Thank you to Saga Press for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones is a horror story framed in a work of historical fiction. Inspired by the very true (and truly horrific) events of a massacre of 217 people and the over hunting of bison in the American west, the story is a a nesting doll of three narrators in three different times. Etsy, in present day, is a communications PHD researching a recently unearthed journal of a Lutheran preacher. Arthur, the aging and gluttonous minister is outrunning his own past as he takes confession from Good Stab, a seemingly supernatural being confessing his story of violence.

The first thing that struck me about this novel that really made it stand out to me was the establishment of vampirism and vampire horror that was distant from the Western literary cannon. Although the word vampire is never said in the text in English, it is clear that is what plagues the characters. While there are elements that are familiar; blood drinking, aversion to the sun, the story and understanding of the condition is interpreted through a native lens. This is a perspective that is so unique and interesting. The vampire of The Buffalo Hunter Hunter is not a sexual icon, nor a gothic predator. Honor, revenge, and bloodshed are the core motivations here.

The next thing that Graham Jones really excels at in this story is the distinctiveness of the narrators. There is never confusion as the chapters shift; from the sentence structure and tone alone the reader can guess who is narrating, regardless of want they’re doing. I thought the way Arthur is written is particularly masterful; at first he seems doddering, benign, while still paternalistic and prejudiced. His true character is unfurled in his journal entries as he attempts to justify himself and his actions, showing that his surface appearance masks a much darker and murkier truth.

Where this book is a little uneven is in the pacing. The first 80% proceeds in traditional horror novel fashion but seems to grind to something much slower for the last 20%. It feels as if the rising tension takes a large step back, and simply doesn’t have the same impending uncertainty and rising fear as the earlier portions.

I really enjoyed this book and think that the historical setting made for a very compelling and unique takes on the vampire novel. It is horrifying and devastating in equal manner.

4.5/5 stars, rounded up to 5 stars for review purposes.

1 star

I was hooked. When I read the blurb.

That was it, to sum it up.

This book could put me to sleep at 7 PM—no joke. And I’m the kind of person who stays awake obsessing over whether I left the stove on. Yet here I was, drifting off mid-page. It’s honestly the most boring book I’ve ever read. Which is wild because it’s about a vampire. Not the Edward Cullen, sparkly-in-the-sunlight kind of vampire, mind you. This one’s supposed to be a historical, gothic, terrifying bloodsucker. Sounds like the recipe for a deliciously dark read, right? You’d think.
But no. It’s a dud. A slog.

I have to give myself a round of applause for finishing this book. Seriously. Every night, I’d pick it up, and every night, I’d find myself drifting off like I’d just taken a double dose of melatonin. God help me, it was so freaking boring. But I pushed through, hoping, praying there’d be a light at the end of the tunnel. Spoiler alert: there wasn’t.

There’s just so much blah, blah, blah that kept making me doze off. Too many confusing names—Blackfoot, Blackhorn, Black-this, Black-that. Then there’s Long-Leg, Ugly-Face, Tall-this, Tall-that. Don’t get me wrong; I was intrigued at first. I even looked up some of these words because they reminded me of The Clockwork Orange with its weird language. But unlike Clockwork Orange, which worked for me, this didn’t. The initial excitement didn’t last long. After that, it was just me fighting to keep my eyes open.

There is so much blah, blah, blah. It’s just endless droning on about... well, I don’t even know what anymore. There were so many confusing names—Blackfoot, Blackhorn, Black-this, Black-that. Then there’s Long-Leg, Ugly-Face, Tall-this, Tall-that. It felt like trying to follow a conversation in a crowded room where everyone’s yelling over each other. And don’t get me wrong, I was thrilled at first. I even looked up some of these words because they reminded me of The Clockwork Orange with its weird language. But unlike Clockwork Orange, which worked for me, this didn’t. The initial excitement didn’t last long all was left with was a battle to keep my eyes open.
And what about so many mentions of someone's wife’s cake? Like, why do I need to know about all these cakes? Someone’s wife in church made this cake, then that cake, then another cake. What is this, a baking competition?

This book is supposed to be a slow burn, a slow pace, slow buildup, all that jazz. And look, I’m no stranger to slow burns. I’ve stayed up until 3 AM, completely hooked. But this one? It’s impressive how it made gory hunting scenes feel boring. Teeth sinking, blood splattering, bodies falling—should be gripping, right? But instead, I found myself zoning out. The descriptions were so dry, I couldn’t even feel the tension. All the gore, but none of the impact.

The part that really kind of caught my attention was when he first became a vampire. Oh yes, and the blurb.
I know, I know, this book has a million glowing five stars reviews. But you know what? I have more trust for my own eyes. If my eyes can’t stay open, this book doesn’t deserve them open. Period.

