Play Book Tag discussion

Indigenous author writing contemporary crime fiction set on the Rosebud Reservation and South Dakota offers up a debut that combines modern day problems and characters struggling with their native identity. Virgil is the reservation's enforcer, a vigilante who serves up punishment on miscreants for a small fee, miscreants who neither the reservation police nor when it's a felony, the feds, will bother to prosecute. Virgil is also raising his teenage nephew, Nathan, orphaned when his mother died in a head on collision. You like Virgil and Nathan, and when Nathan nearly dies from a heroin overdose, you really hope they can pull through. In the course of untangling Nathan from the drug dealers, Virgil uncovers more corruption and graft among those he's known his entire life.

The crime plotting is a little rough here and there, but the heart of the plot is really Virgil's redemption and ultimate embracing of native traditions and faith. In setting out to save his nephew (view spoiler)[he's also saving himself, leaving the hate and anger behind that have driven him to use his fists for a living. (hide spoiler)] There's an opening left at the end for more books with Virgil, hinting at a slightly different future.

There's a lot about Lakota traditions and spirituality. The book could have used a glossary - although since I was reading an ebook, it was easy to look up the Lakota words/expressions used and historical events mentioned - the more obscure ones that is.

I think this is a series with potential, but I wouldn't give it an award.

It did work nicely for me because I also read Yellow Bird: Oil, Murder, and a Woman's Search for Justice in Indian Country, a nonfiction true crime which is also on the list of Edgar nominees and there seemed to be similarities.

Booknblues wrote: "I think this is a series with potential, but I wouldn't give it an award.

It did work nicely for me because I also read [book:Yellow Bird: Oil, Murder, and a Woman's Search for Justice in Indian ..."

I agree that it should not get the prize, but was worthy of nomination. The author's ability to make us feel sympathy and connection to Virgil despite his 'profession' and anger for me took real talent and some skill to pull off.

Theresa wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "I think this is a series with potential, but I wouldn't give it an award.

It did work nicely for me because I also read [book:Yellow Bird: Oil, Murder, and a Woman's Search for..."

I think also that Winter Counts brings up some real issues facing Native Americans on reservations.

Yes, it did. Especially issues of law enforcement and criminal prosecutions (which of course as a lawyer caught my attention) and bullying/racism. I also liked the theme about indigenous food. All these of course reflect the issues affecting US generally - unequal law enforcement and failure of criminal justice system, bullying/racism, and poor diet of Americans generally but the econominically and children in particular.