
Member Reviews

I really wanted to love this book. But there was something about the writing that kept me at arm's length. I kept plowing forward, but not following what was going on, not following the language. It never pulled me in. I finally had to stop reading.

This book had so many great things going for it! I loved the reservation setting and diverse characters, some likable and others not. The focus on nature and animals was fantastic. The terrifying and gruesome parts seemed to come out of nowhere and there were so many unexpected twists and turns. It turns out no one was safe. I could see this being recommended to folklore-lovers who don''t read for the happy ending. After I finished reading, I went back to a couple of sections, and saw all of the foreshadowing I had missed. So incredible. I'm looking forward to more books by Stephen Graham Jones!

A slow, creeping horror set around Blackfeet territory. I had to time my reading of this book so as not to be reading late at night! An excellent addition to the horror genre. I was truly horrified by some of the scenes, but was also left with a feeling of hope and release. Well done!

This is the first book I have read by Stephen Graham Jones. I had heard some buzz about it and being hugely into horror, I was thrilled to get approved for the arc. However, it just didn’t work for me. The writing style felt choppy and left me feeling confused. It felt like more of a chore to read it than for entertainment. This book has been receiving a lot of good reviews so I think it is just not my style. I did enjoy the horror elements and the Native American details and traditions.
Thanks to Netgalley and Gallery books for the arc.

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
Gallery/Saga Press
ISBN-13: 978-1982136451
Available: Hardcover, Kindle edition, audiobook, audio CD
The past year, for me, has been the year of menacing deer. After encountering the demonically controlled deer that trap unwitting victims in the Pennsylvania woods in Imaginary Friend and the unsettling antelope shapeshifters in The Antelope Wife, the vengeful, shapeshifting elk out for blood shouldn’t have surprised me. Stephen Graham Jones has given us his version of I Know What You Did Last Summer, taking place on reservation land.
Ten years earlier, four stupid kids stampeded a herd of elk meant to be left in peace, and shot as many as they could. One of them was a pregnant mother. Unable to take advantage of the meat of all the elk they had killed, they left their slaughter behind. After the incident, the park ranger banned them from hunting. It’s a horrifying scene to read, and anger-inducing, but who, and how long, pays for sins like these? Is forgiveness even possible?
Two of the boys from that night escape the reservation and are gone for years, but the first evidently doesn’t go far enough– chased by some white guys looking to pick a fight, he encounters an elk that escalates the situation and is brutally killed. The second, Lewis, returns to the reservation with his wife for the funeral, only to have things escalate as he enters a hallucinatory, murderous state. The remaining two, Gabe and Cassidy, who have stayed on the reservation, decide to hold a sweat in memory of their friend, which turns out to be a poor decision for everyone involved. It is up to Gabe’s teenage daughter, Denorah, to outrun the Elk Head Woman and resolve things.
I had to read this strange, supernatural slasher tale more than once to understand what was going on, but it was totally worth it. The character development is well-done, the unsettling aspect of the supernatural getting more and more entangled into the destruction of these men and their families really sinks in, and the reservation setting and its conflicts felt very real. It is kind of reality-bending to see an animal that I think of as being generally peaceful out for violent revenge. Yet Graham Jones makes it all work. Highly recommended.
Contains: violence, gore, murder, body horror.

Jones is one of the most mesmerizing voices in contemporary fiction. He swings from darkness, to humor, to deep empathy in a few deft words. This might be one of his best works yet. It's right at the top of my list with Mapping the Interior and Mongrels and All the Beautiful Sinners.

I would characterize this novel as a weird horror fable. Some really genius scenes and moments. I enjoyed a lot of the writing. But, the plot was just all over the place. Overly slow in places and rushed in others.

Very interesting read, not my usual style but it was a nice change. Reading about different types of people than my self is very eye opening and interesting to learn about.

I hate giving 1 star reviews, I really, truly do.
But...
I did not enjoy this book at all. I'm honestly surprised I was able to finish it considering I knew about 16 pages in, that I was not going to like this book.
I also have no idea what the F I just read. It had a lot to due with elk, a woman with an elk head, and basketball. I think I may have read an acid trip?
I feel that when I dislike a book enough to give it a 1 star review, that I should keep my reviews short, in respect of the author. This book was clearly not my cup of tea, but others are certainly loving it.
Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the ARC and wanting my honest opinion!

Breathtaking in its brutality, Only Good Indians is a story about revenge. It is a story told through multiple points of view, which, if the reader doesn’t commit names or situations to memory, can be difficult to follow. There were moments of violence that took me by surprise because of the way the author weaves them into a moment. The reader doesn’t see it coming. I often had to re-read paragraphs to make sure I was following what was being said.
What I appreciated the most was the insight Stephen Graham Jones provided into Native American culture, specifically the Blackfeet Nation. I am wholly unfamiliar with tribal differences, cultural traditions, or the language. I found myself pausing to look something up, not because it was confusing, but because I wanted to know more. Jones created characters who led lives that may look unfamiliar to most but are relatable because of their struggles which are universal.
What I wrestled with most were the slower parts. The ending could have been shorter. I found myself skimming over the last few chapters because the climax was so drawn out. Overall, Jones has created a complex, supernatural story that doesn’t relent in its ferocity.

