Indian Country: Incident at Big Pine

Indian Country: The Mike Taylor Mysteries #1

by Michael Max Darrow

From Carol Potenza, Tony Hillerman award winning author of Hearts of the Missing
5.0 out of 5 stars Bridges two worlds effortlessly
Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2023. I didn't know much about the Lakota culture and learned a lot from this story. I really enjoyed the cop from the city coming in to work in a rural place where interaction between law enforcement is told like it is (especially the FBI!). The story centers on a police officer from Southern California who takes a job just outside the Lakota reservation. He's well versed in some of the religious and spiritual traditions of the Lakota People, and those scenes--at the sweat lodge and the dances--are excellent. You really feel like you are there. I hope this will be a series.

Fed up with big city life as a copper in a Southern California town, Officer Mike Taylor hands in his notice and moves to rural South Dakota to be a County Sheriff's Deputy. As a blonde haired, blue eyed Caucasian practicing Native American spirituality from a young age, he just never quite fit in.
Hoping for a fresh start, Mike soon learns that changing location doesn't change others' perception of you.
When a murder occurs, Mike is thrust into the middle of local prejudices that go back hundreds of years. Speaking the language and being on the Red Road are little help. Unlikely allies surface and friendships are formed bridging divides previously closed. Loyalties pitting races against departments are tested.
When a second murder occurs, matters are only more complicated.
Then a mysterious Native American spiritual leader approaches Mike out of the blue, inviting him to build a lodge and sweat with him.
Will Mike Taylor get back on his spiritual path? And more importantly, will he and his new friends on the Tribal Police department and his own department solve the murders before more happen?
And of course, there's a girl...
In a shocking culmination of events that can only be described as noir, Mike and his friends must sort through the fallout.

Indian Incident at Big Pine is book 1 of this powerful new series called the Sergeant Taylor Mysteries.
Cover art by MiblArt.

Genres: Procedural, Mystery

269 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 9, 2023

About the author

I was born and raised in sunny Southern California before joining the military right out of high school. After serving my country for four years I came home and was hired by the Santa Ana Police Department. I continued to serve my country in the California National Guard and Army Reserve and earned a commission as an Infantry Officer.
I married my wife Michelle in 1992 and moved to a more rural community in Riverside County. We have 3 grown children now.
Nagging injuries forced me to retire early. I tried working a few other jobs, even managing a cigar lounge in Idyllwild, California, for a while, but the pain became too great. Since I always wanted to write books, being a Sci-Fi and Fantasy geek from a young age, I finally started writing.
My first book, The Federation Trilogy, is based in part on two short stories that I combined, the first story I actually wrote (the short) in 1981.
My second book, Maxwell Tart & the Witch of the Black Oaks, is an adult fantasy about a knight and a witch.
I have also written sequels to both of these books! I have written a police drama/murder mystery, Indian Country: Incident at Big Pine, a bestseller, and the sequel, Indian Country: Missing, also a bestseller. Indian Country: The Copper Twin Mine is available now.
Blood Wolf God is a vampire/werewolf novel that is doing well.
Feel free to ask me any questions you want!

Reviews

[Ari Maayan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m an enrolled member of an Oklahoma Tribe. I went to a Tribal school through elementary school. That didn’t keep me from being razed about my blue eyes which came from my mother’s side of the family. I’m a trained traditional healer and a 20 year Sundancer, mostly Lakota/Dakota. With 2 doctorates I have a foot in several camps. My sister on the other hand looks straight off the rez. With all of that I very much enjoyed the Lakota/Wasichu story.

[Georgia Tumbleweed McNabb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never before read or listened to this author, but wanted to try this book. Extremely glad I did, because a very good fictional story based on real life events per the author. I wish this author would continue this book into a Series, because I really like to read/hear more about these characters. Narrator does a good job with the various characters voices and the entire storyline.

[Lorraine Linder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read.I appreciated the respectful treatment of indigenous people.

