Eva "Lightning Dance" Duran is a woman with one foot each in two very different worlds. As a female sheriff's deputy, she has to contend with the ingrained sexism in law enforcement - though her police academy nickname of "SBD" (Silent But Deadly) goes some way in making people take her seriously.

Meanwhile, the fact that Eva has chosen to live off the reservation and be part of the white man's world has not always gone down too well with her Native American community in New Mexico's Taos Pueblo.

Now, she also has to deal with the fact that her best friend and soul sister Paloma, a once-famed hoop dancer, has gone missing. Again. And having traded in her traditional dance routines for life as a heroin addict after a tragic accident 3 years ago, Eva knows her friend could be practically anywhere.

Part of the fallout from Paloma's tragedy is that her 18-year-old son Kai has had to be talked down from a bridge known for suicides on his birthday. It is only after Eva rashly promises Kai that he can help her in the search for his mother that he agrees not to kill himself.

But finding Paloma will be easier said than done. She has gone missing with three other women from the community, all of them suspected of serious drug use. And who currently has her is something that not even Eva can easily guess at. Which becomes even more of a problem when Paloma's companions start showing up dead...

I liked that this story shone a much-needed light on not only the drug problems so common on the reservation, but also the fact that so many indigenous women end up dead or disappeared.

Eva is a terrific character, and provides a strong contrast to the victims in this story. The book is an easy read, though the storytelling is not flawless. I give it 3. 5 stars. And as this is the first in a series, it should be interesting to see what the author has in mind next for Eva Duran.

Having read previous books by the author, I looked forward to Redemption with anticipation, and I was not disappointed. I have visited the Taos, New Mexico area, and I appreciated learning more about Taos Pueblo, the reservation, and the traditions and beliefs of the people who live there.

Redemption touches upon the plight of missing Indigenous women and the problem of drugs on the reservation and shows how the tribal, city, and county police forces work together to solve crimes. The four women Eva is searching for are all highly talented in arts that are important to the Pueblo people: drum making, basket making, jewelry making, and hoop dancing. When their bodies began to be found, I felt as though a part of these artistic traditions died with them.

The cast is a strong one, with Eva at its heart. Her tribal name is Lightning Dance, but with her quiet demeanor and accurate marksmanship, she earned the nickname "Silent But Deadly" at the police academy. She often wants to go rogue to get the job done, but her intelligence keeps her in check. She knows being a loose cannon will not get the bad guys locked up in prison, and that such behavior will probably get her kicked off the police force-- and she loves her job.

Readers see the points of view of several characters. For example, we hear Paloma's thoughts as she hopes Eva will be able to find her. We hear from Paloma's son, Kai, a mercurial eighteen-year-old whose emotions sometimes get the best of him, and we hear from Alice, the woman who's holding the women captive. Although Alice's heart is in the right place, she still reminded me a tiny bit of Annie Wilkes in Stephen King's Misery. But my favorite character has to be Nathan "Little Bear" Trujillo, a little boy who's living a nightmare and wants it to end. I certainly wouldn't mind seeing him again.

Redemption is a fast-paced tale with a main character I want to hear more from. I look forward to the next book in the series.

A nice start to a new series featuring Deputy Eva Lightning Dance Duran. She's looking for her friend Paloma one of several women from the reservation who have gone missing- and she's opened a can of worms. Some of this is familiar territory but it's good to read a procedural featuring a strong Native American female protagonist. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC,

The first in a new series about Eva, a sheriff's deputy. She is desperate to find her best friend who has gone missing. I think this book suffered from the current trend/ongoing trend of feeling its necessary to have multiple narrators. I really didn't find it necessary here, so it took away from the narrative. I also didn't love that we knew who took Paloma really early on.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The synopsis of this book sounded interesting to me so I requested a copy to read.
Unfortunately, I have tried reading this book on 2 separate occasions and during this 2nd attempt, I have
decided to stop reading this book
and state that this book just wasn't for me.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

3.5 stars rounded to 4

Redemption is the first entry in a new series that I will gladly continue on with! I found myself completely immersed within the Indigenous culture, the Taos Pueblo setting, and the character arcs. My only quibble is that this really isn’t a mystery, and I typically expect some sort of suspenseful unknown to further the plot of a police procedural. The suspense is there, no doubt, but we know from almost the very beginning who the culprit is and basically why they are doing what they are doing. However, this could be tailored to the need to create a sense of place and deeper characterization of the cast that will come back in future books, so I’d like to see what the author does with a true mystery in the future. This book is structured with a multi-pov told in short, snappy chapters, which I loved. If you haven’t snagged your Amazon First Reads choice for August 2023 yet, this is a great choice!

First Nations intrigue!

