A political power struggle at an Anishanaabe reservation told through the perspective of the political fixer of the incumbent president. It was a novel about corruption, belonging, and the conflict between following one's moral compass and gaining power.

I felt the suspense build throughout the novel with vivid imagery. It took a while to build up, but once it was palpable, I was immersed. The characters were all flawed in their own ways but felt very realistic and multi-layered. I thought it was timely to read with the gritty political dissent featured throughout the novel. Overall, I really enjoyed it!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of this novel.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster books and to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review. Big Chief tells the fascinating story of the end of a campaign/election for tribal president on the Passage Rouge Indian Reservation located deep in the unforgiving winter woods of Wisconsin.

This is a book of political maneuvering, tribal sovereignty, and the struggle with belonging. I found the story and especially the first half to be so intriguing. The set up to the re-election campaign was so beautifully drawn out as well as all of the factors that brought them to this point. The author also does a great job of making the setting of the Passage Rouge Reservation into its own character, probably the most important character in the novel. However, the second half of the novel sort of fell apart for me. Some of the side characters turn into pure caricatures and the story sort of changes from this lovely intimate novel into action and fight sequences. I think the author has a lot to say about the politics of a reservation and the conflicting jurisdictions and lack of sovereignty given to them and crafted a great set up to that story, I just wish the ending had been written differently.

This is an electric debut of a novel. Perennial outsider Mitch Caddo got himself a fancy law degree and now he's returned to the reservation that was never really his home to serve as political fixer for his childhood friend, Mack Beck, the tribe's current president. Mack's reelection is coming up, and it's not looking good. His opponent is the high and mighty Indian country celebrity Gloria Hawkins, and Mitch and Mack are ready to fight dirty, using all of the corruptions of power they've been using to hold power for the last two years. Complicating matters is that Mack's estranged younger sister (also Mitch's ex), Layla, is Gloria's number one aide. And then, Joe Beck, Mack and Layla's father, Mitch's mentor, dies suddenly and leaves things even messier. This is a knot of a novel about political corruption, complicated families, and the cost of power.
This is such a pathetic picture of what power does to people. It's so well written, engrossing, entrancing. I struggled to stop reading. It was an interesting look into politics and a couple of very messed of people. Mitch is such a good anti-hero.

Big Chief is thoughtful and well-observed, especially around politics and place, but drags in parts and some characters fall flat. Solid debut, just not a standout.

There are books that just do not appeal to some readers from the very story. Big Chief was that book for me. I read 3 chapters and could not connect to the story. I hate to review or give stars to a book I did not read.

I had the HARDEST time getting into this book. I’ve been working through this over a few weeks. I went from physical book, to ebook, to finally audio to just finish it. I don’t know if it was just my mood, but this novel felt so slow. The writing was well done, the plot just took forever to get going. Then it felt like at the end it rushed so much it was hard to keep up. Definitely had some pacing issues. The story was interesting once it finally got going.

Big Chief was a super interesting read. I loved the character study and the writing felt propulsive. I'd read more from the author.

I hoped this book would be in the vein of Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden or a Louise Erdich book, but it is incredibly slow paced and not terribly interesting. Maybe I will revisit it at another time to get more out of it, but at this time, I can't recommend it. I hope it finds it's right audience.

This one didn’t quite land for me—at least not yet. Despite being set in a place I know well, I struggled to get into the story and connect with the characters. The political intrigue and cultural tension are compelling on paper, but the pacing felt slow and the narrative didn’t pull me in. That said, I suspect it might be a slow burn worth revisiting in a different reading mood. There’s depth here; I just wasn’t in the right headspace to fully appreciate it.

Overall enjoyed this book that to me is about power and the limits of representational politics. It was an interesting take that “pretendianism” came from within the community as well and whether power is using tools by the colonizer or for community. There were some moments in the middle that kind of dragged for me, but otherwise it was an insightful read!

I enjoyed this novel of politics on a Wisconsin reservation. The strength in this story is the decision to use this specific setting which allows for a personal story that hints at the limits of sovereignty as well as corruption throughout political systems. The novel takes place over a few days which serves the stories pacing well. An enjoyable novel with depth.

Thanks to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for this advance copy!

Big Chief follows the weekend leading up to a tribal election on a reservation in northern Wisconsin. Just as Mitch thinks the election might be wrapped up for his friend and boss, someone else starts to make noise, led on by his former love Layla. Navigating tribal politics, death, riots, and a freezing November weekend, Mitch tries to make sense of his life and what it's all for anyway.

I enjoyed this book. Tribal nation politics are so different yet so similar to non-tribal politics and Hickey does a great job of bringing in identity, tribal economics, and today's themes of police brutality, corruption, and fascism into a book that feels timely while also perpetual. The characters were relatable and the suspense of the story kept me turning pages.

