Yellow Bird: Oil, Murder, and a Woman's Search for Justice in Indian Country

Yellow Bird: Oil, Murder, and a Woman's Search for Justice in Indian Country

  • Downloads：6439
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-02-18 04:17:09
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Sierra Crane Murdoch
  • ISBN：9780399589171
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Editor Reviews

★ 12/23/2019

Investigative reporter Murdoch debuts with a powerful portrayal of an unusual sleuth whose dogged pursuit of a missing person inquiry led to justice。 Lissa Yellow Bird received a degree in criminal justice from the University of North Dakota， “though rather than working for the police， she spent much of her adult life evading them。” Despite that checkered background and a history of substance abuse， Lissa became an advocate in tribal court and a go-to resource when people went missing on Native American lands。 After Kristopher Clarke， who worked for a trucking company based on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation， vanished in 2012， Lissa became interested in the mystery。 Her investigations contributed to the arrest and conviction， in 2016， of James Henrikson， who had feared that Clarke was going to start his own trucking firm and steal Henrikson’s employees。 Murdoch deepens her narrative with a searing look at the deficiencies of law and order on Native American land， corruption， and the abrogation of responsibility by the federal government。 Admirers of David Grann’s Killers of the Flower Moon will be drawn to this complex crime story with similar themes and settings。 Agent: Kent Wolf， Neon Literary。 （Feb。）

Publishers Weekly

Reviews

B&NJulesH ，

There are several deep and important stories running through this book。 Memoir， biography， history and true crime。 The last being the thread that holds the BOOK together。 Although the search for both a body and a killer is how Murdoch takes us on the journey。 It is Lissa Yellow Bird who keeps the STORY together。 Murdoch reveals to us a dynamic personality in Lissa Yellow Bird。 Complex with years of "life" in her blood Lissa's search for Kristopher Clarke is more than detective work。 It is dedication to honor a lost life。 Ultimately Yellow Bird details the lives and livelihoods of people many of us will never likely encounter but would do well to understand better。

Kate Webb ，

Five stars for the story， trauma， native american life and history， perseverance and determination。 The narrative was sometimes confusing as to who was speaking but still a great story。

Meachamlak ，

Interesting book。 A bit choppy but I liked it。

Susan ，

I couldn’t put this book down。 I was fascinated with the mystery element and learning about the oil field and Indian culture。

Dawn Marie ，

3。75

Laura ，

Well written， although it does get bogged down in some of the big-picture oil details and some of Lissa's， like， million billion facebook posts/text messages/etc。 Well written， although it does get bogged down in some of the big-picture oil details and some of Lissa's， like， million billion facebook posts/text messages/etc。 。。。more

Cheryl Schibley ，

This is a true-crime book and so much more。 It's really about the history of the Arikara， Mandan， and Hidatsa tribes in North Dakota and it's heartbreaking。 From the early 1800's when they started getting pushed off their lands to the modern-day oil/fracking boom that's poisoning them and the unwanted Canadian pipeline running through their sacred lands。 Lissa， a member of the Arikara tribe helps a mother try to find her missing son who is an oil worker。 All manner of illegal activities are taki This is a true-crime book and so much more。 It's really about the history of the Arikara， Mandan， and Hidatsa tribes in North Dakota and it's heartbreaking。 From the early 1800's when they started getting pushed off their lands to the modern-day oil/fracking boom that's poisoning them and the unwanted Canadian pipeline running through their sacred lands。 Lissa， a member of the Arikara tribe helps a mother try to find her missing son who is an oil worker。 All manner of illegal activities are taking place and it's easy to disappear someone in the vast wilderness。 Great reading in every way。 。。。more

Loriwatson98gmail。Com ，

This book， while telling the story of Lissa Yellow Bird's attempt to solve crimes does an even better job of telling the story of the oil boom on an Indian reservation。 She tells about greed and looking the other way， about alcoholism and addiction and how it affects generations of families。 She tells of the utter hopelessness of some reservation families and how others can climb out of that。 It might sound like a preachy， self-righteous book， but it most certainly isn't。 The author （who isn't L This book， while telling the story of Lissa Yellow Bird's attempt to solve crimes does an even better job of telling the story of the oil boom on an Indian reservation。 She tells about greed and looking the other way， about alcoholism and addiction and how it affects generations of families。 She tells of the utter hopelessness of some reservation families and how others can climb out of that。 It might sound like a preachy， self-righteous book， but it most certainly isn't。 The author （who isn't Lissa Yellow Bird） spent years doing research， consulting "authorities" and probably most importantly getting to know the families involved。 She doesn't attempt to make the natives she meets noble or downtrodden。 She struggles with telling a story that isn't hers to tell。 She works hard not to embed herself in the story while embedding herself in the community and homes of those in the story。 It's just a really good book。 I read it in one day。 。。。more

