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DreadfulWater #5
Obsidian: A DreadfulWater Mystery
From the award-winning and #1 bestselling author of The Back of the Turtle; Green Grass, Running Water and The Inconvenient Indian
Thumps DreadfulWater’s world is turned upside down when Nina Maslow, the producer of a true-crime reality-TV show, turns up dead after working on a cold case that Thumps has spent years trying to forget. What’s more, someone seems set on taunting Thumps, leaving reminders of the Obsidian murder case around town. Is it possible that the elusive serial killer who murdered his girlfriend and her daughter all those years ago has resurfaced in Chinook? Or is this the work of a copycat looking to mess with Thumps by stirring up memories from his past?
Dragged back into a case that has haunted him for years, Thumps DreadfulWater is determined to solve the mystery of the Obsidian murders. But as he works the case, he begins to realize just how dangerous the person he is dealing with is—and that he might be the next target.
Thumps DreadfulWater, the sly, wry, reluctant investigator of Cold Skies and A Matter of Malice, returns in another irresistible mystery that only Thomas King could create.
380 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 28, 2020
14 people are currently reading
636 people want to read
About the author
Thomas King
103 books1,286 followersThomas King was born in 1943 in Sacramento, California and is of Greek and German descent. He obtained his PhD from the University of Utah in 1986. He is known for works in which he addresses the marginalization of American Indians, delineates "pan-Indian" concerns and histories, and attempts to abolish common stereotypes about Native Americans. He taught Native American Studies at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada, and at the University of Minnesota. He is currently a Professor of English at the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. King has become one of the foremost writers of fiction about Canada's Native people.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
May 18, 2020
This was fabulous. So help me Goddess, it was perfect. Thomas King, you did an excellent job of this one. You have taken the tried and true plot, consisting of the former cop who is haunted by a significant failure in his past and who won't rest until things are settled, and you've rewritten it starring a decent man who really doesn't want revenge or to be a policeman again.
My only disappointment is that this book feels really final. Will there be another one? King has tied up all the loose ends and Thumps DreadfulWater seems to be left in a pretty comfortable place. I'd be lying if I told you that I was happy about that. This is one of the few series that I have bought brand new. No scrounging around, trying to get them secondhand. King deserves my money for this excellent series.
In another book, Mr. King said that writing fiction is like buttering warm toast. Reading his fiction is every bit as rich and buttery. The humour, the sly commentary on our wacky society, the friendships that shape Thumps' life, even his erratic relationship with Claire, its all delightful.
If this is the end of the line (and I'm only guessing that it is), I will miss Thumps, of course, but how will we know how Sheriff Duke's cancer treatment goes? Will I ever know what happened to Freeway, the cat? Does Moses Blood continue to know everything that Thumps will do before he does it? Does Cooley Small Elk ever find a girlfriend? Does Al recover from her star-crossed love affair? I've become as fond of the townsfolk as I am of Thumps and it will be difficult not to get fresh news of what is happening in Chinook.
With any luck, I'm completely wrong and King has more mischief up his sleeve for Mr. DreadfulWater and the denizens of Chinook. Fingers crossed.
My only disappointment is that this book feels really final. Will there be another one? King has tied up all the loose ends and Thumps DreadfulWater seems to be left in a pretty comfortable place. I'd be lying if I told you that I was happy about that. This is one of the few series that I have bought brand new. No scrounging around, trying to get them secondhand. King deserves my money for this excellent series.
In another book, Mr. King said that writing fiction is like buttering warm toast. Reading his fiction is every bit as rich and buttery. The humour, the sly commentary on our wacky society, the friendships that shape Thumps' life, even his erratic relationship with Claire, its all delightful.
If this is the end of the line (and I'm only guessing that it is), I will miss Thumps, of course, but how will we know how Sheriff Duke's cancer treatment goes? Will I ever know what happened to Freeway, the cat? Does Moses Blood continue to know everything that Thumps will do before he does it? Does Cooley Small Elk ever find a girlfriend? Does Al recover from her star-crossed love affair? I've become as fond of the townsfolk as I am of Thumps and it will be difficult not to get fresh news of what is happening in Chinook.
With any luck, I'm completely wrong and King has more mischief up his sleeve for Mr. DreadfulWater and the denizens of Chinook. Fingers crossed.
August 24, 2020
The author, Thomas King, is a multi-talented American-Canadian writer. He identifies himself as being of part Cherokee descent. Two of his award-winning books are among my favourites. The Back of the Turtle won the Governor-General award for literature, and The Inconvenient Indian has won several awards for non-fiction. His books contain serious issues that he manages to infuse with a sly, sardonic sense of humour.
