This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it absolutely DELIVERED. I was hooked from the first chapter and couldn't put it down. My Heart Is A Chainsaw is one of my favorite books of all time, and what I love about Stephen's work is how he balances horror and gore, with something deeper, heartfelt, thought-provoking, and emotional, always rooted in vital topics that speak to us now. This was creepy but also elegant, deliciously gothic, with immersive world-building. It definitely had some Interview With a Vampire vibes, but with a Stephen Graham Jones twist. He remains one of my favorite authors, and this just might be one of his best, yet. I feel really honored to have gotten the chance to read this early, it meant a lot to me.

***Please check trigger warnings before diving in, and do what's best for you.

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter is Stephen Graham Jones's finest novel to date. A nesting-doll story that weaves together three separate but interconnected narratives: a 21st Century professor desperate for tenure, a Lutheran minister in 1912 Montana, and a Blackfeet named Good Stab.

This book is amazingly well-written and researched, and its take on vampirism is COMPLETELY original. A rarity for the genre.

I cannot recommend this novel enough. 5 Stars. A deeply affecting, scary, funny ride.

One day, Etsy Beaucarne is contacted by a librarian with an interesting find. A construction worker restoring an old rectory came across an old journal, crumbling in his hands. The book, now in the capable hands of this trusty librarian, is the journal of Etsy's great-great grandfather. Arthur Beaucarne was a Lutheran pastor in Miles City, Montana, in the early 1900s. Etsy is thrilled; a tale from her ancestor and a way for her to achieve tenure at her university. Unfortunately for her, the tale seems unbelievable. Except it's true...

Good Stab, an Indian man who began visiting his church, desired confession. As any good pastor would, Arthur listened to his increasing bizarre tale week after week. Despite his skepticism, the more he listens, the more he believes. Problem is, if the story is true, Arthur is in grave danger.

As usual, it took me a bit to get into Jones' writing. His writing is the equivalent of enjoying a fine dining meal - each word is to be savored, to be ruminated on. It always takes me a little while to get used to the experience but once I'm immersed, I can't stop until it's done. Normally I wouldn't be interested in a historical vampire novel, but I loved this book. Arthur and Good Stab's story was fascinating, but the way it tied into Etsy's was perfect. Yet another 5 star read from SGJ. I just can't get enough of them!

Thank you NetGalley and Saga Press for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

My mother has a disclaimer she likes to use when telling of a horrible thing that happened, "this is a sad story with a bad ending." That really sums up the experience of reading this book. I don't mean bad as in "poorly crafted" but bad as in you close the book feeling a sense of dread and devastation that only the best horror stories can elicit. This is my first Stephen Graham Jones book and it will not be my last! This was masterfully written. The beginning took a little bit for me to get into but I feel that may be a personal problem as I don't read a lot of historical fiction so the prose was a bit foreign to me. Once the story got going though, brain adapted and it was so so good. I truly loved how vampires are explored in this, give me grimy gross vampires over clean and cold ones any day. That said, this book's descriptions had me legitimately lightheaded at times so big warning for gore and body horror! There were moments when I was so drawn in and freaked out in a good way that I realized why people like rollercoasters (not a rollercoaster fan myself). I cannot recommend this enough to horror fans. Truly, a book that I will keep thinking about every so often and go "damn".

TWs: Gore, Body Horror, Blood, Animal Death, Vomit, Rape (minor, happens around the halfway point if anyone wants to skip that scene)

SJG ventures into vampire territory and it does not disappoint. I had trouble reading and following some of his other books but this on was written in a better way for more. Lots of blood and violence and a look at the horrible atrocities in American history. Great historical fiction blending with supernatural horror. Book is available March 18, 2025.

What an eerily insane book this is! I wouldn't expect anything less from the author who takes the horror genre into another realm.

My favorite thing about the book was the character of Good Stab, and how the author so masterfully molded him into a character that is likable despite his horrible actions. The man is noble and lives to defend his tribe and the bison who are being slaughtered by the white man. I was so enthralled with the story, I'd forgotten that it began in modern-day so I was jolted towards the end of the story when it returned to the present. This part of the book was probably the most far out and I even laughed a few times at the ridiculousness but it held my interest and it added some spooky depth to the story.

I'm glad Good Stab got his ultimate justice and that he was able to get closure.

Can't wait for the next book by this author!

SGJ is never going to write anything less than mind-blown, heart-erupting, stellar. He's made characters here that I could read forever, with a deeply-felt message, and wrapped in a book that kept me up for two solid days.

I felt that this book was well written, well researched, and genuinely brought new and unique ideas to the vampire genre. I would definitely would recommend checking the content warnings before diving in if you’re at all squeamish.

This is my first Stephen Graham Jones novel. I am quite impressed with the writing! Very elegant, but at the same time, eerie. The character development is spot on. All the main characters are well fleshed out. The world building is just as amazing. It is like you are actually there living the story. This will not be my last Stephen Graham Jones novel!

