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Badlands  By  cover art

Badlands

By: Peter Bowen
Narrated by: Christopher Lane
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Publisher's summary

A secretive millennial cult from California purchases a ranch on the outskirts of the Montana badlands, the eerily silent, dry, and windy dead zone, and the Toussaint townsfolk are none too pleased.

The cult members keep to themselves, but the suspicious circumstances under which they arrived have Gabriel Du Pre questioning their motives and seeking answers. He soon learns from a friend in the FBI that seven of the cult's recently defected members were killed, each shot to death, but no arrests have been made. Then another shooting occurs at the perimeter of the ranch, and Du Pre finds himself blindly searching for a killer, an explanation for the murders, and the identity of the cult's elusive leader.

With Badlands, his tenth novel in this acclaimed series, Peter Bowen has written his most timely and chilling novel to date.

©2003 Peter Bowen (P)2003 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Peter Bowen does for Montana what Tony Hillerman does for New Mexico....Picturesque, totally absorbing, and utterly charming." (Midwest Book Review)
"Peter Bowen writes about the rural West better than just about anyone....Gets it right over and over again." (Rocky Mountain News)

What listeners say about Badlands

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

One of my longtime favorites

Well read and well written, this is a book I have listened to multiple times. As a fan of this series I am familiar with the speech patterns of DuPre, the main character, and now, thanks to Christopher Lane, I have a voice to match.
I don't care much about the mystery aspect; I just like spending time with the characters in this book - a brand inspector who drives an old retired patrol car at high speed, plays fiddle with a small band, and investigates incidents as he finds them, his fascinating wife, and the horde of grandkids, most of whom are overshadowed by a precocious grade-schooler, Pallas, that has already selected a hapless FBI man as her future husband. These books really are better when you read the entire series in order so that you come to know the characters. Diving into the late part of the series doesn't work as well; you have no understanding about the development of the people and their lives.
DuPre is a Metis, descended from French voyageurs. He has a strong accent and unusual speech patterns which I have no trouble understanding, though I tend to start thinking in Metis French after listening to this book.
Medicine man/shaman Benetsee comes and goes as he pleases, using magic as needed, and using DuPre as a tool and foil. He knows a lot of what goes on and steers DuPre in the right direction as needed.
The basic story is about a cult purchasing a Montana cattle ranch and turning it to their uses. They bring in bison and many mobile homes to house their members. Time reveals that things are not as they seem.
The best part is a bison stampede near the end that occurs when a television helicopter spooks the herd while DuPre is checking on their wellbeing. They get it all on camera while he rides for his life.
I wish more of the books from this series were on audio, and I also wish that the author would get cracking and update the series. I'm anxious to see Pallas marry her FBI man.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Dialog at its best

I love the dialog in these books, it is so well done, written so well and is so unique to the individual and quirky characters. Again, these books take you into the story, the community make you part of the story. I really would recommend this series if you enjoy a writer with talent.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Already started

Right off the bat by Chapter 3 I’m sick of the obsessive use of “said”. First book I listened too was not the case but last one and this one it’s like the author forgot any other damn verb in the English language. Even questions are ended with “said”. Not “asked,queried, wondered, inquired” etc. Pure laziness. For someone whose profession consists of words and the knowledge of how to use them....USE THEM! Same goes for his editor....EDIT! Last book by this author and I ENJOYED the stories but can’t enjoy the listen.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Isten for the narrator

These novels are good, repetitiveness aside, but the stories always feel abridged to me. Not quite plot holes, just not quite fleshed out enough. That said, i love Christopher Lane’s narration. He handles the vernacular beautifully and keeps me listening.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Gabriel

I really enjoyed this read! keeps one on their toes. not a predictable read either.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

DuPre takes on a colt

It’s good to learn from this series some of the issues Montana deals with. In this book a cult comes and sets up shop. The locals have serious doubts az to their intentions. It’s left up mainly to DuPre to figure it all out.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Chapters seem messed up

The chapters are missing. Some of the story seems missing. Chap 1 starts fine and when it's over it jumps to Chap 5! This keeps happening throughout the story.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Worst ending ever!

Mostly an enjoyable story line and plenty of humor but the primary conflict they were involved in was not resolved. Maybe just in the middle of the story, right in the middle of a conversation of some of the main characters, the music starts and that's it. The end with no explanation of why or what would be done about the protagonists. Felt like the author just got bored and ended with no closure. I was so shocked that I don't think I'll get any more books from this author.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating blend

Love the Bowen Dupre mysteries. Badlands was esp interesting, fascinating blend of excellent detective work, Native American knowledge & some magic. Throw in a cult too.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

great story very unusual setting and characters bu

I like the series a lot. unique and fast moving with memorable characters and a strong feeling of place and time.

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