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Gabriel Du Pre #12
Stewball
Gabriel Du Pré's Aunt Pauline has a list of husbands and ex-husbands and future husbands even she herself has trouble remembering. So Du Pré isn't exactly surprised when she shows up in Toussaint complaining that her current man, a lovable roughneck named Badger, has run off. His longer-than-usual absence has Pauline worried, and Du Pré promises to look into exactly what sort of trouble he has gotten himself into.
No one quite imagines, least of all Pauline, that the first thing Du Pré will find in his investigation is Badger's body, lying in a remote part of the Montana wilderness with a bullet-hole in the base of his skull. Du Pré has a hunch his old friend and foil Harvey Wallace will be interested in the case-after all, Gabriel Du Pré's Montana is teeming with just the sorts of people that tend to interest Wallace's employers, the FBI, and the odds that Badger got mixed up with them seem inordinately high.
The trail leads straight into the teeming underworld of illegal, remote brush races involving a ragtag bunch of traveling horsemen, with many thousands of dollars wagered upon each race. Forced to go undercover to determine how Badger met his end, Du Pré finds his own horse and jockey to bet on in another complicated, fascinating outing for Montana's favorite Métis son.
Peter Bowen's tough, rough-edged, likable hero rides again in Stewball, an intricate installment in a classic series by one of the genre's quirkiest and most beloved practitioners.
No one quite imagines, least of all Pauline, that the first thing Du Pré will find in his investigation is Badger's body, lying in a remote part of the Montana wilderness with a bullet-hole in the base of his skull. Du Pré has a hunch his old friend and foil Harvey Wallace will be interested in the case-after all, Gabriel Du Pré's Montana is teeming with just the sorts of people that tend to interest Wallace's employers, the FBI, and the odds that Badger got mixed up with them seem inordinately high.
The trail leads straight into the teeming underworld of illegal, remote brush races involving a ragtag bunch of traveling horsemen, with many thousands of dollars wagered upon each race. Forced to go undercover to determine how Badger met his end, Du Pré finds his own horse and jockey to bet on in another complicated, fascinating outing for Montana's favorite Métis son.
Peter Bowen's tough, rough-edged, likable hero rides again in Stewball, an intricate installment in a classic series by one of the genre's quirkiest and most beloved practitioners.
210 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2005
69 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Peter Bowen
60 books75 followersPeter Bowen (b. 1945) is an author best known for mystery novels set in the modern American West. When he was ten, Bowen’s family moved to Bozeman, Montana, where a paper route introduced him to the grizzled old cowboys who frequented a bar called The Oaks. Listening to their stories, some of which stretched back to the 1870s, Bowen found inspiration for his later fiction.
Following time at the University of Michigan and the University of Montana, Bowen published his first novel, Yellowstone Kelly, in 1987. After two more novels featuring the real-life Western hero, Bowen published Coyote Wind (1994), which introduced Gabriel Du Pré, a mixed-race lawman living in fictional Toussaint, Montana. Bowen has written thirteen novels in the series, in which Du Pré gets tangled up in everything from cold-blooded murder to the hunt for rare fossils. Bowen continues to live and write in Livingston, Montana.
Following time at the University of Michigan and the University of Montana, Bowen published his first novel, Yellowstone Kelly, in 1987. After two more novels featuring the real-life Western hero, Bowen published Coyote Wind (1994), which introduced Gabriel Du Pré, a mixed-race lawman living in fictional Toussaint, Montana. Bowen has written thirteen novels in the series, in which Du Pré gets tangled up in everything from cold-blooded murder to the hunt for rare fossils. Bowen continues to live and write in Livingston, Montana.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 1, 2025
l thought the previous book was a bit lackluster but this one has it all.
Du Pré has an interesting family and friends surrounding him in Toussaint, MT. He's pulled into a case by his aunt asking him to look for her missing husband.
Soon he's involved in illegal horse racing, with his 14 year old granddaughter riding the horse. Lots of money being passed around and there's something wrong behind it.
As always, the characters have me cracking up laughing several times throughout the book.
Du Pré has an interesting family and friends surrounding him in Toussaint, MT. He's pulled into a case by his aunt asking him to look for her missing husband.
