It’s an exciting era for indigenous and First Nations voices in crime fiction, horror, and suspense. “To say that there is a Renaissance in Native American fiction is an understatement,” according to Erika Wurth in an article for Lit Hub penned this January, and genre fiction has in particular seen a huge influx of Native writers over the past few years. In honor of Indigenous People’s Day, we’ve assembled a list of 14 new and upcoming releases to keep you reading well into the next year, featuring noir, mysteries, and so much horror.
Wayne Johnson, The Red Canoe
(Agora Books, March 15, 2022)
“Heart-warming and gut-wrenching. A nuanced, superbly written justice thriller laced with unflinching grit and social commentary.”—Booklist
B. L. Blanchard, The Peacekeeper
(47north, June 1, 2022)
“An excellent example of an imagined alternative North America where restorative justice is at the forefront, and with characters who are well-developed, this is a great debut from an author to watch.” —Shondaland
Ramona Emerson, Shutter
(Soho, August 2, 2022)
“This paranormal police procedural is unusual and multilayered, but what stands out is the gorgeously expressive and propulsive first-person storytelling, which is split between Rita’s present and her past. A former forensic photographer herself, the pictures Emerson paints with words are as vivid as they are brutal.”—Oprah Daily
Marcie R. Rendon, Sinister Graves
(Soho, October 11)
“Rendon deepens the complex character of her eccentric Native American lead, who believes she can read minds and has revelatory out-of-body experiences. Lisbeth Salander fans will be eager to see more of Cash.”—Publishers Weekly
Erika T. Wurth, White Horse
(Flatiron, November 1, 2022)
“An unapologetic world of dive bars, dark secrets, and true life horrors. I became completely enthralled. . . . Wurth [is] an exciting new voice in literary horror.” —Rebecca Roanhorse, New York Times bestselling author of Black Sun
Eric Gansworth, My Good Man
(Levine Querido, November 1, 2022)
“Rich, luxuriant, densely layered prose immerses readers in heartbreaking scenes and poignant dialogue as complex characters explore the confines and joys of male friendship…Riveting, timeless, and indispensable.” —Kirkus Reviews
D. M. Rowell, Never Name the Dead
(Crooked Lane, November 8, 2022)
“[A] debut wrapped in Kiowa history, stories, and culture . . . Recommended for readers of David Heska Wanbli Weiden’s Winter Counts.”—Library Journal
Rebecca Roanhorse, Tread of Angels
(Saga, November 15)
“Skillfully blending a noir atmosphere with western tropes and biblical mythology, bestseller Roanhorse (Fevered Star) crafts an immersive historical fantasy centered on ambition, privilege, and marginalization.” –Publishers Weekly
Jessica Johns, Bad Cree
(Doubleday, January 10, 2023)
“Bad Cree deftly explores the permeable boundaries of dreams, reality, and culture, as well as complex family dynamics and relationships. A compelling novel that is a mystery and a horror story about grief, but one with defiant hope in its beating heart.” —Paul Tremblay, author A Head Full of Ghosts and The Pallbearers Club
Stephen Graham Jones, Don’t Fear the Reaper
(Gallery/Saga Press, February 7, 2023)
“Horror fans [will] be blown away by this audacious extravaganza.”—Publishers Weekly
Cherie Dimaline, VenCo
(William Morrow, February 7, 2023)
Crackling with magic, mystery, adventure, and intrigue, VenCo is a captivating tribute to the bonds of families we are born into and the ones that we create, and a delightful testament to the power of all womankind.” — Nikki Erlick, New York Times bestselling author of The Measure
Margaret Verble, Stealing
(Mariner Books, February 7, 2023)
“Verble has given historical fiction lovers a real gift.” — New York Times Book Review
Nick Medina, Sisters of the Lost Nation
(Berkley, April 18, 2023)
“Sisters of the Lost Nation weaves Native folklore with truths that we feel in our bones to create a story that is as beautiful as it is sad, as powerful as it is frightening, as familiar as it is otherworldly.”—Alma Katsu, author of The Fervor and The Hunger
[Cover TBA]
Native Noir, edited by David Heska Wanbli Weiden
(Akashic Books, Pub Date TBA)
