Title: Big Chief
Author: Jon Hickey
Genre: Literary
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: April 8, 2025

I received a complimentary eARC from Penguin Random House Canada via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted

T H R E E • W O R D S

Metaphoric • Multilayered • Timely

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Mitch Caddo, a young law school graduate and aspiring political fixer, is an outsider in the homeland of his Anishinaabe ancestors. But alongside his childhood friend, Tribal President Mack Beck, he runs the government of the Passage Rouge Nation, and with it, the tribe’s Golden Eagle Casino and Hotel. On the eve of Mack’s reelection, their tenuous grip on power is threatened by a nationally known activist and politician, Gloria Hawkins, and her young aide, Layla Beck, none other than Mack’s estranged sister and Mitch’s former love. In their struggle for control over Passage Rouge, the campaigns resort to bare-knuckle political gamesmanship, testing the limits of how far they will go—and what they will sacrifice—to win it all.

But when an accident claims the life of Mitch’s mentor, a power broker in the reservation’s political scene, the election slides into chaos and pits Mitch against the only family he has. As relationships strain to their breaking points and a peaceful protest threatens to become an all-consuming riot, Mitch and Layla must work together to stop the reservation’s descent into violence.

💭 T H O U G H T S

It was a simple task adding Big Chief, from debut Indigenous author Jon Hickey, to my 2025 most anticipated list simply based on reading the synopsis. I don't often gravitate towards politically focused novels, yet this one attracted my attention given the current political state in North America and for the opportunity of getting an Indigenous political perspective.

Exploring themes of power and corruption, overwhelming greed, environmental concerns, familial bonds, and Indigenous sovereignty, each of the characters within this novel was deeply flawed and unlikeable. Through flashbacks, the reader gets a sense of how Mitch, is reckoning with his past and making morally grey choices, which left me contemplating the lengths a person is willing to go to in order to belong. Aside from the main plot, there are several intriguing subplots that play an important role, yet aren't necessarily fully fleshed out.

The writing and the bones of this story are very well executed, however, the pacing was uneven, often going into long winded explanations of political systems that weren't altogether necessary to keep the story rolling. Additionally, the secondary cast lacked the character depth required to really make the reader feel a connection to the story.

The relevance and timely nature of Big Chief made for an intriguing and reflective read. I appreciated the firsthand account of social issues and Indigenous rights mixed with a bit of romance and political corruption told through a fictional lens. This is the type of book that leaves the reader with much to contemplate and reflect one. I will most definitely be keeping an eye out for future works from Jon Hickey.

📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• books about sociopolitical issues
• discovering new authors
• flawed characters

⚠️ CW: racism, cultural appropriation, police brutality, death, grief, toxic relationship, addiction, overdose

This book was an incredible read! There as such depth in the story that gave the characters so much life to them, and added to the drama that unfolded in the story. There is a sense of melancholy and nostalgic regret that runs deep through the narration, and brings the story to life.

This book follows Mitch Caddo, an Indigenous lawyer turned poilitical fixer. Mitch is trying to keep his boss and childhood friend, Mack Beck, the president of the Passage Rouge Anishinaabe council. Mitch grew up partially outside of the community, and so he still feels like an outsider, even though his mother brought him back to the reservation to connect with his heritage. While attempting to keep Mack the president of the council in the impending election, their hold on power becomes more tenuous as the challenger, Gloria Hawkins, and her aide, Layla Beck, Mack’s estranged sister and Mitch’s former love, campaign in the community. The campaign falls more apart when Mitch’s mentor is killed in an accident, and Mitch begins to question how far they’re willing to go to win the election.

Throughout the book, I felt torn with how Mitch had approached many of his decisions. With the flashbacks to his earlier life in the community, we see glimpses of how he arrived at the current situation in the election. Mitch is not always a likeable character, and that does make some of the book difficult to enjoy, however I think it adds to the overall story. As much as we may want a ‘happy ending’ for the characters, this book felt deeply human to me. This story felt like a reckoning for Mitch, as he examined his past choices, as well as how he reacted to his current predicament. The book did tend to drag a bit in the flashback portions, but overall I enjoyed this book.

I was initially interested to read Big Chief by Jon Hickey because it’s described as There There meets The Night Watchman and I loved There There. This debut novel follows Mitch Caddo who works with Tribal President, Mack, on the Passage Rouge Nation and hoping for reelection. A tragic accident brings some secrets to light and Mitch has to deal with politics, the community and his family and friends. I feel like I just wanted a bit more from this story. It has all the elements but maybe lacking in execution. I’d still be interested to read his next book!

An incredibly unique plot that explores the many ways we are connected to each other, what Indigenous sovereignty means, and the lengths people will go to in order to feel like they belong.