Most Native American mysteries combine a number of elements found in historical mysteries: exquisite sense of place, detailed investigation that includes myths, legends, and superstitions, and character-driven writing that defines cultural and religious structures and beliefs. The detective’s gender, race, and ethnicity play a major role in how the detective relates to the crime to be solved, as well as the world in general.

The following is a list of authors who fit into this category. It is not a definitive list, and often Native American mysteries travel across other genre lines like the Historical and the Police Procedural mysteries. Either the first in a series is given, or the series by publication date order.

Bowen, Peter.
Coyote Wind: Gabriel Du Pre, Montana Sheriff.
Specimen Song.
Wolf, No Wolf.
Notches.
Thunder Horse.
Long Son.
Stick Game.
Cruzatte and Maria.
Ash Child.

Coel, Margaret.
Eagle Catcher: John O’Malley & Vicky Holden | Arapaho Reservation.
Ghost Walker
Dream Stalker
Story Teller
Lost Bird
Spirit Woman
Thunder Keeper
Shadow Dancer

Doss, James D.
Shaman Sings: Charlie Moon | Utes–Colorado.
Shaman Laughs.
Shaman’s Game.
Night Visitor.
Grandmother Spider.
White Shell Woman.

Gray, Ginna.
The Witness. Sam Grey Wolf Rawlins, FBI.

Hager, Jean.
Grandfather Medicine: Mitch Bushyhead, Police Chief | Cherokee–Oklahoma.
Night Walker.
Ghostland.
Fire Carrier.
Masked Dancers.
Ravenmocker: Molly Bearpaw, Native American League | Cherokee–Oklahoma.
Redbird’s Cry.
Seven Black Stones.
Spirit Caller.

Hillerman, Tony.
The Blessing Way: Joe Leaphorn | Navajo–New Mexico.
Dance Hall of the Dead.
Listening Woman.
People of the Darkness: Jim Chee | Navajo–New Mexico.
Dark Wind.
Ghostway.
Skinwalkers: Leaphorn and Chee | Navajo–New Mexico.
Thief of Time.
Talking God.
Coyote Wails.
Sacred Clowns.
Fallen Man.
First Eagle.
Hunting Badger.
Wailing Wind.
Sinister Pig.
Skeleton Man.
Shape Shifter.

Johnson, Wayne.
Don’t Think Twice: Paul Two Persons | Ojibwa–Minnesota.
Six Crooked Highways

Medawar, Mardi Oakley.
Death at Rainy Mountain: Tay-Bodal, Kiowa Medicine Man.
Witch of the Palo Duro.
Murder at Medicine Lodge.
Ft. Larned Incident.

Mitchell, Kirk.
Cry Dance: Emmett Quanah Parker & Anna Turnipseed, Bureau of Indian Affairs Investigators.
Cry Dance (1999).
Spirit Sickness (2000).
Ancient Ones (2001).
Sky Woman Falling (2003).
Dance of the Thunder Dogs (2004).

Perry, Thomas.
Vanishing Act: Jane Whitefield | Seneca–New York.
Dance for the Dead.
Shadow Woman.
Face-Changers.
Blood Money.

Slater, Susan.
Pumpkin Seed Massacre: Ben Pecos | Pueblo–Mew Mexico.
Yellow Lies.
Thunderbird.

Thurlo, Aimee & David.
Blackening Song: Ellah Clah | Navajo–New Mexico.
Death Walker.
Bad Medicine.
Enemy Way.
Shooting Chant.
Red Mesa.
Changing Woman.

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