The Thieves of Shiny Things

A murder mystery from the Stone Age, The Thieves of Shiny Things takes place among a tribelet of cave-dwelling Native Americans. They lived in what came to be known as the Sierra Nevada foothills of Northern California. The Miwokituls have no quarrel with their neighbors, enjoy a pleasant climate, and subsist on a bountiful diet that features oak acorns. For one young Miwokitul, however, this idyllic life is shattered late one afternoon.

By an old oak tree, Jupa discovers his father Naketi lying dead from no apparent cause. Jupa rushes back to his hamlet and returns with Keleli, a wise elder. Acting as investigator, Keleli soon concludes Naketi was murdered. Without the benefit of modern forensic tools, Keleli and Jupa must solve the crime. They have only keen observation, persistent questioning and their wits to find the murder weapon, establish the motive, and reveal the killer.

The Thieves of Shiny Things weaves murder, Jupa’s coming-of-age, and social bonds in a Native American community now vanished. But in the evocative prose of this Stone Age mystery, the oak-studded landscape of Northern California’s prehistory once more comes alive.

“Rich visuals and an unusual mystery make this short novel an intriguing read.” —Kirkus Review