Review | The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

Ten years ago, four Native American men killed a young elk on a hunt. It’s something they have always done, but this time it’s different. Because a vengeful entity has awakened and now they are the ones being hunted down.

Ricky rolled over, his face to the wash of stars spread against all the blackness, and considered that he maybe should have just stayed home, gone to Cheeto’s funeral, he maybe shouldn’t have stolen his family’s guns. He maybe should have never even left the rez at all.

The Only Good Indians is the kind of bone-shaking, gut-wrenching horror book that stays with you long after you’re done. It is dark and devastating, but also full of humour, warmth and heart. The writing is masterful and layered. The narrative moves from character to character and you get to know each of them in detail. Ricky, Lewis, Gabe, and Cass are struggling in different ways to adjust to life ten years after a hunting incident. It’s a guilt that they carry and try to bury, unsuccessfully. They are faced with supernatural consequences for what they have done, and it is both terrifying and heartbreaking. Some of the visceral images in this book are seared into my mind.

The book explores the way identity is intertwined with traditions, and how it feels to lose that connection. You can see the characters’ inner conflict as they try to reconcile who they are with who other people expect them to be. The book shows how racism, both casual and intentional, adds to the horror in their lives. I was invested in the characters and their loved ones. I wanted them all to survive.

The author portrays the cultural nuances of Native American traditions – particularly of the Blackfeet Tribe – without simplifying them for the reading masses. It makes the story feel deeply personal and authentic in a way not often seen in the horror genre. An overarching theme in the book deals with intergenerational trauma, and violence against land and living creatures. In the aftermath of the elk hunting incident and through the characters’ relationships with others, we see how trauma and violence can last for generations. The ending is surprisingly hopeful. It speaks as to why the violent cycle must end, and why the healing must begin.

The Only Good Indians is an unflinching, haunting story of regret and redemption. Highly recommended.

CW: animal deaths

I received a copy from Titan Books and Netgalley for review purposes.

About the author: Stephen Graham Jones

Photo by Philipp Pilz