Soon he's involved in illegal horse racing, with his 14 year old granddaughter riding the horse. Lots of money being passed around and there's something wrong behind it.
As always, the characters have me cracking up laughing several times throughout the book.
August 23, 2013
RATING: 4.5
PROTAGONIST: Gabriel du Pre
SETTING: Montana
SERIES: #12 of 12
How can one describe Gabriel Du Pre? He's a member of the Metis Indian tribe living in Toussaint, Minnesota. He's been involved for many years in a relationship with a local woman, Madalaine. He has 2 daughters, one of whom has 12 children. He's a family man and a cowboy and a fiddler and a detective when he needs to be. But most of all, he's a man who loves his friends and family wonderfully and well. He places himself in the background until he's needed, and then he's the one who makes everything all better.
Du Pre's Aunt Pauline, an aging beauty whose had a stable full of husbands, comes down to Toussaint to ask Gabriel to look for her current husband, Badger, who has gone missing. It doesn't take long for Du Pre to find him, unfortunately with a bullet in his head. He contacts his friend at the FBI, Harvey Wallace, and ultimately uncovers an illegal horse racing operation. With the help of a local ranch hand, Booger Tom, and his 14-year-old granddaughter, Lourdes, Gabriel and Tom set up a scam. They acquire a few horses and assume the role of rancher and hand so that they can participate in the races. One of the horses, who Lourdes names "Stewball" after an old children's song, is a standout. And as strange as it sounds, he became one of my favorite characters in the book.
As always, half of the Toussaint population gets involved in the investigation, including his rich neighbor, Bart, and the local medicine man, Benetsee. Of course, they prevail; but along the way, they face danger and some surprises. The book is liberally dosed with humor which counteracts some of the violence which occurs. Bart even acquires a love interest, which is the one part of this book that did not quite work for me.
I am a person who has loved every one of the books in this series without reservation. At times the plots are thin, the writing imperfect, a character or two unlikeable. But that doesn't matter at all. Because once you are hooked on this series, you will find that you overlook every one of these missteps. The critical and important element is the cast of characters, who Bowen has managed to portray in a way that makes them completely real and alive in the reader's mind. Each book is like going to a vast family reunion where you can't wait to find out what everyone has been up to. Is STEWBALL perfect? No. Did I love it? Yes.
PROTAGONIST: Gabriel du Pre
SETTING: Montana
SERIES: #12 of 12
How can one describe Gabriel Du Pre? He's a member of the Metis Indian tribe living in Toussaint, Minnesota. He's been involved for many years in a relationship with a local woman, Madalaine. He has 2 daughters, one of whom has 12 children. He's a family man and a cowboy and a fiddler and a detective when he needs to be. But most of all, he's a man who loves his friends and family wonderfully and well. He places himself in the background until he's needed, and then he's the one who makes everything all better.
Du Pre's Aunt Pauline, an aging beauty whose had a stable full of husbands, comes down to Toussaint to ask Gabriel to look for her current husband, Badger, who has gone missing. It doesn't take long for Du Pre to find him, unfortunately with a bullet in his head. He contacts his friend at the FBI, Harvey Wallace, and ultimately uncovers an illegal horse racing operation. With the help of a local ranch hand, Booger Tom, and his 14-year-old granddaughter, Lourdes, Gabriel and Tom set up a scam. They acquire a few horses and assume the role of rancher and hand so that they can participate in the races. One of the horses, who Lourdes names "Stewball" after an old children's song, is a standout. And as strange as it sounds, he became one of my favorite characters in the book.
As always, half of the Toussaint population gets involved in the investigation, including his rich neighbor, Bart, and the local medicine man, Benetsee. Of course, they prevail; but along the way, they face danger and some surprises. The book is liberally dosed with humor which counteracts some of the violence which occurs. Bart even acquires a love interest, which is the one part of this book that did not quite work for me.
I am a person who has loved every one of the books in this series without reservation. At times the plots are thin, the writing imperfect, a character or two unlikeable. But that doesn't matter at all. Because once you are hooked on this series, you will find that you overlook every one of these missteps. The critical and important element is the cast of characters, who Bowen has managed to portray in a way that makes them completely real and alive in the reader's mind. Each book is like going to a vast family reunion where you can't wait to find out what everyone has been up to. Is STEWBALL perfect? No. Did I love it? Yes.
