The Only Good Indians has been getting some rave reviews, and for good reason; it’s extremely well-written and candid, its themes darkly jarring and intense. Unfortunately though, while the book has all these great points and more, as a horror novel, I confess it failed my expectations. The story was a bit confusing. It was slow. And although Stephen Graham Jones does a fantastic job putting his characters in eerie and disturbing situations, I had a hard time actually feeling frightened or even unsettled.

At the heart of this novel are four young Blackfeet men: Lewis, Cass, Gabe, and Ricky. A decade ago, they ventured off their hunting territory, killing a herd of elk on restricted land. As a result, the group faced some serious repercussions from their community, but little did they know, their punishment was far from over. Many years later, they will be made to answer for their reckless violence and disregard for life by a mysterious, vengeful force.

In the present, the book catches up with the four friends and reveals their fates. All of them have moved away from the Reservation and are experiencing strange and disturbing things, and in fact, one of them meets his end in the prologue. One of the our more prominent protagonists, Lewis, also starts spiraling out of control as he suspects he is being haunted by a malevolent entity, after seeing a terrifying vision of a dead elk so much like the one he killed all those years ago. His paranoia taking hold, Lewis starts to become unraveled amidst the pain, terror, and chaos caused to loved ones and friends by his spiteful demon.

This is my first time reading Stephen Graham Jones and I am in love with his splendiferous writing. He clearly has a way with words, and ironically, I think the smoothness of his prose inadvertently diminishes the edginess and grit of the gruesome, dark scenes he tries to write. In other words, as a literary piece, this book soars, but as a horror novel, I found it somewhat lacking. That’s because reading about the terrifying is one thing, but actually feeling terrified by them is another. While the author certainly knows how to set up nightmare-inducing sequences by employing disturbing imagery and some of the grossest, most blood-soaked provocative descriptions you can imagine, at the end of the day, they are still mere words. As well-written as some of these characters were, as realistically as their terror was conveyed, I simply did not feel any of it in my heart or mind.

Then there was the story. I’ll be the first to admit I sometimes fare poorly when it comes to unconventional plot structures, so many other readers will probably have no problems. The Only Good Indians follows a unique and artful storytelling style, unfolding in a way that emphasizes its distinct sections, giving the overall narrative a disjointed, stop-start juddering feel. In between these sections, we also have a lot of meandering exposition which slows down pacing, disrupting any interest building in the supernatural horror aspect.

That said though, while these exploratory, soul-searching passages might not have done the book’s momentum any favors, they added plenty to the characters and the central themes of the novel, highlighting the struggles of cultural identity and generational anxiety. As detached as I felt from the story’s horror elements, it was the weight of the characters’ malaise and disquietude that really got to me. Threaded through this tale are important reflections on family, community and heritage, the expectations and responsibilities they demand on the characters as seen through a Native American lens.

Ultimately, The Only Good Indians was a book that worked for me on some levels but not on others. Had I not gone in expecting a horror novel, I might have enjoyed it more, but well, that’s what the book is billed as and the risk with expectations, eh? Still, I’m glad I read this; I’ve discovered a new author to watch, and with his strong talent for character development and wordsmithing, Stephen Graham Jones is definitely worth reading again.

Great book and plot twist. I’m not usually a horror fan, but this one had be in it until the very end.

No tension. Not much of a plot. No character development. No horror. Did not like this novel, very disappointed.

I'm a big, big horror fan and I was really interested in the premise of this book. The Only Good Indians starts off strong with a good, dramatic, shocking hook, but kind of lost me somewhere in the middle. It's more of a straight-forward revenge slasher than I was anticipating, so maybe my expectations were off.

I just couldn't get INTO it for one reason or another. The characters felt a little flat, which was probably part of it. They didn't have very distinguished personalities. I was also put off by the dog-death(s). If animal violence bothers you, skip this one.

Once the pace picked back up in the last third, it was easier to read. And I did like the ending! It goes out with a bang. I recommend this to genre fans, but if you don't like horror, there's not else much for you in this one.