Eva “Lightning Dance” Duran, is a policewoman with the Taos County Sheriff’s Department. Eva is a member of the Taos Pueblo nation. She liaises between the Reservation Police and the County Department.
Her best friend Paloma “White Dove” Arrio has disappeared, along with three other First Nations women. All are Hoop dancers. It’s been some weeks, and it’s only now that the outside world becomes aware of what’s been happening. Eva finds a body in a hunting area on a borderline area between the County and the Rez. It’s one of the missing women, not White Dove, arranged in traditional ceremonial dress, that’s interestingly not genuine. The elders don’t want the FBI called in on Sovereign Land, even though it might give access to valuable data.
White Dove had been an amazing Hoop dancer until on the way home from competitions she’d been in a collision. She was left injured and her husband dead. Her pain, emotional and physical was unbearable. That was the beginning of Paloma’s drug addiction.
Eva, a Reservation cop, Cruz “”Wolf Song” Romero, and White Dove’s son Kai “Single Star” Arrio, continue their frantic search, but as another of White Dove’s friends turns up dead they are faced with the possibility that they might never find her.
A taut and rewarding police procedural working within the boundaries that restrain the County Department and the Reservation police. I was fascinated by the demarcation lines between the two.
A swiftly developing intrigue, told from various points of view. I was totally involved.

A Thomas & Mercer ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

I read hundreds of mysteries a year, and this novel rivals the best, it is a captivating read with except character and plot development.

Although this book stands entirely on it's own, it is reminiscent of some of my favorite of Thomas Perry's novels, the Jane Whitefield series...

I will definitely watch for more by this talented police procedural / mystery author.

.Until next time, dear readers, I hope you give this writer a chance to impress you by reading Redemption, - you won't be disappointed.!

A new series featuring a Native American female sheriff, Deputy Eva “Lightning Dance” Duran. This lady certainly faced some challenges both from the Sheriff's department - finding acceptance as a female - and from her tribe on the reservation who are distrustful because she left the reservation. She has a lot to deal with to earn respect from both groups so she works really hard.

In this first book, three women are missing from the reservation, and one of them is Paloma 'White Dove', who is Eva's best friend. Eva is determined to find them, not just for herself, but for White Dove's eighteen-year-old son. Then one of the women turns up dead. Eva teams up with her good friend Cruz Romero to solve this mystery.

There is quite a bit of tension as this plays out. At first there is almost nothing to go on - no leads to be found. Eva has to balance her duty with her loyalty to her friend and to her heritage. Certainly a well-done start for the series and I look forward to the next one! I really liked Eva as a character and loved the insight into reservation life and traditions.

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on September 1, 2023.

Engaging and addictive police procedural with a different twist. Realistic glimpse of Native American life on the reservation, and interaction with those outside the res. Shades of 'Misery' provide foreboding and tension to the search. Good cast of characters and good momentum.

Redemption by Deborah J Ledford is a new exciting series about a Native American sheriff’s deputy who will stop at nothing to find her friend who has gone missin
This was a vivid, memorable, and enthralling read. My first time reading this authors work and I’m excited to say I can’t wait for the next one.
Well written plot and story line had me engaged from the start.
The characters I found them to be believable and well developed.
I enjoyed the suspense and action it was very well played and executed.
Overall, I liked this read and will most defiantly pick up the second in this series when it’s available.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Big thanks to both Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Redemption.

Expected Publication August 8, 2023

After four women disappear from the Taos Pueblo reservation, Deputy Eva “Lightning Dance” Duran dives into the case. Eva teams up with tribal police officer Cruz “Wolf Song” Romero to tackle a mystery that could both ruin her reputation and threaten her standing in the tribe.

Some parts of this book I loved reading, and others made me sad. Eva was such a strong character! I also loved Paloma's son, Kai. What a wonderful and sensitive young man. When the bodies of Native American women are found dressed in traditional costumes, the suspense ratchets up!

I'm happy to have had the chance to read an early copy of this book. I recommend Redemption!

"I breathe in my courage and exhale my fear." (Unknown)

Deputy Eva Duran feels this like a second skin. She's been part of the Taos County Sheriff's Department in New Mexico for over five years now. Having lived most of her life on the Taos Pueblo Reservation, Eva is familiar with crimes against her people, and, even moreso, crimes of misunderstanding.

But it becomes a two-way street when her people no longer trust her for trading out to the Sheriff's Department instead of being part of her own tribal police. There's not a day that goes by that
Eva is not working diligently for that understanding.

This time it's personal. Eva's best friend, Paloma, has gone missing. Paloma was renowned as a hoop dancer and traveled to traditional ceremonies throughout New Mexico and the neighboring states. But Paloma got hooked on heroin after her leg was damaged in a tragic car accident that took the lives of her husband and her friends. Her eighteen year old son, Kai, begs Eva to find his mother. She's never gone missing this long.

When the bodies of Native American women are found dressed in traditional costumes, Eva and her fellow officers are on high alert. This includes Cruz Romero, a tribal police officer. Fear is pumpin' hard as Cruz, Eva, and Kai scan the miles and miles of rough terrain for the elusive Paloma. Will she be next?

There are Anne Hillerman vibes happening here like with Hillerman's Leaphorn and Chee Series. And I mean that as the highest compliment. Deborah J. Ledford, part Eastern Bond Cherokee herself, writes from a knowing place. of connection. Her characters reflect ancient traditions as well as the here and now of life on the reservation and its challenges. Each will express themselves in their titled chapters which give the reader an uncanny introspective into their unsteady and jagged life experiences. The storyline will pull you in with the beat of flawed humanity. Bravo to you, Deborah J. Ledford. Just bravo.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to Deborah J. Ledford for the opportunity.