Stephen Graham Jones's latest novel is an own voices horror about four Blackfeet men whose past, and the traditions they left behind, come back to haunt them. I wasn't really sure what to expect going into this as the blurb doesn't give a whole lot away, but once I adjusted to Jones's writing style I found myself swept away, on the edge of my seat and dying to know what was going to happen next.
I don't think this book will be for everyone. The writing style is different than what I'm used to, shifting point of view at random times, and I found myself having to re-read the same paragraph a couple of times to be sure I really understood. Once I got the hang of it though...oh, man. Jones somehow manages to weave humor and a cutting commentary on racism and stereotypes into the horror. I found myself at times amused, smitten by the realistic portrayal of four friends and their dry humor, even as my breath hitched and I waited for the inevitable. At the same time Jones doesn't shy away from acknowledging the portrayal of Native Americans and the prejudice and stereotypes they face, choosing to shine a spotlight on it.
The horror aspects were really well done. It's definitely more of a creeping horror - a movement out of the corner of your eye, a presence that doesn't feel quite right. At night after reading I found myself triple checking the deadbolt on the door before bed, as if it could save me from whatever horror was lurking just out of sight. There was more gore than I expected, but it wasn't so much that I was bothered. There are scenes with animal abuse/deaths, so if that is triggering to you I would proceed with caution.
Perhaps my biggest complaint, aside from the writing style, was the ending. I guess I just expected...more? Maybe another chapter after? It wasn't a bad ending by any means, I just felt it was a bit lackluster.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one and know I'm going to find myself thinking about it over the coming weeks (I already forced my husband who isn't a reader to listen to me regale him with what happens). Thank you to Gallery/Saga Press and NetGalley for my advanced review copy!

This is my first experience with Stephen Graham Jones. I have heard great things about Mongrels and even have a copy I have been meaning to read. Most of my reading life is filled with good intentions. It was not until I was listening to the podcast by Max Booth III called, Ghoulish where he and Stephen Graham Jones discuss the slasher horror genre, and some of the plot of The Only Good Indians, that I was thinking about him again. Then the publisher approved my copy on NetGalley. I was reading other things and this one kind of got pushed to the side. I finally started to read it last week. I was not prepared for what was to come.
The Only Good Indians starts with Lewis, a 30ish Blackfeet who is living with his white wife off of the reservation, rebuilding a motorcycle, delivering mail, and getting playfully harangued about this by his old running buddies. Lewis has a weird experience while trying to fix a light above the ceiling fan, seeing the haunt that he has pushed in the back of his mind for the past ten years, a moment that he much rather not talk about with anyone. Shortly after, a flirty coworker, Shaney, comes along, showing up here and there, not necessarily allowing him to keep his mind at ease, Lewis tries hard to ignore her. This of course does not work as well as he had hoped, and after a few meetings and clues, Lewis realizes that Shaney might be more than she appears to be. This is a nice spooky novel with a little mystery and a little some weird things going on….
And then shit goes sideways.
From the middle of the first part to the very end, Stephen Graham Jones had me hooked. I loved every aspect of this, and this is one of those novels where i did not sleep because I wanted to know what was going on next. I had a moment with my wife while reading this book because I was ignoring everything else around me, including her and the children. I could not explain that it was because this novel is one of the best horror novels I have ever read or that I was kicking myself for not reading Stephen Graham Jones sooner.
According to the author on the Ghoulish podcast, his definition of a slasher novel is one that is built on revenge. This is definitely a slasher novel by this definition, and it is cut into three parts. All three parts are equally interesting and all of the characters are memorable. Even though this will not get the attention that it deserves, I bet that most everyone who reads it will think that it is incredible as well. This is solidly on my best of the year list.
I received this as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I will be buying a physical copy as soon as it comes out because it must be in my collection.

First let me thank Net Galley and Gallery/Saga Press for the ARC of this book. The opinion is my own.
This may be a case of good book, wrong time. While clearly well written, somehow it didn't connect with me. I couldn't get involved with any of the characters and the initial set up following the character of Lewis was difficult for me to follow. I pushed through the middle of the book mostly because I felt obligated to finish, and then actually picked up interest in the last quarter of the book during the sweat lodge and meeting and following Denorah.
I appreciated the connection to Native American life, traditions, and story telling. I liked the opening with the four friends going on the elk hunt and how it went wrong - that's a good setup. However, I think I had trouble with the horror part and I can't quite put my finger on why. I'm by no means a horror aficionado so I'm not the most qualified to speak to that aspect of the story. If you do enjoy a good horror story, you should read it for yourself. Or, if you enjoy a perspective on Native life, this may suit you.

