by Claire A Murray

This week we have a review of Redemption by Deborah J. Ledford, along with an interesting interview with Deborah. Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to purchase the book from Amazon.

Redemption by Deborah J. Ledford
Review by Claire A Murray

The Taos Pueblo reservation in New Mexico provides the setting for Redemption, Deborah J. Ledford’s gripping, fifth, crime fiction novel. Sheriff’s deputy Eva “Lightning Dance” Duran is a member of the Taos Pueblo nation. Like many, Duran lives and works off the reservation where work is hard to find and doesn’t pay enough.

To become a deputy, she’d had to unlearn role behaviors from her youth. Now, she faces constraints in her role as a deputy—she cannot work crimes on the reservation unless asked by the tribal police. Nor does she work city crimes unless they overlap with the sheriff’s jurisdiction. Despite this, Duran is sometimes called upon to resolve disputes between tribal members in both places before they escalate into arrests or worse. She feels like an outsider among her own people and is one in the sheriff’s department. Yet she is also a bridge between the two.

Poverty and addiction work against her people, making it difficult for some to honor the ancient ways. Suicide is one way out. Duran is called to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, a site of too many suicides, where she encounters the son of her best friend, Paloma, a missing hoop dancer.

He pleads with her to find his mother. However, she’s prevented from investigating on the reservation, making her struggle to bridge the two worlds more difficult. Bodies begin to show up on the reservation, and Duran recognizes that they are part of a pattern
.
Behind many great books is a truth that needs telling. The exploitation of Native Americans in the name of mental health and drug addiction treatment is a truth that scars the Southwest and other areas today. Ledford binds this truth to her characters and creates a riveting story with Duran’s search for Paloma, praying she’ll find her alive, and to learn who is killing the tribe’s skilled crafters.

Redemption is Ledford’s return to writing after a six-year hiatus and the first in this series. I can’t wait for the next one.

Claire A Murray writes crime, mystery, fantasy, and science fiction short stories and novels. She also writes reviews, hosts Zoom write-ins for aspiring and experienced authors, and is completing a suspense fantasy novel so she can return to her trilogy and two other novels awaiting revision. Play the Hand You’re Dealt is her crime and mystery short story collection. Find her at cam-writes.com.

Interview with Deborah J. Ledford:

KRL: How long have you been writing?

DJL: My first suspense thriller, Staccato, was published in 2009, but started writing other projects in the nineties.

KRL: Would you tell us a little about it?

Deborah J Ledford

KRL: Have you always written mysteries/suspense and if not, what else have you written?

DJL: Although I also write literary short stories, everything I write features an element of suspense.

KRL: What brought you to choose the setting and characters in your latest book/series?

DJL: Redemption was actually acquired on spec, which rarely happens as a first-time book with a new publisher. Thomas & Mercer wanted the book right away so I only had 4 months to compose a full first draft. The only way I was able to accomplish this feat was due to my ongoing relationship with contacts on the Taos Pueblo reservation in northern New Mexico. The second book from my first series, Snare, was partially set there and I’ve been returning to the area since 2007.

KRL: Do you write to entertain or is there something more you want the readers to experience from your work?

DJL: I am primarily an entertainer, however I write about crimes Native Americans are faced with on and off the reservation. Redemption reveals subject matters that are relevant and contemporary to real-life issues such as missing women, unfortunate drug addiction, and tragic loss. Book 2, Havoc, features 3D printed and ghost guns unfortunately becoming an issue recently.

KRL: What is your ideal time to write?

DJL: For this new series, I’ve adjusted my schedule a bit. For my first series and a trove of short stories the creative bell went off at 3:00 in the afternoon. For Redemption and Havoc I’ve found that 2 writing sessions work best for the first draft: around 9:00 for a few hours, then a nap (highly advised to keep the creativity going), then back to it for a couple more hours. I always keep the Master File open for when ideas pop up during those off-times so I can rush to the computer and type the notes out. Of course a bazillion hours go into merely thinking about next steps and working out the dozens of obstacles, but I shoot for 2,000 words every day for composing the first draft, which is what it has taken to reach my publisher’s deadline.