This is the 5th book in his mystery series and features an ex-police officer, Thumps Dreadfulwater. He is a Cherokee man who presently works as a photographer in the town of Chinook. I have only read one other book in the series, A Matter of Malice, and have learned that he reluctantly gets drawn back into the role of police investigator because of his past experience and great reputation as a detective. We know he is a troubled man and this book explains his lethargy and anguish. This can be read as a standalone, but I now have the desire to read the series from the beginning.
Thumps has been haunted by a past mass murder along the west coast. Ten people were brutally bludgeoned to death over the course of 3 days and their bodies left near the shoreline. A common factor was a piece of obsidian inserted in the mouths of the victims. The bodies included those of his girlfriend and her young daughter. The case was never solved.
Now, the killer seems to have followed Thumps to Chinook and is taunting him with souvenirs from the Obsidian case. To add to his torment a three-person movie crew has arrived in town with files that a murdered TV producer had compiled on the Obsidian case. They plan to make a movie that will include a lot of fiction in their crime script.
This is a complex mystery, told with dry wit and humour. The dialogue between Thumps and the towns' quirky characters is funny and a delight to read. There is the question of whether the murder of his girlfriend and her child was committed by a separate copycat killer, or if one clever and brilliant criminal was now in Chinook playing his evil games. With help from some eccentric characters, the killer may finally be identified and captured but doing so may put some lives in danger.
This is the 5th book in his mystery series and features an ex-police officer, Thumps Dreadfulwater. He is a Cherokee man who presently works as a photographer in the town of Chinook. I have only read one other book in the series, A Matter of Malice, and have learned that he reluctantly gets drawn back into the role of police investigator because of his past experience and great reputation as a detective. We know he is a troubled man and this book explains his lethargy and anguish. This can be read as a standalone, but I now have the desire to read the series from the beginning.
Thumps has been haunted by a past mass murder along the west coast. Ten people were brutally bludgeoned to death over the course of 3 days and their bodies left near the shoreline. A common factor was a piece of obsidian inserted in the mouths of the victims. The bodies included those of his girlfriend and her young daughter. The case was never solved.
Now, the killer seems to have followed Thumps to Chinook and is taunting him with souvenirs from the Obsidian case. To add to his torment a three-person movie crew has arrived in town with files that a murdered TV producer had compiled on the Obsidian case. They plan to make a movie that will include a lot of fiction in their crime script.
This is a complex mystery, told with dry wit and humour. The dialogue between Thumps and the towns' quirky characters is funny and a delight to read. There is the question of whether the murder of his girlfriend and her child was committed by a separate copycat killer, or if one clever and brilliant criminal was now in Chinook playing his evil games. With help from some eccentric characters, the killer may finally be identified and captured but doing so may put some lives in danger.
September 13, 2022
Sep 12, 115pm ~~ Review asap. Another 'couldn't put it down' book from Thomas King!
720pm ~~ The Obsidian Murders.
Killings from the past that have haunted Thumps DreadfulWater since his days as a policeman. The reason he left the force. The reason he left California.
But ghosts hardly ever leave a person in peace.
In this book Thumps has decided that he must confront his ghosts. He spent a month back in California but does he return to Chinook with answers to the torments of the past? With a solution to the crimes? Or with more questions? Dangerous questions?
There is a lot going on in Chinook these days. A fancy car show, a baby being born, couples changing partners, old businesses closing and new ones opening. And a movie production company has arrived to do advance prep work on a movie. A movie based on The Obsidian Murders.
Pretty busy place! And sometimes a creepy place too. Especially when pieces of obsidian begin showing up in mysterious circumstances.
Gotta tell you, after a sort of tippy toe start to this series, Thomas King has hit his stride for sure in this book. I usually only read my print books at night, using the daytime to read at Project Gutenberg. But this book, just like #3 and #4, was hardly ever out of my hands.
And now I have just one left, Deep House: A DreadfulWater Mystery, the sixth in the series and as far as I know at this time, the final one.
What in the world will I do with myself when I get to the end of that book?! lol
720pm ~~ The Obsidian Murders.
Killings from the past that have haunted Thumps DreadfulWater since his days as a policeman. The reason he left the force. The reason he left California.
But ghosts hardly ever leave a person in peace.
In this book Thumps has decided that he must confront his ghosts. He spent a month back in California but does he return to Chinook with answers to the torments of the past? With a solution to the crimes? Or with more questions? Dangerous questions?
