The Only Good Indians

Written by Stephen Graham Jones

Narrated by Shaun Taylor-Corbett

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

From USA TODAY bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones comes a “masterpiece” (Locus Magazine) of a novel about revenge, cultural identity, and the cost of breaking from tradition. Labeled “one of 2020’s buzziest horror novels” (Entertainment Weekly), this is a remarkable horror story that “will give you nightmares—the good kind of course” (BuzzFeed).

From New York Times bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones comes a novel that is equal parts psychological horror and cutting social commentary on identity politics and the American Indian experience. Fans of Jordan Peele and Tommy Orange will love this story as it follows the lives of four American Indian men and their families, all haunted by a disturbing, deadly event that took place in their youth. Years later, they find themselves tracked by an entity bent on revenge, totally helpless as the culture and traditions they left behind catch up to them in a violent, vengeful way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Jul 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9781797105550

Stephen Graham Jones

Stephen Graham Jones is the New York Times bestselling author of The Only Good Indians. He has been an NEA fellowship recipient and a recipient of several awards including the Ray Bradbury Award from the Los Angeles Times, the Bram Stoker Award, the Shirley Jackson Award, the Jesse Jones Award for Best Work of Fiction from the Texas Institute of Letters, the Independent Publishers Award for Multicultural Fiction, and the Alex Award from American Library Association. He is the Ivena Baldwin Professor of English at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Reviews for The Only Good Indians

[Steve Fleming · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The rare horror book that’s also beautiful, wouldn’t change a thing.

[Shane Hawk · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fantastic novel read by a fantastic narrator.
Do not sleep on this one. SGJ is a master.

[Jolynn · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Was so excited about this book but feeling like the narrator needs to slow down.

[Becky Martinez · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The story was emotionally gripping. I didn't want to put down my audiobook.

[Selina Cooper · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I was very disappointed with this book which started off great but somewhere along the line drifted off into disjointed and utterly boring. I was so antsy towards the end I couldn’t wait for it to be over!
This book is labeled “horror” by professional reviewers and even by the author himself, but I certainly didn’t get that. What I did come away with is a clearer understanding of the very sad plight of our Native Americans many of whom live in abject poverty, are criminally marginalized by society as a whole and, even more tragic, seemed to have lost most of their connection to their original native culture. So sad.
I do want to mention that the narrator was very, very good and I most definitely did enjoy listening to him. I am only sorry that the story was unable to do his talent justice....☹️

[Evie Seo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a powerful, hanuting story with a beautifully fleshed out cultural background and sharp social commentary. A gore slasher at its best, and with such complex characters! Loved it!

[Jill Jorgensen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book took me back to my early ranch life and getting moccasins tanned by deer brains. I love this book.

[Julie Sickles · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

So haunting and unexpected. Kept me on the edge of my seat.

[renee van Nifterik · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was different. It was”out there”. I’m not quite sure Indians would want to be portrayed i such a way, but it is a very good story. It keeps you reading to the very end

[Ezra Zdanowicz · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Review is solely for the narration. He speaks way too fast and doesn’t enunciate his words. I gave up because I had to keep rewinding. I’ll try a hard copy instead.

[Jessica Nieman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Awesome authentic and anxiety building read. Give it a go.

[Flora · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

4.5
What an amazing book. The way Steven Graham Jones weaves this narrative is beautiful. The pacing was perfect for the story being told and kept me on the edge of my seat every moment.

[Gabrielle · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It was so good. So funny and so spooky and scary. I really loved it.

[Geo Frank · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A lot of the Native American stuff went over my head, yet I thoroughly enjoyed reading, very well written. I just had a tough time following the narrative.

[Montgomery Pierce · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Only Good Indians is as haunting as it is thrilling, terrifying as it is gripping. There wasn't a moment, even in the small gifts of breathing room, that wasn't filled with tension or a sense of dread. Whether it's the growing paranoia that Lewis faces right up to the climax of his inevitable downfall, or the push and pull between Gabe and Cassidy that feels just as heart-clenchingly unavoidable, this book made me want to bite my nails, pace my room, and have a smoke all at once just to alleviate some of the impending doom that I felt.

