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any “real, live” Indians, and I honestly have to stop and think about what that means, because I think some people still think of western South Dakota as the untamed Wild West, where Indians ride horses, wear elaborate headdresses, live in tepees, and hunt buffalo. Although many Native Americans never stopped celebrating their culture, religion, and traditions after being relegated to reservations, many hid their practice or denied their heritage, in some cases—like Mercy; she knows little of her Indian heritage because her mother didn’t deem it important.

You live in South Dakota and have expressed in various interviews that you really wanted the setting of South Dakota to come through in your writing. Why did you choose to set Mercy’s story in South Dakota?

I never considered setting the book anyplace else, and that’s not just because the research is easy, since it’s right outside my door. I’m a South Dakota girl and even if readers don’t see the beauty in the area the same way I do, I think it’s obvious I love where I live, and hopefully that’s what gives the books the authenticity I’m striving for.

Many of the male characters in Mercy’s life are kind, thoughtful, and gentle (John-John, Jake, and Rollie) turning typical gender roles on their heads. Did you intend for these characters to serve as foils for Mercy?

Yes and no. Mercy is a tough-as-nails character, and it’s been a challenge to keep her from becoming a caricature. The loner who doesn’t need anyone, which always seems sadder, somehow, when it’s a female character. I didn’t intentionally set out to ground her with men who might be seen as soft, but I wanted her to interact with men she’d had history with—the best friend, the former lover, the father figure—all men who knew her and loved her in some form, before she became so hard and tough. All these men remind her of who she’s been—as well as who she can become.

What’s next for Mercy Gunderson?

I’m working on the third book, titled Dark Mercy, which will send Mercy in a new direction.

If Mercy Kill was made into a movie, who would play Mercy?

I get this question frequently, so you’d think I’d have an answer . . . but I really don’t. I can tell you physically what Mercy looks like, but I hear her more than see her. On a purely gratuitous note, I’d love to see North Dakota native Josh Duhamel play Dawson.

Who are your favorite authors to read, mystery or otherwise?

I read widely across many genres, but my must-have mystery/thriller authors are J. D. Robb, Robert Crais, and C. J. Box.

Whose writing, if anyone’s, would you say has had an influence on your own style?

Sue Grafton, Stephen King, Carolyn Keene, and Laura Ingalls Wilder are the biggest influences, which is a pretty eclectic list! But whenever I think of books that’ve had the biggest long-term impact, it’s always the first book I read from those authors that have stuck with me.

ENHANCE YOUR BOOK CLUB

1. Prior to the book discussion, read a brief article or essay about the history of the Native American reservations in the Dakotas. Several of the main characters are from the Lakota tribe, and reading about their culture in particular will provide better insight into the story. Here are some suggested articles and websites:

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/award97/ndfahtml/ngp_nd_native.html

http://www.crystalinks.com/sioux.html

http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/tribes/reservations/sdreservations.htm

2. Discuss whether or not you have ever known any family or friends who have been part of elite branches of the military (Special Forces, Green Berets, Navy SEALs, etc.). If so, and if you’re comfortable talking about it, please explain what that experience was like for you and for your friends and/or family.

3. Since much of the book revolves around nature and the outdoor elements, hold one of your discussions in a local park or, if possible, a nature reserve. This will give you unique insight as to how nature affects Lori Armstrong and her main character, Mercy. Consider your relationship with nature and how it affects your day-to-day