Stephen Graham Jones is doing what he does best in this book. He fills you up with a sense of dread and wonder as you turn pages in his new book The Only Good Indians. As you dive into the main character's life you start to wonder how many different ways the past can come back to haunt a person and what it can take to overcome such things.
SGJ wrote what could easily be called one of the best horror novels of the year.

Finally got around to reading this—it’s a good one! Ten years after an ill-chosen, fairly fruitless hunting trip, four friends are hunted down one-by-one by something quiet, cruel, and willing to wait for a proper revenge. <i>The Only Good Indians</i> is a gripping narrative with graphic, visceral detail, set in the far northern reaches of Montana. I hesitate to add much more, since I think being pulled in without too many preconceptions is the best way to read this one.

Fantastic new horror. Readers will really appreciate the depth of emotion, the insight to Native culture and the pacing of this book. A great read that our library has added to our collection.

The Only Good Indians was one of my most anticipated reads for the summer and it did not disappoint. The story follows four friends who we learn had a unique experience while hunting elk in their past. Throughout the story we learn what really happened that day and what is actually following these friends while learning about life for these four young men. This is definitely more literary horror than simply straight-up horror and I loved how seamlessly Stephen Graham Jones integrated the experiences and lives of the four American Indian characters in with the more traditional horror elements. The characters were well developed and as the story shifted between the men, I was able to fully understand the characters and see into lives and circumstances that depict the culture of these men. This book is different from other horror books in its literary take and social commentary and a truly unique villain/monster. Jones' writing is almost conversational so it is quick to hook readers and draw them in to the story. My favorite parts of the book were the writing style and the character development. I also enjoyed the horror aspects but there was a lot of graphically described violence that at some points in the book made it hard to read. I would recommend this book to any horror fan or those who want to read a more literary take on horror from an own voices author. I will definitely pick up more books by this author because this is a book that has stayed in my thoughts long after finishing.

Okay so it took me FOREVER to get into this book. I was so excited to receive it, and then I was so confused and bored until about 1/4 of the way through when it started piecing together and I really loved it. I also listened to the audiobook which differed from the NetGalley one just slightly.

I really love books with multiple perspectives, and this book definitely delivered the multiple perspectives! I also enjoyed the suspense of wondering what was real and what wasn’t. Which leads me to lean towards it being suspense versus a horror novel. It was a great read with a very different take than I’ve ever read before and I will definitely be looking into future books from the author. I have it 4/5 stars since it did take me a bit to get into, and once I finished I had to swing back to the front and reread the prologue a second time!

Four native American men stumble across a cluster of elk whilst hunting, what happens next angers something primal yet powerful. Ten years pass and a supernatural entity wants vengeance for their transgression and decides to turn the tables on these men.
The writing in The Only Good Indians is stunning, we're provided a view of into the lives of modern Native Americans and their struggles with cultural identity. This is a great book, although the pacing was a bit slow at times it was still engrossing, heartfelt and unforgettable.

It took me a while to get rolling with this book, but once I did, I was hooked! It felt like old school horror mixed with a fresh perspective. Highly recommend for fans of classic Stephen King.

Fabulously creepy horror revenge story! I kept putting this off for a sunny day, because I knew it would be creepy! As it happens, I finished it late one night. In it a group of four friends try to outrun a transgression from their youth and the traditions of their culture only to have it catch up to them one by one. It’s heart-breaking, disturbing, and an insightful look at cultural identity. It’s the best blend of traditional chilling horror and contemporary social commentary.

I love the horror genre, but this book just didn’t do it for me.

The storyline is good, but it just didn’t come together for me. It took me a while to get through this book. I had trouble connecting with the characters, and then when I finally started connecting with one, he was killed. I think with some rewriting this could be a great story. The end was pretty good.

This was an amazing book and really does qualify as a masterpiece. Jones' story follows what happens to a group of four Native American friends several years after a hunting trip went awry. The first section here, focusing on Lewis, is a tour-de-force, showing a man gradually breaking down and descending into madness. It reminded me of some of the best work of Ramsey Campbell, who seems to specialize in this sort of thing. The later parts of the book are equally strong, showing each character and how his life has gone along since that fateful day. Some are more successful than others. Some have embraced their heritage, while others seem to be running away from it as fast as possible. But the doom that is coming will seemingly affect them all, good or bad. Really great, three-dimensional characters, with great descriptions of the desolate wild country of the Blackfeet reservation in Montana. This is a gripping book that is an excellent horror novel as well as a meaningful exploration of identity. Strongly recommended, even if you don't normally gravitate toward the horror genre.