There is a lot going on in Chinook these days. A fancy car show, a baby being born, couples changing partners, old businesses closing and new ones opening. And a movie production company has arrived to do advance prep work on a movie. A movie based on The Obsidian Murders.
Pretty busy place! And sometimes a creepy place too. Especially when pieces of obsidian begin showing up in mysterious circumstances.
Gotta tell you, after a sort of tippy toe start to this series, Thomas King has hit his stride for sure in this book. I usually only read my print books at night, using the daytime to read at Project Gutenberg. But this book, just like #3 and #4, was hardly ever out of my hands.
And now I have just one left, Deep House: A DreadfulWater Mystery, the sixth in the series and as far as I know at this time, the final one.
What in the world will I do with myself when I get to the end of that book?! lol
May 17, 2022
This fifth installment of the DreadfulWater mysteries is the best so far. It combines a good amount of the fun banter of the unique town folk with a good story, and a conclusion to the Obsidian murders that have haunted Thumps through the previous four books. King’s humor is apparent throughout with observations such as:
“Why do lawyers look like psychopaths?”
“Because they don’t want to look like politicians.”
All the characters are here in this one, especially my favorites, Moses Blood and his grandson, Cooley Small Elk.
This is an easy to read, page turner with a nice finish. Thomas King has become one of my favorite writers. Thank you, Sir.
“Why do lawyers look like psychopaths?”
“Because they don’t want to look like politicians.”
All the characters are here in this one, especially my favorites, Moses Blood and his grandson, Cooley Small Elk.
This is an easy to read, page turner with a nice finish. Thomas King has become one of my favorite writers. Thank you, Sir.
December 25, 2022
A wonderful conclusion to a "Matter of Malice" as Thumps and the detectives solved the various murders that took place in California and Chinook.
I like the character of Thumps as he is a no-nonsense detective playing (mostly) by his own rules while dealing is on again-off again romance with Clair; that now seems to be on-again.
As always, Al adds a nice detraction with her wry humour while serving breakfast, Ora Mae, Leon, Cooley, restaurant patrons Wutty Youngbeaver, Jimmy Munroe and Russell Plunkett add their own unique characteristics to the story-lines they have been in. Plus, police chief Duke is a perfect foil for Thumps.
I like the character of Thumps as he is a no-nonsense detective playing (mostly) by his own rules while dealing is on again-off again romance with Clair; that now seems to be on-again.
As always, Al adds a nice detraction with her wry humour while serving breakfast, Ora Mae, Leon, Cooley, restaurant patrons Wutty Youngbeaver, Jimmy Munroe and Russell Plunkett add their own unique characteristics to the story-lines they have been in. Plus, police chief Duke is a perfect foil for Thumps.
April 2, 2021
I love Thomas King. I don’t know how much effort it takes for him to write his novels, but it’s no effort at all to read them. The characters are wonderful; beautifully drawn, and funny at times. The whole book is filled with warmth and friendship. The plot is okay, resolved in a way that I didn’t find particularly satisfying, but that’s almost beside the point.
This book 5 in this series, but the first one I’ve read... now to go back to book one
This book 5 in this series, but the first one I’ve read... now to go back to book one
January 19, 2021
Thomas King is one busy fellow; he's got two books out in 2020 and I plan to read both but this one arrived first-- soon I'll be spending a night with Indians on Vacation.
I have been a fan of King's for a long time starting with the novel Green Grass, Running Water and the Dead Dog Cafe radio hour on CBC in the 1990s to his more recent offerings such as the DreadfulWaters series. No matter what he turns his hand to, it always bears the mark of his unique sense of humour and keen observations.
The DreadfulWaters series is a rare gem-- where you laugh as much as you cogitate on the killer. I typically read mysteries as a palate cleanser between other kinds of novels and rarely write reviews about those books-- but King's style is peerless. Looking forward to what he comes up with next.
I have been a fan of King's for a long time starting with the novel Green Grass, Running Water and the Dead Dog Cafe radio hour on CBC in the 1990s to his more recent offerings such as the DreadfulWaters series. No matter what he turns his hand to, it always bears the mark of his unique sense of humour and keen observations.
The DreadfulWaters series is a rare gem-- where you laugh as much as you cogitate on the killer. I typically read mysteries as a palate cleanser between other kinds of novels and rarely write reviews about those books-- but King's style is peerless. Looking forward to what he comes up with next.
