I was so excited for this book, but I got distracted by life and lost track of the expiration date for this book. I am not able to download it again. I am looking forward to reading it and I will add a review as soon as I am able.

Mitch and Mack, young men trying to do the right thing, lead the Passage Rouge Nation in Wisconsin. But now they are up for re-election, and two weeks away from voting day it doesn’t look good. As they struggle to reach out to everyone, we learn not only who they are but also the people who might vote for them and those who definitely will not.

A very interesting story, Big Chief spotlights what it’s like to live on a small reservation whose casino is its income source. The nation has certain rights that allow it to govern without state or federal oversight. And just as state and federal governments sometimes have trouble coordinating with each other, adding the nation to the mix can get even more troublesome. With reservation politics just as painful as U.S. politics, it is a very hard place for idealism to have much sway.

Mitch is a great narrator. Through him and his musings we get a first-hand view of what is going on, and if it’s a bit murky, that’s probably because Mitch has his own problems and is trying to find his way.

The timeline is its own force in this story, and the election day climax is as dramatic as one could wish and leads to a satisfying conclusion.

Big Chief chronicles the life of a man who grapples with his identity and the political climate on the reservation. The novel questions loyalty, introducing a variety of characters whose motives share the same theme. The plot fell through for me because it felt convoluted as far as the sequence of events. However, I did enjoy the flashbacks of the past that gave you context on the characters. In terms of the characters, I did not feel a connection with them which is a reason that I did not rate it 4 stars. Overall, a good, slow burn.

“Big Chief” feels like a fever dream, and even after sitting with it for a few days, I’m not entirely sure how I feel about it. The story is intense-read against the backdrop of the fraught and chaotic US presidential election, it became imbued with an immediacy that it may have lacked during another time. The story itself is an old one-people who feel ignored and unwelcome in their community rising up against the current power base with momentum that will not be denied. The challenged reacting with violence-we do know that part of the story. The last half of this book thrums with the anger of the people from the Indian Nation who seek change, and the confusion and reactionary tendencies of the people in charge. This narrative wave is where the author really shines.
However, what doesn’t work for me about this book is the lack of character development. I could follow the “big picture” part of the story, yet I found myself confused many times about things various characters said or did. What drove them? What was the motivation? Sure, most people who have some sort of power are loath to give it up if the option to hang onto it presents itself. But how did they wind up in power in the first place? Why were Maureen and Mitch’s mom friends? How did Joe-a white man-wind up on the reservation? There were a lot of unanswered questions for me, and that detracted from my overall enjoyment.
This was a solid read. The structure was good and the writing was lyrical without getting bogged down with too many descriptors. If we could just get the characters more fleshed out, this would have been great. I’m curious to see what the next book from Jon Hickey will look like.

Too dark and gritty for me, but the lyrical style of the author was great. I'd happily check out other works by Hickey in a different genre.

I found this book profoundly frustrating - and perhaps that was the point. I thought the protagonist's continued "woe is me" outlook somewhat tedious. That said, there was enough of a storyline that kept me reading the book until the end. The author threw some excellent plot twists and without those twists, I probably wouldn't have bothered to finish the book.

I thought this book was interesting. I always like reading about cultures that are different from my own. I thought the POV was clever. The limited first person worked well with the plot. I found the main character difficult at times and that ultimately made the book trickier for me to get into, but I ended up enjoying the story and resolution. I would recommend this book - there is mystery and action and a little bit of everything. Now that I've read it once to get into the culture and setting, I look forward to reading it again to pick up on the details. I'm, by nature, a bit of an impatient reader.

First, thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I knew by the end of the first paragraph that I was in for a literary treat, and also that I would need to slow down my usual fast reading pace to really take in Hickey's verdant prose. He makes every word do its job. I loved it! Jon Hickey has already been added to my list of authors to read again.

In addition to the gorgeous prose, he tells an intriguing, although sometimes confusing, story. This one reflected our current world all too well at times-- political intrigue and dubious compromises made by good people for what they perceived at the time to be a good end... well, that's all too real and apparent now, isn't it?

Hickey's characters are well-developed and real to the point that I felt frustrated with them at times for not behaving as I'd hoped they might, but that's true to life, and in the end, while it may not be what we hoped for, there is hope for Mich's future. It was hard to connect to Mitch, who narrates the story, but I came to understand him and appreciate his position. It was interesting to get a peek into life on a reservation and all the complicated relationships with Tribal government, national, state and local authorities as well.

I will look for another book by this author. I have to say his wonderful prose probably made the next book I read a little less impressive. Hard to measure up to the standard he set!