I read SGJ's Mapping the Interior late last year and was very impressed.  So impressed in fact, that I went through and added just about everything he'd ever written to my TBR.  So of course I was very excited to read this.

The premise is this: ten years ago, four friends embarked on an illegal hunting trip.  They knew what they did was wrong.  They did it anyway.  Now, something evil is hunting them back.

The story started out very strong.  I heard the term literary horror for the first time last year in reference to another book, and that phrase kept popping up over and over again in my head while I was reading this.  There was symbolism, biting social commentary, the imagery and tone were perfect.

There were times in reading this I was genuinely unsure if I wanted to continue- not because the book was bad, but because it was just that dark.  I cherished every single word I read in that first fifty percent.  I cared about the characters, I cared about Lewis's marriage.  I cared about their friendships and their pets.  If this had been a novella, and had ended after Lewis's part, I think it would have been damn near perfect.

However, after Lewis's part, we shift POVs.  And while I enjoyed those parts too, I think the problem was that I was already so attached to Lewis I wasn't ready to leave him.  I do wonder if I would have enjoyed this a little more if those parts had been switched around.  I don't think either Gabe or Cass came across as sympathetic as Lewis did, so it was difficult to become reinvested in their story lines after finishing Lewis's.

There's a lot of basketball in this story - so the parts of this that talked about basketball I sometimes drifted off.  I'm less than five feet tall and have always been more inclined towards mental gymnastics then physcial ones, so it's just not my thing, though I think it was used very well here.  Basketball seemed to make up a decent chunk of the second half, so the pace felt inevitably slower, hence the 4 stars instead of 5.

This is very much a supernatural story with a very supernatural ending, so if that's not your thing this may not be for you.  The horror aspect is brutal and visceral - so consider yourself warned.  It won't be for everyone.

But if you think you can cope with it- I highly recommend trying this out.  I was even more impressed with this than the last SGJ book I read, and I'm eager to read his other works.

The Only Good Indians released on July 14, 2020 and can be found on GoodReads or Amazon.  Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.

Thanks to Netgalley and Gallery Books for an ARC of The Only Good Indians! This book was different than my usual reads, and I enjoyed stepping out into the horror genre.

The book focuses on a group of friends who make a dire mistake while on an elk hunt that affects their lives for years to come. The setup of the event was a bit meandering, and I had to re-read parts to really understand what had happened. It took awhile for me to get into the author's writing style, but once I did, I began to enjoy the story. The horror scenes came out of nowhere at first, and I was a bit blindsighted, but also intrigued. The book weaves in a bit of cultural identity and how the main characters grew up understanding their American Indian heritage. I quite liked this aspect, but the rest of the book was just okay and I wanted more character development. Since the book was set up as short stories, it was hard to get to know each character. I thought that Lewis' character was the most developed, but I still didn't understand the intricacies of why he acted in a certain way.

The Only Good Indians was a decent book with many enjoyable parts, but unfortunately it wasn't a favorite.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first started this book and it truly blew me away. It is a horror book in every sense of the word, I often had to put the book down at times. It is chilling, eerie, and so well written. Would definitely recommend for anyone in the market for a scary story.

This is a fantastic book that avoids easy categorization. The story is incredible--fast paced and well told--at the same time as it evokes ancient tales and deep horror and sorry. A nearly perfect tale.

The last decade or so has seen an explosion of indigenous voices in the realm of speculative fiction. Native American and First Nations authors have always used elements of their respective cultures in their work, but the last 10 years has seen a real growth of distinct and diverse voices in the realms of fantasy, sci-fi, horror and the like.

One of the most prolific – and most talented – indigenous genre authors working right now is Stephen Graham Jones. In many ways, Graham, with his two dozen books over the past couple of decades, has led the way – he’s definitely a huge part of the vanguard.