[Book Monitor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has some really good elements but it is let down by some preachiness, a clunky style, and poor narration.
The story of a cop who moves to a new area and shakes things up with both the local police and the Lakota Tribal police of the reservation intrigued me. The book has two main threads: the murders and corruption, and the settling in and making friends and enemies of Mike, in both the native American and non-native communities. The twist of his being a follower of Lakota spirituality is well realised and makes this a bit different.
The Crimes almost didn't need to be there other than as a plot device to highlight the tensions between communities and police services. The solving of them is not the main focus of the book which is fine but it sort of starts more central and fizzles out a bit as the relationships and conflicts become more important, and although we get an outcome there are a lot of questions unasked as well as unanswered.
The getting to know the locals and the information about the reservation lifestyles and politics were interesting but there were info-dumps and a lack of integration into a wider narrative. In my opinion a bit more show and a bit less tell would have been better.
The author has a real talent for making the places seem real, not just the wider environment but the smaller locales; the RV, the lodge, the cafe. They were all very believable, as were the portraits of the people who populated them.
For me the style of this book was very old fashioned and at times the reader is treated as if we have never seen or read a crime story before. For example I don't need to be told what every acronym means and I think if the author feels people need this they should just add a glossary.
I also felt that more finesse in the telling would have been a better way to highlight racist and cultural issues.
The narrator was really not to my liking, his voice was not varied enough, there were mouth sounds which really should have been edited out in the production process, and sometimes it sounded as though he was wearing false teeth that didn't fit properly.
Having said all that this is not a bad read and a generally pleasant way to while away a few hours in a place that felt very real but very different to my own. I think I would prefer to read the kindle version of any others in the series though, unless the narrator is changed.

I received a free copy of this and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

[Reyna Favis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story. The author creates automatic conflict when his main character is a blond-haired, blue-eyed man without a trace of indigenous ancestry who speaks Lakota and has practiced native spirituality since he was a child. Now living as a sheriff's deputy in a town in South Dakota on the outskirts of a Lakota reservation, Mike Taylor must navigate the politics and cultural divisions to solve a murder and create an environment of cooperation between Tribal Police and County law enforcement. While the ending was a bit rushed and there was a modicum of head hopping in the narrative, this did not detract from the fact that I looked forward to sitting down and reading the story during the day. As someone else who has a foot in two extremely different cultures, I found Mike Taylor's dilemmas realistic and his responses to conflict genuine. I look forward to reading more of the series.

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mike Taylor decided to leave his career in Southern California law enforcement and accept a position in South Dakota. Despite being white, he has followed a Lakota path of spirituality since childhood and speaks Lakota, which surprised many at his new job. When he proposes that his department work with the tribal police, there is even more surprise since this is never done. He manages to make friends with both natives and whites. I did dislike the tone-deaf romance aspect. Mike was looking for a girlfriend and two woman are mentioned--a larger woman who was studying for a Ph.D and a thinner beauty who won a prize for skill in traditional dancing, who was his first choice. Spoiler alert: the thin one turned him down, and he rationalized that he got the woman he needed rather than the one he initially wanted. Except for this somewhat tone-deaf storyline, the rest of the novel was good, and full of details about native culture.

[Henry "bud" · Rating 5 out of 5]

True page-turner that I read in one sitting.

Find a favorite chair a and a cup of coffee. You will not stop reading until you finish.

A tenured Santa Ana police officer, whom at a young age: Practiced Native American Spiritually. He studied the Lakota culture. And can speak Lakota, leaves the active intercity for a rural sheriff's department in South Dakota.
This fast-paced novel deals with the reasons he left Santa Ana PD, dealing with his new co-workers, dealing with the race relations between Native Americans, and two related homicides.
I am careful not to give out spoilers. I will say the story is fast-paced, with outstanding characters, and an intricate plot.

[TAMMIE L HOTALING · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

I really enjoyed this book and hope this is the start of a series. I have read other Lakota based books and this one is just as good . When you can read a work of fiction, yet learn more about another culture its a win win. I have read Tony Hillerman, Margaret Coel, and so many other great authors of Native American novels and this one ranks right up there. Please give us more!

[Kathy Fritschi · Rating 4 out of 5]

new on the Rez.

I liked the interaction between the Lakota culture and “Anglo” culture.
The tension between the two furthers the plot. The author delves into Lakota spirituality with details of the sweat lodge as a nexus into their worlds, material as well as spiritual. This was a fast paced drama. Perhaps not as polished a work as the Hilllerman books but still very engaging

[Sue :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book immensely.

