Sheriff Skip Harding is investigating a double murder that has shaken the quiet town of Logan, Missouri. A slaughter that seems too brutal for a human perpetrator. A bear, maybe? But there are no bears in the area…Bodies begin to pile up, and Skip soon discovers that bullets are useless against this foe. Only with the help of Cherokee game warden Jay Little Hawk, and the wisdom of Lakota medicine man George Strong Eagle, can Skip hope to stop the monster before it’s too late. A magical tale blending elements of mystery, suspense, and Native American mythology.
Overall, I actually quite enjoyed this one, though I do have some issues.
Let’s start with the things I wasn’t crazy about. And yeah, the first two will likely not sit well with some, but…
First, don’t expect any strong women in this story. There’s none. They’re either partners who get upset if hubby’s late for the dinner she’s spent the afternoon cooking, or they’re just there to complete a task. I would have loved one significant female role. And yes, I also realize that this novel is almost thirty years old, but still…we had some kickass women in the mid-90s.
Second—and yes, I understand this is going to sound a bit odd for a novel written by an Indigenous author—is that it felt a bit “White Saviour-ish” having Sheriff Skip Harding (who we find out is one-quarter Indigenous) is the guy that is the only hope to take on the Crota. But hey, I’m an old white guy, so I don’t necessarily have a lot of skin in the game. It’s just my perception.
Third, there were times when the pacing felt off. This book starts off with a fairly decent bang, and then keeps banging for a bit. But then there’s a couple of long stretches where we’re fed a lot of information that likely could have been dialed back, or even removed altogether. This novel felt like it should just be one of those lean, mean creature features (as much as I loathe that term, it does feel apt here). Instead, we got a bit more than we needed, with some really odd plot decisions. As an example, with no spoiler, why was the chest hidden in the way it was (you’ll know when you get there)? There’s literally no explanation for it, other than Harding couldn’t find it before then without messing with the plot.
Finally, the ending. It should have been big. It should have been epic. It should have left me breathless. Instead it was more of a, oh! Here it comes! Here it…oh. It’s over? Already? Okay.
That being said, I have to make it clear that, despite some weird decisions, overall this book was a blast. Imagine Jaws crossed with The Manitou and you’re getting close.
Definitely worth the read, and I’ll absolutely come back for more Owl Goingback books.