Would I read another book by this author? No, thank you. Would I recommend this to you? Maybe. I mean, if you’re one of the many people who loved it, great! Or if you’ve got insomnia and need a solid cure, give it a go. It just didn’t work for me.

Note: Thank you, Saga Press and Stephen Graham Jones, for sending me this ARC. My opinion is my own.

I felt like I need to sit with this book a few days before I reviewed it. I believe Stephen Graham Jones is at his best when writing stories like this.
It had a nice slow burn, it felt tedious in a good way. Like counting your long days as a vampire. It was a nice slow peel back of layers figuring out who this character was and how he got here.
I didn’t feel like this story was particularly scary and I was ok with that. I enjoyed the different take on this monster story.

"Leave anyone too long alone with his own thoughts, and every possibility will be not only explored, but poked and prodded until it raises its shaggy head, settles its lidless eyes on you. Such is the price for isolation, and that mulling never ceases."

🩸 Buffalo Hunter Hunter Book Review 🩸

5/5 stars! ⭐️

Set in the American West in 1912, we follow a Lutherian priest through his diary entries as he records the life of a vampire told by means of confessional visits by a Blackfeet called Good Stab. This is considered a historical American Indian revenge story, and it was AMAZING.
This novel is unflinching and raw and is an entirely unique portrayal of vampires that I absolutely loved. It does not shy away from the realities of murder and death, especially during this historical time period in which the novel is set. It is definitely an emotional rollercoaster and not for the faint of heart!
The author does a phenomenal job at creating a sense of foreboding from the very beginning, which stays with the reader until the very end. The atmospheric dread helps create a dark and haunting narrative that is so heartbreakingly powerful it makes the story feel that much more real.
As far as the set up, I really enjoyed the story being told through journal entries, and the author does a great job at distinguishing whether we are reading the tale from Good Stab or from the priest himself. Even though we are meeting these characters through journal entries, it doesn't take away from them or the story and still allows room to connect with these intricate characters.
Reading Good Stab tell his tale is so hypnotizing and vivid it brings the setting to life in an almost tangible way, as well as makes it effortless to imagine the chilling horrors that we are being told.
It was really interesting reading the thoughts of the priest and his struggles as Good Stab tells him this tale, as he navigates what's going on in his Montana town, and ultimately why Good Stab has chosen him to tell his story to.This adds such a compelling layer to the story. As the story progresses, the vulnerabilities that Good Stab, and even the pastor go through, help create a more personal and universal tone to the novel as a whole.
There is so much to take away from this story. There are so many layers to this novel, and it left me thinking and wanting more. I know I will be coming back to this novel in my mind time and time again, and I'm already looking forward to my reread in March when it releases!
If you like vampires, historical fiction, gore and guts, or books that leave you thinking long after you've finished, this is definitely for you!

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!

4.75 stars.

This was such a fun novel to read! I loved the epistolary style as it worked really well for this book. I loved Good Stab, loathed Arthur, and was sort of ambivalent about Etsy until the end at which point I really loved her. I do have to say that I was hoping this would be an unreliable narrator story at some point, but it was not, which is the only reason I took a quarter of a star away. This was a great read! Eager to have it physically in my hands in March!

I was not expecting vampires when I picked up this novel. In my defense, I automatically pick up Stephen Graham Jones novels without reading the back because everything he does is brilliant. It was so wildly entertaining and done with his expected prose and complexity. I appreciated the style and structure of the storytelling, which added to the intrigue of the whole thing. That being said, it is not for everyone. It is bleak and unpleasant, but in a way that is undeniably interesting. It is something that will stay with me and I will keep thinking about.

Every Stephen Graham Jones book or short story I read sticks with me and I find myself thinking of them long after they’re read. I think this will be no exception.

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter is a meaningful read although not necessarily a fun one. Good Stab’s experience felt important and I’m glad to have read this. Jones has a unique take on vampirism and the concepts were really interesting. Fair warning that this novel is gruesome, so much so that at times I was wincing in public reading this. The writing was beautiful, lyrical almost, and Jones nailed the different time frames.

Highly recommend this book to horror lovers, just make sure you’re in the right headspace before picking this up!

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

4.5 stars, rounded to 5. This isn’t so much a super strong five star book, 4.5 stars is the right place for it, but 4 stars is too low.

A professor at the University of Wyoming who is seeking tenure discovers a diary from a family member and is hoping to ready it for publication. It dates from 1912 and was written by her great, great grandfather,, Arthur Beaucarne, of Miles City, Montana, a Lutheran minister. Most of it concerns his “confessionals”/interviews with a Blackfeet named Good Stab.

