Some years ago, I was a fan of Ledford’s “Smoky Mountain Inquest Series” which I thought was exceptionally well written with a strong sense of place and wonderful action sequences. So I am happy to see a new novel coming out on September 1, the first of the “Eva ‘Lightning Dance’ Duran” series.

From Ledford’s website: “Two-Time Nominee for the Anthony Award in the Best Audiobook Category. Agatha Award winner DEBORAH J LEDFORD is the award-winning author of the upcoming Eva “Lightning Dance” Duran Native American crime fiction novel REDEMPTION from Thomas & Mercer Amazon Publishing, set in Northern New Mexico.

From the Publisher

“From award-winning author Deborah J Ledford comes a thrilling new series featuring a Native American sheriff’s deputy who risks it all to find a friend who’s gone missing.

“After four women disappear from the Taos Pueblo reservation, Deputy Eva “Lightning Dance” Duran dives into the case. For her, it’s personal. Among the missing is her best friend, Paloma, a heroin addict who left behind an eighteen-year-old son.

“Eva senses a lack of interest from the department as she embarks on the investigation. But their reluctance only fuels her fire. Eva teams up with tribal police officer and longtime friend Cruz “Wolf Song” Romero to tackle a mystery that could both ruin her reputation and threaten her standing in the tribe.

“And when the missing women start turning up dead, Eva uncovers clues that take her deeper into the reservation’s protected secrets. As Eva races to find Paloma before it’s too late, she will face several tests of loyalty—to her friend, her culture, and her tribe.”

From Ledford’s Website

“Before her career as a writer she worked for a decade as a professional scenic artist for motion pictures, industrial films, national commercials and live theatre. Due to her work on industrial films for clients such as Intel and Motorola, Deborah earned security clearance through the US Government. Highest acclaim is for her scenic artistry on the Coen Brothers’ film Raising Arizona.

“Part Eastern Band Cherokee, she spent her summers growing up in the Great Smoky Mountains of western North Carolina where her Smoky Mountain Inquest book series are set. She lives in the Phoenix, Arizona area with her extremely patient husband and their awesome Ausky.

“Member of: International Thriller Writers Association (ITW), Sisters in Crime National (SinC), Crime Writers of Color (CWoC), Mystery Writers of America (MWA), Past-President of Sisters in Crime Desert Sleuths Arizona Chapter, 2012-2013.”

Looks good!

—Malcolm