January 11, 2024
Best book of the series, worth the hype that started from book 1. Still I have the same complaints from earlier books in this series such as continuity and superficial character profiles, but the plot in this novel was strong enough that it didn't feel as formulaic. Thomas King's cut and dry writing style works great for the mood of this series; however, there were moments in this book that deserved more description and flair in order to exploit the dramatic tension. I didn't notice it as much earlier in the series, but the action scenes in this series are like listening to your dad tell a story. You'll get the gist of what happened, but you're left with confusion and more questions than answers.
The series ends here, no need to keep adding books to a story that naturally concluded in this book.
The series ends here, no need to keep adding books to a story that naturally concluded in this book.
December 15, 2021
A satisfying conclusion to the series. Or is it over? I think for me, even if King continues on, I am happy to end my relationships with these characters here before they wear out their welcome.
Started slow but picked up in the second half. (Slight spoiler) I was really hoping to find out what happened with the cat, which makes me wonder if there is indeed a 6th book on the way. Overall this series has been fun to read, especially when I needed a break from challenging or overly serious books, but still wanted to feel like I was reading something with a bit of substance. 3.5 rounding up.
Started slow but picked up in the second half. (Slight spoiler) I was really hoping to find out what happened with the cat, which makes me wonder if there is indeed a 6th book on the way. Overall this series has been fun to read, especially when I needed a break from challenging or overly serious books, but still wanted to feel like I was reading something with a bit of substance. 3.5 rounding up.
August 23, 2020
I have no idea why someone chose - or the publishers chose to name this book here differently than it is named on the cover, and that all the other editions are named.
First of all, not sure what to think of the author. Here he is said to be Greek/Cherokee, and on my library site he's given as Hungarian/Cree. Maybe that's his idea of what's funny, but to me it just raises suspicion that perhaps we have another pretend Indian here. There have been a few of them throughout history - and I think they all wrote books.
Anyway, there was some sly humour in the book, some funny names, but I didn't think the story itself was worth much. And it did drag a lot. The kind of book that when it's time to pick it up again for reading time, you give a big sigh.
Anyway - I got it because it was showing as the Library's Big Read, but I think I'll pass on any more of his books.
First of all, not sure what to think of the author. Here he is said to be Greek/Cherokee, and on my library site he's given as Hungarian/Cree. Maybe that's his idea of what's funny, but to me it just raises suspicion that perhaps we have another pretend Indian here. There have been a few of them throughout history - and I think they all wrote books.
Anyway, there was some sly humour in the book, some funny names, but I didn't think the story itself was worth much. And it did drag a lot. The kind of book that when it's time to pick it up again for reading time, you give a big sigh.
Anyway - I got it because it was showing as the Library's Big Read, but I think I'll pass on any more of his books.
August 15, 2021
Tom King has become one of my favorite authors, especially with his Thumps Dreadfulwater mystery series.
This is in some ways a culmination of the novels. Two broad themes have marked the path of the series about an Indian police detective who leaves California and ends up in a small Canadian town. One is how he is haunted by the US murder of his girlfriend and her daughter that he is trying to forget. The other is the complicated relationship with Claire, his new love in Canada.
In this book both themes intertwine as it seems the California killer has followed him to Canada and is now targeting Claire as well. It’s an excellent mystery plot and as usual it’s combined with the fascinating characters and wry humor that mark all of King’s books.
A great read!
This is in some ways a culmination of the novels. Two broad themes have marked the path of the series about an Indian police detective who leaves California and ends up in a small Canadian town. One is how he is haunted by the US murder of his girlfriend and her daughter that he is trying to forget. The other is the complicated relationship with Claire, his new love in Canada.
In this book both themes intertwine as it seems the California killer has followed him to Canada and is now targeting Claire as well. It’s an excellent mystery plot and as usual it’s combined with the fascinating characters and wry humor that mark all of King’s books.
A great read!
July 28, 2020
I love this series. Very tongue in cheek.
March 1, 2020
Not much of a mystery, but that's almost beside the point. Rather it's an ensemble of rich Thomas King characters who move the story along via their personal conversations with each other and most specifically with Thumps Dreadfulwater who is trying to solve a cold case that he was personally involved in through a number of previous books in this series. The joy in the book is the banter and wit and the snarky look at contemporary society. King, as always, has a lot of fun with names and and a particular favorite in this outing is "Leon Ranger" a retired black cop and sidekick to Thumps. Leon is considering the adoption of a white eye mask! While the plot is highly improbable, there are many moments where King causes the reader to actually laugh out loud with a comment or description. As a person who has lived in Southern Alberta, his description of truck culture as a "tribe of pick-ups" was bang on. The Dead Dog Cafe is sadly long gone from CBC Radio, but this book is pure Dead Dog!
September 12, 2020
I really enjoy the dreadfulWater mysteries, and this one included!
