Time crept away from me. I drummed my fingers on the computer keyboard as I sat at the Pyramid Lake Reservation’s only store, sipping a soda, and staring at the blank screen. My fingers seemed to be glued to the keyboard. I ordered them to type something—anything—but they wouldn’t obey.
“Aimee?”
I looked up and saw my best friend and co-reporter, Dolphine, staring at me, a concerned look in her eyes. “Is it Rich or Kuyuidokado?”
I shrugged.
Rich is our editor and my very recent ex-fiancé. The raw pain still fiercely burns inside of me. But I can push it aside. Really, I can.
My current assignment is Kuyuidokado. He was murdered while performing the Ghost Dance, a dance created by the Native Americans to bring peace and restore their land to its former majestic form. Even though tons of reporters descended on the reservation, Dolphine and I were the only ones invited in. We were told we would have to report on Kuyuidokado’s life and nothing more. But naturally, since I’m an investigative reporter, I also plan to find the killer and expose him.
It all sounds good, except for one thing. The Native Americans, although friendly and helpful, refuse to discuss Kuyuidokado with me. How can I possibly write the story without any interviews? I glanced up at Dolphine. “Why won’t the Paiutes talk to us?”
Dolphine dragged the only other chair closer to me and flopped down. “Kuyuidokado was their chief councilman. I suppose they’re trying to protect his memory.”
“His memory?” I closed my computer. “Nah, I can’t buy that. There’s something they’re not telling us.”
“Give them time. It’s only our first day at the reservation. Remember, we are the intruders, the outsiders. Our cultures, our ways, are different than theirs. They’ll come around once they see we mean them no harm.”
“That’s just it. We don’t have the luxury of time.” The tribe’s councilmen had given us only three days to get the facts and report the story. After that, we are to leave the reservation which will remain closed until the mystery gets solved. That means that somehow, we’ll have to find a way to make them accept us. We need them to understand that we’re only here to report the truth. That’s why the council members allowed only Dolphine and me into the closed reservation. We are the only reporters approved by the Paiute’s leaders. They trust us, so why don’t the rest of the Paiutes?
Based on the preliminary research I’ve done, I noticed that secrets float through the reservation like dust in the air. These secrets they keep are the same ones I have to unravel because they make all of the difference between life and death.
Call me stubborn. Call me determined, but I plan to spend the rest of the day probing into those secrets.
Those deadly secrets that led to That Last Ghost Dance.
That Last Ghost Dance, An Aimee Brent Mystery Book #3
Genre: Soft-boiled Thriller
Release: November 2022
Format: Print, Digital, and audio in mid ’23
Purchase Link
The only way Aimee can survive is if she can unravel the Native American’s secrets before it’s too late. But can she do it? Or will the men trying to stop her win and cause the entire structure to crumble?
Kuyuidokado, Nevada’s Paiute’s chief councilman, is murdered while performing the Ghost Dance, a dance created by the Native Americans to bring peace and restore their land to the way it used to be.
Nevada reporter Aimee Brent is granted an exclusive to investigate the crime and report to the world what Kuyuidokado was really like. Aimee is eager to travel to Nixon to investigate the murder. She needs to be away from her editor/fiancé with whom she has just broken up with.
Upon arriving at Nixon, Aimee finds that not everyone or everything is as should be. She stumbles upon secrets—secrets that could lead to her death. It’s up to Aimee to unravel them before more people fall victim to the grand scheme of That Last Ghost Dance.
Meet the author
L.C. Hayden is the author of the popular Harry Bronson and Aimee Brent mystery series. When Doubts Creep In, the latest Bronson release, recently hit the #1 Kindle Bestseller list for suspense and the #2 spot for mysteries. The Aimee Brent series hit the #3 Kindle position for Women Sleuths. Hayden’s novels have been finalist for the distinguished Silver Falchion Award, the Readers Choice Award, and the Agatha and LCC Awards. She and her husband of 53 years live in Texas with their dog, a Basenji named Shadow. Major cruise lines hired Hayden to speak while cruising all over the world. From October 2006 to October 2007, Hayden hosted Mystery Writers of America’s only talk show, Murder Must Air.
All comments are welcomed.
Giveaway: L.C. has generously offered to give away a print copy or the e-book version of That Last Ghost Dance. To enter, please leave a comment below. One entry per person and the giveaway is limited to U.S. residents only. Giveaway ends April 5, 2023. Good luck everyone!
A closed society is a hard one to break into. I am interested to see how she does that.
You said a mouthful. I really had to work around that!
I’ve just come from a brief visit to Navajo Nation last Wednesday and I can see how difficult and important her task is.
Navajo land. That’s very close to where I live. Interesting place, isn’t it?
I have been watching Alaska Daily on TV. It does a good job showing how Native Americans are ignored and dismissed by the majority white population. The Native Americans don’t trust outsiders with good reason. This book sounds like it examines some of the same issues. This is another series to add to my TBR. It sounds intriguing.
Thanks a ton for adding this book/series to your TBR list. I too watch The Alaska Daily and agree with you that it does a great job about telling it like it is. According to my DNA tests, I am mostly Native American, so this is a subject that is close to my heart.
Investigating in a native American culture sounds intriguing.
It does offer its challenges!
It sounds like a really good read. I love the story, the setting and the book cover.
Thanks, Anita, for your kind words. The readers are loving this story. Hope you get a chance to read it and enjoy it!
It’ll be interesting to see how Aimee breaks through the silence.
Aimee is a very determined reporter. I love the way she finds to do things.
Looking forward to reading L.C. Hayden’s new Aimee Brent book. That Last Ghost Dance should provide an intriguing glimpse into a nation’s heritage and identify the the murderers involved in this crime.
Bonnie, you’ll get a glimpse at the Paiute’s way of life–and solving the mystery will take you in a roller coaster ride!
This mystery is captivating and intriguing.
Hi Laini, Thanks for saying that. The story is definitely captivating and intriguing. I hope you get a chance to read it and enjoy it!
I would love either
Good luck to you! Thanks for leaving a comment.
Sounds intriguing – Aimee doesn’t have time on her side to uncover the truth.
Yep, time is exactly what Aimee doesn’t have but she is determined to find the truth.
I was raised with a great respect for native americans.
Any respectful story that covers their world is of interest to me.
I worked with the Paiutes to make sure I captured their essence correctly. They read my work in progress and made comments. According to my DNA, I’m mostly Native American so I always want to treat them with respect–and for that matter, treat everyone with respect.
Aimee Brent books are FANTASTIC!!!!! I loved reading this book SO MUCH!!!❤❤❤❤
Thanks, Kathie. Your comments made me feel good.
Sounds like an interesting read, would love to get a print copy!
Hi Teresa, Thanks for saying that. I hope you get to read the book!
I would love to win a print copy of this book.
Hi Linda, Good luck! Thanks for the comment.
Sounds fascinating. Sounds like Aimee has quite the challenge on her hands. It is a balance of respecting Native American ways with revealing the truth.
That is precisely Aimee’s problem.
It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks, Diana, for the nice comment. Good luck with the drawing.
**** WINNER ****
That Last Ghost Dance is Gram
Congratulations!