Book Review: The Secret of Dead Man's Mine by Rodney Johnson (Rinnah Two Feathers #1)

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Great characters and plot
Cons: Out of print
The Bottom Line:
Great kid's mystery
Featuring strong female lead
Plenty of action


A Sioux Nancy Drew

Rinnah Two Feathers has always longed for adventure. But nothing ever happens in her small community on the edge of the Sioux reservation. One day, on the way to school, she sees a suspicious stranger examining the Jackson house. Once at school the school bully won't leave her, her best friend Tommy, and their new friend Meagan alone. Then the museum in Tommy's house is robbed and mysterious guests arrive at the Two Feathers’ guesthouse. Soon, Rinnah has more excitement then she knows what to do with. Can she figure out what is really going on?

I thoroughly enjoyed this fast moving young adult mystery. All the characters are well developed. The plot is complicated enough to keep me guessing with a couple of nice twists, but comes to a logical conclusion. And all these various plot points do come together for the climax as well. Rinnah's Sioux heritage also plays a part in the story. It is well incorporated. Those who know nothing about that culture will learn something new without any extra effort on their part. And of course this is an added bonus for any Sioux who read the book.

Sadly, this book is long out of print.  It was published by a small publisher who went out of business years ago.  However, thanks to the internet, you can still find used copies easily, and I recommend you do so.

The Secret of Dead Man's Mine is a definite step ahead of the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books, so if your kids enjoy those, this one is worth tracking down.