This becomes clear in “Where They Last Saw Her,” although the three amateur detectives actually solve the disappearance case they are investigating.

Along the way, they face the same complications as real activists who put up leaflets or organize fundraisers for missing women: the victims are assumed to be sex workers, runaways, or struggling with addiction. And whether that’s true or not, that complicates investigations. And many of the crimes take place near “men’s camps” set up near mining operations, where people often live only temporarily.

“Where They Last Saw Her” balances sadness with the joyful camaraderie of the three women, particularly in an inspiring sequence where they participate in a charity run in Duluth. The run emphasizes that Indigenous women were the first to advocate for missing and murdered Indigenous women and highlights Ojibwe culture.

Respect for tradition is a big theme of the book, which presents the women’s culture from their perspective rather than filtering it through a “white gaze.” This means that customs like tobacco sacrifices and characters like the spiritual elder who defiles are presented matter-of-factly. Context clues help readers unfamiliar with Ojibwe customs. Since the women wouldn’t explain them to each other in real life, Rendon’s book doesn’t explain them to us.

Rendon said “Where” is for everyone, but she hopes local readers will recognize themselves in it.

“Quill uses her middle finger as a fingerprint on her phone, and that’s something a lot of us find funny. And I can’t even explain why,” Rendon said. “It’s also true that as Native people we face tremendous and horrific oppression, but it’s also true that Native people have a really, really good sense of humor. They find something funny about almost everything.”