#NetGalley #TheBuffaloHunterHunter

Thank you Netgalley. I absolutely loved this vampire novel. I love how it's steeped in history and I love Good Stab. Good Stab is a very interesting character. I enjoyed how Good Stab told his story through confession.
This was a very unique vampire novel. It was also refreshing to finally have another vampire novel where the vampire can do one of the things that has seem to be forgotten about Dracula. (If you know you know.)
I love Stephen Graham-Jones and his writing style. This novel is definitely going to remain one of my favorites of his.

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones offers a unique and immersive experience, delving into a complex narrative that intertwines themes of identity, history, and the haunting legacy of violence. Jones’ writing is sharp and clever, with moments of brilliance that capture the struggle of grappling with both personal and cultural demons. His exploration of the supernatural and historical layers is deeply engaging, pulling readers into a world that is often unsettling, but undeniably thought-provoking.

However, while the premise is compelling, the novel does falter at times due to its slow pacing and repetitive elements. Certain plot points and ideas are revisited so often that they lose their impact, and the narrative can feel drawn out, with some sections dragging longer than necessary. The pace occasionally stumbles, making it hard to maintain momentum through parts of the story that feel like they’re circling the same ground without much progression.

That being said, Jones’ writing is still powerful, and his ability to create atmosphere and provoke thought is not to be underestimated. The philosophical musings on fate, violence, and the cyclical nature of history add a richness to the narrative, even if some moments feel like they could have been trimmed for better flow. The Buffalo Hunter Hunter is a challenging read, one that will resonate with those willing to look beyond its slower moments and appreciate the depth of the questions it raises.

While not flawless, the book remains an intriguing and distinctive work from an author who isn’t afraid to push boundaries and explore difficult truths. If you can push through its repetitive stretches, it offers a story that lingers in your mind long after you've finished.

“Nachzehrer: a type of wiedergänger (revenant) which was believed to be able to drag the living after it into death, either through malice or through the desire to be closer to its loved ones through various means.”

I listen with a good heart.

I say this for every Stephen Graham Jones book, and his upcoming novel, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, is no different: SGJ 👏🏼 DOES 👏🏼 NOT 👏🏼 MISS 👏🏼

This epistolary novel is a work of art. SGJ crafts an incredibly impressive vampiric period piece that deserves a spot among the best of them. Think Anne Rice’s Interview With The Vampire, but better, darker, and with that mind-boggling unique flare only SGJ has.

Unique is a word I will use a lot when I talk about this book. Impressive, important, beautiful, dark, amazing, heavy, emotional, disturbing, are others. But unique is the big one, the best one, to use to describe The Buffalo Hunter Hunter. You absolutely will not read another book, another Vampire book, like this one.

That’s the SGJ way though, yeah? Nothing he does is like anything else out there. He has his style, these stories, this incredible way of writing the most horrific things paired with the most emotionally devastating or beautifully heart-wrenching moments. The dude is a genius, through and through, and The Buffalo Hunter Hunter Hunter is a prime example.

This book does some things I have never even considered or ever seen done when it comes to the Vampire genre. SGJ is one of a kind. One of one, really. The setting, the confessional aspect, the gore, the new lore, the timeframe… everything about this book works to perfection. It’s gnarly as hell at times, and one of the saddest things ever at others.

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter is an easy 5/5 for me. It’s such an immersive and important and beautiful and, here it comes again, UNIQUE, piece. I HIGHLY recommend you check it out when it hits shelves March 18th. This book is absolutely incredible and you all NEED to get those preorders in yesterday. You won’t want to miss this one.

“What I am is the Indian who can’t die. I’m the worst dream America ever had.”

I absolutely LOVED this. Gothic horror is my favorite genre. Dracula is one of my favorite books of all time. This story feels a lot like Dracula, if Dracula took place in the American frontier. It’s even written in diary passages the way that Dracula was. Imagine your worst vampire nightmare come to life in the wild Wild West.

But if that’s not good enough, it’s also a story about so much more. It has themes of self discovery, forgiveness, revenge, loss, racism, imperialism, all told from the perspective of a Native American. I loved seeing all the beautiful native language that was used and to see such a terrible time period retold from the point of view of the victims.

The characters were so layered and tragic. I hated and loved every single one of them. Even the most evil had some redeeming qualities. It makes you wonder how far you would go to save your family from starving or freezing to death.

Jones is an absolute gem on an author and will forever be on my “automatic read” list.

I had the absolutely pleasure to travel to the Black Hills last year and I was able to visit the Native American Indian museum at Crazy Horse mountain. It was a humbling experience to witness the horrors that we committed on both the buffalo and the Indians and then to see wild buffalo back on the wild prairie in Custer state park.

This is not an easy read. The prose and style is quite advanced, but if you’re an American into horror, check it out!