Oh, this is a good, good book. Jones has written about Native Americans a number of times, but never with the authority he does here. Beaucarne: “In all humbleness, I have only to record Good Stab’s tale, as I feel it is my duty as an American to attempt to capture these last exhalations of a people who won’t be seen again in this world.” And we see a way of life that is also dying.

Oh, and did I mention that this is a vampire story? It is, and one of the best I’ve ever read. As the Blackfeet die, one becomes immortal. This book is so rich in every way. Highly recommended.

The novel is a historical horror set in 1912 in the American West. It focuses on a Lutheran priest who meets a man, Good Stab, of the Blackfeet Nation and tells him about his life's long journey, which is transcribed into a long-forgotten diary until its discovery in the present day.

Good Stab tells of a good life before he has a run-in with the Catman. He begins to change, which sets his life on a different isolating path that unfolds his stark and tragic tale. Good Stabb finds himself trying to unravel what is happening to him when he realizes the horrifying truths of what he has become, how he must drink the blood of others or beasts to survive. The book is grounded in vampire elements but is a twist from the traditional, making it new and interesting.

The story examines the cultural trauma of the anti-hero Good Stab's enigmatic life as a Blackfeet vampire seeking retribution for the brutal massacres of his people. His quest for justice is deeply rooted in who he is desperate to hang onto, but the beast he is becoming makes him terrifying. The novel does address the historical atrocities committed against Indigenous people, so the vampire's hunt for justice transcends traditional horror by becoming the metaphor for historical retribution. The introspective tone of the characters and the heavy reflection makes the story feel deeply resonant.

The unrelenting darkness and heartache of the story can be overwhelming, but in a beautiful human experience way. It is as much a rumination on cultural remembrance and justice as it is a horrifying supernatural story. It will linger like a ghost, haunting, demanding reflection of our past and its' people.

Thank you, NetGalley and Saga Press/ Simon & Schuster

I did love that it represented native Americans. There are not enough books that do that. Sadly that’s the highlight.

Sigh. I’m a fan of Stephan Graham Jones but this just didn’t work for me. It’s another book where a character finds a diary and the book flashes back and tells that story.

For this book the reading of a diary that someone is writing about someone else’s story was a wild choice. It just wasn’t for me.

I had trouble caring to be honest about anyone in the book.

Wow - yes. So much yes. This book effortlessly combined horror with historical fiction in a way that worked so much better than others I have read. I'm long time horror fan but first time reader of Stephen Graham Jones and it's safe to say this won't be my last time reading his work.

Right away, this book piqued my interest by toggling between timelines and having each of the timelines read in the voice of their respective character - Etsy, Arthur, and Good Stab. The book started and ended with pages from a 2012/2013 journal (Etsy), but for the bulk of the book, the reader was transported to the pages of a journal written in 1912 by a Lutheran pastor (Arthur) describing his encounters with a mysterious stranger (Good Stab) in which Good Stab is describing events that took place throughout 1870. Of course, each individual is interconnected in some way, but the build up of slow realization and creeping dread had me unable to put the book down. In each timeline of events, SGJ did a great job of alternating between, and sometimes incorporating in each, the grim horrific reality of a situation - versus the stories we tell ourselves to survive. Most chillingly, sometimes the grim horrific reality was that some of these events were based on actual American history.

Also kudos to SGJ for doing a disturbing but great job of depicting scenes involving gore (that are also somehow artful?). Many of these scenes resulted in a very rich mental image where the reader can vividly picture the absolute mayhem taking place. I found myself saying out loud "Ohhh no. NO. wait no. WHY." several times (this is a compliment).

Animal deaths being the only exception to this - I always have to take a moment with those scenes to clear my head of it because they are sometimes too disturbing for my brain to process without getting too depressed. Luckily, animal deaths were spaced out enough that I survived without having to DNF.. also the story was just so good.

As a cat owner/servant, though, I enjoyed their relative safety throughout.

For fans of horror and historical fiction, I highly recommend this book.

Saga Press & NetGalley - Thank you so much for the advance copy of this book to read and review!!

#bhh #buffalohunterhunter #stephengrahamjones #netgalley

This is SGJ's most impressive work yet. Every element of this book is exquisite - the framing of the novel, the story within a story within a story was perfection; the stylistic writing appropriate to each narrative was breathtaking; and his ability to craft something that is equal parts terrifying, heartbreaking, and beautiful is on full display.