Vivienne ，

An unfolding of a complicated situation as it was discovered by the writer - this frustrates a lot of reviewers it seems and certainly adds a lot of detail。 Detail extraneous to a thriller， but mosaic like for the real life tableau。 Never gets preachy either。

ashwini ，

Highly recommend also listening to the This American Life podcast episode about Lisa Yellow Bird， where she records herself talking on the phone with a man she publicly accused of murder。 Really shows what her whole process is like for getting to the truth。

Angela ，

Fascinating ！

Mia Quagliarello ，

I liked this book best when it focused on Lissa and Native American life during the oil boom。 The particular details around KC’s murder were not that interesting， so this book was not as much of a page turner as I was expecting。

Bea Lathrop ，

I really liked this book a lot--well-written & a very interesting true story。 I recommend it！

Isabel ，

Loved it。 At once a gritty true crime novel and an exploration of the Fort Berthold Reservation before and during the oil boom。 Lissa， the main character， is one of the most complicated， compelling characters I've read about。 Loved it。 At once a gritty true crime novel and an exploration of the Fort Berthold Reservation before and during the oil boom。 Lissa， the main character， is one of the most complicated， compelling characters I've read about。 。。。more

Abigail Carney ，

Tore through this book。 Lissa Yellow Bird is an incredible woman and I appreciated how many pages were devoted to her story and family history。 The murder（s） at the center of this book occurred within the confluence of U。S。 and tribal politics， of an exploitative oil industry and an economic boom for the Fort Berthold Reservation。 Murdoch provides that necessary context along with gripping portraits of Lissa and her family members。Before reading， I'd listened to the This American Life profile of Tore through this book。 Lissa Yellow Bird is an incredible woman and I appreciated how many pages were devoted to her story and family history。 The murder（s） at the center of this book occurred within the confluence of U。S。 and tribal politics， of an exploitative oil industry and an economic boom for the Fort Berthold Reservation。 Murdoch provides that necessary context along with gripping portraits of Lissa and her family members。Before reading， I'd listened to the This American Life profile of Lissa （reported by the author of this book）， so I could hear Lissa's voice while reading her dialogue and that made my reading experience even more immersive。 The radio profile goes deeper into a disappearance covered only briefly at the end of this book and I recommend it: https://www。thisamericanlife。org/706/。。。 。。。more

Kathleen ，

I would love to say I loved this book。 I abandoned it despite my great personal interest in the subject matter， having lived in North Dakota during the oil boom。 I found it numbingly unreadable。 What am I missing？

Michael Robinson ，

good book and story the names and flow of the story were confusing at times and I think it could have been laid out in a more coherent manner in order to make it clearer what was happening。 I also think the story of Lissa could have been told in a more linear and understandable fashion。 Overall though a well reported story that also weaved in the personal story of Lissa in a compelling and interesting manner。

Cristina ，

I listened to the author read this book and didn't love her voice， but it's a journalistic format， so no special voices or other emotional reading skills were needed; she was fine。 My biggest complaint was the length， maybe lack of tight editing; I understand the writer did a ton of research and had way more material than fit so had to do tough cutting， but there were still long passages I wasn't sure why were included。 This book is one of those that takes a historic event （the oil boom） and bui I listened to the author read this book and didn't love her voice， but it's a journalistic format， so no special voices or other emotional reading skills were needed; she was fine。 My biggest complaint was the length， maybe lack of tight editing; I understand the writer did a ton of research and had way more material than fit so had to do tough cutting， but there were still long passages I wasn't sure why were included。 This book is one of those that takes a historic event （the oil boom） and builds the story around a dramatic event （the disappearance of KC， one of the workers on an oil project in South Dakota）， and interweaves it with a personal story （Lissa Yellow Bird's life and involvement in said events。） And this is a daunting， big task for many authors to really make work。 I'm not sure Murdoch fully succeeded either， as the mystery part was less interesting than Lissa's story to me， but without the obsessive searching， maybe Lissa wasn't interesting enough。 But the story of corruption within the dirty oil boom biz was a good education for me， and the story of the Indians and their history of oppression and being taken advantage of was valuable for me and all readers to hear about。 。。。more

Wendi ，

Repetitive and meandering， but a fascinating story at it's heart。 Repetitive and meandering， but a fascinating story at it's heart。 。。。more

Melody ，

I gave up on this book。 I just realized that I wasn't paying attention and thinking about other things。 I wanted to like it， but it just didn't hold my attention。 I gave up on this book。 I just realized that I wasn't paying attention and thinking about other things。 I wanted to like it， but it just didn't hold my attention。 。。。more

Darcy ，

Very deep story but there was was too much unnecessary side story。 It took away from the heart of the message。