July 18, 2021
Great afternoon of reading. Serious murder mystery but written with a light tone. As expected, there is enough closure in it that the series could be put to bed if King chooses to, which is fine. A new town with new characters would be alright. These are great, very entertaining, but they would get predictable and tired eventually. I like the wit and dialogue, the history woven in. Light fast reading but not drivel.
January 31, 2023
Paused another book to read this and was not disappointed. Easy and engaging read!
June 7, 2024
Another enjoyable instalment. The characters make me smile. Glad this big part of Thumps past was addressed.
October 28, 2025
The joy of reading another DreadfulWater novel is the dialogue, which is non-stop entertaining and very funny. His relentless and bossy friends continue to be the driving force in his investigations and the reason to read these enjoyable mysteries. -BH.
July 19, 2024
Another solid page turner. It's not structured like a typical murder mystery
October 22, 2021
Thomas King deserves the Nobel Prize for literature. Whether he is writing fiction or non fiction he is brilliant. Insightful, wise, funny. In this book Thumps Dreadful Water is at his curious, thoughtful, empathetic best. A book you can not put down. A narrative that bobs and weaves but holds your attention. A cast of memorable characters. First Nations with agency and attitude. Non indigenous too, each in their own unique way.
April 4, 2020
I picked this up not realizing it was part if a series on a semi reluctant detective Thumps Dreadful Water chasing down a serial killer from his past. Took a few chapters to get in to it. Need to go back and read the earlier books in the series. Was a hard start but picked up quite a bit. I'd rank it 3.5
March 1, 2022
I don’t like taking risks, but when I do, they are usually book-related. I threw caution to the wind last week and started reading a mystery series five books in. Obsidian by Thomas King is the latest in his DreadfulWater Mystery Series which I’ve had recommended to me for years, but finally got the chance to read. HarperCollins kindly offered to send me all the books so I could start from the beginning, but that felt like a huge commitment I wasn’t ready to make, so I started here instead. Perhaps reading the entire series would have endeared me towards the protagonist and lead detective Thumps DreadfulWater a little better, but I did find the plot engaging, easy-to-follow, and entertaining nonetheless. Similar to another Canadian mystery series I just discovered, the cast of characters that surround our detective is one of the strongest elements of the story, and reason alone for picking up this novel.
Plot Summary
Thumps has just returned to the small town of Chinook after a trip down to the California coast to revisit a cold case from years ago. He’s retired, now focusing on photography, but gets roped into investigations from time to time, as these detective-types tend to do. We learn that awhile ago, his girlfriend and her daughter were murdered on a beach, which is the cold case he can’t (understandably) forget about. There were small pieces of obsidian rock found in their mouths, and the same rock has been left at some crime scenes back in Chinook just recently. With the help of some friends and the local Sheriff’s office, Thumps is trying to determine who this killer is; a copy-cat, or the same person back after all these years? But when dead bodies start to show up in Chinook with the rock in their mouths again, cracking this case takes on a new urgency and Thumps is forced to revisit some painful memories from his past in an effort to solve these newest murders.
My Thoughts
Because the book begins with a return to Chinook, we have the pleasure of being re-introduced to aspects of Thumps’ life, which I really enjoyed. Being retired, Thumps has a few places he likes to visit, including Al’s diner, which serves up a delicious breakfast at a counter with regulars. What I was surprised and delighted by was the diverse set of characters we meet in Thumps life; Al is a woman, to start. Thumps himself is an Indigenous man, and surrounded by quite a few Indigenous characters, both on and off reserve. We meet a few gay women and black people, as well as a small, opinionated Greek man who runs a bookstore. Keep in mind this is all in a small-town, and yet the word ‘diversity’ is never raised – it simply is. Race is acknowledged and then ignored, aside from a few jokes. Aside from the bad guys, Thumps’ attitude seems to be ‘live and let live’, and although everyone likes to be up in everyone’s business (as small towns tend to do), people are respectful of each other and their right to live as they like. At one point Thumps brings his black friend to a doughnut shop, famously run by a very racist man, but the two men bond over their time served in war, so things seem to move along smoothly after that. I haven’t decided if the utopia of this town and their ability to co-exist happily together is one that isn’t realistic, or one I just haven’t come across in person because I don’t live in small towns, but it was a pleasure to read about nonetheless.
