Sierra Crane Murdoch Knihy

Upon her release from prison in 2009, Lissa Yellow Bird returned to the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota, now transformed by the Bakken oil boom. The landscape had changed dramatically, with corporate interests influencing her tribal government and the community facing increased violence and addiction. Three years later, Lissa became concerned when young oil worker Kristopher "KC" Clarke disappeared from his worksite. While his mother sought answers, others remained indifferent. The narrative unfolds as Lissa embarks on a relentless quest to uncover the truth behind Clarke's disappearance. She navigates the contrasting worlds of her tribe, altered by newfound wealth, and the struggling non-Native oil workers drawn to the area by economic hardship. This pursuit serves as her path to redemption, confronting her past and the trauma affecting her community. The story is a masterfully reported exploration of justice and a nuanced portrayal of a complex woman—intelligent, humorous, eloquent, and at times manipulative. Ultimately, it delves into the legacy of systemic violence against a tribal nation and highlights the potential for extraordinary healing.

"When Lissa Yellow Bird was released from prison in 2009, she found her home, the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota, transformed by the Bakken oil boom ... The landscape had been altered beyond recognition, her tribal government swayed by corporate interests, and her community burdened by a surge in violence and addiction. Three years later, when Lissa learned that a young white oil worker, Kristopher 'KC' Clarke, had disappeared from his reservation worksite, she became particularly concerned. No one knew where Clarke had gone, and no one but his mother was actively looking for him. Unfolding like a gritty mystery, Yellow Bird traces Lissa's steps as she obsessively hunts for clues to Clarke's disappearance"--