Jessie Juarez ，

Lissa Yellow Bird is a superhero。 Despite this book being written by a white woman， the storytelling of the reservation is excellent。 I learned so much and I am so sad many of this was new to me。

Giovanna Forsyth ，

While I’m so glad that more stories are being told about the generational trauma experienced by indigenous people and laxity with which crimes are prosecuted， this book could have done with a healthy edit。 It’s far too long。 The author gave us every scrap of info but also tried to set a mood and in doing so created something meandering。

Sarah ，

I think this book could have benefited from choosing a singular focus: on the oil boom and its connection to the US legacy of oppressing native peoples; about Lissa Yellow Bird and her journey; or about the case around which this book is formed。 I felt it tired to do so many things that it was hard to follow the threads and some things didn't really get fully explored or explained。 I also would recommend adding a list of characters - I had a lot of trouble remembering who folks were， because th I think this book could have benefited from choosing a singular focus: on the oil boom and its connection to the US legacy of oppressing native peoples; about Lissa Yellow Bird and her journey; or about the case around which this book is formed。 I felt it tired to do so many things that it was hard to follow the threads and some things didn't really get fully explored or explained。 I also would recommend adding a list of characters - I had a lot of trouble remembering who folks were， because they would disappear for a hundred pages and then be mentioned again。 I'm sure I missed a lot of the nuances。 。。。more

Paul Womack ，

At times a slow read。 And， I kept finding myself unsure of the people named and their place in the story。 Also， many stories made this quite a tapestry。 But several things merit commendation。 Lissa Yellow Bird is quite a remarkable woman， and if I ever get lost I hope she will come and look for me。 The story of oil extraction is a tragic one， filled with immoral or amoral manipulators， and compels me to believe in original sin。 And， there is the irony that the greed of caucasian conquerors now e At times a slow read。 And， I kept finding myself unsure of the people named and their place in the story。 Also， many stories made this quite a tapestry。 But several things merit commendation。 Lissa Yellow Bird is quite a remarkable woman， and if I ever get lost I hope she will come and look for me。 The story of oil extraction is a tragic one， filled with immoral or amoral manipulators， and compels me to believe in original sin。 And， there is the irony that the greed of caucasian conquerors now enables some recovery of lands and rights taken。。。 read casino profits。 I found facebook helpful in looking up some of those in the book， google earth in viewing the towns and geography of the area， and yahoo for checking out news reports。 A sad story given attention and care。。。 。。。more

Elicia ，

Very interesting and appreciated the depth of research about the reservation and the oil boom。

Jessica Roberts ，

This book had too much going on at once。 Not enough about oil and murder and way too much about the woman。

Emily ，

Window into a world I knew almost nothing about。 I appreciated the Author's Note at the end。 Lissa sounds like an incredible human， and I wanted to know more about her after the This American Life story about her。 Window into a world I knew almost nothing about。 I appreciated the Author's Note at the end。 Lissa sounds like an incredible human， and I wanted to know more about her after the This American Life story about her。 。。。more

BK ，

What a story！ I first heard about Yellow Bird on This American Life。 The book is well written but at times drags。 Either way， it offers historical perspectives from the people who lived it that helped me understand。 Lissa is amazing！

Noah Sanders ，

Sierra Crane Murdoch’s exploration of the death of an oil worker on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota has the sort of microcosmic focus that opens into a full on exploration of the generational trauma Indian communities have weathered for centuries。 It’s core character - Lissa Yellow Bird - is fascinating。 An ex-con turned amateur detective who discovers a passion and gift （perhaps spiritually derived） for finding missing people。 In prose occasionally dry， Murdoch digs deep in Sierra Crane Murdoch’s exploration of the death of an oil worker on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota has the sort of microcosmic focus that opens into a full on exploration of the generational trauma Indian communities have weathered for centuries。 It’s core character - Lissa Yellow Bird - is fascinating。 An ex-con turned amateur detective who discovers a passion and gift （perhaps spiritually derived） for finding missing people。 In prose occasionally dry， Murdoch digs deep into the life of Lissa， her extended family， her tribe and the history of Native exploitation in America。 With characters as eclectic as Lissa （and disgraced tribal chairman Tex Hall） rooting the book， Murdoch’s coverage of the actual crime at the center of the book strangely becomes the least interesting part。 Kudos to the author for finding a sliver of light in what can often be grim reading material。 。。。more

Natalie Samenuk ，

A book that pulls you into Native country， Murdoch does an exceptional job at describing the hardships and daily lives of natives on a reservation。 Nothing is sugar coated。 Each person is described with such detail that makes you think you know them。 At times the pacing was a little slow， and at other times certain people were not introduced as well as they should have been。 An amazing read for true crime fans。