Despite the town’s small-town mannerisms, there is a darker tone to this book, and that’s the crimes themselves. A few of the murders are quite violent, and although King doesn’t delve into gory specifics for too long, these are murders of innocent people. Like in most police procedurals (which this most closely resembles), the hope is that the criminal will be discovered as soon as possible because the various versions of death being presented to the reader are quite gruesome and it’s clear the murder is an incredibly dangerous person. Even worse in this case, the victims remain largely unconnected to the mystery at hand and seem entirely innocent of any wrongdoing themselves, which makes the culprit and his/her motives even more terrifying.
Thumps is a difficult man to like; he’s grumpy and I became mildly annoyed with his insistence on eating a big breakfast every morning while he was ignoring/putting off other people in his life, especially women. Still, he didn’t put me off this series, and although I tend to prefer a cozier mystery, I’ll be looking forward to filling in my gaps in the DreadfulWater mysteries.
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Plot Summary
Thumps has just returned to the small town of Chinook after a trip down to the California coast to revisit a cold case from years ago. He’s retired, now focusing on photography, but gets roped into investigations from time to time, as these detective-types tend to do. We learn that awhile ago, his girlfriend and her daughter were murdered on a beach, which is the cold case he can’t (understandably) forget about. There were small pieces of obsidian rock found in their mouths, and the same rock has been left at some crime scenes back in Chinook just recently. With the help of some friends and the local Sheriff’s office, Thumps is trying to determine who this killer is; a copy-cat, or the same person back after all these years? But when dead bodies start to show up in Chinook with the rock in their mouths again, cracking this case takes on a new urgency and Thumps is forced to revisit some painful memories from his past in an effort to solve these newest murders.
My Thoughts
Because the book begins with a return to Chinook, we have the pleasure of being re-introduced to aspects of Thumps’ life, which I really enjoyed. Being retired, Thumps has a few places he likes to visit, including Al’s diner, which serves up a delicious breakfast at a counter with regulars. What I was surprised and delighted by was the diverse set of characters we meet in Thumps life; Al is a woman, to start. Thumps himself is an Indigenous man, and surrounded by quite a few Indigenous characters, both on and off reserve. We meet a few gay women and black people, as well as a small, opinionated Greek man who runs a bookstore. Keep in mind this is all in a small-town, and yet the word ‘diversity’ is never raised – it simply is. Race is acknowledged and then ignored, aside from a few jokes. Aside from the bad guys, Thumps’ attitude seems to be ‘live and let live’, and although everyone likes to be up in everyone’s business (as small towns tend to do), people are respectful of each other and their right to live as they like. At one point Thumps brings his black friend to a doughnut shop, famously run by a very racist man, but the two men bond over their time served in war, so things seem to move along smoothly after that. I haven’t decided if the utopia of this town and their ability to co-exist happily together is one that isn’t realistic, or one I just haven’t come across in person because I don’t live in small towns, but it was a pleasure to read about nonetheless.
Despite the town’s small-town mannerisms, there is a darker tone to this book, and that’s the crimes themselves. A few of the murders are quite violent, and although King doesn’t delve into gory specifics for too long, these are murders of innocent people. Like in most police procedurals (which this most closely resembles), the hope is that the criminal will be discovered as soon as possible because the various versions of death being presented to the reader are quite gruesome and it’s clear the murder is an incredibly dangerous person. Even worse in this case, the victims remain largely unconnected to the mystery at hand and seem entirely innocent of any wrongdoing themselves, which makes the culprit and his/her motives even more terrifying.
Thumps is a difficult man to like; he’s grumpy and I became mildly annoyed with his insistence on eating a big breakfast every morning while he was ignoring/putting off other people in his life, especially women. Still, he didn’t put me off this series, and although I tend to prefer a cozier mystery, I’ll be looking forward to filling in my gaps in the DreadfulWater mysteries.
To read the rest of my reviews, please visit my blog:
https://ivereadthis.com/
Sign up for my newsletter here: https://ivereadthis.com/subscribe/
Or follow me on social media!
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May 25, 2021
In “Obsidian” the fifth book in the Dreadful Water series” Thumps after pouring over file of the dead true-crime reality tv show producer Nina Maslow and still haunted by the murder of girlfriend Anna Tripp and her daughter Callie during the Obsidian murders has returned to Chinook from his trip to northern California certain that the serial killer has resurfaced in town. Intrigued that Nina’s prime suspect was ex-con named Raymond Oakes who was released after an appeal at the same time the murders started, Thumps begins an investigation with ties to Obsidian pieces left after a break in at the morgue and the murder of two movie company employees.
As the case heats up Thump’s personal life gets even more complicated with Sheriff Hockney’s urging for the reluctant photographer to act as sheriff while he’s on leave for cancer treatments; a movie company in town; and Claire Merchant’s return from her trip to begin adoption proceedings.