Oh the tragedy. This isn’t the book I wanted to read. First thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC. The description was intriguing and I have read several historical Native American novels recently and very much enjoyed them. I gave the book a 3 and that was generous. He is recognized as a Native American so he writes with knowledge of the horrendous treatment that Native Americans received and continue to receive from the American government. Here the current president of the Passage Rouge Nation is running against his estranged sister to retain his office. Plenty of fraud and criminal activities from the people behind the candidates.

The book starts slow. So slow that a third of the way in I read the reviews on Goodreads, the author’s acknowledgment and the author’s background. Then I read the end. No surprise there. It’s full of no surprises. Sure, Mitch is looking for somewhere to belong, but it’s so forced. Mitch is in untenable situations from start to finish. Exactly how does he find fulfillment?

I did not finish the book. It was dreary, slow and full of literary stereotypes.

This book had so much potential with its themes of Native American politics, tribal pride, reuniting and defining family. There's love and conflict of loyalties and betrayal. It should've been great. But it was presented in a very meandering style with lots of flashbacks and side stories that detracted from an interesting main plot. I wish I liked it more.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It was timely for sure and well written with interesting plt and characters. I think I enjoyed more than i thought looking back!

After I finished the first chapter, I put it down to go to bed thinking "this could be the book of the year, it's funny, insightful, hits the right notes." And then I read on.

That initial voice was lost. It's a really windy story which gets quite bogged down. I got a ARC from Netgalley. It doesn't come out till next spring, it would be nice if there was time in that for another edit. At it's root it's a really good story with a lot of soul but it gets so bogged down and the pacing is all off. If I had to read another description of the Big Chief... There needed one more edit to say focus less on the politics and main characters and more on the interactions with the tribe and others. The interactions with people outside the inner circle were so much more interesting. The Inner Circle was just all anger and alpha-male posturing. The thin threads he presents for friendship with them are weak.

I wanted to like the narrator but he didn't really show his real cards much. I still have no clue why he became a politico past a quick comment, what he felt about the tribe and his relation to it, and so many other things. When I was in my 20s, I was a politco and I get you think it's the right thing to do but get disillusioned but he ignored all those things.

They say for ARCs you don't comment on typos, but in two chapters in a row, someone walks in, sits down, says something, and then walks in again. There were other continuity errors like this throughout. The whole thing just needed another edit before going to ARCs. And the names! Sometimes the family is called the Becks, sometimes the Plums. If the Plums is a nickname, it was never explained. After awhile I shrugged and figured I missed something. There was much I missed- why was Mack so angry? Why was he raised by the Becks? Why was he what he was- I guess he needed more story to make him more than a big angry bull.

Hickey regains his voice at the end, the last chapter is almost magical. I just wish he hadn't lost his way in between.

Life is complicated, especially, when you are trying to find the place to call home, and then mix in politics, corruption, grief and family, it becomes very complicated. Jon Hickey's Big Chief, spans the days leading up to a tribal presidential election, while also providing the back story between the characters.

Mitch Caddo, a budding political fixer, is trying to get his candidate and long time friend Mack re-elected as tribal president. He is also dealing with the opposition candidate, tribal elders, corruption, former relationships, and most importantly the grief over his biological mother's death and the death of his mentor/father figure. It's a boiling pot on the verge of boiling over.

While it was a little confusing to figure out who everyone was and their relationship to each other, the characters, were very well written and developed. It was a very captivating story, and I highly recommend it.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with this ARC and opportunity to read and review.

Big Chief is a story that centers around Mitch, the right-hand-man/“fixer” of the Tribal President of Passage Rouge Nation, Mack. Mitch and Mack were childhood friends and Mitch has stood behind Mack’s shady practices for years. This story takes place in the week leading up to the next election, which is not in Mack’s favor. This book isn’t what I thought- I expected more of a political page-turner, but it’s really a literary character study of Mitch. While I enjoyed this book, the story arc felt lacking to me- I often didn’t have a sense of where the story was progressing. I think this book would have benefited from covering a longer time period, rather than just a week, so there could be more character development and more plot points. Overall though, I did enjoy this book and I’m glad I read it!

I really liked this book. The description of “The Night Watchmen” meets “There, There” grabbed my attention. I did confused about the character families the Plums and the Becks. It wasn’t until much later I realized the adoption and connection. Could probably use some better clarification if editing is still occurring. Anyways, I really liked the complexity of Mitch and his relationship with Joe and his mom. I would definitely recommend this and think it could do well.