Some highlights:
-Stephen Graham Jones' descriptions are, in a word, phenomenal. Particularly in places where tension is high, he doesn't tell you how you're supposed to feel; simply reading worms it into you until you're at the edge of your seat (or in my case, my couch) feeling as the characters feel.
-Interesting characters with unique voices. I think Lewis was my favorite, and his section of this book was easily my favorite as well. I think I related a lot to his situation as someone who used to feel pulled between two cultures and his spiral into paranoia because of his circumstances was *chef's kiss.*
-Stephen Graham Jones is a good enough writer that I, a person with negative interest in basketball, could be kept interested and invested in sections of this book where basketball was an important part for characters or plot development.

Overall, I'm sold on anything else Jones writes.

[Mary Rose · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Went in blind to listen to this book and was not disappointed. It’s a Blackfoot legend told almost like a campfire story written by a Blackfoot writer. Another reviewer applauded the level of research and respect that went into this story and they’re right. I’m glad I listened to the audio version - having the narrator read the dialog in the correct cadence helped me better understand it, and when the sections that talked basketball came up I could still hang onto the story (not a basketball or sports person so reading it on paper would have been harder for me to connect to). I am a horror fan, and I particularly liked how different and unique this story was. Really felt like I was hearing an old legend told to me by an elder. Overall super impressed! I will be seeking out more books by Stephen Graham Jones for sure.

[Kendra · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love this book! I've read it/listened to it a couple times now. The story is soooo well told with twists that blindside the reader. It's jarring, entertaining, horrifying and beautiful. I highly recommend!

[S K · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the most original, terrifying and profound horror novels I've ever read. The audiobook is stunning.

[Halle Lee · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I liked what it had to offer, but the writing style wasn’t for me. If you’re someone that has trouble keeping track of a story, or someone who has a problem with getting lost with what’s happening, then I wouldn’t recommend this book for you, at least not the audio version.

[Lena C · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Beautifully heavy, sad, revenge shown at it's universal finest, but also forgiveness. Understanding and love of all things that God has made. The truest scope of how our actions ripple through the cosmos and reverberate throughout time. First time listener of Stephen Graham Jones's work, and Shaun Taylor-Corbett's narration...clearly a match made in literary heaven.

[d-fbuser-82708405 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely incredible storytelling. Clear your schedule because you won't be able to stop reading/listening.

[kushburnsslow · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

To the user "Me" calling this "a bro book". You wouldn't be saying that if you FINISHED IT. Literally subverts EVERYTHING you think the books about. I almost was thrown off by the weird "game" at the end but it developed into something marvelous. Bravo. His prose is different. Quick. To the point. Modern. So if you've been reading anything from 2000 and to like 1950 you'll notice a big change in writing style. I'm not saying ita bad at all it just is something different something new and I enjoy it.

[Matthew Odegard · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Narrative is twisty and twisted in all the right ways, it meanders through characters and themes while maintaining continuity and a consistent lurking dread. Narration and writing both excellent.

[Addy · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I think this just wasn't for me. I don't think it was bad and it was interesting enough for me to finish it.

[Lucas Kavanaugh · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Not good. Not scary. So boring. Such a stupid concept. Killer elk ghost. I'm going to give the finger to the person that recommended this to me.

[Thor Balanon · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I couldn’t latch on to the prose (chatty, meandering) so I turned to the audiobook and was able to enjoy it more. Great narration of a grisly revenge story.

[Eshall Carter · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow, what a book! I was very engrossed. It grabbed me and didn't let go. The style was very fluid and I liked the vocabulary as well. 5 out of 5 from me.

[Chris Kester · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Holy shit! I was blown away by the originality of this one. I loved how much SGJ let his heritage shine through. He talks about the reservations, sweat lodges, dealing with racism, and reimagines old traditions in a thoughtful and imaginative way.

[Brad · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful story and narration, but quality of audiobook is poor. Skips often, never resumes playing where it stopped, and chapters don't match up. Otherwise 5 stars.

[Ashley Reynolds · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

There is something about SGJs' writing style and the way he goes about writing a horror book... it is OG and fresh! idk really how to explain it, but he isn't a copy and paste horror author and I like that about him!!! ALL of his books (well the ones I have read) aren't what you think they are going to be about... most of the time, WE as readers don't like that... but there is something about how SGJ portrays it that it makes his horror books stand out!!! He is becoming one of my all-time fave horror authors!!!