, this novel is a standout addition to the genre and a testament to Rowell’s skill as a storyteller.

I LOVED EVERYTHING about this book (after I send this review, I am buying a copy of "Never Name The Dead" the 1st in the Mud Sawpole series).).

"Silent Are The Dead" is one of the most engaging stories I have read this year, and I expect this author is headed (#1 with a bullet) for the bestseller list.

Another "one to watch" with the 2nd book in what I hope is a LENGTHY series featuring Mud Sawpole - could there be a BETTER name for a somewhat mystical crime-fighter?

If you are a fan of Thomas Perry's Jane Whitefield series, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of D.M. Rowell's "Silent are The Dead".

Kiowa, cultural-heritage, customs-and-belief-systems, historical-figures, historical-places-events, historical-research, history-and-culture, traditions, religious-symbolism, religious-practices, relationship-issues, artifact, theft, family, family-dynamics, amateur-sleuth, cultural-exploration, Oklahoma, greed, murders, investigation, storyteller, advertising, fracking, tribal-police, threats, sabotage, false-conclusions, contemporary*****

She is Mae at her advertising agency in California where there is an important deal near to closing and she has work to do on it. She is Mud in her hometown at the Kiowa reservation in Oklahoma where grandfather has called her for help with the thefts of important tribal artifacts. She is both, and there are crises in each part of her life at the same time. One of those parts includes a murder involving both greed and theft of historical items belonging to family. She and her cousin discover an illegal fracking operation which poisons all water in the area, and a confusing murder. She is an apprentice storyteller and an amateur sleuth with a deep sense of justice. Her cousin, on the other hand, hops from accusing one suspect after another. And the characters are so well depicted that I felt as if I knew them in my own world here in Wisconsin. Twisty and filled with tribal lore.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

First and foremost, I did not know this was the second in a series! I definitely would have appreciated this much more if I had read the first one...however I LOVED the pacing of this book and feel like maybe I wouldn't necessarily need to read the first one? I'm going to read it JUST to be sure, but I feel like I got enough from this one alone! The twists in this book were top tier. I audibly gasped when the murderer came to light. I thought this was written so well and gave enough tribute to the indigenous culture. This was a 4/5 for me!

I read a lot of writing by Indigenous authors and I just did not find anything compelling about this book. I was looking forward to reading this book and the author's earlier work by I have about 40 books on Indigenous writers and this one just didn't make the cut as far as the subject matters goes. It just seemed like rehashing of other books that have already been published,

What a pleasure in this second installment featuring Mud Sawpole. Although it follows hard on the heels of Winter Counts, there is enough reference to the first book so that the series (hopefully there will be more) can begun with Silent are the Dead, but a richer experience of course would occur if the first one had been read. D. M. Rowell beautifully blends the dilemma of a former member of this Kiowa family who has successfully forged a life in Silicon Valley. One of my favorite shows, Reservation Dogs, was set and filmed in the same region of Oklahoma, so there was ease in the visual descriptions. This particular episode features a twisty mystery that incorporates Kiowa traditions, giving it a current sensibility.. Looking forward to more.

this was an amazing read. this author really knows how to tell a story and keep the readers interested from the very beginning. loved what he did with the naitive american cultcure. i will be reading more of his work.

The second of this series picks right up from where the first left off. It can be read on it’s own. Mud Sawpole is back home in Oklahoma while her business is preparing a critical presentation in California. She’s torn between where her priorities need to be. Her brother and Grandpa are convinced frackers are tainting the water. Then there’s the stolen artifacts from the reservation. Then a dead body. Mud and her brother attempt to determine who the killer is while eliminating the innocent obvious suspect. My suspect list wavered at every turn as new developments occurred. It was a well plotted mystery with many characters I liked. Mud was so busy in twenty-four hours I was exhausted just reading about the occurrences.
The history books from my generation didn’t provide much accurate information about indigenous peoples culture. It’s so rewarding to find authors weaving their customs into stories now. I’ve learned much about their beliefs and rituals reading this type of novel. I especially enjoyed the glossary of Kiowa phrases. Many of my ancestors were from the area in this series which makes it even more special to read. Thanks to the author for a mystery with so much woven into the setting and people. I look forward to more of Mud’s adventures.
I should have known from the vivid cover to avoid this story. Full transparency here – I DESPISE snakes! I won’t watch or read about them, therefore I admit to skimming over some pages that made my skin crawl and would give me nightmares. I live very near Oklahoma, the setting of this novel, and where snakes are prevalent. I know they’re an essential piece of ecology, just can’t get past my phobia.
An advance reader copy of “Silent are the Dead” by D. M. Rowell, Mud Sawpole #2, Crooked Lane Books, publication 11/19/2024, was provided by NetGalley. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. Very interesting story about Native American tribes and it gives history throughout of what happened in the 1800s and it really speaks to me. Great storytelling and writing from the author! It’s a lot of information and politics back then but more in the "modern time" I would assume as Mud has a phone and the tech in this is mentioned a lot. Sometimes it could be hard to follow along and understand it all. I had trouble at some points but overall it’s a very good novel. I also loved how the two different worlds were woven together along with the language too. If you’re a person who likes multicultural then I highly recommend!