Jones creates something new and compelling within vampiric lore. Enter Good Stab, a member of the Blackfeet nation, as he recounts his story to a man of the cloth each night by candlelight. As pieces of Good Stab's story are revealed, the priest, Arthur Beaucarne, begins to realize his part in it all. The epistolary format features three narratives: that of Arthur Beaucarne's great-grandaughter, Arthur Beaucarne's journal entries, and the transcription of Good Stab's confession. This at first made for somewhat difficult reading due to the shifts in diction and style between each narrative. However, I noticed this less and less until I was so completely absorbed in the novel it didn't matter. And they all came together rather deliciously in the end.

The horror is brutal and gore-filled with some truly uncomfortable moments. Epic in scope and featuring the actual historical event of the Marias Massacre, Buffalo Hunter Hunter is tragic and heartfelt and a wonderful piece of writing.

Thank you to Saga Press, Stephen Graham Jones, and Netgallery for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Synopsis: This unique story follows the transcription of events of Good Stab by a Lutheran priest, Arthur Beaucarne. Good Stab begins relaying details of the events that took place which led to him Beaucarne's congregation. What seems to start as a redemption story eventually reveals itself to be a story of revenge. As a reader, you begin to wonder what would lead an Indigenous vampire to form a relationship with a white, Lutheran priest. All is eventually revealed in a masterful culmination.

What I liked: This book is so nuanced and smart! There were several quotes that so accurately depict Indigenous experience. And I appreciated SGJ's inclusion of the acknowledgments because it provided insight into his thought process throughout the book. For instance, the fact that he included Weasel Plume, a white buffalo, without writing about its' sacred meaning? Genius. Down to the smallest detail like Beaucarne's name and the medical officiant taking liberties to translate that last name in a birthing room. It harkens back the residential boarding school experience when Indigenous children were forced to take up English names. The parallel there, which I assume was intentional, was not lost on me. I particularly appreciated the slow, unfolding nature of the story and how more is revealed over time to answer all the questions you have as a reader.

Rating: Solid 4/5

Gripes: The antiquated language of Arthur Beaucarne was difficult to read at times. I had to stop more times than I would like to admit to look up the meaning of specific words. It took me a minute to catch my stride in this book, but it was generally worth it!

Overall: Stephen Graham Jones masterfully weaves historical fiction with propulsive horror in this new take on vampires. This is the revenge story I have been waiting for! I would definitely recommend this book to those with an interest in horror and Indigenous perspectives. Just make sure you have a strong stomach.

I am an SGJ fangirl. I've read many of his books and will try to read them all before I die. I'm prefacing this review with those statements because I want what I have to say next to hold some weight: THE BUFFALO HUNTER HUNTER is Stephen Graham Jones' best book to date and one of the best books I've ever read. I think it's the first book I've reviewed on NetGalley that I would dub the "M' word: masterpiece. THE BUFFALO HUNTER HUNTER is a masterpiece of genre and prose. I've never read another horror novel, let alone a vampire novel, like it. I majorly geeked out over some of the new vampire elements SGJ added to his Cat Men, like starting to take on the characteristics of the animals they drink blood from, and loved reading about how those immortal bodies got broken and put back together again. The part where Good Stab gets frozen in ice?! I was horrified and delighted in equal measure, which could just about sum up my feelings about the whole book altogether—it's a horrifying delight. See that em dash? It's for you, SGJ.

THE BUFFALO HUNTER HUNTER isn't like any other SGJ book I've read. The stream-of-consciousness style I've come to associate with his work isn't present except for the beginning and end sections with the modern character named Etsy. Yes, Etsy. The bulk of the book is told in an epistolary form via diary entries written with late 19th/early 20th-century lingo and panache. Half of these diary entries are from the perspective of the big baddie and the other half are the confessions of Good Stab as written down by the big baddie. Unreliable narrator much? The book switches perspectives between them, usually chapter by chapter. Both POVs are equally powerful, though, and the prose is just beautiful, man. I am a fast reader and can usually finish a book in a day or two, but I stretched my reading time of THE BUFFALO HUNTER HUNTER as much as I could to savor it to the last drop. There's no other book like it and I feel bereft now that it's over.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Saga Press for the ARC of this masterpiece in exchange for my honest review. My pipe is empty now.

For my money, this is Stephen Graham Jones' best book yet. It's historical fiction, yet thematically the most timely and pressing.

4.5 stars, but I’ll round up! This historical horror fiction is an unflinching, captivating revenge story of a Blackfoot vampire, set around the events of the Marias massacre of the Pikuni tribe and the overhunting of buffalo by white colonizers in the 1800s.

