Where They Last Saw Her - Review

This being my fourth blog post, I thought a little background on how I plan to choose topics might be of interest. My initial thinking was to write on topics that were "book adjacent" - to share with you some of my perspective, but stay away from more traditional book reviews. Up to this point, that's what I've tried to accomplish.  However,  I've had a slight change of heart.  Afterall, there are so many great books out there, we really need to share.  I think I'll do a book review every few posts.   Introducing the work of Marcie R. Rendon - 

Happily,  I stumbled upon Marcie at the Texas Book Festival (more on the festival in an upcoming post) in November 2022.  Without that happenstance, I might have missed an author that is gifted at writing a piece of fiction, that both entertains and educates. I admire and envy this ability!  What a gift!  Before I delve into my thoughts on her latest, Where They Last Saw Her, let me introduce you to the book I picked up that day at the festival, Murder on the Red River. This is the first in a series for which the author was nominated for the Sue Grafton Award. You can read my review of it on Goodreads. 

Marcie's brand new book, Where They Last Saw Her, released on September 3.  I was lucky enough to have gotten my eager eyes on it just as it hit bookseller shelves and sites.  While not part of the Cash Blackbear series, it is a great glimpse into the life of another indigenous woman (Quill), her friends, family and the "white" culture that tends to view females in her tribe as mere objects to be used and discarded.

When a woman from her reservation goes missing, Quill and her friends are much more invested in finding her than any of law enforcement. Even the tribal police seem not to have the motivation.  When her friend, Punk, is also taken, Quill is on a mission.  At times, she risks her own safety and that of her children (much to the chagrin of her husband).  You begin to see the strength and power of, not just Quill, but many of the females on her reservation.  This is a well-paced, quick-moving story, but it's also an inside look at what indigenous women are sometimes forced to contend with, even short of kidnapping and murder. Just the everyday barbs, rude comments, uncalled for touching and stares. 

However, Quill is an outlier! She stands outs moving change in her own part of the world.  Even her exercise routine becomes a hallmark of the turning tide. Quill is a runner, training for the Boston Marathon.  It's evident that she uses running for stress relief, but also finds it very empowering, as do more of the women around her as the plot progresses.

Again, there are few books I enjoy more than those that entertain and educate me.  This is one of those very special combinations!  So much so, that I made numerous highlights throughout the beautifully written and informative pages.  For instance:

"Every living creature and plant went to hush with that scream."

"There are between two thousand and five thousand missing and murdered Indian women in this country."

"Here on the rez, shit happened and you just kept going."

"I will go to ceremony and call your spirit home, I will do it for you.  For all our women waiting to come home."

On top of the wonderful book Marcie has given us, please take a minute to appreciate the cover art.  What a striking depiction of an indigenous woman!  

Even if you read nothing else by Marcie Rendon, please read this book.  It's a story that cries for telling!