While the mystery is expertly crafted, the heroine riveting and the pacing snappy and electric, what makes Boulley’s novel memorable is how Daunis’ challenges find their roots in the community context of growing up Ojibwe in America. It’s rare enough to find an entertaining thriller, let alone one that also provides a genuine exploration of current and historical wrongs, and Indigenous community and identity. Lucky for you, “The Firekeeper’s Daughter” does all of this and more.
— Ning
“This debut grabbed me from the start and kept me totally immersed in the story of a strong, self-described nerdy young female struggling with the normal problems of belonging, with the added element of being half Native American. This novel offers a rich combination of a young person’s struggle with identity plus the unique challenges of being associated with a tribe and the problems of meth use and addiction. Add in a pulse-pounding mystery on top of it, and you have a true page-turner.”
— Carol Putnam, Skylark Bookshop, Columbia, MO