His latest novel is “The Only Good Indians,” a tense and thrilling work of horror fiction. It’s a tale of the consequences – both mundane and supernatural – that spring from the decisions that are made. A decade ago, four friends embarked on a fateful hunting trip – one whose aftermath cast a ten-years long shadow over their lives … and the price ultimately paid.

Ten years ago, a quartet of Blackfeet – lifelong friends – took to the woods to go elk hunting. The four of them were young and vibrant, just kids really, and decided to take their hunt into forbidden territory, venturing into the area reserved for hunting by tribal elders only. In the course of that trip, they stumbled upon a massive herd – and they opened fire. However, they were caught in the act by the local authorities. They were forced to abandon their kill and had their tribal hunting privileges revoked.

Subsequently, they drifted apart – some more literally than others. The events of that night faded into the past, becoming part of the local lore, a story shared back and forth by others on the reservation. Even the ones directly involved – Ricky, Gabe, Cass and Lewis – let the fateful day fade into memory as they moved forward with their lives.

But something didn’t forget.

Now, the four men find themselves confronted by the unforeseen consequences of their long-ago actions. There is something out there, something relentless and deeply powerful. Something that desires nothing more than to make these men pay for their offenses. Something seeking a particularly vicious variety of vengeance.

“The Only Good Indians” is an incredible book, a work that blends the trappings of classic horror fiction with sharp and concise social commentary. It’s a rare novel that can be both genuinely thought-provoking and darkly unsettling, all in service to an engaging and compulsively readable narrative. This book is just such a rarity.

When reviewing a work like this, one must be extremely careful. It’s important to give a sense of the storyline – that’s always a big selling point with genre fiction – but there’s so much value in the subtext and surprises that Jones has constructed. Spoilers should always be avoided, but this book warrants special care – there’s a LOT you shouldn’t know going in.

Jones also does a tremendous job opening a window of insight onto the indigenous mentality. The personalities and attitudes with which he endows his characters are truly evocative. He presents these men and women as they are, flaws and all. He weaves together threads of pride and pain to create a sense of not just what these people do, but who they are.

And these people populate a world that … is. As in, the small details and moments that Jones has brought together to construct a setting that feels utterly genuine, even in service to elements that are beyond the ken. The lives that these people lead and the places in which those lives are lived, all of it grounded in a reality that feels truthful without the least bit of contrivance.

Lest we forget, however, “The Only Good Indians” is a horror novel. And let me tell you, it more than lives up to the expectations of the genre. There are moments that are genuinely chilling, the kind of scary that makes you put the book down and take a deep breath. The kind of scary that forces you to remind yourself that this world isn’t your world. It gets gruesome at times, but never gratuitously; the whole book radiates with a raw intensity that embeds itself into your experience.

(No spoilers, but there’s a part of this book – centered around a one-on-one basketball game, of all things – that might be the most heartstoppingly hold-your-breath intense stretch of writing that I’ve read this year, regardless of genre. You’ll know it when you get there; just strap in and hold on.)

“The Only Good Indians” is the best kind of genre fiction – the kind that treats its genre with genuine respect. This isn’t just a great horror novel. It’s a great novel, period. We’re lucky that writers like Stephen Graham Jones choose to turn their tremendous talents toward the speculative. And when those writers also have important things to say and reasons to say them, well … that’s when you get something unforgettable.

the only good indians is genuinely one of the scariest books I’ve ever read. it’s an ownvoices book for Blackfeet Native American rep about a group of friends haunted after a hunting trip. it is one of the best examples I’ve seen of using nature as the basis for horror. if you liked annihilation by jeff vandermeer, I think you’ll really connect with this book. to me, it was confusing in a good way, because the disorientation added to the fear and dread. I also thought that the characters were extremely well written and were very easy to connect to (which made it even worse when they did horrible things). Just in general, the writing was fantastic. I would recommend this book to anyone (that can handle violence), especially horror fans.
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as a white, non Indigenous american, I didn’t truly understand every aspect of this book and want to point everyone over to @anishinaabekwereads and other Indigenous reviewers. I also am very disappointed that I had no trouble getting this ARC while an actual Native reviewer, @chaptermalliumpkin , had a hard time. thank you to @netgalley and saga press but publishing really needs to do better. the only good indians came out july 14th.