Once I started this book, I could not put it down! Despite the violence and dark themes, the characters have a self-deprecating humor that off-sets the horror of actual events, which makes them relatable and multi-layered. It also has a clear and satisfying ending, for which I am grateful.

My only complaint is Etsy’s stream of consciousness style of narration was at times distracting, especially since I wasn’t as invested in her as a character.

I appreciated learning Graham Jones is a member of the Blackfeet tribe, and it was clear the amount of research that went into making this novel as historically accurate as possible (minus the vampire, of course!).

Plus, I always like to read authors’ acknowledgements, and his were so poignantly specific and endearing that it made me feel greater affection for the book as a whole.

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book comes out March 18, 2025, and I highly recommend! #BHH #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley and S&S/Saga Press for the digital galley in exchange for my honest review.

An epistolary revenge horror story with a native supernatural twist...VAMPIRES? Sign. me. up. This book was phenomenal in a horrifying saddening way. I would not consider this a pleasant read by any stretch of the imagination. My enjoyment of the novel came from the sheer visceral nature of the story and SGJ's impeccable writing abilities. SGJ pulls you in and makes you look at the true horrors of the colonization of Native lands (both historically accurate & fantastically imagined via vampires). Good Stab's confession, so masterfully crafted, as told to (and through) Arthur was enthralling. The inner weaving of the Pikuni language within the story was such a wonderful addition. Despite Arthur's unfamiliarity with some at the story beginning, you as the reader learn along with Arthur. I will admit that I honestly understood exactly Good Stab's motivations and his actions...and quite frankly feel he was 1000% justified. I'd be a buffalo hunter hunter too.

I don't want to spoil any of the main points of the story because I truly feel this is something you just need to go into without much preparation (other than be prepared for gore, death). However, I will say the way SGJ subtly changed the speech pattern, word choice and expressions Arthur uses as Good Stab continues his confession was TOP TIER.

Stephen Graham Jones expertly weaves a story of Native identity, loss, and retribution into an artfully crafted atmospheric narrative.
I was heartbroken the entire time and I wouldn't have had it any other way.

Stephen Graham Jones is one of my very few auto-buy authors. I love that he tells his stories in a variety of ways. The Buffalo Hunter Hunter tells a unique vampire tale through confessional diaries. It's historical fiction, blended seamlessly with horror, and it's based on real events.

It wasn't perfect for me, though. The diary sections were challenging to read at times. I struggled reading the transcriptons and that bogged those sections down. But that also lends to the authenticity of the format.

Those squabbles aside, the whole package is pretty darn good! It was bloody and eye opening. I totally loved the last quarter of the book. The ending was well done and I could see how this is kinda/sorta a spiritual successor to The Only Good Indians. I also liked the nod to Backbone of the World. This might be my favorite cover of any SGJ book!

This one hits shelves on March 18, 2025. Thank you to Saga Press and NetGalley for providing an eArc. All opinions are my own.

📖 Book Review 📖 Stephen Graham Jones is kind of a big deal in our house so a sneak peak at his newest novel was a real treat! In this chilling tale, a hidden journal unleashes haunting undiscovered truths of the American west. Written with such precision and capturing the rugged and raw vastness of this time of westward expansion, Jones designs such an immersive reading experience that is downright uncomfortable at moments. This novel documents a story that reflects our nation’s often shameful history and builds at a perfectly enthralling pace. The Buffalo Hunter Hunter presents as so historically accurate, it is easy to forget what genre lays at the fingertips. This expertly crafted technique allows the horror to weave so seamlessly into the narrative, creating a flawless experience of true terror. Not for the faint of heart, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter is a truly beautiful, unique, and gripping masterpiece that is not to be missed.

**Thank you so much to S&S/Saga Press, SGJ, and NetGalley for this ARC of The Buffalo Hunter Hunter in return for my honest review. Pub Date: March 18th, 2025**

Set in the American west, 1912- this historical fiction horror follows the detailed life confessions of a Blackfeet named Good Stab. His confessions were orated to a Lutheran pastor, who then transcribed them in his personal diary. The diary is then found within a wall in present day.
.
This 448 page novel is EVERYTHING I look for in a vampire novel! Woven together expertly using Indigenous Mythology and the blood steeped history of the American west, SGJ has written a true vampire masterpiece. Although I don't like to compare novels- this story reminds me of Anne Rice's 'Interview with the Vampire'. BHH has all the hallmarks of what I expect from a vampire novel- living silently (and painfully) through multiple centuries, exacting revenge for a misdeed exacted upon the vampire in times past, and the best part-bloody scenes. I absolutely loved SGJ's refreshing new take on the way blood affects vampires- it was truly unique!
.
If you love vampire novels, I highly recommend picking this one up!