Politics, power, corruption, complicated family ties, loyalty, and grief. A meaningful conversation about rez life and a search for purpose. I loved it.

Big Chief (Coming April 2025)
By Jon Hickey
Simon and Schuster, 320 pages.
★★★★

Big Chief is about Native Americans, though the title refers to a fortress-like Ford Super-Duty F-350 truck designed to impress and intimidate. Jon Hickey's novel takes place on the Passage Rouge reservation in Wisconsin, which sports a contentious community of Anishinaabeg (Chippewa) people. It's Thanksgiving time and an election for tribal chief looms.

Many non-native peoples valorize all things Native American. Hickey–like writers such as Sherman Alexie, Louise Erdrich, Tommy Orange, Leslie Marmon Silko, and Morgan Talty–reminds us that homegrown discontents run rampant in indigenous communities. Mack Beck, who drives Big Chief, is the incumbent Passage Rouge chief but faces stiff opposition from Gloria Hawkins. His advisor, 30-year-old Mitch Caddo is the book’s centerpiece. Mitch is native and the youngest operations director in tribal history, yet an outsider. His mother grew up in Old Village, the original Passage Rouge Settlement, but his white father’s shortcomings led mother and son to flee to Milwaukee. Upon her death Mitch was raised by grandparents before Joe and Maureen Beck, who are white, brought him back to Passage Rouge and provided him opportunities.

The Becks live on a nicer property than most of their Native neighbors, and raised Mack–and later, Mitch–alongside their biological daughter Layla. Joe knows tribal history and rituals better than most Anishinaabeg, passes on his knowledge, and has done numerous good things for the reservation. For Mitch that’s a mixed blessing. He loves Joe and Maureen, but his mixed blood status, polished manners, Ivy League education, years off the reservation, and law degree make him an outlier.

In many ways, Mitchell, Gloria, and Joe are living embodiments of central dilemmas in the novel. Who is a native? If it's solely a matter of blood, how much? Being “red” is up for grabs in Passage Rouge, a place filled with HUD houses, rivalries, an increasingly militarized tribal police force, and a casino that attracts outsiders when it's not being used as makeshift community center. Mack fancies himself a reformer, but has fallen into some negative old-school ways. Mitch can’t get Mack to realize that Gloria is a serious candidate and that he can’t count on winning by handing out allotment checks, cigarettes, and selective favors or getting heavy-handed when needed. Mitch holds progressive views, but these often clash with running Mack’s campaign. How hard can he push Mack if he wants to remain a political player?

You might wonder why anyone would want to be a player at Passage Rouge. Its politics are like a casino game rigged so that no one wins. You name it and there's a faction for it on the reservation: modernizers, an old boys network, do-gooders, grafters, those who wish to revive old tribal customs, city Indians, reservation Indians…. Not to mention romantic rivalries, some of which revolve around the independent and opinionated Layla. She has moved on from her marriage to Chief of Police Bobby Lone Eagle, who remains territorial and acts like Little Big Man. The reservation is so riven that many speak openly of weaponizing tactics of un-enrolling those who don’t measure up to their particular definition of “Indian” and of exiling non-natives.

About the only thing resembling consensus is that few on the reservation trust the government–though many tout their military service and rely upon those allotment checks–and don't want the Department of Justice poking into tribal matters. In such a volatile moment of stress, all that's needed is for someone to light a fuse. Protests, kidnapping, a fatal accident, threats, and a shooting raise different questions about what is meant by Indian blood.

Hickey's novel is multilayered. It grapples with very serious identity issues, yet is also shot through with humor. It is about justice in a place in which injustices of all sorts swirl about. It's a romance, but not a conventional one, a murder mystery, and a heroic tale filled with flawed and questionable candidates for said status.

One might say that Hickey overdoes rushing from crisis-to-crisis scenarios, but he keeps the pace moving, and presents modern Anishinaabeg life stripped of stereotypes. This is Hickey's first novel and if Big Chief is any indication, the first of many fine books to come.

Rob Weir

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged and it only took a few days to read. I think this is going to be a good book club option for several clubs. I plan recommending to my book friends and I look forward to reading more by this author.

This book is propulsive yet internal. Language is lovely. An interesting look into a tribal election.

Mitch Caddo straddles the world of Native American reservation life and that of the white man's world. After law school, he returned to the Nation and began assisting his childhood friend with building political power and becoming the Tribal Chief. As the behind -the -scenes guy, "The Fixer" Mitch isn't sure where he actually belongs and where is loyalty should lie.

Hickey draws an engrossing story of politics and community with the powerful forces of home, belonging, ethnicity woven in.
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