Read
May 2, 2021I just finished reading The Tumbler, Stewball and Nails by Peter Bowen. All are part of his Gabriel du Pre series. There is a certain charm to all of the du Pre books that I can't explain. The characters are lovable with strong wills and great senses of humor. (There is some profane language but the manner in which it is used is not offensive in the least). The plots are always intriguing and they never leave you hanging. There is a profound sense of justice in them that I find greatly appealing.
I have read most of them and either own or have on hold the rest as the entire series is well worth the time. As with all series, they are best read in order so start with Coyote Wind, then proceed to Specimen Song and Wolf, No Wolf. Bet you get hooked.
Readers of Craig Johnson and C.J. Box will enjoy Peter Bowen's Gabriel du Pre series.
I have read most of them and either own or have on hold the rest as the entire series is well worth the time. As with all series, they are best read in order so start with Coyote Wind, then proceed to Specimen Song and Wolf, No Wolf. Bet you get hooked.
Readers of Craig Johnson and C.J. Box will enjoy Peter Bowen's Gabriel du Pre series.
November 24, 2012
When his aunt Pauline's husband goes missing, Gabriel Du Pre gets involved with a shadowy mystery even the Feds won't touch. The solution involves horse racing, eccentric billionaires, and a P-38 Lightning. Another great read.
November 19, 2017
Horse racing, rich anti-government crazies, Bart finally talking to a lovely lady (with Madelaine's help), lots of Booger Tom, and the smartest/scariest kid in the world, Pallas. What else would you need in a Du Pre book?
This one clipped along as fast as Stewball, the gorgeous racing horse ridden by Du Pre's granddaughter Lourdes. Fantastic read.
This one clipped along as fast as Stewball, the gorgeous racing horse ridden by Du Pre's granddaughter Lourdes. Fantastic read.
January 2, 2023
I continue to enjoy this series, with wording that cause pictures in your mind, "The mountain fell away, the slopes dark with fir and pine, to the far plains below, stretching south in rolls and folds a hundred miles beyond" love it, shear poetry. The mystery is also very good.
October 8, 2024
Great story
He has a good way with the Du Pre stories. I have been hooked a very long time. If you like your action stories to have a lively different way of telling a stories you might like these
He has a good way with the Du Pre stories. I have been hooked a very long time. If you like your action stories to have a lively different way of telling a stories you might like these
September 22, 2018
A very good book and series.
January 30, 2021
Again, the logic does not necessarily hold up in those Refrigerator moments, but the warmth, humor, colorfulness of these books keeps me reading them.
April 15, 2007
Set in Montana and involving Gabriel Du Pre a Natvive American who helps the FBI solve mysteries. Several well developed characters who pretty much are marching to their own drummers, so are slightly off beat. Much of the dialogue reflects the Metis culture.
Story line involves murder, FBI and government cover ups and shinaniggans, white extremists and their plots, open country horse racing, and gambling.
Story line involves murder, FBI and government cover ups and shinaniggans, white extremists and their plots, open country horse racing, and gambling.
August 5, 2016
I read Stewball back when it first came out, so this was a reread for me. Stewball is one of my favorites and I love all of Peter Bowen's Gabriel DuPre mysteries. I swear, by the time I finish one of his books I could speak Metis. The characters in these books are people I want to hang around with, the plots pretty solid, the mystery just right. If as a reader you like western mysteries, you can't go wrong with one of Bowen's.
February 2, 2012
I grew up in Texas, 45 miles from the Gulf and 30 miles from Louisiana. I can suspend my disbelief at Cajuns moving away from the area, but I cannot abide such poor dialect. I gave up after only two pages.
May 14, 2008
This is one of my favourites
November 4, 2025
I really liked this one. The idea that the horses are as much a part of the book as the people was great.
Fantastic re-read.
Fantastic re-read.
September 1, 2009
I discovered Peter Bowen this summer and have read about a book a week. Love his books!
July 22, 2013
eccentric characters abound
Read
March 4, 2016This was a very good book in this series. Very eyeopening. Highly recommend.
August 23, 2022
6 Stars
March 31, 2011
bush races, money laundering and neo-nazi loonies
November 26, 2012
This is an excellent series. Gabrielle is a great character.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews