Winter Counts

A Novel

By: David Heska Wanbli Weiden

Narrated by: Darrell Dennis

Length: 8 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

An addictive and groundbreaking debut thriller set on a Native American reservation and hailed by CJ Box as "[A] hell of a debut".

"Winter Counts is both a propulsive crime novel and a wonderfully informative book." (Louise Erdrich)

Virgil Wounded Horse is the local enforcer on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota. When justice is denied by the American legal system or the tribal council, Virgil is hired to deliver his own punishment, the kind that’s hard to forget. But when heroin makes its way into the reservation and finds Virgil’s own nephew, his vigilantism suddenly becomes personal.

He enlists the help of his ex-girlfriend and sets out to learn where the drugs are coming from, and how to make them stop. They follow a lead to Denver and find that drug cartels are rapidly expanding and forming new and terrifying alliances. And back on the reservation, a new tribal council initiative raises uncomfortable questions about money and power. As Virgil starts to link the pieces together, he must face his own demons and reclaim his Native identity.

He realizes that being a Native American in the 21st century comes at an incredible cost.

Winter Counts is a tour-de-force of crime fiction, a bracingly honest look at a long-ignored part of American life, and a twisting, turning story that’s as deeply rendered as it is thrilling.

©2020 David Heska Wanbli Weiden (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers

Predictable but entertaining

My husband and I listened to this “thriller” as we drove. Was fairly easy to figure how the story would go down but still kept our interest. We speed up to 1.4x and that helped with the pace. We both enjoyed learning about the Lakota Tribe and the injustices that happen on Reservations & beyond.

Good gritty story

Story is gritty no matter what society it is told in. Many people feel like they don’t fit in to their society so readers from many cultures can relate to Vergil. I loved learning more about Native American Lakotan ways. It is never too late for the old ways to be honored

riveting

I loved this book and hope he writes a sequel. Strongly urge others to read this book

loved it!!!!!

Very educational and entertaining!!!!! Loved it!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for educating us, the readers.....A derail glimpse of a view point of native America

A Mighty Powerful Debut

Once I saw the book cover, I knew I had to have it. David Heska Wanbli Weiden wrote a heck of a debut. I went into it only with the knowledge he was a Lakota author. I didn't peek at any reviews aside from Tommy Orange's blurb.

Simply put, he blew me away. I craved more. The action was just as strong as the social commentary, just as strong as the heart found within his prose. This Lakota author deserves your readership. Can't wait to see what he has in store for us soon.

I will give this book a re-read in 2021, no doubt about it.

The Hard Truths of Native American Life Today !!

Please, See Goodreads for the complete review…
Thank you so much for doing this for me.

Really Enjoyed this book

good story line. very engrossing and entertaining. also in lightning of the Native American culture.

Interesting Cultural Experience

This book succeeded as a story about reservation life but not as well as a detective story. I wanted to like it but it wasn't great.

Enjoyed the setting

I enjoyed the setting in South Dakota and Colorado, especially the Native American ceremony. I recommend the book.

Addicting

I listened to this book for a book club, and I finished it in about two days although it was supposed to be a buddy read and done in five sections. I got so hooked I couldn't stop listening. Cannot recommend this book enough.