The political machinations at the heart of this novel mirror those on the national stage—power grabs, backroom deals, moral compromises—but what makes this book truly compelling is the unique lens through which it tells that story—the perspective of the Passage Rouge Nation of Lake Superior Anishinaabe in Wisconsin. Set within a sovereign Native nation navigating modern politics and cultural survival, this is both a gripping political thriller and a nuanced exploration of identity, legacy, and justice.

At its center is Mitch Caddo, an Anishinaabe descendant, lawyer, and behind-the-scenes political fixer who helps manage the Passage Rouge’s casino operations—both legal and illicit. Mitch is a man torn between two worlds: his deep roots in tribal life and the seductive, often morally murky world of influence and power. As the stakes rise and tribal politics become entangled with external threats, corporate interests, and internal corruption, Mitch finds himself increasingly at odds with the man he thought he was.

When his mentor—a guiding figure in both his legal and cultural education—meets a tragic fate, Mitch is forced to confront the cost of his compromises.

More than just a political drama, this novel paints a rich, layered portrait of a modern Native nation grappling with sovereignty, economic pressure, and the inheritance of trauma. It’s absorbing, deeply human, and thought-provoking—offering a perspective rarely seen in fiction with such authenticity and complexity.

I am currently still reading this one. This is one I forgot I had downloaded and then recognized the cover of the boo at the store. I am about 30% in and really enjoying this book. And most likely will finish this week and review posted later to Instagram, but wanted some type of feedback here before this archive date

Readers hoping to avoid political mudslinging would be wise to take a break and read this astonishing debut.

The Passage Rouge Nation of Lake Superior Anishinaabe in Wisconsin is a microcosm of small-town politics with the added complications of being a sovereign nation. “What happens when the rez dog finally catches up with the car” is a question our main character, Mitch, asks himself a few times – with varying answers throughout Jon Hickey’s Big Chief. There are riots, family drama, a little romance and lots of politics. Mitch Caddo is a political fixer for his friend, Mack Beck. The title works on a couple levels, but when we meet Mack, he’s getting out of a massive bulletproof tricked-out pickup truck with the aforementioned name. The title also alludes to questions of identity. Mitch has lived away from the reservation for some time while getting his law degree–and he wants to support the nation, but struggles with figuring out his place in this society. Complicating things is Layla Beck – Mitch’s childhood friend and former love interest. Layla works for Gloria Hawkins, who’s running against Mack in the upcoming election for Tribal President. Layla and Mack were raised by a well-meaning white family, so yes, things get sticky to say the least.

While Mitch has inured himself to a lot of past trauma, the ghosts of both his mother and adoptive father, Joe, are never far away. In the following passage, Mitch is being gently lectured by a well-meaning elder and is reminded of his mother:
“The voice of self-reproach sounds an awful lot like her voice. Sometimes it feels like I can’t miss her, because her spirit, lost in the woods, follows me everywhere I go, giving me that kind of motherly love that tells me that I’m doing something wrong, that I’ve lost my way like she has, that I’m just as much of a ghost as she is. Or I might as well be.”

Hickey’s writing is promising – while he manages to pack a lot into the book, it is mostly done with a deft hand. My only quibble is overuse of the word “ursine” to describe the out-sized Mack and a few other vocabulary choices. However, any questionable stylistic choices are more than made up for by the unforgettable characters and propulsive plot of this promising new literary voice.
I received an advance review copy of Big Chief from the publisher through NetGalley.

As a political junkie I was drawn to this story of a tribal election, but there is so much more. What makes someone family? What is the correct response to corruption?

The physical manifestation of one’s consciousness. I spent a lot of time contemplating how does one know what the right thing to do is- especially in cases when you have been wronged in the past and to act in your favor now could balance the scales- but only for you.

I’ve recently seen men complaining that the popular books aren’t written for them but obviously historically almost all literature was written with men in mind and if more men read, male centered books about “manly” topics would be the popular books. All that to say, this book is definitely male centered. It’s described as contemporary and that’s true but it’s a political thriller in my mind. I like to see books about Indigenous people that are allowed to be flawed.

An intriguing novel about the inner workings of an indigenous tribe set on a reservation in Wisconsin. Faced with a contentious fight to stay tribal chief, Mack Beck, resorts to immoral and corruptive shenanigans to keep his seat. With the reluctant help of his friend and assistant, Mitch Caddo, they embark on a dangerous, twisted path.

Mitch finds himself in the throes of an internal crisis as he examines his life and where he actually belongs. This a story of power, corruption and the results of nefarious machinations that will have everlasting consequences.

Recommended!

I really liked the characters and the story. My main disappoint was the rushed ending. I felt that the main characters deserved more at the end.

Jon Hickey has an engaging voice and a clear, compelling storytelling style. I found myself drawn in, intrigued by the politics and power relationships. Timely, and a much needed read! Thanks for the arc.