Don'T Think Twice

by Wayne Johnson

Deep in the north woods of Minnesota, Paul Two Persons is struggling to keep his resort lodge afloat. He has lent money to his childhood friend, Al, and needs it back fast before the bank forecloses on his business. When Al turns up missing -- and then dead of an apparent suicide -- Paul is propelled into a labyrinth of intrigue that leads to some ugly discoveries. There is corruption within his own Tribal Council, developers' plans for the land that Paul has fought so hard to keep, and the "accidental death" of his eight-year-old son that now seems something more sinister.

Haunted by these demons, growing increasingly distant from his grieving wife, and facing the very real threat of losing his livelihood, Paul feels he has become what the Chippewa call a tchibai -- a walking shadow. Attempts are made on his life, the lodge is nearly burned to the ground, and people on the reservation behave oddly in his presence.

The escalating circumstances of one summer -- and Paul's determination to survive them -- reveal the indomitable spirit that is his Chippewa heritage. Set in the breathtaking landscape of northwestern Minnesota, Don't Think Twice is a haunting and memorable story about a man's struggle when pushed to the edge.

Genres: Mystery

304 pages, Paperback

First published June 7, 1999

Reviews

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in what should be a place of restful, natural idyl - a resort lodge in the woods of Northern Minnesota - this book instead had my heart beating like a clenched fist. The darkness of the land's history, the danger of the present, with so much unsaid, implied, and threatened, all of it culminated into a suffocating claustrophobia that never let up.

It would be a mistake to label this is a "thriller" or even a mystery, even though there is a compelling mystery that runs through this book and keeps you invested in the story. This is a beautiful work of literary fiction that may frustrate readers who are looking for clean explanations, or direct, one-way plot lines one comes to expect from certain genres. Heck, there's hardly a clear conversation in this whole thing. People here are continuously stifled because of fear, pain, or misunderstanding.

Don't Think Twice is beautiful in the way a still lake is beautiful when you drop a stone into it, the undulating ripples flowing out in concentric circles. It is elegant in its haunting, understated posture.

The story is told from the point of view of Paul Two Persons, a Chippewa man who has left the reservation and married a woman of Irish descent. Through this character, Wayne Johnson evokes the Native American culture in all its complexity, the damaged present as well as the ancient traditions. The novel is infused with this culture which informs the distinct way the story unfolds, resisting conformity. A remarkable book.

[Lindsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Johnson does a great job of setting the scene and beautifully describes the setting for this book, but the plot was amorphous. Even after reading the entire book, I understand basically what happened but still have a lot of questions. I can't decide if he vaguely sketched the plot on purpose or by accident, but the result was that even the most shocking twists were kind of boring.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me awhile to "get" Paul Two Person. He has a lot going on. Having never actually visited this neck of the woods, I got to experience it. I especially enjoyed the swimming done by Gwen, without a wetsuit!

[Jonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great mystery with a Native American main character and lots of twists and turns. Great read!

[Doris Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

not the first book of a set but can be read without the first.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing is beautiful, the characters compelling, and the various twists and turns as the mystery unfolded kept me guessing.

[Karen Brown]

tedious to finish; about an Indian who owns a summer camp