Well-developed, moderately paced but loaded with twists and turns that keep you riveted to every page, Thumps Dreadful Water begins his investigation into a mystery that’s haunted him for years. Yet amid the tension is lots of humor like the town's women’s list of questions about his trip or a $10 bet when or if he would return. Yet all too quickly the plot progresses smoothly to a surprising confrontation and ending.
Among the cast breathing life into this compelling plot are familiar characters like the unsociable but astute Cherokee ex-Sheriff Thumps Dreadful Water; respected and wise Moses Blood; and the abrupt, opinionated but likable Russian master mechanic Stas Fulkin as well as new ones like outgoing retired cop Leon Ranger and determined car saleswoman Anderson Cole.
I thoroughly enjoyed “ Obsidian” and hope this is not the last we’ll see of the Thumps Dreadful Water Mysteries.
As the case heats up Thump’s personal life gets even more complicated with Sheriff Hockney’s urging for the reluctant photographer to act as sheriff while he’s on leave for cancer treatments; a movie company in town; and Claire Merchant’s return from her trip to begin adoption proceedings.
Well-developed, moderately paced but loaded with twists and turns that keep you riveted to every page, Thumps Dreadful Water begins his investigation into a mystery that’s haunted him for years. Yet amid the tension is lots of humor like the town's women’s list of questions about his trip or a $10 bet when or if he would return. Yet all too quickly the plot progresses smoothly to a surprising confrontation and ending.
Among the cast breathing life into this compelling plot are familiar characters like the unsociable but astute Cherokee ex-Sheriff Thumps Dreadful Water; respected and wise Moses Blood; and the abrupt, opinionated but likable Russian master mechanic Stas Fulkin as well as new ones like outgoing retired cop Leon Ranger and determined car saleswoman Anderson Cole.
I thoroughly enjoyed “ Obsidian” and hope this is not the last we’ll see of the Thumps Dreadful Water Mysteries.
May 11, 2022
Obsidian takes Thumps back six years to a tragic time when he was a deputy sheriff and his girlfriend, Anna, and her daughter, Callie, were killed by a serial killer on the Northern California Coast. It doesn’t get much worse than that. They never caught the guy, who killed eight other people during his killing spree. Perhaps that’s why Thumps has given up law enforcement to become a photographer.
Thumps returns to Chinook, only to discover that a Ms. Maslowe, the producer of a true-crime reality TV show who’s investigating “The Obsidian Murders,” had come to town to talk to him but was subsequently murdered. Moreover, Maslowe was found with a piece of obsidian in her mouth—the trademark of the original serial killer. Is he now in Chinook or is this a copycat killer? Either way, the news leaves Thumps feeling both troubled and curious.
The story is largely plot-driven and heavy in dialogue—humorous dialogue—which is no surprise since King is also a screenwriter. I’m surprised the Thumps DreadfulWater Mysteries haven’t been purchased for screen yet. With their Canadian/Indigenous humour, they’d make a splash—think Schitt’s Creek merged with Blackstone.
Maslowe has left Thumps a name—Raymond Oaks—who, it turns out, was Anna’s husband before he was sent to prison for life (robbery-homicide) and released on a technicality just around the time of the killings. Thumps is enlisted by Sheriff Duke Hockney to help investigate the murder and joined by his slick deputy-friend, Leon Ranger.
Read my entire review in The Ottawa Review of Books
Thumps returns to Chinook, only to discover that a Ms. Maslowe, the producer of a true-crime reality TV show who’s investigating “The Obsidian Murders,” had come to town to talk to him but was subsequently murdered. Moreover, Maslowe was found with a piece of obsidian in her mouth—the trademark of the original serial killer. Is he now in Chinook or is this a copycat killer? Either way, the news leaves Thumps feeling both troubled and curious.
The story is largely plot-driven and heavy in dialogue—humorous dialogue—which is no surprise since King is also a screenwriter. I’m surprised the Thumps DreadfulWater Mysteries haven’t been purchased for screen yet. With their Canadian/Indigenous humour, they’d make a splash—think Schitt’s Creek merged with Blackstone.
Maslowe has left Thumps a name—Raymond Oaks—who, it turns out, was Anna’s husband before he was sent to prison for life (robbery-homicide) and released on a technicality just around the time of the killings. Thumps is enlisted by Sheriff Duke Hockney to help investigate the murder and joined by his slick deputy-friend, Leon Ranger.
Read my entire review in The Ottawa Review of Books
February 2, 2021
I enjoy reading the DreadfulWater Mystery series. I like the characters in the town of Chinook and in particular I like Thumps Dreadfulwater our hero.