A good book I like how Mud grows throughout the book and how she learns how to integrate her new and existing worlds together. I also loved the look into another culture and what makes them tick.

Silent are the Dead is the second book in D.M. Rowell's Mud Sawpole series. I actually have had the first Mud Sawpole book (Never Name the Dead) on my TBR for awhile, and actually received a copy for Christmas. For those who have not read the first book, it is possible to read this book first without feeling too lost. You will have spoilers if you read the second book first, but the author does a great job of balancing recapping where our protagonist has been before, with where she is at now.

The story takes place over about a one day time frame, and there are many moments where I was questioning whether or not Mud could solve the mysteries before her flight back to California. The one day turnaround really added to the tension in the novel. Many murder mysteries are open ended with just the timeline of needing to solve the mystery soon. There were some really dire consequences if the murder wasn't solved by the morning after the murder took place.

Rowell did a great job of incorporating history, current issues facing tribes, and providing context for the novel without distracting from the plot. I was really interested in her incorporating fracking, and with Killers of the Flower Moon having just come out, I thought this book had really great timing. The book also reminded me of how historical issues are still happening today, particularly when it comes to land and mineral rights. Overall, the book was really well done and I am excited to see more indigenous fiction.

Please be advised I received an Advance Reader's Copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

First and foremost, thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an eARC for an honest review!

I actually started reading this without knowing that it was a sequel! It was so gripping that I had to look more into it, and I have since read both books! I think that this is a great continuation of Mud's story, and continues to ratchet up the stakes time and time again. With the context of the first novel, you get to feel her own growth as she reconnects to her roots. I will note, Mud and Denny must be super human to just keep going without sleeping! All jokes aside, I think the fact that the events of these books take place in such a short amount of time makes the stakes feel higher and higher, and the changes between frantic searching and slow consideration feel natural.

My main criticism with this book is that it seems there is too much repetition with certain aspects of the book, like the repetitive definitions of things or explaining of certain customs too many times. It may also be an effect of reading both books back to back, but there are some areas that feel a little verbose due to this.

All in all, I did enjoy this book greatly and am happy to recommend it! It is a fun ride and provides enough mystery to keep you reading

Mary Higgins Clark Award-finalist Rowell’s second mystery featuring Kiowa professional storyteller Mae “Mud” Sawpole opens in media res as she attends a cleansing and blessing ceremony at the Kiowa Tribe Museum in Carnegie, Oklahoma. As recounted in Never Name the Dead, Mud and her cousin Denny thwarted the attempted theft of the precious Jefferson Peace Medal given to the Tribe during the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804. Earlier in the day, they had also found a body and identified the killer. Now, it is time to return the medal to the museum and for Mud to go back to Silicon Valley, where her PR client has an important event. First, she needs to confront tribe chairman, Wyatt Walker, and tribe legislator Anna ManyHorse about the illegal fracking on her grandfather’s land but when the dealer involved in the theft of the Jefferson Peace medal and other Kiowa artifacts is murdered and a respected tribal elder falls suspect, Mud and Denny must race against the clock on the longest night of their lives (Mud has a noon flight to catch the next day!) to find the real culprits behind the fracking and the dealer’s killing. As a gay woman of mixed race, Mud has always felt a bit of an outsider (“a large minority in the Tribe didn’t think I was Kiowa enough…because I didn’t look Indian enough”), but her great-aunt’s wisdom and a ceremonial sweat bath set her on the path to finding the truth. Rowell, whose Kiowa name, “Koyh Mi O Boy Dah”, means “She Is A Traditional Kiowa Woman”, provides enough backstory for newbies to slip easily into the storyline. Her details about Kiowa history, culture, and spiritual traditions are respectful and fascinating. She also knows how to write an intense fight scene complete with menacing rattlesnakes. Tony Hillerman fans will enjoy discovering a promising mystery writer and her intriguing protagonist..

