Winter Counts

A Novel

De: David Heska Wanbli Weiden

Narrado por: Darrell Dennis

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.

Great characters, good story development

raw in the right way. Really love hearing stories from different perspectives. Did this in one sitting while on road trip. Made drive fun.

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

Blandness

Story was very predictable and weak. Narrator was also bland and gave little to the narrative.Margaret Neumann

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.

Great Book, OK Narration

I love love love this book! As a member of a closely related tribe and with many Lakota relatives, I loved the familiarity of the book and its characters. Even though it’s fiction, it felt accurate and real. My only complaint is the narrator. Some of the Lakota words didn’t sound right to me as if the stresses were in the wrong place or something. Small thing but important to get right.

Insight into reservation life

The highlight is the insight into the challenges of reservation life. The story line itself shows the failure of the war on drugs, but has limited surprises. Some good ones, but not enough in my view.

Must read

I enjoyed this book. Vivid. Descriptive. Talented. Not sugar coated. Gritty. One of my favorite Native American novels. I’m looking for more by this talented author.