Thumps returns from California and no further ahead in his relationship with Clare or in solving the long ago murder of his girlfriend and her daughter. This is why he was in California. Poor Thumps once again finds the sheriff trying to convince Thumps he wants to be the acting sheriff even though all Thumps wants to do is be a photographer. However things have changed somewhat in the town of Chinook. The sheriff has finally learned to make a decent cup of coffee. Some of the characters in the town of Chinook have been developed more. Have Clare and Thumps finally come to an understanding?
I hope there are more stories in the DreadfulWater mystery series.
Thumps returns from California and no further ahead in his relationship with Clare or in solving the long ago murder of his girlfriend and her daughter. This is why he was in California. Poor Thumps once again finds the sheriff trying to convince Thumps he wants to be the acting sheriff even though all Thumps wants to do is be a photographer. However things have changed somewhat in the town of Chinook. The sheriff has finally learned to make a decent cup of coffee. Some of the characters in the town of Chinook have been developed more. Have Clare and Thumps finally come to an understanding?
I hope there are more stories in the DreadfulWater mystery series.
March 7, 2022
Thumps DreadfulWater is a retired lawman living in the Western US and he and many of his friends are native Americans with lots of history and culture to make them all fun and unique characters. A woman is found dead while she is investigating the cold case murders of Thumps former girlfriend and her young daughter for a true crime TV show. Then clues associated with the killing start turning up in Chinook and Thumps, his pal Leon who's a retired cop, and Sheriff Duke work informally together to identify the illusive and crafty serial killer.
It's a good story with lots of humor and snappy dialogue. Thumps is a gentle and patient mystery solver and I really like his methods which seem at times too relaxed and simple but turn out to be seriously effective.
It's a good story with lots of humor and snappy dialogue. Thumps is a gentle and patient mystery solver and I really like his methods which seem at times too relaxed and simple but turn out to be seriously effective.
July 6, 2022
Continue to enjoy this series. He looks into the case of a serial killer that he was working on when his girlfriend and her daughter were killed several years ago that caused him to quit his police job in California and just head out. Car needed repairs and that's why he stayed in Chinook. A police friend from California (Leon) is introduced in this book who comes to Chinook to work on the case with Thumps. A couple of new people are introduced in conjunction with a vintage car auction taking place in Chinook, and 3 people who are in Chinook working on a movie about the Obsidian murders. This is a twisty murder mystery, and the ending is quite good with Cooley, Moses and Claire involved when Thumps meets with killer.
January 21, 2024
I've been a big fan of Tom King since the dead dog cafe days. He's a national treasure as a humourist. As a mystery writer he's taken a while to warm up to the genre. His protagonist has the unlikely name of Thumps Dreadfulwater which initially I thought was off-putting. In the two previous novels the characters were a little cartoonish and the plots a bit thin but in this one he's got it all together. Great well rounded characters at last and we get the plot that's been hinted at in earlier works. Great fun and I've gotten used to the name in the same way I got used to the ridiculous name of my favorite group The Tragically Hip. Providing the answer to Shakespeare's question.... what's in a name? We can see beyond the dreadful and who cares if you are hip?
March 8, 2021
3 1/2 stars. I happened to start with the fifth book in King’s series featuring Thumps DreadfulWater. It definitely makes me want to read the preceding books. The feel of this book is somewhere between Joseph Boyden and Louise Penney. Small town with a cast of fun, quirky characters and witty dialogue. There’s a mystery to be solved but no one seems to be in a major hurry to get around to it. They’re too busy hanging out at the local diner, and checking out the antique car show that’s in town. Surely it’s just a matter of time before someone turns this into a TV series.
P.S. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that King has taught at my alma mater, the University of Guelph.
P.S. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that King has taught at my alma mater, the University of Guelph.
August 7, 2020
I have enjoyed every Thomas King book I've read. I loved his "Dead Dog Cafe" radio show he had on CBC years ago. I just love his writing, so this one is another one that I savoured.
His main character, Thumps Dreadfulwater, is the reluctantly conscripted deputy in this story, as he pursues a cold case that seems to have resurfaced. King develops his characters so that they are quirky and enjoyable and he takes sly jabs at society in his observations.
Such an easy, comforting, delicious read. Just read it.
His main character, Thumps Dreadfulwater, is the reluctantly conscripted deputy in this story, as he pursues a cold case that seems to have resurfaced. King develops his characters so that they are quirky and enjoyable and he takes sly jabs at society in his observations.
Such an easy, comforting, delicious read. Just read it.
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