The Only Good Indians

By: Stephen Graham Jones

Narrated by: Shaun Taylor-Corbett

Length: 8 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's Summary

A USA Today best seller

A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year  

“One of 2020’s buzziest horror novels.” (Entertainment Weekly)

A “Most Anticipated Books of Summer” selection in Esquire, Elle, Vulture, Time, AV Club, Bustle, and Literary Hub 

“Gritty and gorgeous” (The New York Times)

“Jones is one of the best writers working today regardless of genre, and this gritty, heartbreaking novel might just be his best yet.” (NPR)

“Jones’s latest horror novel sprints from start to finish.” (The Washington Post) 

“[A] stark page-turner.” (Los Angeles Times) 

“More than I could have asked for in a novel.” (Tommy Orange, Pulitzer Prize finalist, author of There There)

“A masterpiece.” (Paul Tremblay, author of A Head Full of Ghosts and Survivor Song)

A tale of revenge, cultural identity, and the cost of breaking from tradition in this latest novel from the Jordan Peele of horror literature, Stephen Graham Jones.

Seamlessly blending classic horror and a dramatic narrative with sharp social commentary, The Only Good Indians follows four American Indian men after a disturbing event from their youth puts them in a desperate struggle for their lives. Tracked by an entity bent on revenge, these childhood friends are helpless as the culture and traditions they left behind catch up to them in a violent, vengeful way.

©2020 Stephen Graham Jones (P)2020 Simon & Schuster Audio

this is the best book I've listened to maybe ever

you can smell the res in this book. you can absolutely feel the allegory wrapping it's way through the pages. I'd love to buy the author a coffee. the guilt, the pain, the savagery, all summer quietly to the conclusion. well worth the credit, and I'll be relistening very soon.

Knocks it out of the park

With "The Only Good Indians", Stephen Graham Jones knocks the ball so far out of the park, it's punching through the Earth's atmosphere. It's that good. The writing is exceptional. Jones makes even the most horrific of prose sound beautiful. But what I love about his writing is how he does a lot with so little; a few words paint a very detailed portrait of what we're looking at. TOGI is part slasher-part mythology-part monster movie, and every bit of it is a wonderful exploration of traditions. Jones masterfully builds suspense and keeps the story moving forward with increasing dread. Highly, highly recommended. Shaun Taylor-Corbett's narration is inspired and spot-on. The PERFECT narrator for this macabre masterpiece.

Wow wow wow

This novel is gorgeous. Try to hang in there through the violence, it’s worth it. Just gorgeous. Can’t wait for the next novel from Stephen Graham Jones.

This Novel is OK

This novel, while not being trash, is in no way worthy of the praise some reviews heaped upon it. It's a decent novel but it shouldn't be described as cosmic horror as it doesn't even come close to fitting into the genre. Furthermore, I had a hard time accepting the premise. The punishment doesn't really fit the crime and the "monster" kind of makes you say out loud to yourself "seriously?". Again, it's not a bad novel. But it's not really all that good either.

can't say it's the right kind of horror

I want to enjoy this book, but the rate at which you start to lose characters who's perspectives you value due to their deaths is a major slowdown.

How can this story be this good?

If someone had said that a story about an Elk god, monster, ghost (??) could scare, bring tears to my eyes, and leave me not wanting the book to end, I would've laughed. It does all that and more. I hope there are more books and tales coming.

Incredible Prose Amplified by Excellent Narration

Had I read a synopsis of this book (which I would not recommend doing) I probably would have passed on reading it. While the focus of the story is not what I typically find myself interested in the execution and presentation of the story is incredible. Let me start with the prose itself. The writing flows so well and smoothly that I can clearly picture the scene set before me and the events taking place within them. This smoothness also serves to keep the pace moving in what would otherwise seem like a dull moment. Additionally, the author's use of foreshadowing and his long play set ups were high caliber. Not your typical horror movie set up of a camera lingering on the woodchipper as if to scream "someone's going in here". More subtle and nuanced and worth the wait. Even if this story is not your typical choice, the writing style and narrator draw you in and make it worth it.

BORING

it's too boring and over detailed to even follow. Narration is no good. I couldn't follow it within the first 5 minutes and lost all interest. This book may be better read than heard.

Damn....

Never done anything but give 5 stars and hit submit but this one is special. Truly remarkable

Not the worst but not the best either

This book tries to be scary but never succeeds. I went through it slowly and laborously. Yet it isn't so bad that it could be ignored completely. Average is the way I'd describe it.