Mask of the Deer Woman Audiobook By Laurie L. Dove cover art

Mask of the Deer Woman

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Mask of the Deer Woman

By: Laurie L. Dove
Narrated by: Isabella Star Lablanc
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AN INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER

To find a missing young woman, the new tribal marshal must also find herself.

At rock bottom following her daughter’s death, ex-Chicago detective Carrie Starr has nowhere to go but back to her roots. Starr’s father never talked much about the reservation where he was raised, but the tribe needs a new marshal as much as Starr needs a place to call home.

In the past decade, too many young women have disappeared from the rez. Some have ended up dead, others just…gone. Now local college student Chenoa Cloud is missing, and Starr falls into an investigation that leaves her drowning in memories of her daughter—the girl she failed to save.

Starr feels lost in this place she thought would welcome her. And when she catches a glimpse of a figure from her father’s stories, with the body of a woman and the antlers of a deer, Starr can’t shake the feeling that the fearsome spirit is watching her, following her.

What she doesn’t know is whether Deer Woman is here to guide her or to seek vengeance for the lost daughters that Starr can never bring home.

©2025 Laurie L. Dove (P)2025 Penguin Audio Crime Thrillers Suspense Thriller & Suspense World Literature

Critic reviews

“Dove, a reporter and creative writing professor in Kansas, sensitively tackles the systemic crisis that has ripped apart so many Native American communities.” —The New York Times

“Dove skillfully blends suspense with cultural depth, highlighting urgent social issues while delivering a gripping mystery. The vivid depiction of life on the reservation, combined with stark realities and eerie folklore, creates a captivating, layered narrative. With twists, complex characters and emotional weight, Mask of the Deer Woman is a powerful read for fans of dark, riveting reads and those seeking stories rooted in justice and resilience.”—The Seattle Times

"Mask of the Deer Woman is an astonishingly effective thriller, filled with complex characters, urgent suspense, a vivid sense of the land, and genuine mystery."—BookTrib
Powerful Storytelling • Complex Plot • Excellent Narration • Rich Descriptions • Emotional Depth • Engaging Voice Acting
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Well read, well written, interesting story and very close to the truth of indigenous women. Good listening length and chapter structure.

Genuine

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I liked the indigenous names and use of language when used. It is a very engaging story.

The tragic ideas that white meant think they can control indigenous women.

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Loved the mystery and the storyline about the Sheriff, her past, and her forced assignment as a BIA sheriff on Native land.
Well done!
But I’m from Oklahoma and I wish the author and the voice talent had done some
Basic research about how to pronounce Tahlequah and that the “Tahlequah” Nation was actually the Cherokee Nation not separate nations. Still would recommend as a great listen.

Well developed characters and interesting storyline

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Too much repetition, not allowing story to move along faster, foul language definitely not necessary.

Disadvantage of indigenous people

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I really enjoyed this book. the rez setting was beautifully realised, Deer Woman was a great character in her own right, like background radiation permeating everything. I empathised with Starr's character and with Junior. The bad guys were a little undercooked and uninteresting, and therefore not compelling. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this book very much and would be interested in following up on sequels. The issue of retributive violence is really interesting and I wanna see what Starr does next.

Intriguing story, great setting

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Character was wonderful and the larger cast real. The context of missing and murdered native women was meaningful and in story and real life, tragic and catastrophic.

Finally a meaningful read

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This was a fantastically written novel by an extremely talented author. It is obvious that the themes woven through these chapters are deeply personal to the writer. The voice and writing style are unique and enjoyable. Finally, the performance by the narrator made the story come alive in the best of ways!

Incredible and moving story

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And that, really, is all the problem I have with this book and books written by those who believe what makes a woman appear strong is behaving like a dude. Starr was my least favorite actress. Neither was the other "girlboss", the Mayor lady. But I read this book not to solve the mysteries, or find someone to like. I read it because I wanna learn more about Native culture. Loved Dear Woman. Wish it wasnt upon her to save the wounded and the pained. That the laws of the land were able to protect women and children, native and otherwise. And that someone else cared.

But a decent work. Hope to read more of this, in fiction, and hear less of it in real life.

Strong women are not macho men...

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It’s hard to pick just the right words to summarize this experience. The story was so good — it kept things moving and had enough character development of a handful of characters, that it was a surprise at the end.

The concept of finding where we belong is something a lot of people can relate to, but this tale of a woman with an indigenous heritage she is aware of but did not live, told by a woman with a similar background, was very powerful. Starr is flawed but we walk alongside her as she tries to get to know the locals on the reservation she’s contracted to serve as Marshall. The story invites us to understand the parental pain of more than one character.

This is a beautifully written story, rich and descriptive in both setting the scene and the emotion of the tale. The narration is well done, and I was hanging on every word.

She ran away and began to find her place

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The only reason I gave the book of four instead of a five is the pacing. I just felt bogged down in the first 33 chapters. The last eight chapters is worth reading the entire book. The story came full circle in the last two chapters. I would like to know more about the serial killer, though I feel like it leaves you questioning what could happen next. I hope there’s a second book!

A must read!

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