Very well written and one of those books you can not put down! Not expected was the humor. Not usually my genre but overall a very satisfying read.

QUICK TAKE: this one unfortunately wasn't for me. I appreciated the specificity of it and thought the author did a nice job in crafting a horror tale with a Native American twist, but I had trouble connecting to the characters and the writing style. As it is now, it reads more like short stories, and I would have preferred a little more character interaction and interweaving. Fans of horror might enjoy this as the author definitely plays with tropes of the genre.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this early copy!
Did not finish - I could not connect with the plot or writing so I decided to put it down.

Interesting concept which I liked a lot. I also appreciated the moments in the story where there were sharp turns, and I had no idea where the story was going. It was almost episodic. I will say though that some of the pacing felt off, and a couple scenes seemed to drag - specifically the one on one baseball scene and the chase scene towards the end.

I am generally not a blurb reader. The blurb for THE ONLY GOOD INDIANS states "The creeping horror of Paul Tremblay meets Tommy Orange’s There There." Although I haven't read Paul Tremblay (yet), I have heard nothing but good things about his writing. When I saw Tremblay's name, I thought I might just want to read this one.
I am finding the story to be pretty disjointed. I would compare it to having a couple of martini's at a party then joining a group deep in discussion and trying to make sense of it through the fog of alcohol. So, either the book is flawed, or I am. I will say, I don't generally make a habit of having martini's before reading.
I understand that ARCs (particularly ebook ARCs) may be lacking in good formatting. Sometimes, the way a book is formatted makes all the difference in how that book is read. Punctuation is also important. Need I even mention that 'sighed' and 'side' may sound the same but are otherwise totally unrelated? And where exactly is "the creeping horror."
Maybe a couple of martinis would have made this easier to read.

The Only Good Indians is inventive and definitely delivers on the horror atmosphere. The story rises and falls with its suspense, quietly building up to these moments of explosive action. Beginning with a subtle tension, I was impressed with the way Jones is able to manipulate our feelings of anxiety and that gut feeling knowing something is wrong. The Only Good Indians is a story about characters. How have their lives been changed by what that incident, their ways of seeing themselves, and their feelings of guilt. It's a story where I wasn't sure what was happening even till the end because it feels almost unexplainable.

I was pleased to get a copy of this from Netgalley in return for a review, which in no way influenced my review. I have often wanted half stars with Goodreads but no luck. This is a 3.5 read for me but I rounded up mostly because it was a me, not the book thing. The second half has a heavy reliance on basketball. I didn’t even like it when I played and I liked reading about it even less.
So being horror, you can imagine horrific things happen. Ten years ago, four friends, members of the Blackfeet tribe, did something they shouldn’t, hunted on land meant for the elders. They didn’t quite get away with it but no one got hurt, so they thought other than maybe some emotional scars. They were wrong. Ten years later, the men have gone their own way, Ricky is off on his own. Lewis has married a White woman and is off the reservation working as a postal carrier and feels pretty good about his life. Cassidy and Gabriel are still on the reservation, the latter falling victim to himself and alcohol. His pride is his daughter, Denorah (living with her mother and step dad) who is a fantastic basketball player.
We spend very little time with Rick but it gives us our first hints as to what the ‘entity’ is in the blurb and I don’t plan to say more than entity because the first half of the book is all about peeling back the layers, letting us see what these friends did and what is back for revenge.
I really enjoyed Lewis and his arc. Out of all of them, him I felt sorry for. His life with his wife and the new Crow lady co-worker who’s come into his life was interesting. I liked this comic book reading, rather sensitive guy. You can almost believe he doesn’t quite deserve what’s coming for him. His fear as he works it out is palpable.
The second half of the book worked less for me. Maybe it was all the basketball which just went on way too long for me. Maybe it was that I liked Cass and Gabe less. Both of them, however, do shine a light on the poverty and hopelessness that can be found on the reservations. I say this as an outsider with an outsider’s point of view. I was a reservation doctor for a year so I’ve seen it but again only as an outsider. That said, this felt true to what I had seen for myself.
Without spoiling anything, things have been hitting them hard. They are sad but they are also reaching out to Victor (reservation cop) and his son, Nathan who is going down the wrong path. They’re going to try to have a sweat lodge/sing for Nathan to help him spirituality and get him back on track.
Again, being horror, you can imagine this might not go well.
The entity is creepy, steeped in Blackfeet lore and her reasons for her actions are understandable, except maybe the final action against someone who hadn’t anything to do with it. All of the men are well drawn as is Denorah.
My biggest gripe is the ending went on way too long. It dragged for me (again with the basketball). But other than that it was a creepy horror and worth the read.