A review by kim_hoag
Indian Killer by Sherman Alexie

4.0

Alexie has been, and remains, one of my favorite authors, the fact that he is Native American is incidental (He was the author of the wonderful movie, Smoke Signals). His prose is always casual but substantive, showing me a different way of viewing things gently and often with humor. This is a very different book from the others of his I have read. It is a murder thriller presented from inside the maelstrom. Taking place in the racially charged environment of Seattle, the readers will find themselves with the enmity of both whites and Indians, and the Native Americans barely surviving on the streets. As always, Alexie doesn't proselytize, he reveals, he follows the action and seminal conversations wherever they are taking place. I think this is one of the better books for allowing the uninformed reader to realize both the blatant and subtle prejudice the Native American must endure in this society. The characters and scenes have remained strongly with me long after finishing the book. If you don't want to approach the storyline on that level, it is still a great thriller with fully realized participants and an unknown killer that may have you guessing even past the end.