I'm not sure how much of the Native American traditions are fact but they are written in a way that they seem true. I feel this would make an excellent television series. Maybe it is. I don't watch much tv. Anyway, I stumbled on Michael Darrow by accident and I plan to read his other books soon.

[Georgia Tumbleweed McNabb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never before read or listened to this author, but wanted to try this book. Extremely glad I did, because a very good fictional story based on real life events per the author. I wish this author would continue this book into a Series, because I really like to read/hear more about these characters. Narrator does a good job with the various characters voices and the entire storyline.

[Barnhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incidentally to Pine for Continuing Mysteries.

This is the start of something really worthwhile , that should continue down the long road of enjoyable mystery novel series. The author has found really great formula to continue on for many years. This type of series does not happen often, please continue. Thanks.

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read

This book was an easy read. It was a good story but I feel like the characters could have been given more depth thereby adding more depth to the story. I know there is a sequel, but I felt as if this book did not tie together some story lines before ending. Hopefully, the sequel will provide the connections needed to complete the story.

[Faye Cothren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not impressed

This book started out pretty good, has a nice little twist with what happens to the bad guys, then absolutely goes off the rails and feels like the author just wanted to finish it as quickly as possible. It ended abruptly and to be honest, I was surprised that it was the end of the book. There is a very brief mention of missing indigenous women then it just ends.

[Douglas Larner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder crosses all language barriers.

Solid storyline, interesting characters and surprising twists. Spent the whole day reading the entire book. Would love a sequel, but it was a complete story on it's own.

[Frankie Goyette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following The Red Way

Basic good human qualities are manifest as red race and white race law enforcement members get acquainted and learn to help and trust one another as they live good lives.

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

Very good. Respectful of First Nations people, religion, and culture, while deftly tied in to a well-crafted western police [sheriff’s department] procedural. I look forward to the next book and hope for many more to come. Thanks for a good read.

[Donald R. Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Headstart to understanding American Indigenous people.

A wonderful story to help understand how it’s a possibility for mixing white cultures with cultures of another color without bloodshed.

[Dena Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

No I read mostly Paranormal and I read you know, vampire stuff, but I really enjoyed this Indian book.It was good.I'm about a guy who speaks Lakota and a spiritual.Does Indian stuff moves from California to the dakotas?And helps help bring indians in whites together

[Wanda Hickman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indian Country: Book 1

It’s a very good book with accounts of a white man being accepted into the Lakota ceremonies & way of life. A very good explanation of a Sweat and Powwow. A very good read.

[Sasha Locklear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting storyline especially when it comes down to the clashing of power between the tribal police and the other police. The topic is awesome especially when it comes down to the rez life and the culture. Storytelling side could be smoother

[Gail Climer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Book

I learned a great deal about the Lakota culture by reading this book. The storyline was interesting as well as the differences between the Tribal Police and the Sheriffs Department.

[mary ann wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

I enjoyed this book. Especially appreciated the way the author used Lakota language throughout. It was respectful of our culture and touched on specific things such as offensive words used that many non Natives may not be aware of. Look forward to next book in series

[Denise M. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story and very informative on native American culture.

Great story line and extremely interesting charcters and relatable. Enjoy the book and hope Michael Darrow continues the book into full blown series.

[KerryO · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing start to a very interesting series. I am enjoying learning about the "red path" and the ways of the Lakota people. Mike Taylor is a very complex character whose future exploits I will enjoy.

[Joyce Burk · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Mystery from Michael Darrow

This was a unique Native American Mystery from a Southern California author. He blended his knowledge of the Lakota tribe with lots of info about police work. It was a good reading experience.

[Mr. William D. McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

enjoyed very much

The story line was well thought out. Looking forward for the next one. Thanks for sharing this.
I follow most of the native authors.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

First Nations setting, traditions, characters, and excellent plot.
Have to locate another book by this author. Highly recommend this mystery.

[Beverly Kee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent storyline!

I really enjoyed this story, great storyline and even had romance along with a wonderful ending! Can't help but wish it would turn into a series.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read.