wordssearched 's review for:

Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden

4.0

challenging dark mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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This thriller caught my eye because it takes place in South Dakota and Denver—two places that I know well—and because it was endorsed by a number of Native authors I enjoy.  Set within the Native community in the Rosebud Reservation, the story reflects both the brutal legacy of white colonialism in America and the perseverance of people and cultural traditions that live on despite that legacy. The story of a reservation "enforcer" who finds himself and his nephew embroiled in a deadly drug ring is well paced and full of carefully drawn characters.  The violence is not for the faint of heart, but also paints a real picture of the many ways federal policy and law enforcement continually victimize Native Americans. In the end, it's not hard to figure out whodunit, but the journey the author takes us on feels worth the effort regardless.