KRL: Do you outline? If not, do you have some other interesting way that you keep track of what’s going on, or what needs to happen in your book when you are writing it?

DJL: For the first series I worked out quite a bit for all 4 of the books before I really dove in. For the Eva “Lightning Dance” Duran series I needed to have pretty much everything figured out for the project to be approved by the publisher. The deadlines have been tight so the fleshed-out synopsis has worked as a roadmap to follow, which has been very helpful. I also find Excel sheets to be valuable for keeping track of what comes next and what I need to flesh out. My works always take place within 3-4 days, and feature multiple POVs. The working spreadsheet is color coded by character and helps me keep track of timeline elements.

KRL: Did you find it difficult to get published in the beginning?

DJL: Well, does 99 rejections count? Ha! Yes, absolutely, a lot of difficulty (the “reasoning” is answered next).

KRL: Do you have a great rejection/critique or acceptance story you’d like to share?

DJL: When I first started querying agents and publishing houses for Staccato back in the day, I often received feedback that they loved the setting and characters and storyline, but the novel was too literary for crime fiction. Also that they had never read anything like what I presented, which is what I thought was the point—to be creative and original, right? Alas, no, they couldn’t fit Staccato into a box.

KRL: What are your future writing goals?

DJL: I’m currently researching and coming up with ideas for a new Native American series. The location will be Oregon and features a different set of characters and tribe. The creative juices are flowing and am looking forward to the coming year and hopefully a few surprises for my fans.

KRL: What kind of research do you do?

DJL: So. Much. Research. I often have a dozen internet tabs open so I can quickly verify information to help bring the books alive as I’m writing them. iNaturalist is ideal for noting flora and fauna, weather sites for research is helpful for deciding when to set the piece, Google maps helps me judge how long it will take my characters to reach destinations. I’m a stickler for Native name authenticity and turn to the 1929-40 census for names of tribal people who inhabited the reservations my characters are from. However, nothing touches going to the actual locations where the book is set. Being able to convey what the area looks like, the scents, hidden gems, culture and traditions, foods and restaurants and shops all help bring sensory elements to life and also make the characters more “real” and fleshed out.

KRL: What do you like to read?

DJL: Not surprisingly, psychological suspense novels. Karin Slaughter, Isabella Maldonado, Gregg Hurwitz, Daniel Petrie are among my favorites. I also support and cheer my fellow Native American authors, including: Ramona Emerson, Vanessa Lillie, David Henska Wanbli Weiden, and everything by Louise Erdrich.

KRL: What are your favorite TV shows or movies?

DJL: I love international mysteries. Absolutely hooked on quite a lot of BritBox and Acorn series—Vera, The Fall, Killing Eve and Happy Valley are some of my favorites.

KRL: Have you any advice for aspiring or beginning writers?

DJL: When you’ve completed your first draft, print out the pages and read every line out loud. You’ll be shocked by how many dropped words and inconsistencies you will find. Also, write what you would want to read. I cringe a little when I hear writers say this is “just a job” because people tend to do what the love, rather than what they have to endure. Have fun, and celebrate each and every milestone, especially the joy of the first draft. Everything else is work.

KRL: Do you have any pets?

DJL: I do! An Australian Shepherd/Husky named Roo, aka: The Dragon—which tells you everything you need to know about who rules our home.

KRL: Is there anything you would like to add?

DJL: I appreciate the feature, and your support! Havoc, Book 2 from the Eva “Lightning Dance” Duran series, will be released 7/30/2024 and is now available for pre-sale at Amazon and Target.com.

KRL: Website? Twitter? Facebook? Instagram?

DJL: deborahjledford.com – Facebook: facebook.com/deborahj.ledford
X/Twitter & Instagram Handle: @djledford

To enter to win a copy of Redemption, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “redemption” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen on January 20, 2024. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Also listen to our new mystery podcast where mystery short stories and first chapters are read by actors! They are also available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify.

You can also click here to purchase this book.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.