I would recommend this for everyone. It’s bloody and gruesome, but it’s such an important reminder about a part of American history that we are so quick to forget.

Stephen Graham Jones has done it again—The Buffalo Hunter Hunter isn’t just a horror novel, it’s a reckoning. It creeps into your bones, settles under your skin, and refuses to leave, long after you’ve turned the last page. The interview format makes it feel so real, like you’ve stumbled upon something you were never meant to read. If you love horror that feels like it’s whispering a dark secret directly into your ear, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter will wreck you in the best way.

I read about about 64% of this book and to be honest, I felt like I was reading the same thing over and over again. The concept is interesting, but I just was not getting into it. There was nothing wrong with the writing, The story was drawn out and it felt like deja vu with every chapter.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My first Stephen Graham Jones was ONLY GOOD INDIANS, and I was completely unprepared for what I was about to experience. I came out of that book dazed, awed, and compelled to delve right back into it. Which I did.

This is how it has been with each successive work of his I've read. Without exception, each one is a masterpiece and usurps the previous as his masterwork. Last year's THE ANGEL OF INDIAN LAKE and I WAS A TEENAGE SLASHER was a stunning double-punch tour de force. Now, in 2025, Jones brings us THE BUFFALO HUNTER HUNTER in March and a double-feature KILLER ON THE ROAD and THE BABYSITTER LIVES in July.

Jokes abound about his prolific literary output (he's also publishing the wonderful EARTHDIVERS, and last year reissued six older titles), but such jokes miss the real point——he's producing astoundingly brilliant work at an astounding pace.

A conventional horror plot would expose Jones has sold his soul in a Faustian bargain, and we know how that plays out, but when we're in a Stephen Graham Jones story all bets are off and you best buckle up tight.

THE BUFFALO HUNTER HUNTER is, as many have already declared, a vampire novel unlike any you've read. It's a narrative within a narrative within a narrative and imbued with blood-hot pulsing horror and heart.

This novel is so impressive, both for its creativity and its craftsmanship. I only just finished this book and I will re-read it upon publication and study it for years to come. (Of course there will be dozens of future Jones works demanding the same treatment in all these years ahead...)

Horror in Jones's hands is not simply entertainment (though it is the highest grade of horror entertainment), it is social commentary, historical rebuke, and a reminder of inherited sins.

Jones loves a slasher, and some sins they never die, coming back again and again so Jones can hold us to account and teach us a thing or two about responsibility, courage, and what it really means to get your hands bloody.

If you've read him, you know. If you haven't, double check your belt's fastened, clench those armrests, and don't blink.

This ride you never forget.

I'm a fan of Jones's work, and this might be my favorite so far (it might be tied with The Only Good Indians and Mongrels). The Buffalo Hunter Hunter's title says a lot, and readers will find themselves in a book inside a book. The first book is the story of Etsy, a young academic trying desperately to get tenure in a terrible academic world; the second is a journal belonging to her ancestor. Within the journal is the tale of a Pikuni--Blackfeet--man, a blood-drinking revenant forced to grapple with the demise of his humanity as he tries to protect his people and their traditional lands and ways from white soldiers intent on killing them and claiming their land and buffalo.It's heartbreaking and ghoulish and terrifying and also full of moments of beauty. You may be tempted to race through it, but my advice is to savor it, every horrifying moment, every dreamlike moment, every word and idea.

The chapters threw me off in the beginning because I didn’t make the distinction when the narrative shifted from the narrator to the diary at first. I caught on and it was very interesting, but it was jarring at first. Super dark spooky book though

I am convinced that if Stephen Graham Jones writes it I am going to love it no matter what. He could write a grocery list down and I would find it to be facinating. While it was a little slow for me in the beginning but still interesting enough that iit still grabbed my attention enough for me to continue knowing that with the other SGJ books that I have the payoff would be worth it.
This book is mainly set in the West in 1912 but we do have parts in the beginning that we see another Character named Etsy and the current time is 2012. This is a tale following a Lutheran priest who’s diary is found in a wall that describes the events that happened and a tale of revenge.
While this story is a tale of fiction the events, minus the vampire, of the Marias Massacre which did actually happen. I understand why SGJ wanted this book to be his next realease!

All you had to tell me was that this was an epistolary written by SGJ. Adding in that this is a historical fiction set in 1912 wherein 217 Blackfeet are murdered and there are vampires, I am that Bender meme--shut up and take my money. I don't want to ruin the plot, but if you like bleak historical fiction that includes incalculable tragedy told as an epistolary, I think you're going to love this. The writing here is so crisp and moves so quickly, as I was reading it I could SEE it as a movie or shortform show. This is probably my favorite Jones book since 'Night of the Mannequins'.

Thank you NetGalley and Titan Books for the ARC, such a phenomenal showing.

I'll just leave you with one of my favorite lines:

This is where my confession is over, Three-Persons.
I leave you now with your dead.