Laurie L. Dove

Laurie L. Dove

Laurie L. Dove is the author of Mask of the Deer Woman, a book that quickly became a USA Today bestseller. The New York Times named it one of the “best new releases,” while The Seattle Times described it as “a powerful read for fans of dark stories focused on justice and resilience.”

The novel reached the top spot as an Amazon Hot New Release. It was also chosen as a BookBub Best New Mystery and became a Goodreads Readers’ Recommended Book. It has been featured in publications such as Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Shelf Awareness. The Washington Post praised the audiobook version, calling it “audiobook to whisk you away.”

Laurie L. Dove writes from a deeply personal perspective. She was born Indigenous and later adopted by Mennonites. Her work explores questions of identity and belonging. According to The New York Times, her novel “sensitively tackles the systemic crisis that has harmed so many Native American communities.”

Dove is also an award-winning journalist and a professor. She holds a graduate degree in Creative Writing and Literature from Harvard University.

Dove’s book Mask of the Deer Woman is a tense and emotional mystery that examines the struggles faced by Indigenous communities on reservations. It explores poverty, addiction, stolen land, and the tragic crisis of missing Indigenous women whose disappearances often go unnoticed by law enforcement and the media.

The story follows Carrie Starr, a former detective from Chicago. After the murder of her teenage daughter, she is left with deep grief and guilt. Looking for a fresh start, she accepts a position as a tribal marshal with the Bureau of Indian Affairs on the Oklahoma reservation where her father grew up. Her goal is clear: to investigate unsolved cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women that others have ignored.

Her work becomes urgent when Chenoa Cloud, a college student, disappears while researching endangered insects on reservation land. The clues appear to be connected to past disappearances. As Carrie searches for Chenoa, she also struggles with frightening visions of the Deer Woman, a figure from Native American legend with the body of a woman and the antlers of a deer. This mysterious presence, remembered from her father’s old stories, haunts her as she digs deeper into the case.

As the investigation continues, Carrie uncovers a network of corruption among powerful local leaders. The plot involves a plan to profit from oil drilling on reservation land, the same land Chenoa was studying. Carrie must piece everything together and stop another tragedy. She could not save her own daughter, but she is determined not to fail these women.

Mask of the Deer Woman is an atmospheric and gripping mystery. Most of the story is told through Carrie’s perspective, drawing readers into her urgent search for the missing women while she fights to hold onto her sanity.

The novel blends crime fiction with Native American mythology, adding a supernatural element that deepens the suspense. The visions of the Deer Woman raise the question of whether this spirit is a warning or a guide.

This book delivers strong characters, unexpected twists, and a haunting tone. It keeps readers guessing until the very end, while shedding light on an important and often overlooked issue.

Laurie L. Dove: Awards & Accolades

Dove's book, Mask of the Deer Woman was nominated for the Lefty Award, Best Debut Mystery Novel, in 2026.

Related Authors

Fans of Laurie L. Dove also enjoy these authors:

1. J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter Series.
2. Liane Moriarty, author of: Big Little Lies.
3. Lisa Unger, author of: Confessions on the 7:45.
4. Gillian McAllister, author of: Wrong Place, Wrong Time.
5. Lisa Jewell, author of The Family Upstairs Series.

Laurie L. Dove: F.A.Q