In Murder on the Reservation, Ray B. Browne surveys the work of several of the best-known writers of crime fiction involving Indian characters and references virtually every book that qualifies as an Indian-related mystery. He places this genre within the tradition of crime fiction in general, a powerful democratizing force in American society.

Ray Browne is the leading scholar in popular culture studies in the United States and editor of his signature series, A Ray and Pat Browne Book. His most recently published works include The Guide to United States Popular Culture, with editor Pat Browne, and American Popular Culture through History: Civil War and Reconstruction, with Lawrence Kreiser. He is Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of popular culture at Bowling Green State University.