An engaging murder mystery within the Kiowa tribe that takes place in Carnegie, Oklahoma. My closest friend of many years was Kiowa and finding this book brought back sweet memories of our friendship.
I read the description on NetGalley and immediately requested an arc. I really enjoyed the story as it flowed well and kept me guessing throughout. I easily liked Mud and her struggle of living between two worlds; Silicon Valley and Her Kiowa roots. She is summoned by her grandfather to return to Oklahoma to help stop the fracking on his land. She is brought into a mystery when her friend discovers a dead body. This begins a night of Mud and her cousin, Denny, trying to solve the murder, prove who is innocent or not and check into the illegal fracking. The author does a good job of weaving the plot lines together so the dots all connect. It is a ride that kept me reading to figure out who dunnit! I loved the way the ways and rituals of the Kiowa people were woven into the story, along with language.
I didn’t realize this was part of a series and was pleasantly surprised that Mud, the main protagonist was part of the LGBTQIA+ community! I will definitely read the first in the series and more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

What a thrilling introduction to the Mud Sawpole series! I have not read the first one (I seem to have a knack for selecting books that are part of a series) however this was an excellent place to start nonetheless.

Mae “Mud” Sawpole is a queer Kiowa woman who left the nation in Oklahoma for Silicon Valley to launch a professional storytelling agency as part of her mission to be the storyteller for the Kiowa as her grandfather designated her. Mud has insecurities about her role as she is visibly a woman of mixed heritage, however with the support of her family members she comes to realize that she is Kiowa through and through regardless of what ancestry she has because the Kiowa blood is what counts.

The story starts presumably where the last one ended. Mud has recently solved a murder and is at the Tribal Headquarters after being summoned back to Oklahoma by her grandfather who is currently on a spiritual quest and only tells her it’s an emergency. She’s there with various other family and members of the nation for a ceremony to return the Jefferson Peace Medal to its rightful place in the Kiowa museum. This is an artifact of critical importance to the nation as a symbol of what might have been peaceful contact with American colonizers and there are only three genuine medals in existene. Near the end of this ceremony after Mud and others witness several disputes and perplexing actions in the headquarters, her former high school love literally stumbles over a body. The prologue is from the perspective of the dead man and gives just the slightest hint of what led to his demise, as the Peace Medal is not the only ancestral artifact that has ended up in the wrong hands.

Over the course of a single night, Mud and her cousin Denny, are engaged in a race against time to figure out who committed this murder before Mud has to leave on a 12pm flight back to Silicon Valley for a presentation that will make or break her agency. They must figure out who the real killer is before the police hone in on a Kiowa elder, who Mud and Denny know didn’t do it, and don’t investigate further. In addition to this murder, Mud and Denny are also investigating crimes of environmental destruction on their nation’s land.

I appreciated how fast paced this book was and the fact it took place over one night didn’t seem contrived. The only irritating part was the partner in the agency in Silicon Valley who kept popping up by phone as a reminder that Mud has critical business interests now and needs to focus on that, not her family and the situation at hand (which Mud doesn’t explain at all to her partner). Her business partner seemed almost comically disrespectful, especially in how she uses the nickname “Mud” after overhearing it, a nickname which Denny came up with during Mud’s childhood Kiowa naming ceremony, but it’s possible there’s some explanation about this dynamic that’s established in the first book.

The various twists and the final revelation of who committed the murder genuinely surprised me. I found it both educational and interesting to read about how Mud reconnected with her Kiowa roots and used ancestral knowledge to ultimately put together the clues.

The author is a Kiowa woman and includes a variety of Kiowa words within the book, an explanation of Kiowa sign language and how it’s used which is demonstrated throughout the story, and there is a glossary of Kiowa words at the end. Kiowa ceremonies and the importance of certain rituals are also critical parts of this book. I enjoyed the inclusion of all of that background and am interested in learning more about Kiowa culture and history beyond this book. Of course I also want to read more Mud Sawpole mysteries!

Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to NetGalley for this ARC to review. This review is my honest opinion.

This was a did not finish for me. After many chapters, I was bored and could not get interested in it

This book! What can I say! It was so exciting and had me guessing constantly and gave such a spooky vibe! I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy! Strongly recommended.